What is ADHD? Types, Symptoms, and Causes

According to the CDC, Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way the brain develops. The ADHD symptoms often begin in early childhood, typically between ages three and six, and may continue through adolescence and into adulthood. But the symptoms can go unnoticed until adulthood.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can impact executive functioning, attention, and impulse control. Its effects vary greatly from person to person.

Despite common misconceptions, ADHD doesn’t mean a person is unable to pay attention; it often involves difficulty in regulating and sustaining attention, especially on tasks that are less engaging. Rather, it means that it can be difficult for a person with ADHD to direct or control their attention to a certain task. 

If you know somebody who has ADHD and wants to help them, explore the Saalvio App. With features like mood tracker, self-care tips, and guided exercises, Saalvio offers supportive tools that can help individuals with ADHD manage routines, track moods, and practice self-care more effectively.

Keep reading to know more about what ADHD is and how Saalvio can be of help to you. 

What is ADHD?

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. It starts in childhood and lasts a lifetime. According to CADDAC, around 1.8 million Canadians, including children and adults, are affected by ADHD. Children with ADHD may have difficulty sustaining attention and may exhibit impulsive or hyperactive behaviour.

ADHD can make certain academic tasks more challenging due to differences in attention, focus, and executive function, but with the right strategies and support, many individuals thrive in school.

ADHD in adults can be managed with therapies. This is where Saalvio is a big help. Download the app and connect with a suitable therapist who will assist you in understanding what causes ADHD and managing your or your loved one’s condition. 

Types of ADHD

There are four common types of ADHD in which this disorder presents itself. Let’s take a look at all four to understand what ADHD is in detail. 

1. Inattentive

As the name indicates, a person represents the inattentive symptoms in this type of ADHD. Symptoms include difficulty in finishing work, paying attention, staying focused, and keeping things organized. 

There might be few to no hyperactive symptoms in inattentive ADHD. Children with this type of ADHD tend to daydream and get lost in their imaginations. 

2. Hyperactive-impulsive

In hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, a person has excessive energy and is likely to be more talkative than what is typically expected for their age. With this type of ADHD, you might have difficulty staying quiet or sitting in one place. 

Children with this type may act impulsively, have trouble sitting still, or interrupt others without intending to.. They tend to get annoyed easily and make careless mistakes. They may also make involuntary actions in their hyperactivity and unintentionally interrupt others. 

3 Combined

In combined ADHD, a person exhibits a combination of both inattentive and hyperactive ADHD symptoms. This is the most common type of ADHD There is no fixed representation of symptoms in combined ADHD. You may experience a combination of inattentive and hyperactive symptoms, or vice versa. 

Symptoms of ADHD

Each group, inattentive and hyperactive, has its own ADHD symptoms. 

Symptoms of Inattentive ADHD

• Not paying attention or focusing on tasks
• May make frequent errors, especially in tasks requiring attention to detail
• Lacks attention to detail
• Forgetting to do things
• Gets distracted easily
• May appear distracted or immersed in daydreaming
• Difficulty in keeping things organized
• Difficulty staying focused
• Easily losing things
• Procrastinates while doing a task
• Start simultaneous tasks and do not finish any of them

Symptoms of Hyperactive ADHD

• Keep getting up and moving around 
• Have a hard time staying quiet
• Difficulty completing a task while being seated
• Difficulty waiting for their turn
• Keeps interrupting others during tasks
• Feel restless all the time
• May interrupt or speak impulsively
• More talkative than their peers
• Continuously making small movements with hands and feet

If you notice a consistent pattern of these behaviors that interferes with daily life, it may be helpful to speak with a healthcare provider for further evaluation. Getting connected to a suitable therapist can make things easier for the patient and their family members. With Thrive AI from Saalvio, you can now get AI to support you between your therapy sessions. 

What Causes ADHD?

While the exact cause of ADHD is not fully understood, research suggests a combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors contributes to its development. What it means is that when a child is born, there are certain genes that influence how the brain develops, particularly in areas related to attention and impulse control. 

Most research showed that children with ADHD have one or both parents or someone from the immediate biological family with the same condition. Let’s understand how ADHD in adults and kids is caused in the human brain. 

Our frontal lobe is responsible for controlling and directing our attention to something. In a normally grown human brain, it takes some effort to pay attention to a task at hand and complete it. With an ADHD brain, this task gets more complicated. In individuals with ADHD, tasks involving focus and organization may require more cognitive effort due to differences in brain function, particularly in areas like the frontal lobe.

Other than genetics, environmental risks can be a cause of ADHD. Some of the environmental risks include

• Exposure to toxins like alcohol or lead during pregnancy
• Preterm birth
• Low birth weight
• Head injuries in early childhood
• Family environment
• Mental health and history of parents

What is Hyperfocus in People with ADHD?

Sometimes, ADHD symptoms in kids may include being hyper-focused. Being hyper-focused is a state of getting in a zone of something a person is interested in. While people with ADHD have difficulty focusing, they can develop a hyperfocus state, which allows them to do a task or hobby for hours when they are interested in it. 

Children with ADHD may experience hyperfocus an intense concentration on activities they find interesting. This can be a strength when channeled positively, but it may also lead to difficulty shifting attention to other responsibilities. For instance, a child might find playing the piano interesting. Parents should support such interests and see their child with ADHD become an expert in something. This can also help boost the child’s self-esteem. 

What Can Parents Do To Help?

Parents can help their children with ADHD a lot by learning ways of dealing with ADHD and providing home support. The right kind of support for these children can make a huge difference. Here are some tips that you can follow as a parent of a child with ADHD:

• Learn as much as you can about what ADHD is and how to support your child.
• Try learning gentle parenting methods. Instead of saying “no” or “stop,” try clearly instructing them. 
• Remove the stigma around having ADHD by talking openly about it at home.
• Focus on your kid’s positive traits instead of highlighting their deficiencies. 
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy meals and getting enough sleep.
• Join local support groups and societies.
• Take the help of personalized tools like Saalvio to manage ADHD. 

Saalvio is designed for people of all ages managing ADHD and other mental health conditions. Whether you’re in search of a good therapist or just looking to manage the daily log activities for ADHD symptoms in kids, Saalvio also offers features that can help parents track symptoms, set routines, and connect with therapists when needed.