Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
What Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a condition that affects how your brain works and is a type of neurodivergence, meaning it is a way of brain functioning that is not seen as “typical.” Despite its name, ADHD doesn’t mean that you lack attention. It means that it’s harder for you to control your attention or direct it to certain tasks. ADHD causes symptoms like difficulty focusing, trouble sitting still and impulsive behaviors. But it also allows you to “get in the zone” and hyperfocus on things you really enjoy.
Diagnostically, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by an ongoing pattern of one or more of the following types of symptoms:
Inattention, such as having difficulty paying attention, keeping on task, or staying organized
Hyperactivity, such as often moving around, feeling restless, or talking excessively
Impulsivity, such as interrupting, intruding on others, or having trouble waiting one’s turn
It is common for people to show these behaviors some of the time. However, for people with ADHD, the behaviors are frequent and occur across multiple situations, such as at school, at home, at work, or with family and friends.
ADHD symptoms begin in childhood (commonly between ages 3 and 6) and may continue into adulthood. But some people don’t get a diagnosis until they’re adults. National estimates among U.S. children aged 3–17 years who have ever been diagnosed with ADHD vary from 6% to 16% across states
Types of ADHD
Inattentive: You may only have symptoms listed under the Inattention column below.
Hyperactive-impulsive: You may only have symptoms listed under the Hyperactivity column below.
Combined presentation: You have many inattentive symptoms and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
Unspecified presentation: You have severe symptoms that interfere with daily life, but your symptoms don’t meet the official criteria for the types listed above.
Inattention Symptoms
Avoids tasks that require focusing for a long time
Lack of attention to details, careless mistakes.
Forgetfulness, losing things
Easily distracted by one’s environment, or sometimes one’s own thoughts
Difficulty with organizing things
Difficulty staying focused, including conversations
Difficulty following through and finishing tasks
Difficulty recognizing body cues like hunger, thirst, etc
Hyperactivity Symptoms
Fidgeting
Difficulty remaining seated, restlessness
Difficulty remaining quiet
Difficulty waiting for turn (in discussions, lines, games, etc)
May crave instant gratification
Interrupts what others are doing
Strengths
May thrive in high-pressure situations and fast-paced environments
Ability to “zone in” or hyper-focus on tasks that one cares about
Often seeking novelty, leading to growth and knowledge
May be great at multi-tasking due to tendency to think quickly
What causes ADHD?
People with ADHD commonly have biological parents or siblings with ADHD. Experts believe that some people have genes that predispose them to ADHD. In other words, the genes make ADHD a possibility for that person. But then, certain environmental factors tip the scales and cause ADHD to develop.
Environmental risk factors include:
Exposure to certain toxins during fetal development, including tobacco, alcohol or lead
Low birth weight (the lower the weight, the higher the risk)
Children vs Adults
Recognizing ADHD can be difficult in both children and adults. Sometimes ADHD symptoms can be seen as normal behaviors for energetic children. In adults, ADHD symptoms can be mistaken for depression, anxiety, or other issues.
Children
Lacking focus on details and prone to careless mistakes in schoolwork
Inability to listen and follow directions
Problems organizing items or activities
Losing or forgetting pencils and things needed for school
Fidgeting or needing to move constantly
Blurting out answers out of turn
Difficulty staying seated
Inability to do things quietly
Adults
Poor time management skills
Poor planning skills
Low tolerance for frustration
Lack of focus on tasks
Frequent mood swings
Difficulty coping with stress
Restlessness
Difficulty completing jobs
Gender Differences
Someone can have any type of ADHD regardless of gender. However, boys and men tend to display more hyperactive and impulsive behavior while girls and women are more likely to have inattentive ADHD. Differences in presentations of ADHD may be due to how boys and girls are socialized as children. ADHD in boys/men is more likely to be presented externally, whereas female ADHD symptoms are often internalized. In one study, boys (15%) were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (8%). Additionally, the diagnostic criteria for ADHD and most studies about ADHD have been centered on the male experience, which may look different than the female experience. The following are symptoms that typically align with one gender, but anyone may experience symptoms from either list.
Boys/Men
Hyperactivity
Disruptive behavior
Frequently losing items
Interrupting others during conversations
Aggressive and defensive behaviors
High-risk behaviors (e.g., substance misuse, speeding, unhealthy sexual behaviors, excessive financial spending)
Angry outbursts
Insensitivity
Girls/Women
Feelings of despair, inadequacy and overwhelm
Lacking motivation
Disorganized, forgetful and often late
Being impatient
Fatigue and insomnia
Daydreaming
Disordered eating (forgetting to eat, eating too much at once, etc)
Hypersexuality
Prone to body-focused repetitive behaviors such as skin picking, hair pulling, leg bouncing, nail biting or cuticle picking
Shyness due to social anxiety and sensory sensitivities
Difficulty maintaining attention and switching off while others are talking
Treatment
Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Parent Training
Social Skills Groups
Group Therapy
Medications
Stimulants, such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, etc
Non-stimulants, such as Intuniv or Strattera
Lifestyle Changes
Routine and structure
School or work accommodations
Regular, quality sleep
Physical activity like yoga or tai chi
Meditation
Simplification of daily tasks
Relevant resources
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4784-attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder-adhd
The ADHD Centre. (n.d.). Female vs male ADHD: Differences, symptoms, and diagnosis. The ADHD Centre. https://www.adhdcentre.co.uk/female-vs-male-adhd/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Data and statistics about ADHD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html
