ADHD- symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Medically Reviewed by Dr Aifric Boylan
Last updated on 19.06.2023
What is ADHD?
- ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
- People with ADHD display some or all of the following:
- Hyperactivity (in kids – fidgety, energetic, sometimes agitated).
- Poor concentration (in kids – bad grades, difficulty with teachers).
- Impulsive behaviour (in kids – getting into trouble, making bad choices, being “naughty”).
How common is ADHD?
- Estimates vary. It appears that approximately 1 to 2% of people have ADHD.
- It’s usually diagnosed during childhood.
- It can continue to affect some people for their whole lives.
- It always starts in childhood – it doesn’t start in adulthood (though it may still be diagnosed in later life).
Who gets diagnosed with ADHD?
- It’s commoner in:
- People in care.
- People with epilepsy.
- People with learning difficulties/disabilities.
- People with mental health problems.
- People who have had a brain injury.
- It’s under-diagnosed in girls and women.
- It’s associated with:
- An increased risk of anxiety and depression.
- An increased risk of getting into trouble with the law.
- An increased risk of developing a problem with substance misuse.
- People with a history of substance misuse.
- People who get into trouble with the law (1)
What causes ADHD?
- Nobody knows what causes ADHD.
- It can tend to run in families – it’s thought that there may be a genetic influence.
- If a child is diagnosed, you should consider whether other family members are undiagnosed.
How do you diagnose ADHD?
- If you feel you or a family member could have ADHD, you should discuss the possibility with your family doctor.
- If it’s appropriate, they should make a referral
- Usually to a paediatrician for a child.
- Usually to a psychiatrist for an adult.
- The paediatrician or psychiatrist will have specific criteria that they test against.
- This assessment is fairly time-consuming.
- They will either use “ICD-10” or “DSM-5” criteria.
- (These are the technical names of the assessments you can use for diagnosing ADHD.)
What’s the treatment for ADHD?
- Treatments should be tailored to each individual case.
- People with ADHD work differently to others.
- Understanding the condition is key to making progress.
- A significant amount of effort should be put towards educating family members, educators and employers about how ADHD affects the sufferer.
- A comprehensive treatment plan should be formulated by a team including (but not limited to):
- Employers.
- Educators.
- Psychologists.
- Occupational therapists.
- Doctors.
- Family members.
- Environmental modifications for example:
- Modified school curriculum.
- Choice of job.
- Workplace adaptations.
- Psychological, behavioural and educational counselling.
- Medications:
- Medication is often the first line drug treatment for people aged 5 years and over with ADHD.
If you suspect undiagnosed ADHD you should get advice from your regular GP.
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