TIPS AND GUIDES FOR PT3
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Those who suffer from it usually have problems focusing, and are hyperactive or impulsive. ADHD is more common in children and teenagers, but adults have it too. It is not known how many Malaysians suffer from it, but a European study estimates that between two and five per cent of adults have ADHD.
It has been said that ADHD is a childhood problem and that kids or teens who are diagnosed with it will outgrow the disorder when they become adults. But that may not be true.
Dr Hazli Zakaria from the Department of Psychiatry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, says 50-60 per cent of adolescents who have ADHD will continue to have it in adulthood. There are also adults who are newly diagnosed with the condition. It doesn’t mean they didn’t have it when they were younger, it just wasn’t identified.
Some sufferers find their ADHD symptoms manageable in childhood. It’s only later, in the stresses of adulthood, are their lives made much more difficult. Kids not paying attention in class may see that reflected in their exam results, but imagine adults being absent-minded at work and the impact it will have on their career.
Hyperactivity in kids can mean a lot of running all over the place, but in adults, it appears as the need to work almost non-stop or being extremely talkative. There’s an inner restlessness that makes them unable to sit still. They may also find it hard for their minds to shut down at night.