Introduction
We receive many enquiries regarding ADHD each week so we asked Dr Sally Cubbin, Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in this condition top give us some more information.
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or ADD) affects children and adolescents and for around 2/3 of sufferers continues into adulthood. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder for children.
Symptoms – Children
Children with ADHD may be hyperactive and unable to control their impulses. Or they may have trouble paying attention. These behaviours interfere with school, working and home life.
Symptoms – Adults
Adults with ADHD are more likely to have trouble managing time, being easily distracted, not listening, difficulty being organised, putting off tasks or not finishing tasks and difficulty remaining interested which can affect their ability to stick to a job. They are prone to making careless mistakes, being forgetful and often losing things. They have a tendency for their mind to wander and they tend to day dream. Often they continue to feel restless and have problems with impulse control.
ADHD and Driving
Problems paying attention are common in ADHD and can also affect driving. It is recognised that there is a higher rate of road traffic accidents among patients with ADHD. A study of over 17,000 patients studied over 4 years examined the extent to which ADHD medication influences the risk of road traffic accidents. It showed that in males with ADHD, medication for ADHD provided a 58% reduced risk of having a road traffic accident. They estimated that almost half of road traffic accidents in male patients with ADHD could have been avoided if they were on ADHD medication.
Medication Adherence
This just goes to show the taking of medication as prescribed could make a dramatic difference or be life saving in some situations.
If you would like more information on the assessments available for diagnosing ADHD, please contact us either by phone on 01753 869755 or http://info@cardinalclinic.co.uk
