What is ADHD | ADHD NZ - ADHD NEW ZEALAND

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and describes the unique structure of your brain.

A significant number of New Zealanders have ADHD, and for those of you who do, have many positive characteristics which are experienced alongside some challenges.

Researchers who are passionate about ADHD have been helping to increase our knowledge and understanding of what makes ADHD unique. It's now clearly understood that the frontal lobe (prefrontal cortex to be specific) in the ADHD brain develops or mature at a slower rate. Generally, maturing is slowed by approximately three years in developing children and adolescents.

The frontal lobe is responsible for:

filtering and controlling attention
behaviour
emotion
energy or motor control
judgement, and
executive functioning - which includes your ability to plan and organise.

As the development of the frontal lobe is slower and less matured than "typical" development it means the "neurodevelopmental delay" to the prefrontal cortex makes automatically controlling and filtering attention, behaviours, emotions etc so much harder.

This means your ADHD brain has to work much harder to control aspects that come naturally to others the same age, and this is the nature of the "disordered" part.

It's also the reason why you experience significant fatigue by the end of the school or workday. This doesn't, by any means, make you less than your peers, however, but rather does make you different in terms of your developmental trajectory.

What are the different types of ADHD?

Under the general understanding/diagnosis of ADHD, individuals usually fit into one of three different "subtypes" or groups. This is because even with a diagnosis of ADHD, it's recognised that within ADHD everyone is different. However, there are commonalities that help to provide understanding of the more specific features of each type.

The ADHD subtypes are:

ADHD predominantly Inattentive type
ADHD predominantly Hyperactive and Impulsive type, and
ADHD predominantly Combined type (a combination of the two above).

Predominantly Inattentive ADHD:

This subtype tends to be more prevalent in:

girls
those who have encountered a head injury to the frontal lobe, and
those also on the Autistic Spectrum (ASD).

The main characteristics include an under control of attention, focus and concentration.

Some impulsivity, behavioural and emotional hyperactivity and executive dysfunction are often also experienced but to a much lesser degree.

Predominantly Hyperactive and Impulsive ADHD:

This is the most well-known subtype of ADHD as childhood hyperactivity (including inappropriately high activity levels such as running, climbing, moving around) is more obvious, as is impulsive actions - which can lead to trouble with authority and peers.

In adolescence and adults, as the brain matures, so too does the control level and the hyperactivity turns from major movement to more minor restlessness and fidgeting.

The main characteristics include an under control of behaviour, activity (hyperactivity is sped up activity levels that are not lessened appropriately in given situations), and acting on impulses without controlling these with thinking before acting.

Inattentiveness and executive dysfunction are often also present, though generally to a lesser extent.

Combined ADHD:

The main characteristics include an under control of attention, behaviour, activity and impulses. They are all present in fairly equal measures.

The common areas affected and behaviours/symptoms of ADHD are:

Inattentive behaviour

Easily distracted

Difficulties maintaining attention/ focus (especially when bored)

Daydreams or off-task

Makes silly mistakes

Trouble switching between tasks, getting lost

Difficulty keeping track or remembering instructions

Hyperactive behaviour

Constant activity

Restlessness

Fidgeting

Difficulty sitting still

Trouble switching off/ sleeping

Talks excessively

Impulsive behaviour

Acting without thinking

Interrupting people

Accident-prone as not thinking before doing

Blurts out answers/ secrets

Doesn't mean to do or say all the things done

Rushes into things

Emotional impulsivity

Big, raw and sudden emotions

Once calm it's over and as though nothing happened

Easily upset, angry or afraid

Easily frustrated or annoyed

Hard to calm down

Self-soothing is difficult

Executive functioning

Losing things

Not knowing what they're doing and when

Trouble organising thoughts onto paper

Poor sense of time

Often late

Doesn't mentally rehearse before entering new situations

Important facts about ADHD

Each of you will vary in the type, number, frequency and severity of your ADHD behaviour/symptoms. To determine if you, or someone you know, has ADHD and to get the best treatment, a specialist Paediatrician, Psychiatrist or Clinical Psychologist (but not an Educational Psychologist) assessment is needed. A list of healthcare professional providers can be found here.

ADHD is real

It's a neurodevelopmental delay in a particular, specific part of the brain that 's responsible for filtering and control.
It's not willful naughtiness or laziness.

ADHD occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups

It usually runs in families.
Approximately 25% of all children with ADHD will have a parent with ADHD.

ADHD is not sexist

Previously, it was thought that males were more likely to have ADHD than females.
While more males get a diagnosis it's now believed the gender ratio is 1:1.
This is because young females often present with the inattentive subtype which is less noticeable. So they're more likely to be overlooked.

ADHD has nothing to do with your intelligence

Just as there are differing levels of intelligence across the general population, there are differing levels of intelligence in people with ADHD.
The delays only affect the prefrontal cortex (a small part!) of your brain. You're as intelligent as you were going to be according to your genes and environment, and irrespective of having ADHD neurodevelopmental delays.

You can mature out of your ADHD behaviour/symptoms

That's because it's neurodevelopmental and due to a delay in maturity approximately one-third of children outgrow it by the time they're a teenager.
Of the teenagers who continue to have ADHD, approximately one-third will grow out of it by adulthood and one third of adults will eventually mature out of the symptoms and no longer meet diagnostic criteria.
This isn't to say that those who grow out of it won't still experience behaviours consistent with ADHD but on reassessment, they would no longer experience them enough to warrant a diagnosis.

There's less stigma and more support for ADHD

How the public, families and professionals have understood ADHD has changed across the generations. There is much less stigma around getting an assessment and support for ADHD.
More and more people are getting assessed and diagnosed with ADHD than ever before, and the highest proportion is in adults. Often, these are parents who have had their child assessed and realise they too experience the behaviours/symptoms.
Adult ADHD adulthood often means access to understanding yourself in new and non-judgmental ways that allow for support structures to help you to adapt to different situations, relationships, workplace requirements and life stages.

Having ADHD also means that you have immense strengths

These include being energetic, enthusiastic, creative, highly intuitive, sensitive and fun. You're also more likely to become experts in your field.
Parents, teachers, employers, colleagues, partners and friends who understand, are supporting, and helping you to manage ADHD, by capturing and enhancing your strengths are your allied champions! They know that ADHD is different but not less!

For more information have a look at our ADHD FAQs, find a healthcare professional, check out supporting organisations or contact us.

Photo by NDE