October marks ADHD Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness and support for those with the condition by dispelling common misconceptions about ADHD and increasing access to professional diagnoses and treatment.
ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common mental health disorders – about 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults in the US have ADHD. People develop ADHD in childhood, which they may or may not get properly diagnosed. While symptoms of ADHD can change or diminish with age, ADHD does not disappear in adulthood. There are three types of ADHD.
Hyperactive/Impulsive type
The least common type of ADHD is characterized by impulsive and hyperactive behaviors without inattention and distractibility. If one has at least five of the following nine symptoms, they may be diagnosed with hyperactive and impulsive type ADHD:
Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
Often has difficulty remaining seated when expected to
Often feels restless or runs about in inappropriate situations
Often unable to take part in leisure activities quietly
Often seen as “always on the go,” as if driven by a motor
Often talks excessively
Often blurts out answers before a question or sentence is complete
Often have difficulty waiting their turn
Often interrupts or intrudes on others
Inattentive type
Characterized by inattention and distractibility without hyperactivity. If one has at least five of the following nine symptoms, they may be diagnosed with inattentive type ADHD:
Often loses items necessary for tasks
Often distracted by unrelated thoughts
Often forgets to complete daily activities
Often has a short attention span and difficulty remaining focused for age
Often unable to finish tasks or follow instructions
Often avoids task that requires mental focus over a long period of time
Often unable to pay close attention to details, resulting in careless mistakes
Often has difficulty organizing tasks, time, or workspace
Combined type
The most common type of ADHD is characterized by impulsive and hyperactive behaviors as well as inattention and distractibility. If one has at least five or more symptoms in each of the two categories, they may be diagnosed with combined type ADHD.
Diagnosis is dependent on how much the symptoms affect one’s life – the symptoms must significantly impair the functioning of a person in social, work, or school activities, be present in two or more settings, be present for more than six months, and cannot be better explained by another mental health condition.
A thorough evaluation may include looking at the person’s history of childhood behavior and school experiences, using standardized behavior rating scales or ADHD symptom checklists to determine whether one meets the diagnostic criteria, and using psychological tests that evaluate working memory, executive functioning, visual and spatial, or reasoning (thinking) skills.
Treatment for ADHD is typically a combination of therapy and medication intervention. Psychostimulants (amphetamines and methylphenidate) are first-line pharmacological treatments for the management of ADHD.
It’s important to seek professional assessment to receive the proper diagnosis,
treatment, and support.