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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactive neurological disorder that makes it difficult for a person to pay attention and control impulsive behavior which is a greater tendency to say or do whatever comes to mind (impulsivity).

He or she may also be restless, almost constantly active and have a predilection for situations with high intensity. It can be characterized by easy distractibility and low tolerance for frustration or boredom.

Facts about ADHD:

1. ADHD is a mental health condition that runs in families.
2. There are benefits to having ADHD, as well as problems.
3. Medication is effective and works best when combined with structure, routines and changes to study, work and home life.
4. Find a psychiatrist with an interest in ADHD.

Difference between ADD and ADHD

Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects the ability to stay focused on things like schoolwork, social interactions, and everyday activities like brushing teeth and getting dressed in a person.

The biggest difference between ADD and ADHD is that kids with ADHD are hyperactive because they have trouble sitting still and might be so restless. Due to which the teachers quickly notice their rambunctious behavior and suspect there might be attention issues involved.

Kids with ADD might fly under the radar because they aren’t bursting with energy and disrupting the classroom and they often appear shy, “daydreamy” or off in their own world.

Technically, ADD is one of three subtypes of ADHD and the term ADD is still used by many parents and teachers. Doctors have been calling it by its formal name which includes ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type.

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type and Combined Type are the other two subtypes are ADHD which involves both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptoms.

ADHD VS OCD

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a national health crisis which grows but remains to be one of the most misunderstood and incorrectly treated illnesses today. ADHD adds a hyperactive component to ADD and is a legitimate brain disorder that typically occurs as a result of neurological dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex.

Poor internal supervision, short attention span, difficulty learning from past errors, disorganization, procrastination, and boredom are the symptoms of ADHD.

Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSD) commonly known as OCD are serious and often debilitating disorders that are characterized by obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions refer to the intrusive and recurrent thoughts about things like contamination, doubt, sexuality, and violence.

Compulsions are performed according to certain rigid rules and can lead to elaborate rituals, such as hand washing, counting, touching (especially in a particular sequence), and picking skin or hair.

Difference between ADHD and OCD:

OCD has been mistaken as ADHD by many doctors they include the same symptoms like anxiety, distractibility, perfectionism, impulsive behaviors, and impaired executive functioning. Despite such commonalities, a recent study has revealed that ADHD and OCD are far more complex from a symptom standpoint though similar behaviorally.

Those who struggle with ADHD overcompensate their inclination to be disorganized, distracted and inattentive by adopting OCD-like coping skills which can indicate OCD traits in ADHD patients and can be misleading.

A student may not have ADHD since distraction from repetitive thoughts and fidgeting from compulsive behaviors can both appear to be ADHD symptoms even if he seems inattentive and antsy during class may actually have OCD. Teachers usually equate attention problems and hyperactivity with ADHD, due to which many OCD patients are being misdiagnosed.

Arriving at a proper diagnosis is absolutely crucial because the overlap of ADHD and OCD symptoms and the treatment plans may radically differ for both disorders. A common ADHD medication can actually make OCD symptoms worse because the ADD symptoms are magnified when occurring together with anxiety. This can be a major contributor to OCD.

ADHD and Bipolar Disorders

What is Bipolar Mood Disorder (BMD)?

Mood disorders are the disorders of the level or intensity of mood in which the mood has taken on a life of its own which doesn’t emerge from the events of a person’s life and are outside of his or her conscious will and control.

People with BMD feels a shift for no apparent reason over a period of days to weeks and may persist for weeks or months on their intense feelings of happiness or sadness, high energy usually called mania or low energy called as depression. Usually, there are the periods of months to years during which the individual experiences no impairment.

Can You Have Both ADHD and Bipolar Disorder?

Most difficult differential diagnosis is to make in between Bipolar Mood Disorder (BMD) and ADHD because they have many common symptoms which include:

1. Mood instability
2. Bursts of energy
3. Restlessness
4. Talkativeness
5. Impatience

However, it is estimated that as many as 20 percent of those diagnosed with ADHD also suffer from a mood disorder on the bipolar spectrum and correct diagnosis is critical in treating bipolar disorder and ADHD together.

Types of ADHD

There are three types of ADHD:

Inattentive: Inattentive ADHD is the same when someone uses the term ADD where a person shows enough symptoms of inattention (or easy distractibility) but isn’t hyperactive or impulsive.

Hyperactive/impulsive: In this type of ADHD a person has symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity but not inattention.

Combined: Combined ADHD occurs when a person has symptoms of all the three inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Causes of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other researchers across the country are studying the reasons for ADHD. Read now what causes ADHD.

Recent researches suggest ADHD may be caused by interactions between genes and environmental or non-genetic factors and many other illnesses. The other factors that what causes ADHD include:

• Cigarette smoking, alcohol use, or drug use.
• Due to environmental toxins, such as high levels of lead, at a young age
• Low birth weight
• Brain injuries
• Low levels of Dopamine
• Environmental

Risk factors of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)

Scientists are unable to confirm the exact causes of ADHD. Like many other illnesses, there is  a number of factors that may contribute to ADHD, such as:

• Genes
• Cigarette smoking, alcohol use, or drug use during pregnancy
• Exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levels of lead, at a young age
• Low birth weight
• Brain injuries

ADHD can occur in both males than females, and females with ADHD are more likely to have problems primarily with inattention. Other problems such as learning disabilities, anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, depression, and substance abuse are very common in people with ADHD.

