At some point in life, most of us will experience at least some symptoms of AD/HD. To further complicate matters, some ”normal” people have personality characteristics (e.g. hyperactivity, impulsivity) similar to the symptoms of AD/HD, and other non-related conditions have similar symptoms and can be mistaken for the disorder. The only definite and reliable way to determine whether or not you have AD/HD is through cognitive testing; however, as a starting point to help you figure out if you might be at risk for AD/HD, the following is a brief overview of the AD/HD diagnostic criteria.
In order to meet full diagnostic criteria, your difficulties must have begun in early childhood, must be chronic in nature, and must affect more than one area of daily life (e.g. home, school, work, social life). If your difficulties are recent, occurred only occasionally in the past or only affect one aspect of your life (e.g. school) you do not meet formal AD/HD diagnostic criteria.
You are at increased risk for AD/HD if:
· You have blood relatives (e.g. parent, sibling, cousin, etc.) with AD/HD or another mental health disorder
· You were born prematurely
· You were exposed to environmental toxins as a child
· Your mother was exposed to toxins during pregnancy
· Your mother smoked, drank alcohol or used illicit drugs during pregnancy
Some AD/HD symptoms include:
Inattention
· failure to pay close attention to details
· making careless mistakes
· difficulty sustaining attention during tasks or activities
· not listening when spoken to directly
· failure to follow through on instructions
· difficulty organizing tasks and activities
· reluctance to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort
· losing things necessary for tasks and activities
· distractibility
· forgetfulness
Hyperactivity
· fidgeting
· getting up or excessive moving in inappropriate situations
· difficulty engaging in leisure activities quietly
· acting as if “on the go” or “driven by a motor”
· excessive talking
Impulsivity
· blurting out answers before questions are complete
· difficulty waiting turn
· interrupting or intruding on others
In addition, many individuals with AD/HD have:
· Poor school performance
· Behavioral problems
· Trouble with the law
· Problems at work
· Alcohol or drug abuse
· Frequent car or other accidents
· Unstable relationships
If you feel that you meet some of all of these criteria, you may have AD/HD. The next step is scheduling a testing appointment or speaking with your family physician. Prepare for both appointments by writing a list of your symptoms and how they affect different aspects of daily life. You should also write down any recent changes or stressors, along with your family history and any medications you are currently taking (including vitamins and minerals).
Information taken from www.mayoclinic.com
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