How to Know If You Have ADHD
If you’re noticing problems with focus or time management, or feel like you might have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it’s important to talk to your doctor.
If you have ADHD, your symptoms likely started in childhood. Symptoms can be difficult to spot as an adult, especially because the condition is often misdiagnosed as a result of other mental health conditions or because it overlaps with other physical ailments.
What Are The Symptoms Of ADHD
ADHD is a brain disorder characterized by difficulties paying attention, staying organized, and impulsivity. It can cause significant problems with your daily life and relationships.
Many of the symptoms of ADHD are similar in children and adults. However, the way they affect you may change as you get older and your responsibilities increase.
Adults with ADHD can have trouble keeping track of things, forgetting deadlines, and starting projects but not finishing them. They may also have difficulty focusing on work or school tasks and becoming easily overwhelmed by too many things going on at once.
Fidgeting, or being restless or irritable, is another common symptom of ADHD. Adults who fidget often lose things they need for work or school, such as pencils, paper, books, or tools. They also have a difficult time sitting still in a classroom or meeting.
Causes Of ADHD
There are a few different factors that can cause ADHD. Some are genetic and others are environmental.
During pregnancy, women who smoke or drink alcohol have a higher risk of having a child with ADHD. They may also be exposed to toxins that interfere with brain development, such as lead or PCBs.
Kids with ADHD have a frontal lobe that develops slower than the average child’s. This results in problems with planning, making decisions, and learning from mistakes.
Often, these differences are not noticed until adulthood when a person’s symptoms may become more severe. That’s why getting a diagnosis of ADHD is so important. It can help you get treatment and better understand yourself. It can also give you a chance to change some of your behavior to better manage the symptoms.
Getting Diagnosed With ADHD
Getting a diagnosis is an important step towards managing your or your child’s ADHD. It can help you find a treatment plan, which may include medication, psychotherapy and other treatment methods.
When looking for a doctor to make a diagnosis, it’s wise to choose one who has experience in working with patients who have ADHD and a good track record of success. You should also be open to speaking with different doctors until you find a reputable and trustworthy one.
Under current diagnostic guidelines, a diagnosis of ADHD in adults must be confirmed through symptoms that have been present prior to age 12. If you cannot remember when your symptoms first appeared, the specialist will ask for information from school records or interviews with parents and teachers.
Risk Factors Of ADHD
Many things can increase a person’s risk of developing ADHD. These factors include genetics, environmental influences, and adversity.
Children who have a low birth weight or who were born prematurely are at higher risk of developing ADHD. This is because these children have had less blood flow to their brains.
Moreover, they have been exposed to more teratogens, which are substances and chemicals that can harm the developing fetus during pregnancy.
In addition to genetics, environmental factors such as lead exposure and organophosphate pesticides can also increase a child’s risk of developing ADHD. Studies have linked these chemicals to hyperactivity and impulsivity in children.
Complications Of ADHD
People with ADHD have trouble paying attention and controlling impulsive behavior, which can lead to serious problems in their lives. This disorder can affect everyone, but it’s especially prevalent in children.
There are several ways to treat ADHD, including medicine and behavioral therapy. These can help control symptoms and improve quality of life.
Medications can be prescribed to increase norepinephrine and other chemicals in the brain that help with focus and attention. They can also decrease anxiety, irritability and other symptoms.
Stimulant medications are often the first treatment for ADHD, but they can have side effects. They’re usually safe, but if you have any questions or concerns, talk with your doctor.
