Common symptoms of ADHD include inattention (difficulty sustaining attention, following through on tasks, and organizing activities), hyperactivity (excessive fidgeting, inability to stay seated, and talking excessively), and impulsivity (interrupting others, difficulty waiting for turns, and making hasty decisions). People with ADHD are often 2-4 years delayed when it comes to developing executive functioning and maturity. Given they are typically held to the same expectations as others, this can be a challenge. They also are likely to have high rejection sensitivity, meaning they will react much more poorly compared to the average person when criticized.

There are a few different avenues to getting an ADHD diagnosis. Seeing a therapist is always a good step to see if they believe there is a concern. However, most therapists won’t make the official diagnosis due to the need for psychological testing. If there are issues at school, you can request testing through the school, but sometimes they are less likely to find something and advocating for this testing can be difficult to manage. Another avenue would be to go to a psychiatrist. Some psychiatrists will diagnose ADHD, but they may tell you to also receive further testing. The last avenue would be to go straight to neuropsychological testing.

ADHD rarely travels alone, and it’s important to get to the bottom of everything going on. A therapist will work with you to determine what symptoms are ADHD and what ones are something else. Then together you will explore goals and coping skills to manage both conditions.