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ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can significantly impact an individual’s functioning and daily life. While ADHD is often associated with children, it can persist into adolescence and adulthood, affecting individuals of all ages.
Inattention symptoms are a core aspect of ADHD, reflecting difficulties in maintaining focus and attention on tasks or activities. These symptoms can vary in severity and may manifest differently across individuals. Common inattention symptoms of ADHD include:
1. Difficulty sustaining attention: Individuals with ADHD may struggle to maintain focus on tasks, especially those that are repetitive or lack intrinsic interest. They may become easily distracted or lose track of what they were doing.
2. Poor attention to detail: People with ADHD may overlook details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, work tasks, or other activities that require close attention and accuracy.
3. Trouble organising tasks and activities: Individuals with ADHD may have difficulty organising tasks, managing time effectively, or prioritising responsibilities. They may struggle with planning and completing projects or following through on commitments.
4. Avoidance of tasks requiring sustained mental effort: Tasks that require prolonged mental focus or effort may be particularly challenging for individuals with ADHD. They may procrastinate or avoid such tasks altogether, leading to difficulties in academic or occupational settings.
5. Forgetfulness: Forgetfulness is a common symptom of ADHD, including forgetting appointments, deadlines, or obligations. Individuals may also frequently misplace items, such as keys, wallets, or important documents.
6. Being easily distracted: People with ADHD often have a heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli, making it easy for them to become distracted by irrelevant sights, sounds, or thoughts. They may struggle to filter out distractions and stay focused on the task at hand.
7. Difficulty following instructions: Individuals with ADHD may have trouble following through on instructions, especially if they are complex or multi-step. They may require repeated reminders or additional support to understand and complete tasks effectively.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity are key features of ADHD, particularly in children, though they may also persist into adulthood. These symptoms can significantly impact daily functioning and social interactions. Here are some common hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms associated with ADHD:
1. Fidgeting and restlessness: Individuals with ADHD often exhibit excessive fidgeting, such as tapping their feet, squirming in their seat, or constantly shifting positions. They may have difficulty sitting still, particularly in situations that require sustained attention, such as during class or meetings.
2. Excessive talking: Hyperactive individuals with ADHD may talk excessively, often interrupting others in conversations. They may have difficulty waiting their turn to speak and may struggle to maintain appropriate social boundaries.
3. Difficulty engaging in quiet activities: People with ADHD may find it challenging to engage in quiet, sedentary activities for extended periods. They may prefer activities that offer high levels of stimulation or excitement, such as sports or video games.
4. Restlessness during leisure activities: Even during leisure time, individuals with ADHD may struggle to relax and unwind. They may feel a constant need to be on the move or engaged in activities, making it difficult for them to enjoy quiet or downtime.
5. Acting without thinking: Impulsivity is characterised by a tendency to act on impulses without considering the consequences. Individuals with ADHD may blurt out answers inappropriately, interrupt others during conversations, or engage in risky behaviours without weighing the potential outcomes.
6. Difficulty waiting or taking turns: Impulsive individuals may have trouble waiting their turn in line, during games, or in conversation. They may become impatient and seek immediate gratification, even if it means disregarding social norms or rules.
7. Risk-taking behaviours: Impulsivity can lead to engaging in risky or dangerous activities, such as reckless driving, substance abuse, or unprotected sex. Individuals with ADHD may be more prone to taking risks due to their difficulty inhibiting impulsive urges.
8. Poor impulse control: Individuals with ADHD may struggle to regulate their emotions and impulses, leading to difficulties in managing anger, frustration, or excitement. They may act impulsively in response to emotional triggers, without considering the potential consequences of their actions.
These inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms as part of ADHD interfere with various aspects of daily life, including academic performance, work productivity, and interpersonal relationships. It is also the very nature of ADHD that these symptoms can vary in intensity within an individual and across individuals with ADHD.
An ADHD assessment is completed by a trained and qualified Clinical Psychologist or Psychologist who will complete a comprehensive process to gather all the required information to have confidence in their determination that your symptoms and history indicate a diagnosis of ADHD with accuracy, as per the Diagnostics & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text-Revision (DSM-5-TR).
It is important to understand that when assessing for ADHD, there are several factors to consider as many different psychological conditions can mimick the symptoms of ADHD whilst it may not actually be ADHD. Additionally, ADHD must be present since before 12 years of age for the symptoms to be ADHD and must not be better explained by any other psychological or medical condition. Thus, this is why proper psychological testing is crucial for determining if your presentation is ADHD or if it is something else instead.
To assist with this process, your Clinical Psychologist will obtain relevant background information, current presenting symptoms and observational data during clinical interviews with you, in addition to requiring various self-report and observer report questionnaires assessing ADHD symptoms in addition to executive functioning and adaptive functioning. Your Clinical Psychologist may also recommend questionnaires assessing other symptoms or conditions, in addition to any direct cognitive/neuropsychological testing. For example, if your Clinical Psychologist suspects that there could be some intellectual impairment or other cognitive functioning issues, then it may be indicated to complete such tests that assess this also. This is again to clarify what is possible ADHD and what might be something else.
Once all assessment components have been completed, your Clinical Psychologist will review all the information and data obtained to determine if this meets the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Psychometric tests used to assess and diagnose ADHD are separated into questionnaires and direct psychometric testing instruments, or test batteries (if there are multiple instruments to administer). Many psychometric tests are utilised for assessing and diagnosing different psychological and neuropsychological conditions, not just ADHD. However, some commonly used tests for ADHD can include those below:
It is important to keep in mind that the individual may be recommended to complete other additional questionnaires or tests if their presentation indicates this to rule in or rule out other conditions.
