7 Signs of ADHD You Shouldn’t Ignore

Your brain, the center of information, learning, memory, emotion, nervous system function, and so much more, is the most complex organ in your body. To such an extent that scientists still don’t completely understand how it works. 

The human brain weighs approximately three pounds, is roughly 70% water, and contains billions of neurons that communicate through complex networks. These networks shape how you think, learn, move, and interact with the world. 

When typical brain development is altered, it can affect cognitive, social, and emotional functioning. These conditions are known as neurodevelopmental disorders, and they influence how a person processes information, responds to their environment, and manages daily tasks.

Attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. It affects both children and adults, impacting attention, impulse control, activity levels, and executive functioning. 

ADHD can be treated, but first, you need to know what signs to look for. Evie Lawson, FNP-C, MSN, RN, at Horseshoe Healthcare offers a range of telehealth services nationwide that can help you navigate conditions like ADHD.

Understanding ADHD

ADHD covers a wide range of symptoms, which can make it confusing. While attention is part of the picture, the core issue is difficulty regulating attention — being unable to direct, sustain, or shift it when needed. This can take several forms:

• Inattentive ADHD: difficulty with focus, organization, and completing tasks with no hyperactivity
• Hyperactive, impulsive ADHD: difficulty staying in one place, showing excess energy, and impulsiveness
• Combined presentation: symptoms of both inattentive and hyperactive types; most common
• Unspecified presentation: severe symptoms that don’t meet the overall criteria for any other type

Symptoms of ADHD to watch for

ADHD often starts in children, but when it’s missed in that age group, it may be diagnosed in adults. The presentation has similarities in both groups. Some overall symptoms that indicate you need to seek treatment include:

1. Time management issues

Without the ability to focus, sticking to schedules becomes challenging, which can lead to missed deadlines or getting distracted even when you’ve set aside time to work.

2. Losing things

ADHD makes it harder to keep track of things, so remembering where you put something becomes a chore.

3. Risk-taking

The impulsive aspects of this condition can lead to rash actions without considering the consequences, often involving things that can be harmful.

4. Problems following instructions

Lack of focus also makes processing instructions a struggle. Even if things are repeated, they may not stick.

5. Restlessness

Hyperactivity makes it difficult to stand still, so many situations where you should be calm can become more volatile and harder to control.

6. Emotional outbursts

The hyper aspect of ADHD also makes it more difficult to keep emotions in check, leading to outbursts seemingly out of nowhere to others.

7. Communication issues

Focus is essential in communication, and without the ability to pay attention for long enough to listen, it can be harder to relay or obtain information.

To manage the complications of ADHD, we offer a combination of medicinal and therapeutic treatments to manage all the ways this disorder affects how you deal with the world around you. And with remote treatment through telehealth, you don’t even have to leave your house to get help.

If you or a loved one shows signs of ADHD, it’s time to get help. Call us or book an appointment online with Horseshoe Healthcare today.