What Is ADHD?: The Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and How To Treat Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD is a term that gets thrown around a lot, especially among children. With all the information floating around out there, we want to take a moment to demystify ADHD and help you understand exactly what it is and how to treat it.

What Is ADHD?

ADHD is a very common neurodevelopmental disorder that is typically diagnosed in childhood, however it may be diagnosed in adulthood as well.

Signs and Symptoms of ADHD

Children often have trouble focusing or behaving. It’s totally normal and developmental appropriate. Children with ADHD tend to struggle more with paying attention and controlling impulsive behaviors. They may also be overly active. Children with ADHD do not grow out of these behaviors. Instead, the symptoms continue and may become more severe, causing difficulty at school, with peers, or at home.

Someone with ADHD might:

  • forget or lose things often

  • daydream

  • fidget and squirm

  • talk excessively

  • take unnecessary risks

  • make careless mistakes

  • have trouble resisting temptation

  • struggle with taking turns or sharing with peers

  • have difficulty getting along with others

If you notice that your child or someone you care for is struggling with these symptoms, it’s important to have the evaluated by a qualified professional. ADHD cannot be self-diagnosed and requires a full psychological evaluation. More details below on how to connect with the right therapist, counselor, or psychologist.

Types of ADHD

There are three different types of ADHD.

  • Predominantly Inattentive: With this type of ADHD, it is hard for the person to organize or finish a ask, to pay attention to details, or to follow instructions.

  • Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive: With this type of ADHD, it may be hard for the person to sit still. They may fidget and talk a lot. Usually accompanied with a feeling or restlessness and struggles with impulsivity.

  • Combined presentation: Symptoms from both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive are present.

Causes of ADHD

The exact causes and risk factors of ADHD are still unknown, but research Dows show us that genetic play an important role. Other possible risk factors or causes are brain unjust, environmental exposure to things like lead, alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, premature delivery, and low birth weight.

Research does not illustrate that eating too much sugar, watching too much TV, or social and environmental factors cause ADHD. But, we do know that all of these factors may make symptoms worse and working on these areas of life may improve ADHD symptoms.

How To Get A Diagnosis for ADHD in Miami, FL or Online

There is no single text to diagnose ADHD and the diagnostic process may have several steps. The first step is to have a medical exam, including hearing a vision tests to rule out any other problems that may result in symptoms of ADHD. The child or adult will then meet with a testing psychologist who will administer a series of tests and take history from parents, teachers, and sometimes the child.

If you would like to be matched with a testing psychologist for ADHD, we have several options online and in person at The Collaborative Miami. Please complete the form below and we will be in touch ASAP!

Whitney Goodman