10 Signs of ADHD: When Should You See a Professional?
ADHD is often considered a childhood issue, but it also affects adults. It doesn’t fade out with age. As the brain develops, ADHD in adults can present slightly differently than it does in children. If you weren’t diagnosed in your youth, the only way to know for sure is to seek a professional diagnosis.
Forgetfulness
If you’re experiencing a lot of forgetfulness, and people tend to notice your difficulty remembering, you may want to get tested for ADHD. Routinely misplacing everyday items like your keys, wallet, or phone and forgetting to return phone calls, pay bills, and keep appointments are common for those with this neurodivergent condition.
Trouble Listening
You may find that you have trouble listening to others. This is usually due to your mind wandering off while someone is talking, not due to there being distractions present. People notice your inattention and can often lose patience with you when they have to repeat themselves often. Over time this can become a major issue disrupting your life. However, to prevent this from happening, it would be a good idea to seek out an adhd psychologist melbourne or one in your location. They can help you manage the symptoms such that you can live your life to the fullest.
Tardiness
Many people with ADHD have trouble with timeliness. They easily lose track of time and often miss important events and appointments, or they’re often late to them. Losing focus and being derailed by minor inconveniences can contribute to lateness, so staying on schedule is something that requires a great deal of effort.
Trouble Concentrating
Paying attention to details and focusing for extended periods of time is very difficult for those with ADHD. It’s not uncommon for adults to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol, which also contributes to trouble concentrating. Your healthcare professional can help you get to the root of your concentration issues.
Incomplete Tasks
It’s easy not to follow through with tasks when you struggle with attention and concentration. Starting and finishing are difficult. Motivation to move ahead is particularly difficult when the scope of the task feels daunting or you know that it will require a lot of mental energy.
Childhood Behavioral Issues
If you were labeled as a problem child, lazy, or an overly chatty and energetic child, you may have had undiagnosed ADHD as a child. Whether you had a formal diagnosis or not, ADHD symptoms are known to change with age and are often misread ass depression or anxiety in children.
Lack of Impulse Control
A lack of impulse control can be very problematic for both children and adults. Taking big risks when you know that the consequences could be dire, overspending, and an inability to monitor your speaking are also characteristics of ADHD.
Disorganization
The lack of attention to detail often results in being disorganized. It’s very hard to develop routines that will help you stay organized. Prioritizing tasks, following through with tasks, and meeting deadlines are a problem for you.
Fidgety or Restless
If you find that you just can’t sit still, or you find yourself moving around more often than other people, there may be something else going on. Excessive talking, constant fidgeting, and interrupting others is a hallmark of ADHD in both children and adults.
Poorly Controlled Emotions
Do other people find you to be moody or easily irritable? If the answer is yes, there may be more under the surface. When you find yourself frustrated often, unmotivated, or prone to unprovoked angry outbursts, you should consult with your healthcare provider. ADHD makes controlling your emotions a major chore.
Whether you were diagnosed as a child or not, typically your ability to manage your symptoms depends on the severity of your symptoms. If you’re interested in being tested for ADHD you can see a neurologist, your physician, a psychiatrist, or a psychologist who has experience with ADHD patients.