Treatment for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)

How to treat ADHD – ADHD therapy

Here are the various ADHD treatment options exist. ADHD specialist will suggest the best ways to treat ADHD.

1. Medication
2. Psychotherapy
3. Behavioral therapy
4. ADHD Counseling
5. ADHD treatment without medication
6. ADHD herbal treatment
7. Natural remedies for ADHD treatment
8. ADHD Homeopathy treatment

Medication for ADHD

For many people, medications for ADHD help in reducing the hyperactivity and improving the ability to focus on any work, and learn. Medication may also improve physical coordination. It is necessary to try several different medications or dosages before using them. Anyone taking medications must be prescribed and monitored closely and carefully by the doctor.

Psychotherapy for ADHD

Psychotherapy is used to treat ADHD that can help patients and their families to manage everyday problems.

Behavioral therapy for ADHD

Behavioral therapy: This is a type of psychotherapy that helps a person change his or her behavior. Behavioral therapy also let know a person how to monitor his or her own behavior and give oneself rewards for acting in a desired way like controlling anger or thinking before acting.

ADHD Counseling

Cognitive behavioral therapy Family and marital therapy: This therapy can help family members find better ways to handle disruptive behaviors to encourage behavior changes and develop interactions with the patient.

• Education and Training
• Parenting skills training (behavioral parent management training)
• Stress management techniques
• ADHD Support groups/Help

Self-care for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), earlier it is known as ADD, can present challenges for adults that come in their life, from getting organized at home to reaching your potential at work.

It can show an impact on your both your personal and on-the-job relationships and health. Sometimes, your symptoms may lead to extreme procrastination, trouble meeting deadlines and aggressive behavior. Additionally, you may feel that friends and family don’t understand what you are.

But luckily, there are some ways which can help you learn to control your symptoms of ADHD. You can improve your daily habits, know your strengths, and develop techniques that help you work more efficiently, maintain organization, and interact better with others.

Change won’t happen at once. However, these ADHD self-help strategies require practice, patience and most importantly, a positive attitude.

Childcare: Show your child lots of affection, be patient, try to keep a regular schedule for meals nap and bedtime.

Medication: Medication is a just a tool not a cure for adult ADHD because it is more effective when combined with other treatments.

Try to exercise on most days: Regular exercise is a powerful treatment for ADHD. You don’t need to go to do much exercise or go to the gym. A 30-minute walk every day is enough to provide benefits. Nearly thirty minutes of activity every day is even better.

Pick something enjoyable, so you’ll stick with it: Choose activities that you like to play or that you find challenging yet fun. Team sports can be a good choice because social events keep them interesting.

Get out into nature: Studies proved that spending time in nature can reduce the symptoms of ADHD. Try things like hiking, trail running, or walking in a local park or scenic area.

ADHD Sleep:

The importance of sleep in ADHD treatment

Many adults with ADHD have sleep difficulties: The trouble getting to sleep at night is mostly because racing thoughts are keeping you up.

Restless sleep: You may don’t get sleep throughout the night, tear the covers off, and wake up at any little noise.

Difficulty waking up in the morning: You may feel waking up is a daily struggle. You may sleep through multiple alarms and irritable for hours after getting up. Poor quality sleep worsens the symptoms of ADHD, so getting on a regular sleep schedule is essential. Improving the quality of your sleep can be a big advantage for you to focus on things.

ADHD Diet:

Eating right can help you regulate ADHD symptoms

Most of the problems among adults with ADHD are the result of impulsiveness and poor planning. So you should have a goal of your eating habits and planning and shopping for healthy meals, scheduling meal times is very important.

• Plan regular meals or snacks no more than three hours apart.
• Make sure you are getting enough zinc, iron, and magnesium in your diet.
• Try to include protein and complex carbohydrates at each meal or snack.
• Avoid junk food completely.
• Stop using coffee and sugar.
• Add a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.

Relaxation techniques to treat adult ADHD

• Mindfulness meditation
• Yoga

Therapy for adult ADHD helps to adapt better-coping skills

• Talk therapy
• Marriage and family therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Coaches and professional organizers for adult ADHD

• Behavioral coaching for adult ADHD
• Professional organizers for adult ADHD

Online Tests

ADHD cannot be diagnosed online but there are many ADHD quizzes and questionnaires available online that act as a helpful self-screening process. You can gain the confidence to reach out to a health professional for a formal diagnosis by taking a quiz.

FAQs of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)

Who is at risk of ADHD?

Risk factors for ADHD disorder may include Blood relatives, such as a parent or sibling with ADHD or another mental health disorder. This is due to environmental toxins and maternal drug use, alcohol use or smoking during.

Is ADHD genetic or developed?

