What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. This simply means that the brain is wired in a different way. With ADHD there are two main challenges that those with the condition can face. One of these challenges are inattention, which will typically manifest in difficulty sustaining attention in a task, making careless mistakes, appearing distracted or not listening, being forgetful and a tendency to lose things. The other challenge is hyperactivity and impulsivity. Examples include appearing very fidgety, or restless, not being able to sit still, interrupting others, being very talkative and always being on the go.
It is indeed possible to display both sets of symptom clusters, the inattention and the hyperactivity or impulsivity, or just one. Some clients may score very highly on inattention, but not display hyperactive behaviour, and still be diagnosed as ADHD.
Dispelling the myths
Over the last few years awareness of ADHD has grown. There are still some myths surrounding ADHD including the perception that it’s not a real condition. However, the very nature of ADHD underscores the fact that it’s a neurodevelopmental disorder.
It’s interesting to note that sometimes people assume that they have ADD, and not ADHD. The fact is that there is only one condition - ADHD, whilst hyperactivity and inattention are the two main symptom clusters.
There’s also a mistaken assumption that the disorder is limited to children. It’s increasingly recognised that many adults also live with ADHD, often undiagnosed due to the mistaken assumption that the disorder is limited to children. The presenting issues of an adult with ADHD are similar to those of children, though in many cases adults have learnt to regulate their behaviours rather than overcome the urges towards them. ADHD can arise in childhood and often last into adulthood.
As an adult psychiatrist I have seen clients aged 18+, some of whom may have been treated for ADHD in childhood, but the majority of clients I have treated have never been diagnosed with ADHD. The condition is the same, although it may manifest differently as one gets older. Generally, but not always, the hyperactivity and impulsivity in children would draw more attention from parents and teachers. Distractibility is often a key component. What we tend to find is that as people go from your teenage years to early adulthood hyperactivity and impulsivity tend to fade out with the years. For adults who have not previously been diagnosed it might be that the difficulties they have with concentration, organization and prioritising their time and tasks, often tends to bring them to the attention of medical professionals.
Diagnosing ADHD
ADHD should be diagnosed through a through and approved assessment process, which includes a number of semi-structured diagnostic interviews. As a psychiatrist my role is to take a general psychiatric view, exploring the client’s history including mental health difficulties, to gain a better understanding of the symptoms that they have. With ADHD I’m interested in including any other mental health problems. We know that one of the core symptoms of ADHD is poor concentration, which can occur in several other psychiatric conditions, for example, depression. Therefore, it’s important that all mental health conditions are considered. Things we look out for can be highlighted from recollection. We also use objective sources of information, for example historic school reports. It’s important to triangulate different sources of information.
ADHD is a disorder that must be formally diagnosed by a specialist in the subject before therapy of any kind can commence.
Please contact us if you wish to make an appointment for an adult or child who has either been diagnosed with ADHD or requires a diagnosis from one of our specialist practitioners.