ADHD, fully known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is commonly found in children.
According to a report by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although the disorder is earlier diagnosed in children, it can also be found in adults. Children with ADHD may find trouble paying attention, make more impulsive decisions without considering the consequences of their actions, and become overly active.
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Symptoms in Children
- Excessive daydreaming
- Having trouble with situations that require them to take turns with others
- They forget and lose things easily
- Fidgeting
- Talking a lot
- Making a lot of avoidable mistakes
Symptoms in Adults
- Difficulty organizing or cleaning
- Restlessness
- Lack of focus
- Mood swings
- Hyperfocus
- Trouble with prioritising
- Poor time management
- Short temper
- Impulsive behaviour
In the report by CDC, it identifies 3 types of ADHD. (1) Predominantly Inattentive Presentation which makes it hard for an individual to pay attention, stick to routines and follow instructions or even follow through with a conversation. (2) Predominantly Hyperactive Presentation makes the individual impulsive by making them unable to sit for long periods and they also interrupt others in conversation. It also makes them fidget and talk more than they should (3) Combined Presentation of ADHD combines the symptoms of both the predominantly inattentive and the predominantly hyperactive presentations.
Although there has not been verifiable research as to the actual causes and risk factors that may cause children to develop ADHD there are investigations as to whether things like brain injury, and alcohol and tobacco consumption during pregnancy could result in children having ADHD. It cannot be proven that eating a lot of sugar and watching a lot of TV could lead to ADHD.
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Experts say that the only way to diagnose ADHD is to conduct the required medical tests to cancel out the presence of other related disorders. There is no treatment for ADHD but medical experts use behavioural therapy and parental training to minimize the effects of the disorder.
