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What is ADHD?

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ADHD is one of the most common but also one of the most treatable psychiatric disorders. Although it has traditionally been thought of as a childhood disorder, ADHD actually has life-long implications. It is most commonly first identified with attention problems in the early school years, but in retrospect, parents often remember the affected child having extra energy as a toddler. These children have difficulty staying with a single activity for more than a few minutes and frequently leave projects unfinished. They appear not to listen when spoken to and are constantly moving: running, jumping, climbing, and unable to sit still.

The tendency towards hyperactivity is more prominent in younger children and tends to subside as patients age. Restlessness and impulsivity replace hyperactivity in adolescents and adults, while attention problems tend to persist after they appear in the elementary school years. Inattention presents a major hurdle for these children when they are presented with academic challenges. They have trouble organizing their work and remaining focused in class. They also frequently have social issues because they miss social cues, interrupt often, and have trouble taking turns.

Adult ADHD

Affected adults have similar problems in the workplace that affected children have in school. They miss work more often, perform less efficiently at their jobs, and have more trouble staying employed. They are easily distracted, take a long time to get back on task, and have difficulty organizing and finishing work-related projects. These issues, unfortunately, lead supervisors to see them as lazy and not dedicated to their work.

Adults with ADHD are also more prone to distracted driving and subsequent accidents. They have trouble managing their finances and impulsive spending can leave people with little savings. Social issues also plague these adults who have difficulty communicating effectively in relationships and have problems maintaining a solid peer circle because of the social skills they did not develop as adolescents with ADHD.

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References
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  2. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Neurodevelopmental Disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.) [Citation is on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, development and course]
  3. Ougrin, D., Chatterton, S., & Banarsee, R. (2010). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): review for primary care clinicians. London journal of primary care, 3(1), 45-51. [Citation is on p.3, how should ADHD be diagnosed]
  4. CHADD. (2017). Workplace issues. Available at http://www.help4adhd.org/Understanding-ADHD/For-Adults/Workplace-Issues.aspx. Accessed on 10/3/17.
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  15. CDC. (2017). ADHD Treatment. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/treatment.html. Accessed 9/26/17.
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