Tag Archives: signs and symptoms

Do I Have ADHD? 8 Subtle Signs in Adults

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Published by: PsychCentral
Written by: Gia Miller

If you’ve ever wondered whether you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you’re not alone.

When many people hear the term “ADHD,” they often think of how it presents in children. They may not even know that ADHD also impacts adults.

In fact, the misconception that it doesn’t affect adults is part of the reason why ADHD is not effectively diagnosed after childhood. People with ADHD might not realize that the symptoms can be present into adulthood.

In fact, studies have shown that 50% to 80% of children with ADHD carry it on to adolescence, and another 35% to 65% then carry it into adulthood.

It was a common belief that ADHD disappeared in adulthood, and this was probably because ADHD looks different in adults than it does in children, and its symptoms were overlooked. The truth is, researchers believe that at least 75% of adults who have ADHD don’t even know that they have it.

So, what does it look like? Here are some of the subtle signs you may have ADHD.

1. Having an altered sense of time

One of the hallmarks of ADHD is “living in the now.” People with ADHD find it hard to keep track of time. They’re often late for appointments, can’t accurately estimate how long it will take for them to complete a task, and leave complicated tasks until the last minute. This is referred to as “time blindness.”

The reason this happens, according to researchers, is that the brain’s prefrontal cortex — which is responsible for executive functioning — doesn’t work as well at managing focus and behavior in adults with ADHD.

This is also the part of the brain that helps you plan for the future. It’s what allows you to prepare yourself for what’s coming next and plan how much time you have to realistically complete tasks.

If that part of the brain isn’t functioning properly, then you’re unable to accurately look into your future.

As a comparison, think of people who are nearsighted: They can only read things that are near to their face. Similarly, people with ADHD sometimes have difficulty anticipating and preparing for future events. The farther away an event is, the harder it is to deal with it.

2. Lack of executive functioning skills

For people with ADHD, time management isn’t the only difficulty. Other executive functioning skills can be challenging too, making it hard to manage the details of your life.

A person with ADHD will find it difficult to organize their thoughts and manage their schedule. You’ll likely also struggle with planning and prioritizing the order of tasks that you’re supposed to do, which can make it hard to meet deadlines.

While the level of executive functioning will vary from person to person, all folks with ADHD will find some challenges in each of the following categories when it comes to doing tasks or assignments:

  • organizing, prioritizing, and getting started
  • concentrating and staying focused, as well as shifting your attention to a new task
  • staying alert, maintaining the same level of effort, and understanding what you’re doing
  • managing your frustration and emotions
  • holding and using multiple pieces of information at once, and remembering things you’ve read or learned
  • controlling your actions

International Dravet Syndrome Awareness Month

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Date: June 23, 2022

Epilepsy is the 4th most common neurological disorder in the United States. With children, around 400,000 have epilepsy and most are able to control their seizures and lead normal lives. Dravet Syndrome is a rare form, of epilepsy found in children. Symptoms include, developmental delays, sleeping conditions, and chronic infections. Here are 20 facts you shoud know about Davet Syndrome.

20facts.dravet

click here for a printed copy

  • Charlotte Dravet first described severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy in France, 1978.
  • The name was later changed in 1989.
  • It is also called Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI)
  • It is a rare genetic disorder affecting 1 in every 20,000-40,000 children
  • It appears during the first year of life.
  • Developmental disabilities and abnormal EEG’s are often not evident until the second of third year of life.
  • Seizures are often fever-related.
  • It is rare to develop beyond the age of 5.
  • Children often experience poor development of language and motor skills
  • Is caused by defects in a gene in 79% of cases.
  • Affects 2-5% of children in North America
  • It is induced by prolonged exposure to warm weather
  • It is associated with sleep disorder including insomnia
  • Seizures are frequently resistant to treatment
  • There is a higher risk of Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) (15-20%)
  • The onset of signs and symptoms is around 6 months old
  • Children diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome have a 85% chance of survival.
  • Development is typically normal.
  • Episodes may be frequent and prolonged

To learn more, Download a free factsheet here:

National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

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Date: May 1- May 30, 2022

National Asthma and Allergy Awareness month began in 1984 and is sponsored through the Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA).

