ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) has different symptoms in children and adults. It’s vital that you know the signs.

Is your child hyper, fidgety, and forgetful? Do you think your partner disorganized, impulsive and distracted? If you think your loved one is simply wired that way, think again. Based on this behavior, there may be a chance that he or she has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

This is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which a child/adult’s behavior can hamper his/her school life, work-life, relationships, etc., thus causing some long-term issues.

Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in detail

According to psycom, this neurodevelopmental condition arises when the brain and the nervous system suffer impairments related to growth and development. One develops Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in their childhood, and if not treated early, the symptoms can persist in adulthood as well.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be diagnosed in a child as young as a 3-year old. Therefore, the signs of ADHD usually start showing before the age of 12. This condition is more common in boys than girls. The symptoms of ADHD can range from being mild to moderate to severe.

It is categorized into three types, as stated by understood.org. The categories are- predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive and the third is a combination of these two types of behavior.

  • Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive: Kids and adults experiencing this type of ADHD feel the need to move around constantly and generally display hyperactivity. As a result, they find it challenging to sit in one position for a long time and tend to do things out of impulse.
  • Predominantly inattentive: With this type of ADHD, kids and adults find it challenging to pay attention to what you are saying. They may not necessarily appear fidgety like the ones in the first category. Instead, they are usually found daydreaming and are extremely shy.
  • Combination: Kids and adults in this category of ADHD display both hyperactivity and inattentiveness.

Spotting the symptoms of ADHD in children

  • Fidgetiness: Children are usually hyper and all over the place. Hence, getting them to sit in one place is a task. But if the child refuses to listen to you and is being over fidgety, take it as a possible sign of ADHD.
  • Not able to focus: Your child may say that he/she is listening to you, but that might not be the case at all. Kids who have ADHD have a hard time focusing on things, even if you are talking directly to them. Many a time they won’t be able to repeat what you just told them. In addition to this, they may have a trying time focusing on their homework or paying attention to the teacher in class.
  • Making careless mistakes: Kids with ADHD often make careless mistakes or keep repeating them. But that doesn’t mean that your child is lazy or isn’t smart enough. Cut him/her some slack, would you? You should refrain from reprimanding him/her for this behavior.
  • Trouble completing tasks: Your child may find a lot of things interesting all at once. But whether he/she can complete a task is the big question. Therefore, watch out for the signs of ADHD if your loved one is unable to complete a project or chore after starting.
  • Throwing temper tantrums: Some kids often struggle with keeping their emotions in control. Your kid may throw temper tantrums or have angry outbursts at inappropriate times. If this happens, investigate their emotions instead of simply dismissing him or her as a ‘brat.’
  • Avoiding detailed tasks: You may think your child is merely being lazy when not doing his/her homework. But remind yourself that the case could be something else altogether like ADHD. Kids with ADHD find it hard to follow instructions. Therefore, they tend to avoid projects that require extensive skills and are slightly difficult.
  • Interruptive behavior: Does your child keep interrupting your conversations? Is he or she keen in participating in games that they are not included in? Now you know this could be ADHD, don’t you?
  • Focused on themselves: Certain kids with ADHD tend to only think about themselves. This is primarily because they don’t know how to take other people’s feelings or needs into consideration. So, before you think your kid is being selfish, check yourself.
  • Daydreaming: It’s not necessary that a child with ADHD is always loud and disruptive. Some kids are on the other end where they are quiet and less involved with everyone else. They like to indulge in deep thinking and are not too bothered about what’s going on around them. This behavior often gets mistaken for depression.

Spotting the symptoms of ADHD in adults

  • Disorganization: As you grow older, the responsibilities increase, and we often need to keep our tasks in check. But this becomes increasingly difficult for adults with ADHD. As a result, they struggle with keeping things in place and face issues when it comes to being organized.
  • Forgetfulness: Forgetting things is understandable. But,  adults who have ADHD tend to forget more than usual. They have trouble remembering the basics like where they have kept their things, what date and day it is etc.
  • Mood swings: Adults with ADHD can suffer from extreme mood swings. Because of this, one minute they can be extremely bored, and the other, they can feel ultra-adventurous.
  • Lack of focus: People may suffer from an inability to focus. Hence, they can have a hard time concentrating on their work in the office or even listening to you. Some tend to overlook details and have trouble completing tasks and chores.
  • Being too focused: There’s a flip side to one being unfocused, and it’s called being hyper-focused. In this condition, a person may be too focused on what he/ she is doing. In turn, they end up not paying attention to what is going on around them.
  • Trouble managing time: Some adults often have trouble managing their time. They may end up late for important meetings or are unable to meet deadlines. Others may delay some time-bound projects if they don’t find them interesting. They even have trouble grasping the concept of the past and the future tense.
  • Impulsive behavior: People may indulge in participating in impulsive tasks, which can sometimes border on being risky. As a result, they usually have trouble understanding the consequences of their actions.
  • Suffering from low-self-esteem: Certain adults tend to suffer from self-image issues where they experience a lack of self-confidence and self-esteem. Therefore, they are often hypercritical of themselves.
  • Anxiety and restlessness: People may find the need to keep moving or doing something. Hence when they don’t get to do so, they feel restless. This therefore can result in anxiety and frustration.
  • Drugs and substance abuse: Research suggests that people who have ADHD may be more prone to substance abuse. These include alcoholism, doing drugs, addiction to smoking, etc. A few people tend to indulge in drugs to help themselves with reducing sleep issues and anxiety.

Types of therapy and treatment options for ADHD in adulthood/ childhood

  • Behaviour therapy: This type of therapy involves using a system of rewards; you reward the child every time they succeed in controlling their ADHD.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This involves a child or adult taking therapy sessions. In addition to this, it improves your thinking process or the way you behave sees a transformation.
  • Medication: 5 types of medication are licensed mainly for the treatment of ADHD. These are methylphenidate, dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine, and guanfacine. To know more about these types of medication, go here.
  • Education and training programs: These help in spreading awareness about ADHD. Also, it teaches parents skills on how to deal with their child’s condition to bring about an improvement.
  • Social skills training: In this type of training, a child is taught skills on how to behave when in a social situation. He or she is made aware of what kinds of behaviour can be harmful to others. This type of training will not only help the individual but also his/her parents in understanding how to handle this condition.

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice but suggested techniques that you can try. If none of these seems to work, you may need an advanced form of treatment.

Here’s a long-lasting solution to effectively manage ADHD and reduce symptoms

Neurofeedback: Dear parents, with this treatment, you can help your loved one manage their ADHD well. This technology also helps treat mental illnesses like depression, trauma, etc. To learn more, watch this video.

In addition to these tips, Brain & Co. offers med-free treatment that could help you overcome some of the challenges that come with depression/anxiety/sleep issues, etc. Visit our website or give us a call to learn more.