Therapist provides insight into ADHD diagnosis
ADHD, a syndrome characterized by motor hyperactivity, is often detected in childhood, although it can also be diagnosed in adulthood. Dr. Melissa Shepard highlights the specific queries she uses to help identify individuals with ADHD.
7:37 PM EST, November 5, 2023
ADHD, the syndrome of hyperactivity with attention deficit, has a significant impact on behavior. However, it's not widely understood that these issues usually originate from this universal disorder.
Psychiatrist and therapist Dr. Melissa Shepard employs TikTok as a platform for educating her viewers on mental disorders. She frequently discusses depression and ADHD. In one of her video clips, she shared the diagnostic questions she poses to her patients to identify if they present with signs of motor hyperactivity syndrome.
Inaccuracy often plagues ADHD diagnosis
ADHD symptoms typically surface in childhood, before a child reaches five years old. These symptoms tend to become increasingly noticeable once the child commences school.
Boys often manifest motor hyperactivity symptoms, while girls are often diagnosed with attention disorders, which results in frequent misdiagnoses. Individuals with ADHD may appear restless due to their impulsive tendencies, coupled with attention deficits.
While ADHD symptoms may decrease with age for some, many adults who were not diagnosed at an early age continue to struggle with concentration issues. This has led Dr. Shepard to share the diagnostic questions she asks during the diagnosis of ADHD.
Overlap of ADHD symptoms and other mental health issues
Dr. Shepard made it clear that a positive response to her questions doesn't necessarily confirm a diagnosis of ADHD. However, it could be a good reason for a discussion with a medical professional. She emphasized that her questions should only serve as a guideline for identifying potential ADHD cases and must not be relied on for self-diagnosis.
She poses the following questions to patients, "Do you find it difficult to concentrate, or do your thoughts often wander?", "Do you often feel restless or find it hard to sit still?", "Do you frequently shake your leg, twirl your hair, or pick at your skin?", "Do you have problems focusing on a single task at once?".
In addition to these questions, she attempts to discern whether the individual is overly sensitive to criticism or rejection and can be easily overwhelmed in loud and busy environments.
People with ADHD often have irregular sleep and eating patterns and struggle to relax even while on vacation. Frequently misplacing items like keys or phones and difficulties in estimating task durations are also common complaints.
