attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
adhd is an under diagnosed and
under-treated condition with the
potential to cause significant
challenges in everyday life for those
affected
in society a social stigma attributed to
adhd exists
with children being labeled as badly
behaved or stupid
for many adhd continues in adulthood
resulting in workplace challenges due to
the lack of attention impulsivity and
restlessness
an increased awareness and acceptance of
adhd is needed ensuring early diagnosis
and support for those with the condition
in this video we will break down adhd so
let's talk mental health
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i'm dr hart pinto and in this series we
aim to break down the social barriers of
mental health
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okay so what is adhd
adhd is a neurodevelopmental condition
which shows its first symptoms in
childhood the condition was initially
thought to exclusively affect children
with little to no impact later in life
however we now know this not to be true
and where left untreated the symptoms of
adhd can persist resulting in ongoing
inattention impulsiveness and
hyperactivity in adulthood
the condition is thought to affect up to
five percent of children and two percent
of adults this means adhd affects almost
five million adults and four million
children in the us alone with millions
more affected worldwide
unfortunately around 80 percent of adult
adhd sufferers remain undiagnosed and
unaware of their condition
adhd creates daily challenges for
sufferers impacting their daily lives
symptoms frequently result in workplace
problems
resistance to authority and in some
cases increased criminality
some studies have shown that up to 40
percent of the male prison inmates
suffer from adhd
so who gets adhd
most new diagnosis of adhd are made
between the ages of 6 and 12 years
why adhd occurs is not really understood
researchers have suggested the condition
results from abnormal brain biochemistry
plus an over or under development of
regions within the brain
what we do know
is that adhd tends to run in families
for around 80 percent a clear genetic
link exists
you are therefore
more likely to develop adhd where a
parent or sibling has the condition
you may also be at increased risk if you
were born premature your mother has used
drugs alcohol or tobacco during
pregnancy or you've experienced a brain
injury
three-quarters of patients with adhd
will have a co-existing second mental
health condition such as autism
so what are the other symptoms of adhd
symptoms of adhd are largely noticeable
in children before the age of six
concerns are usually raised by teachers
or parents the symptoms of adhd can be
broadly separated into three categories
first is hyperactivity this usually
manifests itself as restlessness with
individuals being unable to sit still
are not often seen fidgeting
children may also struggle to play
quietly
next is impulsiveness
due to the impulsive nature of adhd
sufferers may act without thinking and
without consideration for danger
they may find it difficult to wait their
turn interrupting others or even talking
excessively
and third inattention
short attention spans and being easily
distracted are common features
this often results in careless mistakes
during work
or in school time
teachers or employers may interpret this
as being unable to listen or complete
tasks which are labeled boring or
tedious
individuals may flit between activities
and tasks that are given to them
and they may be perceived as being
forgetful regularly losing their
personal items
for children adhd symptoms can result in
poor academic achievement and they may
appear to lack respect for authority and
even experience challenges with social
interactions
so how can adhd be diagnosed
if you believe that you or your child
are suffering from adhd you should
discuss your concerns with your regular
doctor
in the first instance your primary care
physician or your gp
may recommend a period of observation
parental classes focusing on managing
adhd behavior in children can also be
useful in early stages and are
recommended
attending doesn't make you a bad parent
it means you are supporting your child's
development in ways that will work for
both of you
a referral to a specialist for a formal
assessment will be required for those
with persistent symptoms
before your appointment you may be asked
to complete a conus questionnaire
the conus questionnaire is designed to
evaluate yours or your child's behavior
work or school work and social life
this questionnaire indicates whether you
or your child are likely to suffer from
adhd
or potentially indicate the presence of
an alternative mental health condition
adhd management usually combines
psychotherapy plus medication as
directed by your specialist
psychostimulants form the backbone of
pharmaceutical treatment they aim to
promote balancing of the abnormal brain
biochemistry as seen with adhd
they come in two groups
amphetamines this dexamphetamine which
is first line in this group and
methylphenidates which includes
methylphenidate again first line
psychotherapy is effective in helping
you better understand your adhd and
cognitive behavioral therapy cbt
provides the techniques and helps
develop skills to better control your
symptoms
for families group therapy can be
beneficial here family members can learn
to provide support plus the means for
dealing with their own stresses too
for children a supportive learning
environment is essential to support
their progress through school
this requires close involvement and
collaboration with their teachers more
recently questions have surfaced
regarding the role of fish oil
supplements in the management of adhd
whilst positive results have been
demonstrated this tends to be isolated
to children with omega-3 deficiencies
and therefore is not recommended for all
of course more research is obviously
needed to clarify the situation
for now sticking to a healthy balanced
diet plus plenty of exercise is always
going to be recommended
so what about the prognosis
for most cases we know that the symptoms
improve once children reach puberty
however there are some people amongst
whom the symptoms will persist into
adulthood
given the sheer number of people with
adhd and many of them being undiagnosed
and the significant impact this
condition can have
programs providing education and
increased awareness are very important
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intended for information purposes only
do not consider this as a substitute for
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you