ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a condition in which individuals have difficulty paying attention and are easily distracted. This disorder used to be known as ADD (Attention-Deficit Disorder), but was later changed to ADHD by the American Psychiatric Association. If you suspect that you or someone close to you has ADHD, just watch for signs. Consult a mental health professional for an official diagnosis, and seek the support you need to treat ADHD.
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Method 1 of 5: Checking for Signs of ADHD
Step 1. Record activities and reactions for several weeks
If you suspect that you or someone else has ADHD, pay close attention to their emotions and reactions for a few weeks. Write down what he did, how he reacted, and how he felt. Pay particular attention to her ability to focus and pay attention.
Step 2. Determine if he or she has any signs of ADHD-inattention
People with ADHD will show at least five signs (for adults) or six signs (for children under 16 years) on more than one occasion, for at least six months. These signs should not be present at the level of development of people his age and are considered to interfere with normal functioning at work or in the patient's social and school environment. Signs of ADHD (indicating he is negligent) include:
- Making mistakes recklessly, not paying attention to details
- Has difficulty paying attention (while doing tasks or playing)
- Like not paying attention when someone is talking to him
- Not following up (homework, homework, work); easy to switch
- Unorganized
- Avoiding tasks that require prolonged focus (such as schoolwork)
- Can't remember tracks or often loses keys, glasses, papers, tools, etc.
- Easily distracted
- Forgetful
Step 3. Also watch for other signs of ADHD
A person who has signs of inattentive-ADHD will also show signs of hyperactivity-impulsivity, including:
- Restless, squirming; tapping hands or feet
- Feeling restless (child will run around or climb inappropriately)
- Need to work hard to be able to play quietly or to do activities in silence
- Always ready, like being driven by a machine
- Very chatty
- Explode talk even before the question is asked
- You need to work hard to be able to wait until your turn comes
- Cutting others off, slipping into other people's discussions or games
Method 2 of 5: Getting a Diagnosis from a Professional Pekerja
Step 1. Visit a doctor for a physical examination
Perform regular physical examinations to determine general health conditions. Doctors may suggest special tests, such as a blood test to check the level of lead in the body, a blood test to look for thyroid disease, and a CT or MRI scan to check brain activity.
Step 2. Choose the best medical professional to diagnose
Doctors with different specialties can contribute different expertise. It's a good idea to see more than one doctor for a solid diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Psychiatrists are trained to diagnose ADHD and are licensed to prescribe medication. But they may not be trained to do counselling.
- Psychologists are trained to diagnose ADHD and trained to provide counselling. In the vast majority of cases, they are not licensed to prescribe drugs.
- The family doctor may be familiar with the patient's medical history, but may not have special knowledge of ADHD. They are also not trained to do counselling.
Step 3. Schedule an appointment with a mental health professional
A psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in ADHD can make a diagnosis of ADHD. They will interview the patient to gain detailed knowledge about the patient's past and present life experiences and difficulties.
Step 4. Collect a health track record
Bring a track record of the patient's health when you want to see a therapist, because this track record can indicate certain health conditions that resemble ADHD symptoms.
Talk to parents or other family members about the patient's family medical history. ADHD can be genetic, so this information about past medical problems can be of great help to doctors
Step 5. Bring a track record of the employer/company where the sufferer works
Many people with ADHD have difficulty at work, including with time management, focusing, and managing projects. These difficulties are often seen in performance reviews and the amount and type of work that cannot be completed properly. Take this track record with you when you see a therapist.
Step 6. Collect reports and school track records
ADHD is likely to have affected sufferers for years. It could be that he has poor grades in his studies or often gets into trouble at school. If this track record is still there, take it when the patient sees a therapist. If you can, collect all the data as early as possible, even when the sufferer is still in elementary school.
If the person with ADHD is a child, bring a report and sample of his or her schoolwork when seeing a therapist. The mental health professional will likely request a behavior report from the child's teacher
Step 7. Invite the patient's partner or family member to see the therapist
It would be very helpful for the therapist to have conversations with others about the possibility that the person with ADHD may have ADHD, as it may be difficult for the sufferer to tell himself that he is constantly restless or has trouble concentrating.
Step 8. Set aside other distractions
Some disorders can mimic the signs of ADHD, leading to a misdiagnosis. Some conditions that resemble ADHD are learning difficulties, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, epilepsy, thyroid dysfunction, and sleep disorders. Consult a doctor or mental health professional about the possibility of suffering from these disorders.
Step 9. Be aware of possible comorbidities with ADHD
Comorbidity is the presence of two disorders suffered by the patient. One in five people with ADHD are diagnosed with another serious disorder (usually depression and bipolar disorder). One third of children with ADD also have a behavioral disorder (disruptive behavior, defiant behavior disorder). ADHD tends to coexist with learning difficulties and anxiety.
