Diagnosis of ADHD in adults has become much more common as awareness of symptoms grows. International studies suggest up to 3% of adults may have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Many issues contribute to development of ADHD. These include genetics, developmental factors and environmental influences. Symptoms are usually evident before the age of 12, although they might become more obvious in adolescence. For a diagnosis of ADHD to be established in adults, symptoms need to begin in childhood and adolescence and persist into adulthood.
If a first-degree relative has ADHD, your risk is significantly higher.
Adult ADHD symptoms include:
Adults with ADHD may struggle with study, work and intimate relationships. They suffer more with mental health issues such as depression, addiction and are more likely to be fired from a job, get divorced or have legal problems.
Diagnosis of ADHD in adults can be difficult.
Most of us have some ADHD-like symptoms at some time in our lives. If your difficulties began recently, or are only occasional, you probably don’t have ADHD.
A diagnosis of ADHD requires that
ADHD symptoms also overlap with those of other conditions, such as oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder. Underlying causes and appropriate treatment is different for each condition, so careful ADHD testing and diagnosis is important.
The conventional treatment for ADHD is medication. This is often beneficial, but may cause significant short- and long-term side effects like sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, and increased risk of hypertension and rhythm disturbances. It is therefore important to make an informed decision before starting any medication. At ZenWaves we use neurofeedback for ADHD treatment, alongside or instead of medication.
Research shows that neurofeedback for ADHD is very successful. In fact, in 2013 the American Academy of Paediatrics endorsed it as being just as effective as stimulant medications. We see similar positive results when using neurofeedback for ADHD treatment in adults.
Neurofeedback involves retraining your brain rather than suppressing symptoms with drugs. Improvements are maintained long after treatment has stopped. Medication, on the other hand, may be needed long-term or permanently, or you may experience rebound symptoms when medications are stopped. Neurofeedback is also safe and side-effect free for children and adults alike.
Subtypes of ADHD
There are many subtypes of ADHD, each with its own set of symptoms. When it comes to treatment, one size does not fit all. What works well for someone else may do nothing for you – it could even make things worse.
Different subtypes of ADHD are associated with unusual brain wave patterns in different parts of the brain, or at different frequencies.
Our computerised test of attention detects ADHD during task performance with 94% accuracy. We use QEEG (‘brain mapping’) to look at your unique brain wave patterns and to identify subtypes of ADHD. It also helps us predict response to medication.
We use this detailed information about how your brain works to select treatment options, both medication and neurofeedback for ADHD. So you can get the best possible results with no or minimal side effects.
Our ADHD evaluation process takes two sessions. In the third session, we provide feedback, make recommendations and begin neurofeedback intervention.