Scientists are investigating many different genes that may help in developing ADHD, especially genes linked to the neurotransmitter dopamine. They believe ADHD is such a complex disorder and there’s still a lot of work to do on the genetic aspect of ADHD.

What are the first signs of ADHD?

Studies have proved that the signs of ADHD can be seen from toddler-aged children from 2 to 3 years old can display symptoms of ADHD.

Can ADHD be cured or grown out of?

There is no cure for ADHD. Even after taking both medical and psychological treatments can help control symptoms. About one-third of children seem to grow out of their disorder during adolescence, but the others find their ADHD continue into adult life.

Does ADHD go away?

ADHD is outgrown. It is important to know that ADHD is a lifelong problem. Sometimes, the symptoms cannot be diagnosed as ADHD until adulthood. For the majority of individuals, this condition even does not go away in adulthood.

Does ADHD get worse with age?

There is a chance to for ADHD to get worse with age and Sometimes these problems are corrected as the person gets older.

What age can you see signs of ADHD?

Generally, ADHD is diagnosed in children by the time they’re teenagers, with the average age of 7 years.

At what age can you diagnose ADHD?

It is most important to check for ADHD in children school age only. According to guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Kids as young as four can be diagnosed because many kids are active and impulsive at that age.

Can ADHD kill you?

ADHD can be a life-threatening problem if the person has any heart problem. There is a chance of getting heart attack to the person due to the impulsive behavior. In fact, people with ADHD have more than double the risk of early death.

What happens if ADHD is left untreated?

If left untreated, it may lead to serious consequences in children and in adults. It is safe to use prescribed medications by the doctor to prevent the impulsive behavior.

Is anxiety a symptom of ADHD?

There is a chance for ADHD may worsen anxiety symptoms by taking some stimulant-drug treatments for patients with comorbid anxiety disorders. However, Treating the ADHD may reduce the anxiety if ADHD is the cause of anxiety. If anxiety is independent of ADHD, your doctor will prescribe you the proper medication.

What foods should be avoided with ADHD?

Getting adequate levels of the right foods affects the brain function. Foods that are rich in protein such as fish, eggs, beans, nuts, soy, and low-fat milk products can have beneficial effects on ADHD symptoms.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults

When you heard of ADHD it may make you think of kids who have trouble paying attention or who are hyperactive or impulsive. But the fact is Adults can also have ADHD, too and about 4% to 5% of U.S. adults have it but only fa ew adults get diagnosed or treated for it.

Who gets adult ADHD? Every adult who has ADHD had it as a child can get ADHD and some may have been diagnosed and known it where some may have not been diagnosed when they were young and find out later in life.

Many kids with ADHD outgrow it about 60% still have it as adults and adult ADHD seems to affect men and women equally.

Adult ADHD Signs:

You may find it hard to if you have adult ADHD:

• Follow directions
• Remember information
• Concentrate
• Organize tasks
• Finish work on time

This can cause trouble in many parts of life may be at home, at work, or at school. However getting treatment and learning ways to manage ADHD can help which most people learn to adapt and adults with ADHD can develop their personal strengths and find success.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults:

The key symptoms of ADHD are Inattention (problems with paying attention) and hyperactivity (being unusually active) and impulsivity.

Inattention symptoms:

• inability to focus on a task for a long time
• poor attention to detail
• being disorganized (for example being unable to use diaries or calendars regularly)
• forgetting things
• being easily distracted
• delaying attending to tasks
• unreliable work habits
• forgetting appointments
• having more accidents
• daydreaming or switching off in classes or meetings
• Poor time management.

Some people with ADHD lose track when they get bored can concentrate when they really enjoy something.

Symptoms of hyperactivity:

• Seem agitated or nervous
• Be unable to sit still and concentrate
• Talk non-stop without being aware of their surroundings
• Have rapid thoughts or be unable to stop thinking
• Have sleep problems.

Impulsivity symptoms:

• Start things and not finish them
• Not consider the consequences of their actions
• Interrupt other people
• Take over what someone else is doing
• Have problems with money
• Change jobs frequently
• Use drugs or alcohol
• Have a hot temper or be irritable.

You don’t need to have all these symptoms in order to get diagnosed with ADHD. Often, people with ADHD can become anxious or depressed at not being able to achieve their full potential and feel quite frustrated.

The reasons that people initially seek treatment are Sleep problems and relationship issues. You should seek help if the symptoms are affecting your daily life, work or relationships.

Challenges People with Adult ADHD Face

The challenges that people with adult ADHD face are

• Anxiety
• Chronic boredom
• Chronic lateness and forgetfulness
• Depression
• Trouble concentrating when reading
• Trouble controlling anger
• Problems at work
• Impulsiveness
• Low tolerance for frustration
• Low self-esteem
• Mood swings
• Poor organization skills
• Procrastination
• Relationship problems
• Substance abuse or addiction
• Low motivation

These may affect you a lot or may not bother you much and they can be problems all the time or may just depend on the situation. No two people with ADHD are exactly alike and if you have ADHD you may be able to concentrate if you’re interested in or excited about what you are doing.

