ADHD Awareness Month 2021 – October

What is ADHD Awareness Month?

ADHD Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about the existence of ADHD among both sufferers and non-sufferers alike by creating positive change through education.

ADHD is a very common disorder which affects children and adults. It has for many years been recognised as a childhood issue that affects focus, self-control and many other important skills. However, it has only recently been recognised as an adult problem too. The cause is an imbalance in the brains anatomy and its wiring.

We all know someone who suffers from this condition but there are still some people out there who don’t believe it exists or think of it as something to be ashamed of.

The kinds of symptoms professionals look for in diagnosing ADHD include:

• difficulty following instructions or completing tasks
• difficulty ‘sticking to’ an activity
• easily distracted and forgetful
• often doesn’t listen when spoken to
• fidgets, is restless, can’t sit still in class
• can’t stop talking, interrupts others
• runs about when it is inappropriate
• blurts out answers without waiting for the question to finish
• difficulty in waiting or taking turns

In order to be diagnosed with ADHD some of these problems would have been apparent before the age of six or seven years. These behaviours must normally occur in more than one setting (for example at home as well as at school) for ADHD to be diagnosed.

Facts - Did you know?

• To be diagnosed with ADHD the symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity need to be present before the age of 12
• Males are almost three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than females.
• ADHD isn’t just a childhood disorder. Occurrence of ADHD in adults was estimated at 4.0% in Australia and about 1 in every 20 Australians has ADHD.
• Girls and women are under-diagnosed for ADHD because of various reasons.