ADHD and Autism
ADHD
what is ADHD?
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that includes symptoms such as being restless and having trouble concentrating.
Symptoms of ADHD
- Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder include a short attention span, constantly fidgeting and acting without thinking.
- The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be categorised into 2 types of behavioral problems:inattentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focusing)hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Many people with ADHD have problems that fall into both these categories, but this is not always the case.
- For example, around 2 to 3 in 10 people with the condition have problems with concentrating and focusing, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness.This form of ADHD is also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD). ADD can sometimes go unnoticed because the symptoms may be less obvious.
- ADHD is more often diagnosed in boys than girls. Girls are more likely to have symptoms of inattentiveness only, and are less likely to show disruptive behavior that makes ADHD symptoms more obvious. This means girls who have ADHD may not always be diagnosed.
Tips for ADHD
- For children with ADHD, although there's no cure, it can be managed with appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and affected children, alongside medicine, if necessary.
- For adults with ADHD, medicine is often the first treatment offered, although psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may also help.
Causes of ADHD
- The exact cause of ADHD is unknown but it has been shown that the condition runs in families.
A short video on ADHD
what is ADHD?
Autism
What is autism?
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a "developmental disorder" because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of a child's life
Symptoms of autism
Signs of autism in adolescents include: not seeming to understand what others are thinking or feeling, unusual speech, such as repeating phrases and talking 'at' others, liking a strict daily routine and getting very upset if it changes, having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities, getting very upset if you ask them to do something, finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on their own, taking things very literally – for example, they may not understand phrases like "break a leg", finding it hard to say how they feel.
It is harder to spot the symptoms in girls than boys because girls tend to hide symptoms better by copying other people and they appear to cope better with social situations and withdraw from anything they find difficult.
Tips for autism
- If you think your autistic go to a GP or a doctor because getting diagnosed may be very helpful.
Causes of autism
- Evidence suggests that autism may be genetic. Scientists have been attempting to identify which genes might be implicated in autism for ages. Autism is likely to have multiple genes responsible rather than a single gene. However, it is not caused by emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up.
A short video on autism