Did you know that October is ADHD Awareness Month?
When people think of ADHD or ADD it's quite common for them to imagine a hyperactive child who can't sit still. But there is so much more to know about ADHD and ADD. It affects people at all stages of life and in many different ways.
So, what is ADHD? What is ADD? And what's the difference?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and it is a medical diagnosis. So, yes, it is very much real. It is a neurological disorder impacting the parts of the brain related to executive functioning.
At a high level this is what is observed and experienced by people with ADHD:
A Hyperactive presentation with symptoms related to hyperactivity and impulsivity.
An Inattentive presentation with symptoms related to inattention, distractibility, and poor working memory. This is what was formerly known as ADD in the medical world and is a term still used by many people. ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder.
And there is a combined presentation of both hyperactive and inattentive symptoms.
The presentation of ADHD symptoms differ from one person to the next and can even change in the same person over time as they age. Imagine a graphic equalizer where each behaviour/experience has its own channel controller and the level for each can go up or down. With the ADHD presentations, some levels tend to go up and some tend to go down.
The symptoms of ADHD can seem quite normal as we all tend to display them at times. This is where some of the confusion lies and why it can be difficult to understand ADHD. The difference is that for someone with ADHD these symptoms are so pervasive and persistent that they significantly impact the person's life and their sense of self.
Having ADHD can be very hard work. Living with or working with or teaching someone with ADHD can also be hard work. It is only through open dialogue that people can gain a better understanding of what this means and truly support and help each other with the challenges they face every day.
But it's not all gloom and doom! There is good help available, and people with ADHD have some wonderful unique traits and characteristics that can bring them and others much happiness and success.
Over the coming month we're looking forward to sharing with you more insights around ADHD and welcome you to comment and add your own thoughts and experiences.
Do you know anyone with ADHD?
What's your experience with ADHD?
