What Is ADHD?

Understanding ADHD: A Lifelong Condition

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person’s ability to pay attention, control impulses, and sometimes manage hyperactivity. Often emerging in childhood, it persists into adulthood for many individuals. Approximately 2-3% of adults and 8% of children worldwide have ADHD. Contrary to popular belief, ADHD is not just about hyperactivity; it encompasses various presentations, including inattention and impulsivity.

What’s Happening In the Brain with ADHD?

ADHD is largely associated with reduced activity in the brain’s frontal lobe, particularly impacting dopamine regulation. Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter that helps control attention, motivation, and pleasure. In people with ADHD, dopamine pathways can be less efficient, meaning that tasks requiring sustained attention or mental effort become challenging. Interestingly, people with ADHD can focus deeply on tasks they find inherently rewarding or stimulating, but they struggle to apply the same focus to everyday tasks like doing homework, filling out forms, or meeting deadlines.

Common Signs and Symptoms in Daily Life

ADHD affects various aspects of life, often causing significant disruptions at school, work, and in personal relationships. Children with ADHD may struggle academically, finding it hard to concentrate or follow instructions in class. This often leads to underachievement, despite potential high intelligence.

Adults, on the other hand, might find maintaining job performance, relationships, and household responsibilities particularly difficult. Forgetting appointments, losing keys, and procrastinating on important tasks are typical challenges. Many people with ADHD also experience low self-esteem, often stemming from years of criticism and failure to meet expectations.

Why ADHD may be missed

While many people associate ADHD with hyperactive behaviour, not everyone with ADHD shows these symptoms. For instance, some individuals—especially women and girls—are more likely to experience the inattentive type, where hyperactivity is absent. As a result, they may go undiagnosed for years, with their struggles often misunderstood as laziness or disorganisation.

Diagnosing ADHD

To be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms must have been present before the age of 12 and cause significant impairment in more than one setting (e.g., at school, home, or work). The diagnostic process involves ruling out other conditions that can mimic ADHD symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, or sleep disorders.

The Impact of ADHD on Everyday Functioning

Untreated ADHD can cause long-term problems in nearly every area of life. Children may be labelled as “troublemakers” or underachievers in school. As they grow older, adults with ADHD often face difficulties in maintaining jobs, managing finances, and sustaining relationships.

Individuals with ADHD are more prone to impulsive behaviours, which can lead to risky decisions such as substance misuse, poor financial management, and unhealthy relationships. Additionally, many struggle with chronic sleep problems, which only exacerbate their symptoms.

Living with ADHD: Strengths and Challenges

Although ADHD presents numerous challenges, many individuals with ADHD also possess unique strengths. People with ADHD tend to be highly creative, energetic, and excellent problem solvers. They often excel in fields that require quick thinking and adaptability, such as the arts, entrepreneurship, and emergency response roles. When diagnosed and treated appropriately, individuals with ADHD can lead highly successful and fulfilling lives.

Adult ADHD