Asma khan balouch ADHD is actually overdiagnosed in the US as it is estimated that approximately 8.7 million adults in the US have ADHD. The proportion of cases in men is higher than in women and is equal to 62% of men and 38% of women.
About 1/10 children have ADHD as it’s commonly rooted in childhood and diagnosed from the age of 3 to 12 or 17. The increased number of cases in adults might be the result of undetected adhd during their childhood or it probably cropping up in adults due to the way we interact with the world.
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What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of Inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity that impacts an individual’s ability to control impulse, focus, and hyperactivity. It can affect both children and adults and interfere with daily life.
ADD & ADHD
Attention deficit disorder is only an outdated term used in 1987 while ADHD is an evolved form of ADD. If someone has been diagnosed with ADD they probably have shown symptoms like “they can’t focus” while the diagnosis and symptoms of ADHD could be severe like “they really can’t focus”. That is why we call it an extended version of ADD or a severe condition of ADD.
What are the different types of ADHD?
Here are three types of ADHD:
- Inattentive: People with symptoms like “inability to pay attention” fall into the category of inattentive ADHD. About 31% of patients are diagnosed in this category.
- Hyperactivity-Impulsive: Individuals with symptoms like “overly active” or “acting impulsively” are diagnosed with hyperactivity or impulsive adhd. About 7% of patients are diagnosed within this category.
- Combined (ADHD): If a patient has signs or symptoms of the above types, it will be collectively referred to as ADHD. About 62% of cases fall into this category.
What are the common symptoms of ADHD?
The symptoms depend on the type of ADHD. Each type has 9 symptoms some of which will be mentioned below:
➔ Inattentive:
- Unable to focus
- Making careless mistakes
- Overlooking details
- Forgetfulness
- Unable to finish tasks
- Fail to follow instructions
- Losing items
- Difficulty staying organized
➔ Hyperactivity-Impulsive:
- Impatient
- Fidgeting
- Trouble sitting still
- Interrupting
- Restlessness
- Impulsivity/temptation
- Easily distract-able
- Easily annoyed
- Hyperfocus
Other underrated symptoms:
- Emotional deregulation
- Poor handwriting & dyslexia prevalent
- Rejection sensitivity or dysphonia
- Time perception
- Overeating binge eating
- Incredible ability to focus on things they love
- Uses or abuses of cannabis
How is ADHD diagnosed?
Adhd is more of a clinical diagnosis but some elements can help us understand the basics of the diagnosis. Each type of ADHD has 9 long-term symptoms. 5/9 symptoms in children and 6/9 symptoms in adults must be present for a 6-month period observed in two different settings such as school/home/workplace.
Moreover, if talk about clinical assessments that may include:
- Psychological testing: Techniques like Conner’s Rating Scale may be used.
- Clinical interview: This may involve the evaluation of symptoms and their impact.
- Medical evolution: Ruling out other medical conditions that may cause the same symptoms.
- Observation: Gathering information from teachers, parents, and caregivers.
What are the main causes and risk factors of ADHD?
Although the exact factors that cause ADHD are still unknown some research and data show plausible facts to support various hypotheses. While many psychiatrists or psychologists still consider ADHD to be a socio-cultural construction.
Brain functions: The main factor causing adhd is brain dysfunctioning. Chemicals or neurotransmitters of the brain that are responsible for different functions like dopamine which is responsible for rewards, risks, impulsivity, etc. And other is Norepinephrine which is responsible for attention & arousal etc.
Now what happens with ADHD individuals is that these chemicals are either at low levels or high, and make it hard for neurotransmitters to function properly. That is collectively called neurotransmitter imbalance.
Gene: Genetics plays a key role in this matter as ADHD tends to run in families. If your family has a history of ADHD the chances of developing ADHD are high but there is also a possibility that you may not have it.
Environmental: This is one of the main risk factors in developing such a disorder. Exposure to toxic environments, use of alcohol during pregnancy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, low birth weight, premature birth, and traumatic injuries are some risk factors that lead to this kind of mental disorder.
What are the major treatments for ADHD?
There is no single optimal treatment for ADHD but there are different methods and techniques to manage it or directly treat symptoms. We consider these as treatment options:
Behavioral Therapy: Used as the first line of treatment for kids with mild symptoms. By teaching them coping strategies & organizational skills.
There also exist other therapies such as interpersonal therapy, cognitive therapy, family therapy, and psych education to cope with ADHD.
Medication: Although medications for ADHD come with their own side effects and should not be considered the first line of treatment if taken under the supervision of a physician, the patient may benefit in the long run. Stimulants such as methylphenidate and non-stimulants such as Strattera may be prescribed.
Lifestyle modification: Lifestyle plays an important role in managing ADHD, as does medication and therapy. A healthy diet, adequate sleep, and regular exercise can be beneficial if practiced consistently.
Also, Read About Useful Productivity Hacks For ADHD That Work
How does ADHD affect children and adults differently?
ADHD effects may vary from children to adults:
In Adults:
- Difficulty in managing relationships
- Social impairments
- Struggle to manage time
- Impaired work performance
- Hold on to a job
In Children’s:
- Unable to follow instructions
- Impulsive in social
- Academic challenges
- Hard to complete school
Adhd Case Complexities in Children
Adhd is a disorder that is primarily developed or diagnosed at a young age. 1/10 children have adhd half of them are overcome with proper treatment while others are not. While 2/3 also have other mental disorders as well like sleep disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder, etc. So there are all these possibilities to consider when dealing with ADHD.
ADHD and sugar relationship
Research, meta-analysis, and data on ADHD show sugar consumption particularly highly refined sugar is potentially bad for ADHD individuals. This is because the tuning of neurons in the brain is highly dependent on glucose & sugar consumption.
Adults and children with ADHD often consume products high in sugar and crave such compounds because they increase attention levels where they need to focus or like. If children drink more than 4 sugary drinks or sodas per week, they will eventually begin to experience negative consequences or symptoms of existing ADHD.
Understanding ADHD people
It is a complex mental disorder and comes with various types. Individuals especially kids suffering from ADHD need attention and support to navigate through such a crisis. There are chances of a complete cure for this mental condition if it is properly diagnosed and treated. Furthermore, we need to change or improve environmental factors such as our school environment and lifestyle to reduce the chances of developing such mental disorders.