But some people with ADHD have trouble focusing under any circumstances whereas some people look for stimulation whereas many others avoid it. Some people with ADHD can be withdrawn and antisocial and others can be very social and go from one relationship to the next relationship.

Problems at School

Adults With ADHD may have:

• A history of not doing well in school and underachieving
• Gotten in a lot of trouble
• Had to repeat a grade
• Dropped out of school

Problems at Work

Adults With ADHD are more likely to:

• Change jobs a lot and perform poorly
• Be less happy with their jobs and have fewer successes at work

Problems in Life

Adults with ADHD are more likely to:

• Get more speeding tickets, have their license suspended, or be involved in more crashes
• Smoke cigarettes
• Use alcohol or drugs more often
• Have less money
• Say they have psychological trouble like being depressed or have anxiety

Relationship Problems

Adults with ADHD are more likely to:

• Have more marital problems
• Get separated and divorced more often
• Have multiple marriages

Risk factors

Risk of ADHD may increase if:

• You have blood relatives, such as a parent or sibling, with ADHD or another mental health disorder
• Your mother smoked, drank alcohol or used drugs during pregnancy
• As a child, you were exposed to environmental toxins — such as lead, found mainly in paint and pipes in older buildings
• You were born prematurely

Complications

ADHD can make life difficult for you. ADHD has been linked to:

• Poor school or work performance
• Unemployment
• Trouble with the law
• Alcohol or other substance abuse
• Frequent car accidents or other accidents
• Unstable relationships
• Poor physical and mental health
• Poor self-image
• Suicide attempts

How common is ADHD in Adults?

• 4 percent of the adult US population has ADHD. But only less than 20 percent of these individuals seek help for it.
• 3% of adult ADHD cases are considered severe.
• During their lifetimes only 12.9 percent of men will be diagnosed with ADHD when compared with 4.9 percent of women.
• About 30 to 60 percent of patients diagnosed with ADHD in childhood continue to be affected into adulthood.
• Adults with ADHD are 5 times more likely to speed
• Adults with ADHD are nearly 50 percent more likely to be in a serious car crash.
• Having ADHD makes you 3 times more likely to be dead by the age of 45
• Anxiety disorders occur in 50 percent of adults with ADHD.

ADHD and Adult Women

Women are more likely to have inattentive ADHD which historically meant to be their ADHD symptoms which were overlooked in their childhood. Teachers and parents were aware that hyperactivity was a symptom of ADHD but only a few were known about inattentive ADHD.

When a child started daydreaming or disorganized which was thought to be a child’s character rather than considering as ADHD. This is the reason due to which many women (and some men) are diagnosed with ADHD later in life.

Though this is less common, Women also have hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. A growing girl with ADHD might be described as a tomboy because of her physical energy, even when ADHD was the cause.

How common is ADHD in women?

• Girls with ADHD are 3 times more likely to be treated for a mood disorder before receiving their ADHD diagnosis.
• One-third of women with ADHD have anxiety disorders, and almost half of those have considered suicide.
• ADHD prescriptions spiked 85 percent between 2008 and 2012 for women ages 26 to 34.
• Only 1 percent of ADHD research is focused on the disorder in females.
• 7 percent of severely obese women have ADHD; a fraction 5 times larger than the regular population.
• Girls with ADHD have 5.6 times higher rates of bulimia and 2.7 times higher chances of developing other eating disorders (including Anorexia Nervosa).

Girls with ADHD

Many people imagine a child who can’t sit still and acts impulsively, blurting out answers in class or interrupting their parents when thinking of ADHD. Many girls with ADHD may be sitting quietly, seemingly daydreaming and struggling to finish a task or organize their lives and these subtler symptoms make the disorder often go unnoticed. Due to which many females did not receive an official diagnosis until they reach adulthood.

The following are the other common signs of ADHD in girls:

• Wandering thoughts
• Trouble finishing projects and schoolwork
• Being late often
• Difficulty concentrating
• A disorganized room or workspace
• Getting upset easily

Girls and women can also exhibit symptoms of hyperactivity of impulsivity where they can be highly physically active, taking risks as they play, or they might be extremely talkative, excitable, and emotional. However, 40% of girls by the time they reach adulthood will outgrow symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity.

How Is Adult ADHD Diagnosed?

Consult a psychiatrist who has experience in diagnosing and treating people with ADHD.

The doctor may:

• Ask you to get a physical exam in order to make sure that there aren’t any medical problems that cause your symptoms
• Take some blood from you and conduct tests
• Recommend psychological testing
• Ask you questions about your health history

While experts don’t agree on age in order to first diagnose ADHD but they do agree that people don’t suddenly develop it as an adult. When a doctor sees you they will ask about your behavior in childhood and any other symptoms that you may have had as a child. They may also:

• Look at school report cards: They’ll look for the comments on your behavior, poor focus, lack of effort, or any underachievement compared to your full potential.
• Talk to your parents to see if you had any symptoms during childhood.
• People who have ADHD may have had trouble getting along with others when they were kids or had a hard time in school due to which Teachers may have had to work with you.
• They’ll also ask if anyone else in your family has ADHD because it can be helpful information because it does seem like ADHD runs in families.

