The symptoms of ADHD can make life a considerable challenge. At The Neurology Institute, the highly skilled team of experts offers solutions to treating conditions like ADHD for patients in the Coral Springs and Sunrise, Florida, area. If you, or your child, have ADHD and want to find out more, call The Neurology Institute today. You can also book an appointment online.
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, a mental health condition most often diagnosed in children but also affects adults. ADHD symptoms begin during childhood, but sometimes it isn’t recognized until adulthood.
In many cases, people who find it hard to cope with tasks others seem to manage with relative ease are unaware that they have ADHD.
Symptoms in adults may be less severe than in children, but some adults with ADHD experience significant problems with everyday life. Typical symptoms include:
The symptoms of ADHD are similar to those of other mood disorders, and indeed many people who have ADHD also have depression or anxiety. If symptoms are only occasional or a recent development, it’s unlikely you have ADHD as the condition has its roots in childhood, and the effects are severe and ongoing.
People with ADHD often struggle at school and work and may find it challenging to get or keep a job. They are more prone to accidents and more likely to have substance abuse problems or get in trouble with the law.
The cause of ADHD isn’t entirely clear yet, but certain factors are known to increase your risk of developing ADHD. Genetics is one, and problems at key stages in the development of the central nervous system could be another.
Exposure to toxins like lead during childhood or having a mother who smoked or abused drugs or alcohol during pregnancy also seems to increase the chance of developing ADHD.
Treatment for ADHD usually consists of a combination of medication and therapy, which can sometimes take a while to get right as every person with ADHD responds differently. Typical treatments include:
If these treatments aren’t relieving your symptoms of ADHD sufficiently to allow you to lead a full life, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could be a worthwhile alternative. This innovative treatment is a form of brain stimulation where a changing magnetic field causes an electric current in a specific brain area. It’s a relatively new procedure and is considered an excellent alternative to prescription medications.
To find out more, call The Neurology Institute today, or book an appointment online.