Method 3 of 5: Conducting Alternative Assessments and Tests
Step 1. Ask the patient to complete the Vanderbilt Rating Scale
This questionnaire asks 55 questions about various symptoms, reactions, and emotions felt by a person. There are questions regarding hyperactivity, impulse control, focus, etc. There are also questions for the assessment of personal relationships.
If a child is being tested for ADHD, parents must also complete the Vanderbilt Rating Scale questionnaire
Step 2. Establish a Behavioral Assessment System for Children
This test can evaluate for signs of ADHD in children and young adults, up to age 25.
There are scales for parents, teachers, as well as for sufferers. The combination of this scale will assess the patient's positive and negative behavior
Step 3. Try filling out the Child Behavior Checklist and Teacher Report Forms
This form assesses a variety of symptoms, including problems with thinking, social interactions, attention, and other factors.
There are two versions of this checklist: one for preschoolers ages 1½ to 5, and the other for kids ages 6 to 18
Step 4. Perform a brainwave scan
One alternative test is the Neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA). An electroencephalogram (EEG) scans a patient's brain waves to measure the theta and beta waves that the brain emits. The ratio of these two brain waves is higher in children and adolescents with ADD.
- The United States Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of this test for children aged 6 to 17 years.
- Some experts consider the inspection to be too expensive. They consider the usual ADHD assessment procedures to be able to establish a diagnosis and this test will not provide additional information.
Step 5. Perform continuous performance tests
There are several computer-based tests that doctors use in conjunction with clinical interviews to determine the likelihood of ADHD. Continuous performance test is used to measure the ability to pay attention on an ongoing basis.,
Step 6. Ask the doctor to do a test to track the movement of the patient's eyeballs
Recent research has shown a direct link between ADHD and the inability to stop eye movements. This type of test is still in an experimental stage, but has shown remarkable accuracy in estimating cases of ADHD.
Method 4 of 5: Seeking Help
Step 1. See a mental health therapist
Adult ADHD sufferers can generally benefit from psychotherapy. Psychotherapy treatment will help individuals to accept themselves, and at the same time help them to improve their situation.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy is intended to treat ADHD and has been successful in helping many patients. This type of therapy targets some of the core problems that ADHD causes, such as time management and organizing problems.
- Family members of the sufferer are also advised to visit a therapist. Therapy can provide a safe place for family members to release their frustrations in a healthy way and solve problems with professional guidance.
Step 2. Join a support group
There are many organizations that provide individualized support. In addition, there is also a network among members who can gather together in cyberspace or in the real world, to share problems and solutions. Search the internet for your local support group.
Step 3. Look for resources on the internet
There are many resources on the internet that provide information, advocacy, and support for people with ADHD and their families. Some of these resources include:
- The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) disseminates information through its website, webinars, and newsletters. They also provide electronic support, one-on-one support, and conferences for adults with ADHD.
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) was founded in 1987 and now has more than 12,000 members. They provide information, training, and advocacy for people with ADHD and those around them.
- ADDitude Magazine is a free internet resource that provides information, strategies, and support for adults with ADHD, children, and parents with ADHD.
- ADHD & You provides resources for adults with ADHD, parents of children with ADHD, teachers and healthcare providers who care for people with ADHD. They also have online videos for teachers, and guides for school staff to better manage students with ADHD.
Step 4. Invite people with ADHD to chat with family and friends
Discussing ADHD with family and trusted friends can also help. They are the first people to contact when sufferers feel depressed, anxious, or negatively affected.
Method 5 of 5: Studying ADHD
Step 1. Study the brain structure of a person with ADHD
Scientific analysis shows the brains of people with ADHD are slightly different and both structures tend to be smaller.
- The first is the basic ganglia that regulate brain movement and signals, which ones should work and which ones should stay still during the activity being carried out. For example, if a child is sitting in a chair in a classroom, the base ganglia should send a message telling the feet to shut up. But the feet don't receive the message, that's why the feet keep moving even though the child is sitting.
- A second, smaller-than-normal brain structure in people with ADHD is the prefrontal cortex, which is the brain center for performing high-level executive tasks. This is where memory, learning, and attention regulation work together to help us function intellectually.
Step 2. Find out how dopamine and serotonin affect people with ADHD
A smaller-than-normal prefrontal cortex with lower levels of dopamine and serotonin, will make people with ADHD work extra hard to focus and process effectively all the extraneous stimuli that flood the brain at once.
- The prefrontal cortex affects the level of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is directly tied to the ability to focus, and levels tend to be low in people with ADHD.
- Serotonin, another neurotransmitter in the prefrontal cortex, affects mood, sleep, and appetite. Eating chocolate, for example, will raise serotonin levels and cause temporary feelings of pleasure. But when serotonin levels drop considerably, a person will feel depression and anxiety.
Step 3. Study the possible causes of ADD
The cause of ADHD is still unknown, but genetics is thought to play a large role. Certain DNA anomalies are often experienced by people with ADHD. In addition, studies have shown a correlation between children with ADHD and prenatal alcohol and cigarette exposure, as well as lead exposure from early childhood.