How Is Adult ADHD Treated?

If your doctor says you have ADHD then you’ll work together to make a treatment plan just for you which includes medicine, therapy, education or learning more about ADHD and getting family support.

These things will be done together as they can help you find new ways to do things that can make your day-to-day life easier. This makes you feel better in general and feel better about yourself.

Make sure that you get fully checked by a doctor and that’s because people with ADHD often face several other conditions, too. You may also face learning disability, anxiety or another mood disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or a dependence on drugs or alcohol. Knowing the whole picture will help you to get the best plan for you.

Therapy and Other Behavioral Treatments

Ask about making the below mentioned as a part of your treatment plan:

1. Cognitive and behavioral therapy: It can help with self-esteem.
2. Relaxation training and stress management: These can lower anxiety and stress.
3. Life coaching: It may help you set goals as well as help you learn new ways to stay organized at home and work.
4. Job coaching or mentoring: This can help support you at work, have better working relationships and improve on-the-job performance.
5. Family education and therapy: This can help you and loved ones understand ADHD better and help you find all ways to lessen how much it affects everyone’s life.

What can a psychiatrist do for ADHD?

Psychiatrists are the specialists to diagnose and treat adults with ADHD. It is always advisable to meet the psychiatrists who are more experienced in diagnosing and treating ADHD than others.

A Psychiatrist is a specialist who can:

• make a diagnosis of ADHD
• devise a management plan for ADHD
• diagnose the mental health issues
• Treat mental health issues, including depression or alcohol and drug use
• prescribe medication
• keep track of any medication side effects along with your physical health
• Link you to related counseling and mentoring
• Provide referrals to other health professionals.

Preparing for your appointment

You are likely to start by talking to your family doctor first. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health professional depending on the results of the initial evaluation.

What you can do

Make a list of to prepare for your appointment:

• Any symptoms you’ve had and the problems they’ve caused, such as trouble at work, at school or in relationships.
• Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes you’ve had.
• All medications you take, including any vitamins, herbs or supplements, and the doses
• Include the amount of caffeine and alcohol you use, and whether you use recreational drugs.

Questions to ask your doctor

If you have any, bring all the past evaluations and results of formal testing with you.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions anytime if you don’t understand something and the following are some of the basic questions to ask your doctor:

• What are the possible causes of my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need?
• What treatments are available and which do you recommend?
• What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you’re suggesting?
• I have these other health problems. How can I best manage these conditions together?
• Should I see a specialist such as a psychiatrist or a psychologist?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you’re prescribing?
• What types of side effects can I expect from the medication?
• Are there any printed materials that I can have? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor?

The following are the questions which you can expect from your doctor. So be ready to answer them.

1. When do you first remember having problems focusing, paying attention or sitting still?
2. Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
3. Which symptoms bother you the most, and what problems do they seem to cause?
4. How severe are your symptoms?
5. In what settings have you noticed the symptoms: at home, at work or in other situations?
6. What was your childhood like?
7. Did you have social problems or trouble in school?
8. How is your current and past academic and work performance?
9. What are your sleep hours and patterns?
10. What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
11. What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
12. What medications do you take?
13. Do you consume caffeine?
14. Do you drink alcohol or use any recreational drugs?

Helping yourself

• Build routines and structure into your study, work or home life.
• Look for an accredited ADHD coach to help you.
• Learn about your condition and teach others about what you’re going through.
• Join a support group in-person or online
• Be aware of the signs of depression.

Helping someone with ADHD

A person with ADHD needs encouragement and lots of structure than that of the normal person.

You can help by:

• using routines, schedules and visible lists
• encouraging regular exercise
• Focusing on the positive aspects rather than the negative behavior.

Recovery from ADHD

Many people who got diagnosed with ADHD in childhood have fewer symptoms as they get older and some other people will have some symptoms for their whole life. Chances are you will be able to manage your illness well with the right approach.

Useful links

https://www.adultadhd.org.au (ADHD help for parents and ADHD parent support in Australia)

https://www.adhdaustralia.org.au (ADHD help for parents and ADHD parent support in Australia)

https://www.adhd.org.nz (ADHD help for parents and ADHD parent support in New Zealand)

http://www.adhdinpractice.co.uk (ADHD help for parents and ADHD parent support in England).

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Children

We all know kids who can’t sit still, never seem to listen, don’t follow instructions no matter how clearly you present them or blurt out inappropriate comments at inappropriate times due to which these children are labeled as troublemakers as well as criticized for being lazy and undisciplined.

However, they may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), formerly known as attention deficit disorder, or ADD which makes it difficult for people to inhibit their spontaneous responses which involves everything from movement to speech and speech to attentiveness.

Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in children:

The signs and symptoms of ADHD typically appear before the age of seven which are difficult to distinguish between attention deficit disorder and normal “kid behavior.”

Inattentiveness signs and symptoms of ADHD

It isn’t that children with ADHD can’t pay attention: when they’re doing things they enjoy or hearing about topics in which they’re interested, they have no trouble focusing and staying on task. When the task is of repetitive nature or boring they quickly tune out.

