by Gary Greenwald RN (Mental Health Nurse Practitioner)
ADHD affects about 5% of the population. It is believed to be more common in children than in adults. In the Great Southern Region that equates to about 3500 people. There is a perception sometimes that the number of people with ADHD is rising. However, research on prevalence has been consistent for a long time. Perhaps a different way of understanding this is that awareness of ADHD and consequently the number of people seeking help is changing. ADHD can be the inattentive type, the hyperactive/impulsive type, or the combined inattentive-hyperactive/impulsive type.
An ADHD assessment involves a careful process to confirm that symptoms have been present since childhood, are not better explained by another condition, and impact your functioning. The diagnostic interview will explore factors, such as coexisting health issues, that make it more likely for you to struggle with attention and concentration. It will also check for a family history of attention and concentration difficulties. For school aged children, feedback will be sought from parents and teachers. For adults, bringing school reports to the appointment can be really helpful.
We like to prepare people by explaining that completing an ADHD assessment can be quite an emotional experience. Eighteen diagnostic criteria are explored during the appointments. When patients give examples showing how they meet criteria, it can bring back painful memories of struggling in childhood and feeling different. Hopefully people find our assessments a supportive and understanding process.
The good news is that ADHD responds very well to treatment, and trained professionals in this region can assist. There are a variety of treatment options including pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. At Pioneer these include stimulant medications prescribed by our specialist GP, non-stimulant medications prescribed by our Nurse Practitioners and GPs, rTMS, Occupational Therapy, wellbeing and lifestyle changes (such as exercise programs and dietary changes), and psychologically informed care. People tell me the best bit of receiving help and support for ADHD in the region is getting face-to-face care and timely follow-up and support when you need it.