Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects individuals across their lifespan. It is characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. These symptoms can affect your daily function.
While often diagnosed in childhood, ADHD can persist into adolescence and adulthood in both women and men, presenting unique challenges in various aspects of life. This blog post will elaborate on the types and symptoms of ADHD, and the significance of ADHD assessments, emphasizing its role in paving the way for tailored interventions and improved quality of life for individuals grappling with this condition.
Additionally, you will find an assessment included in this article to assess whether you may exhibit symptoms associated with ADHD, offering a starting point for further exploration and discussion with healthcare professionals.
Symptoms of ADHD
Inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity are the two main categories of ADHD symptoms.
Inattention:
- Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or conversations
- Easily distracted
- Difficulty organizing physical spaces or plans
- Forgetfulness in daily activities
- Starting tasks and not finishing them
Hyperactivity-impulsivity:
- Fidgeting or tapping hands or feet, restlessness
- Difficulty remaining still for long periods
- Often “on the go”
- Impulsivity leading to hasty actions without considering the consequences
ADHD can present as primarily inattentive, hyperactive, or a combination of the two.
Impact on daily life
ADHD can significantly impact various aspects of daily life, including academic, social, and occupational functioning.
Academic challenges: Inattentiveness and impulsivity can interfere with academic performance. Students with ADHD may struggle to focus on lectures, complete assignments on time, and organize their study materials. Furthermore, impulsivity may lead to difficulties in following instructions and completing tasks accurately. Consequently, self-esteem and motivation can be negatively affected.
Interpersonal difficulties: Social interactions can be challenging when you have ADHD. Impulsivity may manifest as interrupting others, forgetting or being late to get-togethers, or engaging in risky behaviors without considering social norms. These behaviors can strain your relationships with peers, family members, and colleagues, leading to feelings of frustration and isolation.
Workplace challenges: ADHD symptoms can interfere with productivity and job performance. Difficulties in maintaining focus and organization may result in missed deadlines, careless errors, and forgetfulness of important tasks. Moreover, impulsive decision-making can impact professional relationships and undermine career advancement opportunities.
Emotional Regulation: You may also experience difficulties in regulating emotions. Rejection-sensitive dysphoria, a common symptom of ADHD, refers to intense emotional reactions to perceived criticism or rejection. Additionally, mood swings, irritability, and low frustration tolerance are also prevalent, contributing to interpersonal conflicts and emotional distress.
Types of ADHD assessments
ADHD is diagnosed based on the criteria in the DSM-5. While there is not one specific ADHD assessment to diagnose your condition, mental health professionals can use different methods and tools to diagnose ADHD.
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Behavioral ADHD assessments
Behavioral ADHD assessments are especially helpful when diagnosing children. Healthcare providers will interview parents and teachers to assess behaviors that interfere with the child’s ability to function at home and school. For example, they may discuss behaviors such as starting projects and not finishing them, being excessively squirmy, or getting easily distracted. Knowing the tell-tale ADHD behavioral symptoms can help in understanding whether your child has ADHD.
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Rating scales
A rating scale assessment has questions about your frequency of ADHD-related behaviors, usually within a certain period, such as within the last 6 months. You will be asked to rate the frequency of each behavior on a scale of 0-3 or 4. For example, if the question relates to how often you act “on the go,” a score of 0 would mean “never” and 4 would mean “very often.”
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Neuropsychological ADHD assessments
Neuropsychological ADHD assessments are designed to indicate if you have impairments in areas like planning, memory, processing speed, and impulsivity.
Healthcare providers often use a combination of these assessments to reach a diagnosis. It’s important to understand that one assessment cannot provide a definitive assessment.
ADHD assessments for adults
If you think you might have ADHD, use this ADHD assessment as an informal self-screening. If you answer “Yes” to most of these questions, consider reaching out to Makin Wellness for further evaluation and guidance. Remember, this is not a formal diagnostic ADHD assessment and we highly recommend you seek professional evaluation.
- Do you often have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging parts have been done?
- Do you often have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organization?
- Do you often have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
- Do you often fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long time?
- Do you often feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?
- Do you often make careless mistakes when you have to work on a boring or difficult project?
- Do you often have difficulty keeping your attention when you are doing boring or repetitive work?
- Do you often have difficulty concentrating on what people say to you, even when they are speaking to you directly?
- Do you often misplace or have difficulty finding things at home or work?
- Are you often distracted by activity or noise around you?
- Do you often leave your seat in meetings or other situations in which you are expected to remain seated?
- Do you often feel restless or fidgety?
- Do you often have difficulty unwinding and relaxing when you have time to yourself?
- Do you often find yourself talking too much when you are in social situations?
- When you’re in a conversation, do you often find yourself finishing the sentences of the people you are talking to before they can finish them themselves?
- Do you often have difficulty waiting your turn in situations when turn-taking is required?
- Do you often interrupt others when they are busy?
- When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, do you often avoid or delay getting started?
In conclusion, recognizing and addressing ADHD symptoms is pivotal when you’re seeking to improve your overall mental health and quality of life. By utilizing the ADHD assessment provided here, you can gain valuable insights into your symptoms and take proactive steps toward seeking professional evaluation and support.
Makin Wellness offers personalized online therapy services tailored to your ADHD challenges, providing a supportive and understanding environment for addressing your unique needs. Don’t let ADHD symptoms hold you back any longer.
Take the first step towards a healthier, more fulfilling life by contacting Makin Wellness today to schedule an online therapy session and begin your journey towards understanding and managing your ADHD symptoms effectively.
