ATTENTION DEFICITY HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER ADHD

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” Dr. Seuss

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves a consistent pattern of difficulty (identifiable before the age of 12) regulating one’s attention, emotion, and behaviour. ADHD is a complex condition that often persists over a lifetime. Symptoms can vary amongst individuals and present differently for boys, girls, men, and women, but fall into three categories:

• Predominantly Inattentive Presentation — the person has difficulty with organizing or finishing a task. They find it hard to pay attention to details and find it difficult to follow instructions or conversations.
• Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation — the person finds it hard to keep still. They fidget or talk a lot. The person is restless, impulsive and could interrupt others at inappropriate times. They have difficulty waiting their turn and find it hard to listen to directions.
• Combined Presentation — a person who experiences symptoms equally in both presentations described above.

ADHD usually becomes problematic for an individual once the symptoms begin to interfere with the quality of social, academic or workplace functioning. The diagnosis of ADHD requires a careful age-appropriate assessment of attention, executive functioning, (self-awareness, inhibition, working memory, emotional self-regulation, planning and problem solving) and behavioural impairment.

Causes and risk factors for ADHD are unknown but recent research shows that genetics plays an important role. Researchers are also considering other possible causes and risk factors including brain injury, exposure to toxins or other environmental risks during pregnancy or at a young age, premature birth and low birth weight.

ADHD is best treated with a combination of behaviour therapy and medication. Behaviour therapy for young children, including psychoeducation and training for parents, is recommended as the first line of treatment before medication is tried. A Clinical Psychologist can diagnose ADHD, however, a paediatrician or psychiatrist (>16 years) is required to prescribe medication.