ADD/ADHD
ADD/ADHD
What is ADHD?
- Neurodevelopmental disorder starting in childhood.
- Characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity.
- Causes impairments in school, work, relationships, and daily activities.
Key Features of ADHD:
- Inattention: Difficulty focusing, staying on task, and completing tasks.
- Hyperactivity: Excessive movement, fidgeting, restlessness (especially in adults).
- Symptoms vary: May differ between children and adults and can change over time.
- Adults may experience significant inattention without hyperactivity.
When do symptoms appear?
- Before age twelve.
- Can persist throughout life, causing challenges in various areas of functioning.
Types of ADHD:
- Different presentations with specific symptom patterns.
How can Ally Psychiatry help?
- Providers assess and diagnose ADHD.
- Personalized treatment plans to reduce symptoms.
- Medication management and evaluation services available.
Inattentive
A person with inattentive ADHD may demonstrate the following disruptive characteristics:
- Difficulty paying attention or making careless mistakes.
- Challenges with maintaining focus on tasks or activities.
- Appearing not to listen when spoken to.
- Struggles with time management, organization, and completing instructions.
- Frequently losing necessary items or becoming easily distracted.
- Forgetting tasks, obligations, or avoiding tasks that require prolonged focus.
This specifier indicates that an individual shows more hyperactivity than inattention, including:
- Being constantly “on-the-go” and unable to stay seated.
- Frequent inappropriate running, climbing, or creating excessive noise.
- Interrupting or intruding on conversations and activities.
- Persistent fidgeting, tapping, or excessive talking.
- Difficulty waiting for their turn in lines or conversations.
- Answering questions before they are finished or finishing others’ sentences.
Combined
A person with combined ADHD exhibits characteristics of both inattention and hyperactivity, which can significantly impact daily life, relationships, and performance in school or work.
Specifiers can change over time, and women are more likely to experience inattentive characteristics, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This often leads to underdiagnosis in females, as their symptoms are less likely to be described as disruptive in educational settings compared to hyperactive traits.
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