How to Know If You Have ADHD
ADHD is a lifelong condition that can affect a child or adult’s ability to function normally. It causes attention and concentration problems.
If you think you may have adhd, it’s important to talk with a mental health professional for an evaluation. Schedule your appointment today!
What Are The Symptoms Of ADHD
ADHD can cause a variety of symptoms that may be noticeable in daily life. These include problems with focus, distraction, impulsive behavior, and difficulty organizing tasks.
However, these symptoms are not always the same for everyone. And it’s important to remember that many people have ADHD at some point in their lives.
Children with ADHD have trouble paying attention in school, getting along with peers and family members, and managing their own behaviors and emotions. They also may have trouble with their jobs and relationships as adults.
Causes Of ADHD
There is no single cause of ADHD, but many factors play a role. They include genetics, environment and central nervous system problems during key moments of development.
The brain chemical dopamine, which acts as a reward center, is diminished in those with ADHD. This can lead to uncontrolled impulsivity and short attention spans.
Children with adhd also have a slower frontal lobe development than children without the disorder. This impacts their ability to plan and organize, to understand cause-and-effect, to change habits, to learn from mistakes, and to read social cues.
These changes make it difficult for children to learn and function in school, and can be disruptive. They can also cause stress in families and affect relationships. It is very important to identify and treat ADHD early to avoid long-term consequences.
Getting Diagnosed With ADHD
Whether you’re worried about your child’s teacher sending home a note that says your daughter has ADHD, or you’ve finally been told by someone you know that you’re not the only one with the disorder, getting an accurate diagnosis is important.
The first step to obtaining an accurate diagnosis is finding a qualified professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP). Some health insurance plans may also list professionals who have specific expertise in diagnosing and treating adults with ADHD.
Once a person’s medical and psychiatric history is complete, the professional conducting the evaluation will give a number of tests to determine whether ADHD is present. They will use the criteria for identifying symptoms in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
Risk Factors Of ADHD
Several risk factors have been linked to ADHD, including genetic and environmental risks. These include chromosomal microdeletions, large, rare CNVs, extreme low birth weight, prematurity, and exposure to toxins during pregnancy or infancy.
However, the exact mechanisms through which these factors cause ADHD are still unclear. Some theories involve the influence of genetic risk variants on prenatal brain development and behavioral phenotypes in the fetus or newborn, while others are based on the interaction of these variants with lifestyle-related negative exposures.
In addition to genetic risk variants, other potential environmental risk factors that have been associated with ADHD are low maternal HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, low paternal age at birth of the index child, and maternal alcohol consumption or smoking during pregnancy. Although these are not considered causal associations, they may be important to consider for a family with a history of ADHD or other psychiatric disorders.
Complications Of ADHD
While ADHD is often diagnosed in children, the condition also affects adults. People with untreated ADHD can develop problems with work and relationships.
Medications used to treat ADHD can help to improve focus, attention, and impulsivity in those who have it. They can be stimulant medications (like Ritalin, Adderall, and Concerta) or non-stimulant medicines.
The type of medication you take will depend on your health care team’s assessment. Some are faster-acting and some take longer to start working.
A recent study found that those who have ADHD are at a higher risk of having post-surgical complications than people who don’t have it. This is a very important finding as it could help doctors to identify people who are at risk of experiencing complications after surgery.
