The new definition:  ADHD is described as “a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with development, has symptoms presenting in two or more settings (e.g. at home, school, or work), and negatively impacts directly on social, academic or occupational functioning”.   DSM V

 

Unfortunately, ADD/ADHD do not disappear disappear as you grow older.  It is with you for our lifetime. Often, it does not begin to "show up" in some people until they get older and are are expected to take in more and more information in a shorter and shorter time and to have it organized in a jiffy. This can be as late as high school, college or in the workplace.

 

One reason ADHDmight seem over diagnosed to some people is that awareness of the disorder has been growing since the 1990s, when it became recognized under special education law as a condition that affects learning. 



Childhood ADHD

 

These are the most common ways ADD/ADHD shows up in children:

• Challenge #1: They  have trouble making and keeping friends.  The ADHD link:   Kids with ADHD often don’t notice how their behavior affects other people.  They may interrupt others and have trouble filtering what they say—which could irritate others. Kids with ADHD can be very intense and demanding without realizing it.  Their difficulty with taking turns and waiting for things can cause friendships to burn out.

 

• Challenge #2:They struggle with conversation and listening, especially to multi-task instructions.  The ADHD link:  Kids with ADHD can easily lose the thread of conversation, misinterpret what others are saying and become distracted by unrelated thoughts.   They often do not listen to all what is said or just get the first or last part.  Even if they’re able to create a mental picture of what is being said, they often can’t hold onto it long enough to finish the task. 

 

• Challenge #3: They overreact to situations.  The ADHD link:  Kids with ADHD might struggle with self-control. They may lash out physically when they’re upset, or have meltdowns at an age when it’s no longer appropriate. 

​

• Challenge #4: They are not always reliable, such as forgetting homework, not following through on chores, or forgetting what someone just said.   The ADHD link: Kids with ADHD can have trouble with planning and follow-through. That may cause other kids to think they can’t be counted on when doing group projects.  Even if they’re able to create a mental picture, they often can’t hold onto it long enough to finish the task. 

 

• Challenge #5: They are easily distracted and unfocused, or “day-dreamy,” The ADD link: Kids with ADD may focus for hours on something they like or want to do such as video games or watching TV.  When they are required to focus on something that is hard, they don't like or time consuming, they can't stay focused or are easily distracted.

 

• Challenge #6: They constantly move or are restless.  The ADHD link:  They ave a tendency to take risks and crave excitement, get bored easily, they cannot sit still or they fidget, and they talk all the time.

 

***Is your child easily distracted? Impulsive? Daydreamy? Hyperactive? If your child acts these ways most of the time, what you’re seeing may be signs of ADHD.

 

Adult ADHD

​

Attention deficit disorder often goes unrecognized throughout childhood. This was especially common in the past, when very few people were aware of ADD/ADHD. Instead of recognizing your symptoms and identifying the real issue, your family, teachers, or other parents may have labeled you a dreamer, a goof-off, a slacker, a troublemaker, or just a bad student.

 

Alternately, they may have learned to compensate for the symptoms of ADHD when they were young, only to run into problems as their responsibilities increase. The more balls they are trying to keep in the air—pursuing a career, raising a family, running a household—the greater the demand on their abilities to organize, focus, and remain calm. This can be challenging for anyone, but if they have ADHD, it can feel downright impossible.

 

Common adult ADHD symptoms:

• Trouble concentrating and staying focused

• “zoning out” without realizing it, even in the middle of a conversation

• extreme distractibility; wandering attention makes it hard to stay on track

• difficulty paying attention or focusing, such as when reading or listening to others

• struggling to complete tasks, even ones that seem simple

• tendency to overlook details, leading to errors or incomplete work

• poor listening skills; hard time remembering conversations and following directions

 

Hyperfocus

•  Tendency to become absorbed in tasks that are stimulating and rewarding. 

•  A coping mechanism for distraction—a way of tuning out the chaos. It can be so strong that they become oblivious to everything going on around them

• They may be so engrossed in a book, a TV show, or their computer that they completely lose track of time and neglect the things they are supposed to be doing

• It can be an asset when channeled into productive activities, but it can also lead to work and relationship problems if left unchecked

 

Disorganization and forgetfulness 

• Life often seems chaotic and out of control

• Staying organized and on top of things can be extremely challenging 

• Sorting out what information is relevant for the task at hand, prioritizing the things they need to do 

• Keeping track of tasks and responsibilities, and managing time 

• Poor organizational skills (home, office, desk, or car is extremely messy and cluttered) 

• Tendency to procrastinate

• Trouble starting and finishing projects

• Chronic lateness

• Frequently forgetting appointments, commitments, and deadlines

• Constantly losing or misplacing things (keys, wallet, phone, documents, bills)

• Underestimating the time it will take you to complete tasks

 

Impulsivity

• Have trouble inhibiting their behaviors, comments, and responses. They might act before thinking

• Interrupting others, blurting out comments, and rushing through tasks without reading instructions

• Impulse problems, being patient is extremely difficult. For better or for worse

• Go headlong into situations and find themselves in potentially risky circumstances

• Struggle with controlling impulses

• Frequently interrupt others or talk over them

• Have poor self-control

• Blurt out thoughts that are rude or inappropriate without thinking

• Have addictive tendencies

• Act recklessly or spontaneously without regard for consequences

• Have trouble behaving in socially appropriate ways (such as sitting still during a long meeting)

 

Emotional difficulties

• Have a hard time managing their feelings, especially when it comes to emotions like anger or frustration 

• Sense of under achievement

• Doesn’t deal well with frustration

• Easily flustered and stressed out

• Irritability or mood swings

• Trouble staying motivated

• Hypersensitivity to criticism

• Short, often explosive, temper

• Low self-esteem and sense of insecurity

 

Hyperactivity or restlessness

• Feelings of inner restlessness, agitation

• Tendency to take risks

• Getting bored easily

• Racing thoughts

• Trouble sitting still; constant fidgeting

• Craving for excitement

• Talking excessively

• Doing a million things at once

​

You don’t have to be hyperactive to have ADHD

ADHD adults are much less likely to be hyperactive than their younger counterparts. Only a small slice of adults with ADHD, in fact, suffer from prominent symptoms of hyperactivity. Remember that names can be deceiving and you may very well have ADHD if you have one or more of the symptoms above—even if you lack hyperactivity.

 

Source: Dr. Thomas E. Brown, Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused