ADHD/ADD Diagnosis Hobart

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most challenging neurodevelopmental disorders for parents with a child diagnosed with ADHD. This condition may develop from childhood and up to adulthood, negatively impacting an individual’s normal life. Those who are truly diagnosed with ADHD may have trouble focusing and controlling their behaviour. As a result, it can lead to social isolation, lack of performance, depression, relationship issues, and even dropping out of school. Thus, Positive Moods assists the citizens and residents of Hobart with ADHD Diagnosis to help them understand and manage their condition by availing of Positive Moods services.

Understanding ADHD

ADHD commonly affects children 6 to 12 years old and is commonly diagnosed three times in boys than girls due to the difference of symptoms making it difficult to identify in girls. In addition, ADHD is one the most common neurodevelopment disorder that affects school-aged children, resulting in difficulties in learning and self-control. Individuals diagnosed with ADHD also have a set of behavioural issues that can affect great aspects of their life, leading to interaction and performance problems in different environments.

Since ADHD is a condition that needs proper diagnosis to help with the medication and management, the citizens and residents of Hobart are encouraged to get in touch with Positive Moods to avail of the recommended services for ADHD. It is also beneficial to get professional assistance to immediately diagnose and determine the type of ADHD. According to DSM-5 criteria, there are three types of ADHD depending on the symptoms, including:

ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type

  • Lacks the ability to focus on details or often makes a reckless error

  • Struggle to maintain attention

  • Being inattentive or does not listen

  • Has difficulty complying with instructions

  • Has difficulty organising tasks or activities

  • Dislikes or avoid doing tasks that require long mental effort

  • Often loses or misplace important things

  • Gets easily distracted

  • Forgetting daily activities

ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type

  • Fidgety hands and feet, or squirms in seat

  • Struggle to remain in the seat

  • Children running around or climbing excessively

  • Adults with extreme anxiety, nervousness, impatience, insomnia, or sleeplessness

  • Struggles to quietly partake in activities

  • Moves like powered by a motor

  • An adult who feels like they are overly active or powered by a motor

  • Talks excessively

  • Abruptly answers questions without hearing the complete questions

  • Struggles to wait or take turns

  • Often disturb or intrudes others conversation or activities

ADHD Combined Type

For this type, an individual should exhibit the symptoms of ADHD inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive type.

However, the diagnosis of ADHD type will vary for adults since the symptoms can develop over time. Furthermore, the symptoms of ADHD will differ between boys and girls. Girls often exhibit the symptoms of inattention and boys exhibit hyperactivity symptoms. The symptoms of inattention are also more toned down and less disturbing, often mistaken as a disability in learning or being lethargic for school-aged children. On the other hand, ADHD in boys is often misdiagnosed since boys are known to be energetic. Although reports state that boys are commonly diagnosed with hyperactivity and impulsivity, some are diagnosed with inattention.

ADHD Diagnosis in Girls

To determine ADHD in girls, it can be assessed if they often forget doing assignments or tendency to daydream. Also, since they do not exhibit the common and obvious symptoms of ADHD, it is more difficult to determine their condition. The symptoms that girls usually exhibit includes:

  • Unsociable

  • Low self-confidence

  • Uneasiness

  • Cognitive disability

  • Struggles with scholastic accomplishment

  • Absentminded or daydreaming

  • Struggles to focus

  • Appears not listening

  • Oral aggressiveness such as mocking, provoking, or name-calling

ADHD Diagnosis in Boys

Nonetheless, it is easier to determine ADHD in boys since hyperactivity and impulsivity are disruptive symptoms. However, boys who exhibit inattentive symptoms are often undiagnosed due to the subtleness of the symptoms. The symptoms that boys usually exhibit includes:

  • Acting up or impulsivity

  • Being hyperactive, such as running endlessly and banging

  • Inability to focus or being inattentive

  • Difficulty to sit in place

  • Physically aggressive

  • Talks excessively

  • Often disturb others conversation or activities

Diagnosing ADHD

Parents who wish to determine if their child has ADHD can contact their general physician (GP) to get a referral from a child doctor or psychologist. For adults, they can be diagnosed by qualified and licenced mental health professionals. The citizens and residents of Hobart can get in touch with Positive Moods, who has experienced professionals such as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and other physicians.

Moreover, acquiring an ADHD evaluation from Positive Moods is beneficial to manage an individual’s condition. So, to determine if you need an ADHD evaluation, here are the most common problems that you should experience to consider ADHD evaluation, including:

  • Performance inconsistency in workplace or career

  • Inability to maintain a job or often quit jobs

  • Record of scholastic or career failure

  • Lacks the ability to manage daily responsibilities

  • Relationship issues caused by not fulfilling responsibilities

  • Forgets essential things or have anger issue with minor things

  • Persisting stress and anxiety due to inability to complete goals and fulfil responsibilities

  • Persisting and extreme anger or resentment

Children and Adolescents ADHD Services

Considering that ADHD commonly develops from childhood, Positive Moods offers a wide range of services for children and adolescents with ADHD. Some of the services include:

  • ADHD Evaluation

  • Family Counselling

  • Support and Guidance Counselling

  • Psychological Treatment

  • Occupational Therapy Evaluation and Treatment

  • Siblings Counselling

Adults ADHD Services

Mental health professionals of Positive Moods will work closely with adults to help them evaluate and manage their ADHD and other difficulties related to their condition. They can go through the comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and cognitive assessment if needed. The treatments offered to adults are evidence-based to help them understand ADHD, their condition, other related conditions, manage the effects of ADHD, use their abilities, and improve their self-confidence and social relationships.

Cognitive Evaluation

Under this service, individuals ages 6 to 90 years old, with ADHD or without, can avail of the Cognitive Evaluation. This service can help determine an individual's cognitive abilities and difficulties, cognitive disability, and learning problems or abilities.

Professionals ADHD Services

Since ADHD should not be a hindrance to an individual’s ability to grow and succeed in life, Positive Moods also helps professionals with ADHD. They can avail of ADHD sessions, workshops related to their condition, cognitive evaluation, ADHD management, and clinical guidance from psychologists.

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