forgetting daily tasks, appearing not to listen when being spoken to, and disliking tasks that require prolonged mental effort. Under impulsiveness, you’ll find symptoms such as fidgeting, talking too much, and interrupting others during a conversation.
It should be noted that it tends to be easier to diagnose children than adults because some people have developed coping mechanisms that may mask their symptoms.
In that case, doctors may look for fewer than 6 symptoms and ask about your childhood medical history. While diagnosing ADHD, the doctor may also check for other illnesses that can accompany the disorder. For example, people with ADHD can have depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and dyslexia.
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How Is ADHD Treated?
There is no cure for ADHD. Instead, your doctor will focus on a program that manages the symptoms. This program can be based on a combination of medication and therapy depending on what works for you.
However, combination treatment is usually recommended for children. The prescribed drugs can include stimulants such as methylphenidate or amphetamine and antidepressants. Since each drug has side effects, your doctor will need to discuss how to cope with them. A few of the possible effects are dizziness, headaches, irritability, depression, and decreased appetite.
Where therapy is concerned, children may benefit from behavior therapy, where they are taught to control their ADHD, social skills training, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Their parents are also encouraged to talk openly about the disorder and educate them on what to expect. For adults, the focus may mainly be on CBT and psychotherapy, which helps with recognizing your symptoms as well as managing them.
It’s important to note that your ADHD treatment will rarely be set in stone. Your doctor will likely change doses based on how the symptoms react and it’s common to take breaks from certain types of medication for assessment purposes.
Many Americans are living with ADHD. While it’s more easily diagnosed in children, it’s never too late to get an official diagnosis and start the treatment program you need. If you’re having any of the symptoms attributed to the disorder, it’s best to see your doctor as soon as possible.