The symptoms of ADHD are inattention and hyperactivity, right? It’s there in the name.
Not so much anymore. The symptoms of ADHD and how we define this difference in cognition has continued to change and evolve over time. Many of the core symptoms listed in the DSM – V persist, but ADHD is now being looked at as more than a specific disorder impacting a small slice of daily living. It’s time to stop thinking of ADHD as only little boys who can’t stand in line or blurt out answers during class.
Best summarized by The Brown Model of ADHD/ADD, ADHD underlies almost all executive function including focus, activation, action, emotion, memory and effort. ADHD is now recognized more as a disorder of self-regulation and those with ADHD struggle with the demands of most major life activities.
Symptoms of ADHD through the lens of executive function as noted by Dr. Russell A. Barkley include difficulties regulating:
- Self-restraint
- Attention
- Time (hindsight and foresight)
- Speech
- Emotions
- Action toward goals
- Problem-Solving
A case example for adult ADHD symptoms could include someone unable to manage finances, jumping from job to job, unable to manage their emotions, constant underachievement, tardiness and a general feeling like they should be doing better than they are.
A case example for child ADHD symptoms would be having no response to consequences, unable to delay gratification, impulsive emotional outbursts, and seeming to lack motivation.
These cases represent ADHD is a complex disorder that can present differently in each individual, and its symptoms can overlap with other conditions. Diagnosing ADHD without a complete evaluation is challenging because the symptoms of ADHD can be similar to those of other medical or psychiatric conditions. For instance, anxiety disorders, depression, and sleep disorders can present with symptoms like inattention and hyperactivity, which can overlap with symptoms of ADHD. Therefore, it’s important to have an expert like Daniel Wysocki Ed.S. perform a comprehensive evaluation to rule out other potential causes of the symptoms.
