What is ADHD?
ADHD is a medical condition that stands for attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. It is a common disorder amongst children, however, adults also struggle with this disorder. A person with ADHD will have differences in their brain structure and brain activity that causes inability to focus at times, inability to sit still at times, and tendencies that demonstrate a decrease in impulse control.
What Are The Signs of ADHD?
Impulsiveness
Typically, a child that struggles with ADHD will identify with signs of being impulsive. This may mean that they act without thinking, struggle to follow directions, and may act out emotionally. They may be quick to react and unable to control difficult emotions such as anger and sadness at times. They may also take things from others, interrupt others when they’re speaking, or grab and push things and people.
Hyperactivity
Many children (or adults) tend to struggle to stay focused or sit still. They may constantly be fidgeting or moving around in their seats at work or school. When it comes to studies, they may rush through things and are not able to take their time. Although intelligent, those with ADHD will make careless mistakes due to rushing. Sometimes, they may appear as disruptive in certain environments because they have the urge to run around, jump, and play when they shouldn’t be.
Reactivity
This next sign of ADHD is not as common as some of the other symptoms, however, it can be present amongst many individuals. These individuals are quick to react when they are bumped into or if someone enters their personal space. It is not that they are trying to be malicious or defiant, however, the brain is quick to create a response of anger, whether it be physical or verbal.
Lack of Focus
As we mentioned above, many individuals with ADHD have a tendency to struggle with focus. Whether it be at work or on a school assignment, ADHD individual’s can become easily distracted or may not process things immediately. This can cause issues at work or in school and may be seen as a developmental delay. Although this is not true, it may appear this way for some.
How Do I Know If I (Or My Child) has ADHD?
Many people are quick to jump to the conclusion that a child or adult may have ADHD if they display the above signs. Sometimes, however, this may not be the case and a child or adult can demonstrate some of these qualities due to other factors. If you are unsure or would like to explore whether or not you or your child may have this disorder, feel free to give me a call or set up an appointment. We can evaluate together through talk, observations, and assessments whether or not a diagnosis is applicable. From there, we can discuss appropriate treatment plans to help get your ADHD symptoms under better control.
What Are My Next Steps?
Need more information or would like to set up an appointment? Feel free to contact me! We will get back to you within 24 hours for a free consultation and to see if we are the right fit for you!