ADHD

ADHD is a broad term, characterized by difficulty concentrating and hyperactivity, with varying degrees of severity from person to person.  ADHD is divided into three types depending on the main symptoms:

Inattention/ADD

ADD is a type of ADHD. It can be described as ADHD, but without hyperactivity. People with ADD are easily distracted and easily lose focus. They may seem absent and not answer questions. Often, they also have difficulty starting and finishing tasks, like schoolwork.

Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD

This type of ADHD causes problems with hyperactivity and impulsivity, but not attention. Hyperactive children may have difficulty  sitting still and waiting for their turn to talk, or may talk a lot.

Combined ADHD

Combined ADHD includes disorders such as hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention.

What do the letter combinations really mean? Well, AD in ADHD stands for attention deficit and involves difficulties concentrating and focusing on a given task. HD is an abbreviation for hyperactivity disorder. This means that a person has a lot of energy, which makes it difficult to relax or to resist impulses.

It is not entirely clear what causes ADHD, but heredity can play a role. People with ADHD appear to have a lower dose of the substance dopamine than those who don’t have ADHD. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter found in the brain which, among other things, sends information to those parts of the brain that control movements, attention and motivation.

Children and ADHD

Nearly half of children with ADHD resolve their problems within a few years; very few have problems into adulthood. It is more common for boys and men to have ADHD than girls and women.

There are good support systems that make living with ADHD easier. You can get guidance to navigate your abilities and limitations. Relatives, school staff or work colleagues can receive advice on facilitating everyday life for ADHD sufferers.

With ADHD, it is good to:

• structure everyday life – to avoid stress
• do more physical activities
• keep a schedule, control your meal and sleep times.

There are several different support initiatives to help you to feel better and to improve the quality of your everyday life. Not only your personal efforts can help you, but also the environment, such as your home, school or workplace. Drug treatment is often relevant as a combined effort in addition to other methods.

Contact a psychologist if you or your child have trouble concentrating and/or staying still, and if this negatively impacts everyday life.

If you have suspected ADHD, you should contact a psychologist or psychiatric clinic.

If you or your relatives need advice and information about ADHD, APPOTEK can help you. A doctor or a psychologist can make an individual assessment based on your symptoms, after which you may be prescribed treatment or referred for further examination. We can also offer continuous follow-up and visits to psychologists and doctors.

To diagnose and treat ADHD, a physical examination is required in combination with a psychiatric investigation.