ADHD Awareness Month 2016

October is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) Month. Despite being a common condition, there is much discrimination surrounding ADHD. This is due to the fact that many people are not informed of the facts about ADHD. It is a behavioural condition that can cause those with the condition to be impulsive and inattentive. Here are some basic facts to know about ADHD.

Here are some of the symptoms that children and teenagers with ADHD experience:

- Having a short attention span and being unable to focus.

- Being forgetful and losing things easily.

- Constantly fidgeting, especially in calm settings.

- Acting out with thinking.

ADHD is mainly diagnosed during childhood. If an adult is diagnosed with ADHD, it is believed that they will have developed it during their childhood and it will have gone unnoticed until that point. ADHD is known to run in families and the NHS believes that 2%-5% of children are living with the condition. It is found mainly in those with learning difficulties but can develop in any intellectual ability.

Some of the symptoms that adults with ADHD experience are:

- Starting new tasks without completing old ones.

- An inability to deal with stress.

- Constantly restless.

- Extremely impatient.

Those with ADHD can find social situations and relationships very difficult. Other conditions can be experienced alongside ADHD such as depression, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and bipolar disorder. There is no cure for ADHD but it can be treated with support and therapy as well as medication.

It is important to remember that while ADHD can affect day-to-day activities, they cannot help their behaviour!