What problems can ADHD cause?
Children with ADHD:
Hyperactivity
According to Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., an internationally recognized authority on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, children with ADHD often display hyperactive behaviors. Children younger than school age may show hyperactivity through excessive running or climbing at socially inappropriate times. For school age children, ADHD children display excessive movement when it is inappropriate or unnecessary for the task, such as wriggling their feet and legs, rocking or moving their seat, or tapping things.
According to Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., an internationally recognized authority on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, children with ADHD often display hyperactive behaviors. Children younger than school age may show hyperactivity through excessive running or climbing at socially inappropriate times. For school age children, ADHD children display excessive movement when it is inappropriate or unnecessary for the task, such as wriggling their feet and legs, rocking or moving their seat, or tapping things.
Inattention
Inattentioncan manifest itself in numerous ways. Dr. Russell A. Barkley, explains this behavior by saying that ADHD children “often fail to show the same level of persistence, “stick-to-it-tiveness,” motivation, and will-power of others their age when uninteresting yet important tasks must be performed.” The CDC indicates that children with ADHD have trouble keeping their attention to the task at hand in both school work and leisure activities. This often results in not giving close attention to detail and making careless mistakes, as well as avoiding activities that require sustained mental effort.
Inattentioncan manifest itself in numerous ways. Dr. Russell A. Barkley, explains this behavior by saying that ADHD children “often fail to show the same level of persistence, “stick-to-it-tiveness,” motivation, and will-power of others their age when uninteresting yet important tasks must be performed.” The CDC indicates that children with ADHD have trouble keeping their attention to the task at hand in both school work and leisure activities. This often results in not giving close attention to detail and making careless mistakes, as well as avoiding activities that require sustained mental effort.
Adults with ADHD:
Work
Impulsivity among ADHD adults often manifests itself with socially inappropriate behavior and mood swings. Saying or doing things impulsively and without thinking about social conventions is not conducive to success at work, and may lead to disciplinary action or job loss. Additionally, it is very difficult for ADHD adults to stay on task, organize and finish projects, and be on time for appointments and deadlines. These traits are not conducive to success in the workplace. The National Resource Center on AD/HD indicates that external and internal distractibility is the biggest challenge facing adults with ADHD. Working in any environment with noise and people moving around or talking can make it hard to concentrate, as can incoming phone calls, emails, and trying to perform multiple tasks at one time.
Impulsivity among ADHD adults often manifests itself with socially inappropriate behavior and mood swings. Saying or doing things impulsively and without thinking about social conventions is not conducive to success at work, and may lead to disciplinary action or job loss. Additionally, it is very difficult for ADHD adults to stay on task, organize and finish projects, and be on time for appointments and deadlines. These traits are not conducive to success in the workplace. The National Resource Center on AD/HD indicates that external and internal distractibility is the biggest challenge facing adults with ADHD. Working in any environment with noise and people moving around or talking can make it hard to concentrate, as can incoming phone calls, emails, and trying to perform multiple tasks at one time.
Daily Functioning
Adults suffering from ADHD often struggle just to maintain normal daily functioning, and to get the things done each day that need to be done. Racing thoughts make even the simplest activities, such as housework, become difficult. Distractibility is a common symptom of adult ADHD, and this can take up hours each day and week looking for lost papers, bills, keys, and trying to remember what task one was trying to complete. In more severe cases, impulsivity can lead to car accidents, legal trouble, debt, and addiction tendencies. Furthermore, the impulsivity and overall restlessness associated with adult ADHD causes many problems, within both romantic and family relationships. Being bored easily and risk taking behaviors, both common ADHD symptoms, may lead to extra-marital-affairs, and other destructive behaviors that can seriously harm relationships.
Adults suffering from ADHD often struggle just to maintain normal daily functioning, and to get the things done each day that need to be done. Racing thoughts make even the simplest activities, such as housework, become difficult. Distractibility is a common symptom of adult ADHD, and this can take up hours each day and week looking for lost papers, bills, keys, and trying to remember what task one was trying to complete. In more severe cases, impulsivity can lead to car accidents, legal trouble, debt, and addiction tendencies. Furthermore, the impulsivity and overall restlessness associated with adult ADHD causes many problems, within both romantic and family relationships. Being bored easily and risk taking behaviors, both common ADHD symptoms, may lead to extra-marital-affairs, and other destructive behaviors that can seriously harm relationships.