Staying on track is another common problem and children with ADHD often bounce from task to task without completing any of them or by skipping the necessary steps in procedures. Organizing their schoolwork and their time will be most difficult for children with ADHD than it is for most children.

If there are things going on around them, kids with ADHD will also have trouble concentrating. They usually prefer a calm or quiet environment in order to stay focused.

Symptoms of inattention in children:

• Has trouble staying focused; is easily distracted or gets bored with a task before it’s completed
• Appears not to listen when spoken to
• Has difficulty remembering things and following instructions; doesn’t pay attention to details or makes careless mistakes
• Has trouble staying organized, planning ahead, and finishing projects
• Frequently loses or misplaces homework, books, toys, or other items

Hyperactivity signs and symptoms of ADHD

The most obvious sign of ADHD is hyperactivity and kids with hyperactive symptoms of attention deficit disorder are always moving whereas the other children are naturally quite active.

They may bounce around from one activity to the next and try to do several things at once. Even when they are forced to sit still, their foot is tapping, their leg is shaking, or their fingers are drumming, as it can be very difficult for them.

Symptoms of hyperactivity in children:

• Constantly fidgets and squirms
• Has difficulty sitting still, playing quietly, or relaxing
• Moves around constantly, often run or climb inappropriately
• Talks excessively
• May have a quick temper or short fuse

Impulsive signs and symptoms of ADHD

The impulsivity of children with ADHD causes problems related with self-control because they censor themselves less than other kids do, they’ll interrupt conversations, invade other people’s space, ask irrelevant questions in class and makes tactless observations and ask overly personal questions.

Children with impulsive signs and symptoms of ADHD tend to be moody and overreact emotionally which results in others may start to view the child as disrespectful, weird, or needy.

Symptoms of impulsivity in children:

• Acts without thinking
• Guesses, rather than taking time to solve a problem or blurts out answers in class without waiting to be called on or hear the whole question
• Intrudes on other people’s conversations or games
• Often interrupts others; says the wrong thing at the wrong time
• Inability to keep powerful emotions in check, resulting in angry outbursts or temper tantrums

Is it really ADHD?

Just because a child suffers from the symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity it does not necessarily mean that he or she has ADHD. Certain medical conditions, psychological disorders, and stressful life events exist in their life which can cause symptoms that look like ADHD.

It is important that you see a mental health professional before an accurate diagnosis of ADHD can be made in order to explore and rule out certain possibilities. The following are the possibilities

• Learning disabilities or problems with reading, writing, motor skills, or language.
• Major life events or traumatic experiences such as recent move, the death of a loved one, bullying, divorce.
• Psychological disorders including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
• Behavioral disorders such as conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.
• Medical conditions, including thyroid problems, neurological conditions, epilepsy, and sleep disorders.

How common is ADHD in Children?

• On average, every classroom of 30 students has 1 to 3 children with ADHD.
• Three boys are diagnosed with ADD for every one girl.
• The average age of onset is 5 for severe ADHD, 7 for moderate symptoms, and 8 for mild symptoms.
• About half of the kids with ADHD are noted to have a severe impairment
• 1% of children (ages 4-17) took stimulant medication for ADHD in 2011 and up 28% from 4.8% in 2007
• 40% of youth with diagnosable (but not necessarily diagnosed) ADHD symptoms don’t get treatment
• The rate of emotional development for children with ADHD is as much as 30% slower than it is for their children without the condition.
• 75% of boys with ADHD are hyperactive; 60% of girls with ADHD are hyperactive.
• 40% of children who have ADHD have at least one parent who has ADHD.
• Parents of a child with ADHD are three times more likely to separate or divorce than are parents of children without ADHD.

How common is ADHD in Teens?

• 3 to 5 percent, or about 2 million, of American teens, suffer from ADHD.
• 7 percent of parents will have a teen with ADHD.
• About 80 percent of children who need medication for ADHD still need it as teenagers.
• Teenagers with ADHD have 2 to 4 times as many traffic citations as their peers without ADHD.
• Teens with ADHD have 4 times as many car wrecks and are 7 times more likely to have a second accident.
• Teenage drivers with ADHD sustain 3 times as many car-crash injuries as do teens without ADHD.
• Teenage drivers with ADHD are found to be at fault for car crashes 4 times more often than are their peers without ADHD.
• Teenage drivers with ADHD are 6 to 8 times more likely to have their license suspended or revoked for poor driving behavior.
• 21% of teens with ADHD skip school repeatedly.
• 35% of teens with ADHD eventually drop out of school.
• 45% of teens with ADHD have been suspended.
• 30% of teens with ADHD have failed or had to repeat a year of school.
• Of special needs students who report bullying, the majority of those who are victimized are students diagnosed with mild Autism Spectrum Disorder and students with ADHD.
• Kids with ADHD are more likely to bully other kids.

