ADHD

What is ADHD?

 

ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects about 9% of children and 4% of adults. It’s characterized and known for impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. People with ADHD are usually easily distracted, find it hard to listen to someone, and typically show hyperactive behavior.

There are three types of ADHD, with each their own kind of symptoms. We distinguish:

• ADHD-I (Inattentive): The inattentive type of ADHD is known for signs like isolating yourself in your own (imaginary) world, and finding it hard to keep your focus and attention to things. This type is also known as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).
• ADHD-H (Hyperactive/impulsive): You are hyperactive, move a lot, and find it hard to sit still for a little while. Often you’re doing and saying things without thinking about it first.
• ADHD-C(Combined): This type of ADHD has characteristics of the two types above. You are often hyperactive and have trouble with attention. This type of ADHD is the most common.

Youth with ADHD

Young adults with ADHD may have trouble paying attention in class, getting organized, managing time, and completing schoolwork. They may also be impulsive and act without thinking through the consequences of their actions.

This can lead to problems with self-esteem and relationships with friends and family members as well as academic struggles at school. Adolescents with ADHD often feel frustrated by their inability to focus on tasks they find boring or difficult in order to get good grades or perform well on tests.

For many young people with ADHD symptoms do not significantly improve until adulthood when they can better manage them themselves through medication or other therapies such as counseling sessions or support groups for families affected by ADHD problems.

How can you tell if your child has ADHD?

Most people get diagnosed with ADHD as a kid, but not everybody is diagnosed in their younger years. Several signs can point to this condition for adolescents or adults. Sometimes it's recognized when they are becoming more aware of symptoms, sometimes the family or other close relatives notices signs of ADHD.

What causes ADHD?

There is still a lot of research going on to what causes ADHD. Previous results show that this mental health condition is related to the connections in your brain. Also environment and heredity turn out to play important roles in developing ADHD.

ADHD symptoms

How can you recognize ADHD?

Signs of ADHD include:

• Inattention
• Difficulty focusing on tasks
• Difficulty following directions
• Trouble staying organized
• Forgetfulness about daily activities
• Difficulty completing tasks on time
• Disorganization at school or work
• Trouble staying still for long periods of time
• Restless behavior during activities that require to sit still

ADHD diagnosis

ADHD can be diagnosed by a specialist. In order to diagnose ADHD teenagers need to conform with a set of criteria. After physical examination, an interview series and reports from parents and teachers the specialist can write down the diagnosis or not. Diagnosing adults with ADHD is a bit more complicated as you’ll be asked about current symptoms and signs that have been present in your childhood.

ADHD and medication

Sometimes medication is described for people with ADHD. We encourage reduced to no usage of medication, however as each individuals situation is unique, we find it important to assess this for each individual client. Our psychiatrist will reassess your needs during your intake. If medication makes an important constructive change to your life, she'll prescribe the same or another medicine.

ADHD treatment

ADHD treatment focuses on helping the person making this condition less of a problem in daily life. As a result it can relieve symptoms and bring back structure and rest. ADHD can be treated with therapy and/or special medication. The Grange Youth Clinic uses clinical treatment to support the client with this condition. Focusing on the mental part of this condition we can help young adults deal with ADHD so it will not affect their daily life as much as it did before. As ADHD can have a serious effect on underachievement in work or education, social interactivity, making friends, and maintaining relationships.