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ADHD- symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Authored by Dr Richard Bennett on 17.02.2019
Medically Reviewed by Dr Aifric Boylan
Last updated on 11.06.2024
Medically Reviewed by Dr Aifric Boylan
Last updated on 11.06.2024
What is ADHD?
- ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
- People with ADHD display some or all of the following:
- Hyperactivity (in kids – fidgety, energetic, sometimes agitated).
- Poor concentration (in kids – bad grades, difficulty with teachers).
- Impulsive behaviour (in kids – getting into trouble, making bad choices, being “naughty”).
How common is ADHD?
- Estimates vary. It appears that approximately 1 to 2% of people have ADHD.
- It’s usually diagnosed during childhood.
- It can continue to affect some people for their whole lives.
- It always starts in childhood – it doesn’t start in adulthood (though it may still be diagnosed in later life).
Who gets diagnosed with ADHD?
- It’s commoner in:
- People in care.
- People with epilepsy.
- People with learning difficulties/disabilities.
- People with mental health problems.
- People who have had a brain injury.
- It’s under-diagnosed in girls and women.
- It’s associated with:
- An increased risk of anxiety and depression.
- An increased risk of getting into trouble with the law.
- An increased risk of developing a problem with substance misuse.
- People with a history of substance misuse.
- People who get into trouble with the law (1)
What causes ADHD?
- Nobody knows what causes ADHD.
- It can tend to run in families – it’s thought that there may be a genetic influence.
- If a child is diagnosed, you should consider whether other family members are undiagnosed.
How do you diagnose ADHD?
- If you feel you or a family member could have ADHD, you should discuss the possibility with your family doctor.
- If it’s appropriate, they should make a referral
- Usually to a paediatrician for a child.
- Usually to a psychiatrist for an adult.
- The paediatrician or psychiatrist will have specific criteria that they test against.
- This assessment is fairly time-consuming.
- They will either use “ICD-10” or “DSM-5” criteria.
- (These are the technical names of the assessments you can use for diagnosing ADHD.)
What’s the treatment for ADHD?
- Treatments should be tailored to each individual case.
- People with ADHD work differently to others.
- Understanding the condition is key to making progress.
- A significant amount of effort should be put towards educating family members, educators and employers about how ADHD affects the sufferer.
- A comprehensive treatment plan should be formulated by a team including (but not limited to):
- Employers.
- Educators.
- Psychologists.
- Occupational therapists.
- Doctors.
- Family members.
- Environmental modifications for example:
- Modified school curriculum.
- Choice of job.
- Workplace adaptations.
- Psychological, behavioural and educational counselling.
- Medications:
- Medication is often the first line drug treatment for people aged 5 years and over with ADHD.
If you suspect undiagnosed ADHD you should get advice from your regular GP.
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