ADHD

Maybe not all of us are aware of ADHD. First of all, ADHD is the short form of Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder. A person with ADHD experiences a variety of impairments, including difficulty maintaining attention or focusing on a particular task. Some people with ADHD might have difficulty sitting still, and others may experience a combination of different symptoms, while all people may struggle with paying attention to things they find disinteresting from time to time, those with ADHD may face consistent challenges with maintaining attention and could be quick to follow through on impulses or become easily distracted. A person with ADHD experiences impulsivity and distraction beyond a level that would be typical for a person's age.

There are three different specifiers a doctor will add to an ADHD diagnosis to identify its characteristics, including predominantly inattentive ADHD, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, and combined ADHD.

In the United States, approximately 8.4 percent of children have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Around 2.5 percent of adults have ADHD. In some children, ADHD symptoms begin as early as 3 years of age, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, most children with ADHD receive a diagnosis during elementary school. However, some people may not receive a diagnosis until adolescence or even adulthood. No specific diagnostic test can identify ADHD. A doctor will conduct examinations to rule out other potential causes, such as hearing or vision problems.

Doctors may recommend treating ADHD with a combination of therapies. The treatments often depend upon an individual's symptoms and the degree to which ADHD is impacting on school and home life. These treatments include school support, parent coaching, behavioral therapy and medications according to the type of ADHD a person suffers from. ADHD does not resolve over time or with age, and people do not "grow out" of these behaviors. Some people may notice that some symptoms improve as they get older, but aging does not in and of itself mean that the person will be "cured."

People with an ADHD diagnosis require dedicated care and help to process and manage these characteristics. If an individual with ADHD does not receive treatment, they can experience negative outcomes related to their condition, including but not limited to low self-esteem, depression, problems in school, and family conflicts.

ADHD might be close to our lives without us noticing. Sometimes, some of us think that a person who suffers from ADHD is “weird” and we call them by the term “weird”. This should stop because we aren’t aware of what he/she is facing. This disorder is real and we need to help them get through it. Avoid bullying them but instead, befriend them and tolerate their sickness.

By Michella Eleanor