ADHD, known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is defined as a “disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.” This is a disorder that affects your daily life and is usually recognized during early childhood years.
Unfortunately, the older you get, the harder it is to receive an ADHD diagnosis. This is why it is important to talk to a doctor if you feel that you may have had ADHD throughout your life. The signs of ADHD are relatively easy to detect in a person.
Although ADHD is typically a life-long disorder, it is easy to treat and makes life manageable. You may be put on medicine, referred to a psychologist or use both. The most common medications for ADHD include Adderall, Vyvanse and Ritalin. If you experience symptoms that relate to ADHD, you should take the steps to get a proper diagnosis.
Here are five signs that you may had ADHD.
Difficulty concentrating
The first and most common sign of ADHD is difficulty concentrating at school, work and everyday activities. You may find yourself daydreaming throughout the day, taking your attention away from what you need to do. Not only might you daydream, you feel like you get distracted easily from a task.
You could be reading from a textbook and either have to stop multiple times from being distracted or you might find it difficult comprehending everything you read. This can take a huge toll on your work, school and personal life.
Forgetfulness
Do you always forget to bring your wallet when you go out? Or do you forget about a test date that you have been reminded of for weeks? You may feel like having a planner isn’t even helpful because you still might forget the important dates you have coming up.
Forgetfulness is another sign of ADHD and contributes greatly to the stigma that those with ADHD are “irresponsible.” We can help fight the stigma by being more flexible and understanding towards those who struggle with ADHD daily.
Low self-esteem
Low self-esteem is common in those with ADHD because of the frustrations of dealing with the disorder. Not only do they have to deal with their own frustration and negative self-talk but also the criticism from others and stigma beliefs that target people with ADHD.
Many have been called things like lazy or stupid. Due to their low self-esteem, they may often have low ambition and neglect furthering their education or having aspirations for a career because they feel incompetent.
Fidgeting or constant movement
If you find yourself shaking your legs during class, playing with objects on your desk or feel like you cannot sit still for a short period of time, you may be experiencing the hyperactivity part of ADHD. This makes it very difficult to attend school classes or a 9-5 desk job.
Luckily, some schools allow accommodations like bathroom breaks or excusing yourself for class for several minutes for those with ADHD. Incorporating more movement in your daily activities helps alleviate some of the hyperactivity.
Excessive talking and poor communication skills
You may have that one person in your class that is constantly talking to their classmate, interrupting the teacher or even rambling on longer than needed in a group discussion. This person may likely have ADHD as the disorder affects the parts of the brain responsible for speech and communication. There have been studies done that show that there are distinct differences in how those with ADHD speak versus those without ADHD. According to The ADD Resource Center, “Compared to peers with learning disabilities alone, children with ADHD showed increased volume and variability in pitch when talking, along with particular patterns such as increased number of vocal pauses.”
