ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment Specialist Q&A

ADHD is a metabolic disorder whose primary cause is genetic. It tends to run in families and most modern research shows that ADHD is mostly inherited from one or both parents if either side of the family has ADHD in their genetic history. Many studies have taken note that a child with symptoms of ADHD will often have parents or siblings that also have symptoms of ADHD, though those may be minor and have gone undiagnosed if said individuals never noticed.

There is no real catch-all test to determine if a patient has ADHD, so most experts look for regular occurrences of some or all of the symptoms associated with ADHD. Factors such as activities being performed, the environment in which they are being performed and the patient’s history with those activities are also factors in diagnosing ADHD.

Some of the major symptoms of ADHD are frequent procrastination, trouble completing tasks, and a generally short attention span for non-preferred tasks. Hyperactivity may manifest physically, emotionally, or verbally. Executive Dysfunction is when someone gets easily overwhelmed making decisions, has poor time management, has trouble multitasking, and has general disorganization. Emotional difficulties such as frequent mood swings, inability to control anger and frustration, fidgeting, restlessness, and impulsivity.

For minor symptoms of ADHD, your doctor may counsel some changes in diet, such as avoiding too much sugar or caffeine, more exercise, and structured routines to help deal with the symptoms. If symptoms are more severe your doctor may proscribe stimulant medication such as Methylphenidate or Amphetamines. As well the non-stimulant medication Atomoxetine has been available as a treatment since 2003.

The three recognized subtypes of ADHD are predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, or a combined type, which shows symptoms of both. Some symptoms of the Inattentive Type manifest as difficulty focusing, appearing to not be listening when spoken to, difficulty organizing, frequent daydreaming and frequently overlooking details. Some symptoms of Hyper-active Impulsive Type are fidgeting, a need to move, trouble sitting still, trouble being quiet, and an inability to wait or be patient. Those afflicted with Combined Type show some or all of the symptoms of both the Hyperactive and the Inattentive subtypes.

ADHD is only treated when it negatively affects day-to-day life and many individuals go through their lives quietly managing the symptoms without ever receiving a professional diagnosis. That said ADHD can cause difficulties in everyday life, especially in Children, and a professional diagnosis and treatment can help mitigate those difficulties and improve the child’s overall happiness. Sometimes hormonal changes over time can also cause ADHD symptoms to worsen, which can be problematic if it has gone untreated, and these cognitive changes can cause further disruptions in day-to-day life.

Sometimes severe ADHD symptoms can be triggered in adults by massive disruptions to their habits and routines. Events such as having children, losing a job, or any disruption of a constant force in their life can be inciting incident. If they were not diagnosed as a child those adults may have trouble adapting to the challenges of their new symptoms and medication may be the best solution.

If you or a family member have ADHD symptoms that are negatively impacting your life and happiness feel free to contact our medical professionals at North Tex Medcare Clinic and Urgent Care, we have a great deal of experience with ADHD diagnosis and treatment and will help address your concerns. We serve patients from Allen TX, Fort Worth TX, San Antonio TX, Addison TX, Plano TX, Frisco TX, Terrell Hills TX, Carrollton TX, Richardson TX, China Grove TX, Farmers Branch TX, Hebron TX, Forest Hill TX, Leon Valley TX, Fairview TX, Parker TX, Lucas TX and BEYOND.