Do you remember when you used to stare out of the window in the classroom in elementary school and watch the butterfly dance on the flower? And that fly that landed on your desk was always a little more entertaining than the teacher? Or when students in the hallway outside the classroom always distracted you just when the teacher called on you? How your desk was always filled with crumpled papers and books always falling out onto the floor? When you knew the answer you blurted it out in excitement and the teacher would always remind you to raise your hand first? Sometimes people used big words to describe you like "impulsive," but you thought you just faster at reacting than everybody else was. That seemed like a good thing. It was a little hard to get along with some children, and you frequently did not get picked for teams because you weren't able to kick or throw the ball as well as the other kids.
Perhaps you were among that 10 percent of the children in school who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but, in your case, it was not recognized. People often said that you were just lazy and immature. It seemed as if they were probably right since you struggled with school work ever since you started school. It sure didn't help your self-esteem either because you knew you were somehow different from the other kids and sometimes you got teased. Maybe you compensated for the ADHD by working harder and being intelligent enough to overcome some of your limitations.
But that is all behind you now and you are an adult. Adults grow out of things like that. Or do they? Unfortunately, approximately 50 percent of the children who had ADHD as children continue to have some of the symptoms even into adulthood. It is important to understand that this disorder does not involve an actual deficit in attention but a problem with "attention regulation” or keeping your attention on what is most important at the time. As an adult it is may be referred to as ADD because there are few symptoms of hyperactivity. Problems of attention, concentration, organization and impulsivity are more common. Hyperactivity symptoms may look more like restlessness, getting bored easily and trying to do too many things at once. Daily routine tasks such as being on time, starting and finishing a project, remembering things, paying attention when someone talks and staying focused on a job are just some of the common challenges that you can continue to experience. Adults may find that they have trouble keeping a job, managing finances and maintaining relationships. Self-esteem can suffer as ADHD adults struggle with things that come naturally to others.
The causes for ADHD are unclear. It seems to have a neurological basis involving the chemical messengers in the brain known as neurotransmitters. The cerebral cortex of the brain is also believed to play a role in the areas of "executive functioning” such as planning, problem solving, and impulse control. A genetics seems likely since parents who are ADHD are much more likely to have children with the disorder.
Making a diagnosis of ADD requires more than identifying a cluster of symptoms. Anyone can experience some of these symptoms at times. They must be of sufficient intensity, duration and frequency that they interfere with important life functions. The diagnosis can be determined by a qualified physician or psychologist after an extensive interview, psychological and cognitive testing, and gathering information from collateral sources. It is not uncommon for ADHD adults to also have other conditions such as anxiety, depression, or substance abuse ... confounding the task of making an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment for ADHD adults generally involves use of some type of medication to achieve some balance in brain neurotransmitters. Education and counseling is also recommended as an adjunct to medication to help individuals learn to manage those the most troubling characteristics of the disorder and to teach them strategies to manage problems with attention, distraction, social skills, organization, budgeting and planning. With treatment adults with this disorder can lead successful lives and develop the skills to manage work, relationships and life in general.
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