By Eric Van Buskirk
Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity, commonly called ADD or ADHD, is a mental disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) give guidelines for professionals and it is challenging to diagnose.
ADHD affects around 3 to 5% of children worldwide, and it is estimated that about two-thirds of them will still be affected as adults. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder, chronic syndrome, and has no medical cure. However, most individuals are able to adjust to the symptoms of ADHD.
Related conditions in both adults and children include anxiety disorder, substance abuse disorder, hyperactivity, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and antisocial personality disorder.
Causes of Attention Deficit Disorder
If the precise causes of ADHD have not yet been defined, we know it is a consequence of a malfunction in certain brain areas. We also know that genetic factors play a major role. Other factors can sometimes be associated with the onset of attention deficit disorder. There are also environmental factors that can influence the expression and intensity of symptoms.
ADHD prevents normal development of executive functions that develop from infancy to adulthood. In people with ADHD, executive functions will only partially fulfill their roles and this is very handicapping. For example, executive function plays a part in working memory, a very short term memory which is used to retain the information necessary for what we are doing or what we are going to do very soon.
Outside of working memory, executive functions are involved in managing emotions, in planning and more generally in the perception of time, the initiation of a task and the ability to maintain it, mental flexibility, and inhibition of inappropriate response. You should know that attention is also disturbed by anything distracting. For a person with ADHD, useful information is buried in a flood of information.
For example, those with ADD find all noises, movements, and contacts are in the foreground. In a restaurant, they hear the person speaking in front of them and the fork falling three tables away, at exactly the same level.
The mental health consequences of ADD and ADHD
Not being able to differentiate between the different sensory stimuli throughout a day causes the brain to tire quickly. The person will at some point disconnect, and this is where things can get a little embarrassing for those in the immediate vicinity. The person may give the impression they are focused on something else, or just not interested in the current conversation.
Actually, the person is overworked and mentally tired. A child may show goodwill for a long time, if he tries to conform to the behaviors expected by teachers, friends or parents. But for many children with ADHD this is a moment of rejection and will be experienced as an injustice, or as something painful.
A child with ADHD lives in an often conflicting world which can lead to developing difficulties in social interactions, especially those with authority figures. There is a risk of getting into a vicious circle that is increasingly difficult to break. This happens as long as there is no recognition of ADHD / ADHD in the child concerned and therefore no appropriate management.
The lack of organization when learning means many with ADHD are misdiagnosed with dyslexia. They have similar issues with reading and writing problems.
ADHD in adolescence
In adolescence, certain symptoms may change a little. There may be less hyperactivity for those who suffer from it, but on the other hand risk-taking and therefore the chance of accidents and addictions are greatly increased compared to other adolescents or young adults.
As a child progresses through the education system and into high school, both educational and social pressures become greater, therefore attention deficit disorder becomes an even greater challenge as a mental illness.
With the permanent room changes, the many subjects to be managed, the demands for increased autonomy, and subjects that don’t always excite, it may be difficult not to give up on the educational process.
As adults, it’s often difficult to manage a budget, a house, or to take care of children. And then there are the chronic delays at work, forgotten appointments, and missed deadlines.
Sometimes adults with attention deficit disorder are concerned that people will make fun of them, and that if it happens they will become angry with themselves. The resultant rage of having made another mistake may suddenly makes the person even more on-edge. It’s a vicious circle— more stress means more irritability or frustration.
The stigma of having a mental disorder means most adults with ADHD do not share their diagnosis with others. However, mental health disorders are far less “in the closet” now versus just 10 years ago, and many are open with others.
ADHD diagnostic criteria
The diagnostic criteria are based on the assessment of inattention hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
These are good indicators of the disorder and if your child has some of these symptoms, it may be worth considering a diagnosis. It is best to turn to an association related to ADHD. They can refer you to a professional in your region who is knowledgeable about the subject, and who can explain to you what a diagnosis consists of.
As an adult or a child, taking charge of this disorder will change the lives of the people concerned and give them a breath of fresh air.
ADHD During the Coronavirus Pandemic
ADHD children need to be watched more carefully when schools are closed and daily life is disrupted by COVID-19. Adolescents are at an especially heightened level of risk given their disorganized way of life.
The European ADHD Guidelines Group says it’s important for children to strengthen self-confidence and assure that all in the family know what’s expected from them.
Children and adults with ADHD find self-isolation challenging. They are more prone to suffering from a lack of structure that makes organization more difficult. The key to managing changes brought on by the pandemic is in building structure around daily activities like walking and sleeping, exercise, meal preparation, eating and trying some mood booster.
Schedules should also be built for hobbies and work or school. Telemedicine counselling may prove an important crutch for those that can’t go to doctor’s offices. ADHD produces anxiety and depression, two mental health issues exacerbated by the realities of life during the coronavirus. Family and loved ones should be on the look-out for these mental health challenges.