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes your airways to become inflamed, making it difficult to breathe.

Allergies are one of the most chronic diseases. It occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it causing an allergic reaction.

Facts
  • Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the lung airways that causes coughing, chest tightness, and a shortness of breath.
  • 8.3% of Americans have asthma
  • Asthma prevalence is higher in children (9.4 percent) than in adults (7.7 percent).
  • Asthma results in 439,000 hospitalizations and is 1.3 million emergency room visits annually
  • Asthma is the most chronic illness in childhood
  • More than 3,500 people die of asthma each year
  • Asthma symptoms can be triggered by exposure to an allergen
  • Asthma is often hereditary
  • There sis no cure for asthma
  • Weather conditions such as extremely dry, wet or windy weather can worsen an asthma condition.
  • About 32 million Americans have food allergies
  • About 24 million Americans have hay fever

Ways to bring awareness:

Educate yourself by downloading a factsheet: AAFA Asthma Facts and Figures April 2021

Use tools to educate family, friends, school and work

Follow on organizations on social media

Order a T-shirt

raise money and donate to a nonprofit organization

Prader Willi Syndrome Awareness Month

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Date: May 1- May 31, 2022

What is Prader Willi Syndrome?

Prader Willi Syndrome is a genetic disorder resulting from an abnormality of chromosome 15 such as a loss of active genes. In most cases (70%) the paternal copy is missing and in some cases (25%), will exhibit two maternal copies of Chromosome 15. The genetic disorder was initially described by John Langdon Down and was named after Drs. Andrea Prader, Heimrich Willi and Alexis Labhart in 1956 and is found in 1 in 20,000 births affecting both sexes. It is also the most common recognized genetic form of obesity.

During childhood, individuals diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome tend to eat constantly leading to obesity and for some, type 2 diabetes will develop. This complex disorder affects appetite,growth, metabolism, cognitive functioning and behavior.

Signs and Symptoms

People with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) tend to never feel full (hyperphagia) which leads to constant eating. Signs in infants include, problems with strength, coordination and balance. Often there are feeding problems at birth, delayed speech and gross motor development. Children may be born with almond-shaped eyes and undeveloped sexual organs. Cognitive disabilities and developmental delays may also be present.

As children began to grow, constant craving for food often leads to behavior challenges including hoarding food, eating frozen food and food left in the garbage causing controlling or manipulative behavior.

Medical Issues

Medical concerns may include the following:

  • Sleep Apnea
  • Respiratory/Breathing
  • High pain tolerance
  • Severe stomach illness
  • Difficulty with vomiting reflex
  • Excessive appetite
  • Binge eating
  • Eye problems
  • Choking
  • Hypothermia
  • Leg Swelling
  • Consuming unsafe items
  • Negative reactions to medications

The Foundation for Prader Research puts out daily fact sheets during awareness month. You can subscribe here. Download here for a fact sheet.

#praderwillawarenessmonth

Is Williams Syndrome the Same as Down Syndrome?

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Published by: Medicinet.com

What is Williams syndrome?

Williams syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects approximately one in 25,000 births. The syndrome is named for Dr. J.C.P. Williams, who first diagnosed the condition. He saw a pattern in children at his hospital receiving treatment for cardiovascular problems. These children shared traits like similar facial features and an unusually friendly and outgoing demeanor.

Williams syndrome is also called:

  • Beuren Syndrome
  • Early Hypercalcemia Syndrome with Elfin Facies
  • Elfin Facies with Hypercalcemia
    • Hypercalcemia-Supravalvar Aortic Stenosis
    • WBS
    • Williams-Beuren Syndrome
    • WMS

    What is down syndrome?

    Of all chromosomal conditions, Down syndrome is the most common with one in 700 babies diagnosed with Down syndrome. Most people are born with

    46 chromosomes, but those with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 2.

    While the physical features and behaviors are very similar, there are three different types of Down syndrome: Click here to read the rest of the story.