Therefore, a thorough evaluation is necessary to determine the cause of the symptoms. Stress, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and other physical conditions or illnesses can cause similar symptoms to those of ADHD. They may also refer individuals to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, who can do a thorough evaluation and make an ADHD diagnosis.įor a person to receive a diagnosis of ADHD, the symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity must be chronic or long-lasting, impair the person’s functioning, and cause the person to fall behind typical development for their age. Primary care providers sometimes diagnose and treat ADHD. Interrupt or intrude on others, for example in conversations, games, or activities.Answer questions before they are fully asked, finish other people’s sentences, or speak without waiting for a turn in a conversation.

Be constantly in motion or on the go, or act as if driven by a motor.Be unable to play or engage in hobbies quietly.Run, dash around, or climb at inappropriate times or, in teens and adults, often feel restless.Leave their seats in situations when staying seated is expected, such as in the classroom or the office.People with symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity may often: Be forgetful in daily activities, such as chores, errands, returning calls, and keeping appointments.Be easily distracted by unrelated thoughts or stimuli.Lose things necessary for tasks or activities, such as school supplies, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, and cell phones.Avoid tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as homework, or for teens and older adults, preparing reports, completing forms, or reviewing lengthy papers.Have difficulty organizing tasks and activities, doing tasks in sequence, keeping materials and belongings in order, managing time, and meeting deadlines.Find it hard to follow through on instructions or finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace, or may start tasks but lose focus and get easily sidetracked.Not seem to listen when spoken to directly.Have difficulty sustaining attention during play or tasks, such as conversations, lectures, or lengthy reading.Overlook or miss details and make seemingly careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or during other activities.People with symptoms of inattention may often: Interfere with or reduce the quality of how they function socially, at school, or in a job.Many people experience some inattention, unfocused motor activity, and impulsivity, but for people with ADHD, these behaviors: Others mostly have symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity. Some people with ADHD mainly have symptoms of inattention. Research Training and Career Development Opportunities.Research Conducted at NIMH (Intramural Research Program).Upcoming Observances and Related Events.Contribute to Mental Health Research Mobile navigation

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