Positive effects of ADHD in children

There are also positive traits associated with people who have attention deficit disorder in addition to the challenges:

1. Creativity – Children who have ADHD can be marvelously creative and imaginative. The child can become a master problem-solver, a fountain of ideas, or an inventive artist who daydreams and has ten different thoughts at once. Children may be easily distracted but they notice what others don’t see.
2. Flexibility – Because children with ADHD consider a lot of options at once, they don’t become set on one alternative early on and are more open to different ideas.
3. Enthusiasm and spontaneity – Children with ADHD are rarely boring! They are interested in a lot of different things and have lively personalities but if they’re not exasperating you (and sometimes even when they are), they are a lot of fun to be with.
4. Energy and drive – When kids with ADHD are motivated, they work or play hard and strive to succeed. If the activity is interactive or hands-on it actually may be difficult to distract them from a task that interests them.

ADHD has nothing to do with intelligence or talent and many children with ADHD are intellectually or artistically gifted.

Helping a child with ADHD

ADHD can cause many problems if left untreated whether or not your child’s symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Children get into frequent trouble and find it hard to get along with others or make friends who can’t focus and control themselves may struggle in school.

This frustrations and difficulties result in low self-esteem, friction, and stress for the whole family along with the child.

With the right support and the better treatment, your child can make a dramatic difference and your child can get on track for success in all areas of life. Don’t wait to seek professional help if your child struggles with symptoms that look like ADHD.

You can also treat your child’s symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity without having a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder.

Options to start with include implementing a better diet and exercise plan, getting your child into therapy and modifying the home environment to minimize distractions.

You can work with your child’s doctor, therapist, and school to make a personalized treatment plan that meets his or her specific needs once you do receive a diagnosis of ADHD.

Childhood ADHD treatment involves behavioral therapy, parent education and training, social support, and assistance at school in order to be effective. Medications should never be the sole attention deficit disorder treatment though they may also be used.

Parenting tips for children with ADHD

It may take a lot of energy to get him or her to listen, finishes a task, or sits still if your child is hyperactive, inattentive, or impulsive. However, the constant monitoring can be frustrating and exhausting and sometimes you may feel like your child is running the show.

While simultaneously helping your child make the most of his or her abilities, there are steps you can take to regain control of the situation.

There are effective parenting strategies that can go a long way to correct problem behaviors while attention deficit disorder is not caused by bad parenting.

Children suffering from ADHD need structure, consistency, clear communication, and rewards and consequences for their behavior along with lots of love, support, and encouragement.

In order to reduce the signs and symptoms of ADHD, there are many things parents can do without sacrificing the natural energy, playfulness, and sense of wonder unique in every child.

• Take care of yourself so you’re better able to care for your child.
• Eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, find ways to reduce stress
• Seek face-to-face support from family and friends as well as your child’s doctor and teachers.
• Establish structure and stick to it
• Help your child stay focused and organized by following daily routines
• Simplifying your child’s schedule
• Keeping your child busy with healthy activities.
• Set clear expectations
• Make the rules of behavior simple and explain what will happen when they are obeyed or broken—and follow through each time with a reward or a consequence.
• Encourage exercise and sleep
• Physical activity improves concentration and promotes brain growth.
• Importantly for children with ADHD, it also leads to better sleep, which in turn can reduce the symptoms of ADHD.
• Help your child eat right by scheduling regular healthy meals or snacks every three hours and cut back on junk and sugary food.
• Teach your child how to make friends
• Help him or she becomes a better listener, learn to read people’s faces and body language and interact more smoothly with others.

School tips for children with ADHD

ADHD, obviously, gets in the way of learning. If you’re running around the classroom or zoning out on what you’re supposed to be reading or listening to you can’t absorb information or get your work done.

Think of the required school setting those children has to do:

1. Sit still
2. Listen quietly
3. Pay attention
4. Follow instructions
5. Concentrate

These are the things kids with ADHD have a hard time doing not because they aren’t willing, but because their brains won’t let them.

But that doesn’t mean kids with ADHD can’t succeed at school and there are many things both parents and teachers can do to help children with ADHD thrive in the classroom. It comes up with creative strategies for helping the child focus, stay on task, and learn to his or her full capability and starts with evaluating each child’s individual weaknesses and strengths, then.

Diagnosis of ADHD in Children:

You might want to consider speaking to your GP about ADHD if you think you or your child may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

It may help to speak to their teachers if you’re worried about your child. Before seeing your GP, collect all concerns about your child’s behavior.

But they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you for a specialist assessment; your GP cannot formally diagnose ADHD if necessary.

Your GP may ask you:

• about your symptoms or those of your child
• when these symptoms started
• where the symptoms occur – for example, at home or in school
• whether the symptoms affect your or your child’s day-to-day life – for example, if they make socializing difficult
• if there have been any recent significant events in your or your child’s life, such as a death or divorce in the family
• if there’s a family history of ADHD
• about any other problems or symptoms of different health conditions you or your child may have

Next steps

They first suggest a period of watchful waiting that lasts around 10 weeks in order to see if your child’s symptoms improve or stay the same or get worse.

They may also suggest starting a group-based parent training or education programme, but however, being offered a parent training and education programme does not mean that you have been a bad parent because it aims to teach you ways of helping yourself and your child.

