Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects not only children but also adults. If you or your child experience any of the following symptoms in your daily life, you may need to pay attention and consider seeking professional help.
One of the most common symptoms of ADHD is inattention. Whether in school, work, or family life, people with ADHD often have difficulty focusing and are easily distracted.
If you find yourself or your child always easily attracted by the things around you and unable to concentrate on completing tasks, especially in situations that require long periods of concentration (such as classes, meetings, or reading), this may be a manifestation of ADHD.
People with ADHD often have difficulty completing tasks from start to finish, especially activities that require patience and meticulousness. For example, children may frequently lose focus when doing homework and cannot stick to completing tasks; adults may frequently switch tasks at work, resulting in low work efficiency.
Another typical symptom is the tendency to forget daily trivialities, such as appointments, household tasks, work arrangements, etc. This memory problem is not due to a lack of responsibility, but due to the different way the brain processes information, which makes it easy to overlook details.
ADHD patients often show obvious overactivity, especially in children. This overactivity is not only physical, but may also manifest as emotional overexcitement.
If a person is always unable to sit still, frequently moves in his seat, stands up, or walks around in inappropriate occasions, this may be a manifestation of ADHD. For example, children often stand up and walk around in class, or adults have difficulty staying still during long meetings.
Another manifestation of ADHD is excessive speech and behavior. For example, children may interrupt others before they finish speaking, or adults may appear informal in social situations and have difficulty controlling their speech or behavior.
People with ADHD may feel restless and often need to do some physical activity to release excess energy. Children may keep shaking their feet, or adults may feel very uncomfortable in long static activities.
People with ADHD often show impulsive behavior and cannot control their impulses. Impulsivity is not only reflected in behavior, but may also affect emotions and decision-making.
If you or your child often do things without considering the consequences, regret it later, or make impulsive decisions, this may be part of the manifestation of ADHD. For example, a child may interrupt the teacher in class, or an adult may make important life decisions without fully considering it.
People with ADHD may become emotionally unstable, and they may feel angry, frustrated, or anxious about trivial things. Difficulty in emotion management is also part of impulsive behavior, making it difficult for patients to calmly deal with daily stress.
People with ADHD often have difficulty waiting, especially when waiting in line or waiting. They may appear impatient and cannot tolerate long waits.
Due to inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior, people with ADHD often perform worse than their peers in their academic or professional lives. Poor academic performance, inability to complete tasks, and failure to submit homework on time are common.
ADHD children may often show fluctuations in grades in school. Although they may have outstanding performance in certain subjects, they often find it difficult to maintain stable good grades due to inattention and incomplete task completion. Adults may lack organization at work, resulting in task delays and poor work results.
People with ADHD often lack time management skills and have difficulty completing tasks on time. For example, students may miss homework deadlines, or adults may not be able to effectively manage their time at work, resulting in inefficiency and overtime.
Due to impulsive behavior, mood swings, and inattention, people with ADHD may also have difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy work relationships. Frequent communication problems, misunderstandings, and conflicts may make them face challenges in interpersonal communication and work.
Due to their impulsive and impatient personalities, ADHD patients may have difficulty in social activities, especially when communicating with others.
Due to their lack of self-control, ADHD patients may interrupt others inappropriately during social interactions or speak too bluntly, leading to conflicts with others. Children may be disliked by teachers or classmates in school for interrupting or being too active.
ADHD patients' impulsivity and overactivity may also affect their friendships, especially for young children, who may show emotional instability or impatience when interacting with their peers, making it difficult to maintain stable friendships.
Due to frequent social conflicts and academic difficulties, ADHD patients' self-esteem may be affected. Children may feel frustrated because they cannot adapt to school life, and adults may feel uneasy because of their lack of efficiency and performance in the workplace.
If you or your child have the above symptoms of ADHD, it is best to seek professional diagnosis and help as soon as possible. The diagnosis of ADHD usually involves the following steps:
Doctor evaluation: The doctor will comprehensively evaluate the individual's symptoms through questionnaires, behavioral observations, and communication with parents or teachers.
Psychological evaluation: Professional psychologists or psychiatrists may conduct a more in-depth psychological evaluation to rule out other possible diseases and determine the severity of symptoms.
Symptom duration: The diagnostic criteria for ADHD usually require symptoms to last for more than 6 months and affect the individual's learning, work, or social functions.
Treatment of ADHD usually includes behavioral therapy, medication, and educational support. Common treatment methods include:
Behavioral therapy: Help patients gradually improve their ability to pay attention and control impulses by establishing positive behaviors and habits.
Drug treatment: Stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine (Ritalin) and amphetamines (Adderall) are often used to treat ADHD to help patients concentrate better.
Family and school support: Provide children with a structured learning environment and help them better adapt to daily life through family understanding and support.
If you or your child often show problems such as inattention, overactivity, impulsive behavior, etc. in daily life, then ADHD may be a health problem that needs attention. Early diagnosis and intervention can help improve symptoms and improve quality of life. If you have similar symptoms, it is recommended to seek help from a doctor or mental health professional as soon as possible.
