Adult ADHD

The terms ADHD and ADD are often thrown around to describe children with high to excessive levels of activity and ‘excitement’, although the flippant use of these terms is often incorrect. Not every super active or distracted child or adult for that matter suffers from ADD or ADHD. The same analogy can be made between hyper-organisation and Obsessive Compulsive Order (OCD) as well as someone who is sad being termed depressed. In actuality, all of these classify as mental health disorders and need to be properly diagnosed by a medical professional.

While ADHD and ADD are largely associated with children and are more commonly diagnosed at that age, that’s not to say that adults don’t suffer from either of these- the challenge is that it is more difficult to diagnose as an adult versus as a child. ADD and ADHD are also often conflated with one another too; however there are some minor differences that distinguish them both symptomatically. That being said, ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder is now associated with being an outdated term, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD now being the general term for the mental disorder. The key distinctions now being made are between ADHD hyperactive/impulsive type, ADHD inattentive type, or ADHD combined type.

The symptoms of ADHD include hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. The type of ADHD diagnosis is based off of the back of the symptoms that are the most persistent. Interestingly, in order to determine which type of ADHD it is, the “symptoms must be present before the individual is 12 years old and must have caused difficulties in more than one setting. For instance, the symptoms can not only occur at home.” Ultimately, this means that while the disorder can be diagnosed at any age, it has to present itself for the first time in childhood. One of the biggest mysteries around ADHD still is what causes it, while some research points to genetics, other research indicates exposure to certain substances throughout the pregnancy such as alcohol or cigarettes or being born prematurely.

In terms of treatment, a combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended, especially in children. Many adults go through their entire lives without being diagnosed, however, in order to do so a review of the past is essential to understand what the symptoms were then and what they are currently in order to accurately determine the type of ADHD and the effective treatment for it. Adults, like children are largely treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

While ADHD and ADD are frequently misunderstood, a clear understanding of their distinctions and appropriate diagnostic criteria is crucial. Recognizing that these are complex mental health disorders deserving of professional attention can lead to better outcomes for individuals affected by them. Addressing these conditions with proper diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve quality of life, whether in childhood or adulthood.