Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
What is ADHD?
ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders. ADHD symptoms vary by sub-type — inattentive, hyperactive, or combined. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to stay focused, daydreaming), hyperactivity (excessive movement that may not always be fitting to the context/setting someone is in) and impulsivity (acts that occur in the moment without much thinking).
What are symptoms of ADHD?
Someone with ADHD might:
- Daydream a lot
- Have trouble focusing
- Get distracted easily
- Forget or lose things
- Have trouble organizing time and belongings
- Squirm or fidget
- Talk too much
- Make careless mistakes
- Make impulsive decisions
- Have a hard time resisting temptation
- have trouble taking turns
What are the three presentations of ADHD?
The DSM-5 lists the following three presentations of ADHD:
- ADHD, predominantly inattentive presentation (formerly called ADD)
- ADHD, predominantly hyperactive presentation
- ADHD, combined presentation
How is ADHD diagnosed?
An ADHD diagnosis is usually given after a comprehensive assessment by a psychologist or physician.
There is no single test for ADHD. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will assess for any ADHD symptoms exhibited by you or your child in the past six months at least. They will also review your medical and mental health history to rule out any other medical or psychiatric conditions that could be causing symptoms (e.g., learning problems, anxiety, depression).
Your doctor or specialists will perform an assessment that includes a checklist for rating ADHD symptoms and taking a history of the child from parents and teachers across two or more settings. Then, it would be determined if the child’s symptoms meet criteria set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V).
