5 common problems that can mimic ADHD
- Hearing problems. If you can't hear well, it's hard to pay attention — and easy to get distracted. …
- Learning or cognitive disabilities. …
- Sleep problems. …
- Depression or anxiety. …
- Substance abuse.
What could be mistaken for ADHD?
People with bipolar disorder appear to display ADHD symptoms during manic episodes, such as restlessness, trouble sleeping, and hyperactivity. During depressive episodes, symptoms such as lack of focus, lethargy, and inattention can also mirror those of ADHD.
Why do I feel like I have ADHD but don t?
Anxiety, depression, learning disorders, physical health, and many other conditions can cause symptoms that look like ADHD but aren't.
How do I know it’s ADHD and not something else?
The best way to determine if you have ADHD is to be evaluated by a mental health professional. Receiving a diagnosis as an adult requires a different process than ADHD diagnosis in children. Your doctor or psychologist will have you complete an ADHD rating scale and ask you a number of questions.
Do I have ADHD or am I just weird?
The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor. That's because the disorder has a number of possible symptoms, and they can easily be confused with those of other conditions, like depression or anxiety.
Can you be misdiagnosed as not having ADHD?
Because many of the symptoms of ADHD overlap with those of many other conditions, misdiagnosis can occur. If ADHD is not the cause of the symptoms, they can become worse with the stimulants the doctor prescribes for treatment.
Can anxiety mimic ADHD symptoms?
Some symptoms of anxiety – such as restlessness and poor concentration – can also be misdiagnosed as ADHD. Whether your child is dealing with ADHD or ADHD and anxiety, it's important to understand the root cause of the symptoms so you can find the best way of helping your child cope with them.
How do I know if I have ADHD or I’m just lazy?
People who are lazy typically don't make an effort to complete tasks at work, school, or home. ADD/ADHD people, however, may try really, really hard but still can't tackle what they want to accomplish. This can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and feeling bad about your abilities.
What are 3 signs of ADHD?
The 3 categories of symptoms of ADHD include the following:
- Inattention: Short attention span for age (difficulty sustaining attention) Difficulty listening to others. …
- Impulsivity: Often interrupts others. …
- Hyperactivity: Seems to be in constant motion; runs or climbs, at times with no apparent goal except motion.
What is high functioning ADHD?
What Is High-Functioning ADHD? Though not a formal medical diagnosis, high-functioning ADHD in adults is just as real but commonly misunderstood. The term describes people with (undiagnosed) ADHD that does not significantly impair their day-to-day activities.
What feels like ADHD but isn t?
Is it Asperger’s or ADHD?
With ADHD, a child tends to focus on multiple activities but is easily distracted by his/her environment and jumps from one activity to another. A child with Asperger's can talk or play quietly. A child with ADHD finds it difficult to play or talk quietly.
What is Ring of Fire ADHD?
Ring of Fire ADD is a proposed subtype of ADHD characterized by a distinctive “ring of fire” pattern of increased brain activity seen on SPECT scans. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging is a type of imaging test used to identify variations in brain activity and blood flow.
Is it my anxiety or my ADHD?
Someone with an anxiety disorder may have trouble concentrating in situations that make them feel worried or nervous. In contrast, someone with ADHD may experience difficulty concentrating even in situations where their mind is calm and quiet.
Do I have ADHD or do I just procrastinate?
Although there is no direct relationship between ADHD and procrastination, some of the symptoms of ADHD can lead an individual to procrastinate. Procrastination is not a symptom specific to ADHD. That said, people with ADHD do commonly experience it due to the other symptoms of the condition.
What are the 4 F’s of ADHD?
ADHD and Lying: The Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fib Response.
How does high IQ mask ADHD?
High IQ may “mask” the diagnosis of ADHD by compensating for deficits in executive functions in treatment-naïve adults with ADHD. Outlook for children with intellectual disabilities.
What is Type 7 ADHD?
Anxious ADD. Sufferers of Anxious ADD are often afflicted by additional symptoms of stress which may include headaches, digestive problems, difficulty falling asleep and low self-esteem. Brain mapping reveals dysregulation in brain networks involving the prefrontal cortex, limbic areas, and the insula.
What does undiagnosed Aspergers look like in adults?
Though people with Asperger's may find conversations to be hard or frustrating, they generally have average to high intelligence and strong verbal skills. They tend to engage in repetitive behavior and may have trouble understanding complicated feelings, gestures, or sarcasm.
What is high functioning Aspergers?
Asperger syndrome is often considered a high functioning form of autism. It can lead to difficulty interacting socially, repeat behaviors, and clumsiness. Asperger syndrome is a part of the larger developmental disorder category of autism spectrum disorder. You sense something is different about your child.
What is Type 6 ADHD brain?
Type 6: Ring of Fire ADDSymptoms: primary ADD symptoms plus extreme moodiness, anger outbursts, oppositional, inflexibility, fast thoughts, excessive talking, and very sensitive to sounds and lights. I named it Ring of Fire after the intense ring of overactivity that I saw in the brains of affected people.