What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder. ADHD is a neurological disorder that impacts the parts of the brain that help us plan, focus on, and execute tasks. ADHD symptoms vary by sub-type — inattentive, hyperactive, or combined — and are often more difficult to diagnose in girls and adults.
Neuroscience, brain imaging, and clinical research tell us a few important things: ADHD is not a behavior disorder. ADHD is not a mental illness. ADHD is not a specific learning disability. ADHD is, instead, a developmental impairment of the brain’s self-management system. Both adults and children can be diagnosed with ADHD.
The cause of ADHD remains somewhat unclear. Research suggests that genetics and heredity play a large part in determining who gets ADHD. However, scientists are still investigating whether certain genes, especially ones linked to the neurotransmitter dopamine, play a defined role in developing ADHD. ADHD is not caused by bad parenting, too much sugar, or too many video games.
There is no single test for ADHD. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will assess for any ADHD symptoms exhibited in the past six months. They will also do a physical exam and review your medical history to rule out any other medical or psychiatric conditions that could be causing symptoms.
The best treatment strategies for ADHD are multimodal ones — combinations of several different, complementary approaches that work together to reduce symptoms. For some people, this ideal combination may include ADHD medication, nutrition, exercise, behavioral therapy, and coaching. Finding the right ADHD treatments — and managing them — takes research, planning, organization, and persistence. Early on, talk with your doctor about your options.
ADHD has no age limit and if you have been diagnosed with ADHD you don't grow out of it. It's important to get a diagnose, to understand your uniquely wired brain and work with it and not against it. If you have ADHD there is NOTHING TO FIX!