Assessment                                                                              

You may be referred a number of different specialists may be referred and who you’re referred to depends on your age and what’s available in your local area to for a formal assessment, including:

• a child or adult psychiatrist
• a pediatrician – a specialist in children’s health
• a learning disability specialist, social worker or occupational therapist with expertise in ADHD

No simple test can determine whether you or your child has ADHD. Due to which your specialist can make an accurate diagnosis after a detailed assessment which may include:

• a physical examination to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms
• a series of interviews with you or your child
• interviews or reports from other significant people such as partners, parents, and teachers

Find criteria for making a diagnosis of ADHD in children and teenagers outlined below.

Diagnosis in children and teenagers

Diagnosing ADHD in children depends on a set of strict criteria and in order to be diagnosed with ADHD, your child must have 6 or more symptoms of inattentiveness or 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Your child must have

• been displaying symptoms continuously for at least 6 months
• started to show symptoms before the age of 12
• been showing symptoms in at least 2 different settings – for example, at home, and at school, to rule out the possibility that the behavior is just a reaction to certain teachers or to parental control
• symptoms that make their lives considerably more difficult on a social, academic or occupational level
• symptoms that are not just part of a developmental disorder or difficult phase, and are not better accounted for by another condition

Treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) make the condition much less of a problem in day-to-day life and can help relieve the symptoms. It can be treated using medications or therapy or a combination of both is often best.

Treatment is arranged by a specialist such as a pediatrician or a psychiatrist and the condition may be monitored by your GP.

ADHD Therapy

Different therapies can be useful in treating ADHD in children, teenagers, and adults as well as taking medications. Therapy helps in treating additional problems like conduct or anxiety disorders that may appear with ADHD.

Following are some of the therapies that may be used are outlined below.

Psychoeducation: Psychoeducation is conducted in order encouraged you or your child to discuss ADHD and its effects. It helps the children, teenagers, and adults to make sense of being diagnosed with ADHD and help you to cope up and live with the existing condition.

Behavior therapy: Behaviour therapy is a therapy which is conducted to provide support for carers of children with ADHD. This therapy involves teachers as well as parents. It usually involves behavior management where the systems of rewards are used to encourage your child to try to control their ADHD.

If your child is suffering from ADHD, you can identify types of behavior that you want to encourage like sitting at the table to eat. Your child can enjoy a privilege removed for poor behavior and are given some sort of small reward for good behavior.

Behavior management involves learning how to plan and structure activities and to praise and encourage children for even very small amounts of progress for teachers.

Parent training and education programmes

Specially tailored parent training and education programmes can help you learn specific ways if your child has ADHD. These specific ways of talking to your child, and playing and working can help to improve their attention and behavior.

Before your child is formally diagnosed with ADHD you may also be offered parent training which is usually arranged in groups of around 10 to 12 parents. The programme lasting up to 2 hours each and usually consists of 10 to 16 meetings.

Offering a parent training and education programme does not necessarily mean you have been a bad parent. This program aims at teaching parents and carers about the behavior management along with increased confidence in your ability to help your child and improve your relationship.

Social skills training

Social skills training aims to teach them how to behave in social situations by learning how their behavior affects others and involves your child taking part in role-play situations.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is a talking therapy where a therapist tries to change how your child feels about a situation that would in turn potentially change their behavior. This training can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. CBT can be carried out by a therapist individually or a group of the therapist.

Other possible treatments

There are many other ways to treat ADHD which some people with the condition find helpful. These conditions include cutting out certain foods and taking supplements, but there’s no strong evidence these work. However, they should not be attempted without medical advice.

Diet for children with ADHD

People with ADHD should adapt a healthy and balanced diet. They should not cut out foods before seeking medical advice as it could be affective.

In many cases, some people notice a link between types of food and worsening ADHD symptoms. If this is the case with you then keep a diary of what you eat and drink, and what behavior follows so that you can discuss the same with your GP. With this information provided GP may refer you to a dietitian or a healthcare professional who has specialized in nutrition.

Supplements

Some studies have suggests supplements like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as they may be beneficial for people with ADHD. However, the evidence supporting this suggestion is very limited.

Some supplements can react unpredictably with medication or make it less effective due to the top which it is always advisable to talk to your GP before using any supplements.

Remember that some supplements can reach dangerous levels in your body. Such supplements should not be taken long term.

Tips for parents

The following are the tips for you if you’re the parent of a child with ADHD:

• be sure your GP or specialist helps you understand the difference between ADHD and any other problems your child may have
• think about who else needs to know about your child’s ADHD, such as their school or nursery
• find out the side effects of any medication your child takes and what you need to look out for
• getting to know people at local support groups can stop you feeling isolated and unable to cope

Know how many children with ADHD have another disorder because Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often occurs with other disorders and conditions.

ADHD Parent report:

Among U.S. children ages 2-17 years, In 2016:

• Nearly 2 of 3 children with current ADHD had at least one other mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder.
• About 1 out of 2 children with ADHD had a behavior or conduct problem.
• About 1 out of 3 children with ADHD had anxiety.
• Other conditions affecting children with ADHD: depression, autism spectrum disorder, and Tourette syndrome.