At Neurofit, we work with children and adults with ADHD to help rewire the brain to make daily life easier.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by “persistent patterns of inattentive, impulsive and sometimes hyperactive behaviour,” according to the ADHD Foundation. People with ADHD may also struggle with emotional regulation.
ADHD is often underdiagnosed, especially in girls and women who may present in non-typical ways.
ADHD can affect many aspects of life, including:
And it can be exhausting! Constantly trying to fit into a neurotypical world takes a great deal of effort and that’s tiring.
ADHD can also have psychological effects. It’s linked to poor self-esteem and higher rates of anxiety.
People with ADHD have underlying differences in their brain anatomy and function, which can lead to impulsivity or hyperactivity.
A mix of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
When ADHD is mentioned, most people imagine something like a child who’s constantly moving and can’t settle down. And that may be true of many people with the hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD.
But women and girls are more likely to have inattentive ADHD. They may seem like disorganised daydreamers distracted by whatever’s outside the window when they should be finishing their schoolwork. They may be prone to sensory overload and anxiety. They may experience intense, overwhelming emotions and be very sensitive to any perceived criticism.
If they also tend to be people-pleasing perfectionists, girls and women with ADHD may judge themselves very harshly. They may feel shame – a deeply distressing sense that something is wrong with them.
ADHD affects about 8% of Australian children and is more common in boys (though, as noted above, it’s more easily missed in girls).
A paediatrician, child psychiatrist or psychologist may diagnose a child with ADHD if their symptoms:
While ADHD can complicate a child’s life, it’s not all bad. Children with ADHD may also display many positive attributes that add joy and colour to the world. They’re often energetic, imaginative, inventive, enthusiastic, adventurous and empathetic.
Ideally, we want to support children to experience the best of their unique brains while making daily life easier for them and their families.
Treatment for ADHD may include medications, psychological therapies, and some changes at home or school.
Adults with ADHD may seem erratic, unfocused and disorganised. They may forget to pay bills, change jobs often and forget appointments. They may be highly stressed by the demands of daily life. They may have intense emotional reactions to seemingly minor events.
About 3% of adults have ADHD. Whether it was diagnosed in childhood or adulthood, ADHD has always been there.
Maybe you’re an adult who suspects you have undiagnosed ADHD. You know you struggle with many aspects of life that seem to come easily to others – but you don’t yet know why.
If that’s you, start by seeing your GP, who may refer you to a specialist.
To determine if you could have ADHD, your doctor may:
If those symptoms sound familiar, it’s worth talking to your GP. Many adults with ADHD also experience overlapping health conditions with similar symptoms, like depression, anxiety or mood disorders so it takes an alert professional to look for ADHD.
Treatment for adults with ADHD may include medications, psychological support or lifestyle changes such as physical activity, a nutritious diet or regular sleep.
At Neurofit, we believe that brain activity makes an active difference.
It’s widely recognised that people with ADHD have differences in brain anatomy and function. But it’s also widely recognised that the brain is capable of changing in response to the right stimuli. This is known as neuroplasticity.
Neurofit Brain Centre’s staff are trained in The Melillo MethodTM. Developed by Dr Robert Milillo, The Melillo MethodTM, is a holistic approach to identifying brain imbalances and treating a wide range of neurological conditions in children and adults.
In ADHD, we often see an underdeveloped right brain. Generally speaking, the left brain is more excitatory and the right brain is more inhibitory. When there’s a balance between the left and right brain, we have the best of both worlds – enthusiasm and self-control.
At Neurofit, we use many evidence-based therapies designed to stimulate the chosen area of the brain. Often, we’ll use several of these at once (co-activation) to give the brain maximum opportunity to form new neural pathways and strengthen itself.
A typical ADHD treatment program at Neurofit would aim to stimulate the right brain so that it grows stronger and can provide the input needed to calm the left brain. Sometimes that involves working the right side of the body (e.g. smell on the right side stimulates the right brain), sometimes it involves working the left (e.g. moving the left side of the body stimulates the right brain). Over time, that brain activity can make an active difference to life with ADHD.
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