ADD/ADHD can affect many different types of people. At his practice, Dr. Jesalva is an ADHD / ADD Psychiatrist that offers effective treatment for patients in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Simi Valley, Agoura Hills and Camarillo areas of east Ventura County in Southern California.
What is ADD/ADHD?
ADD is an acronym for Attention Deficit Disorder, while ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The two are basically the same problem, and both are brain disorders. Inattention occurs in both. Inattention is the inability to stay on task, to focus or persist in an activity. Hyperactivity is extreme restlessness, with constant movement and fidgeting, especially in situations where such activity is inappropriate. Impulsivity tends to go along with hyperactivity. A person with impulsivity tends to interrupt others, may be socially intrusive or make hasty decisions without considering the consequences.
Does ADD/ADHD Affect Adults?
ADD/ADHD can affect both children and adults. Older adults may have had symptoms for years, but because it has only been fairly recently that this disorder was understood, they may have been impaired throughout adolescence and adulthood. Adults with ADHD often struggled with school, have difficulty holding jobs and may have never been able to sustain a relationship. However, even older adults often respond very well to treatment.
What Are the Symptoms?
People with ADD/ADHD may have both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, or only one of the two. Symptoms vary by age: preschoolers are likely to display hyperactivity, while adolescents are more likely to show inattention. Although anyone might occasionally be distracted or make an impulsive decision, people with ADD/ADHD have more severe and frequent forms of these behaviors. The behaviors interfere with their ability to function at school, at work and in other activities. They will make careless mistakes, overlook details, be easily distracted, fidget, squirm or rush around, interrupt or intrude on others.
How is ADD/ADHD Treated?
Medications are often effective treatment options for people with ADD/ADHD, although sometimes it takes several tries to find the right medication or right dose. Medications including stimulants that increase the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine are the most commonly used. An ADD / ADHD psychiatrist can offer behavioral therapy that helps people change the behaviors that are common in ADD/ADHD. Behavioral therapy can also help parents learn how to deal with children who have ADD/ADHD, and can help families learn different ways of interacting with someone who has ADD/ADHD. Some people prefer to use only behavioral therapy in-person, or virtually via an appointment online, or techniques like stress management rather than medications.
What is ADD/ADHD?
ADD is an acronym for Attention Deficit Disorder, while ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The two are basically the same problem, and both are brain disorders. Inattention occurs in both. Inattention is the inability to stay on task, to focus or persist in an activity. Hyperactivity is extreme restlessness, with constant movement and fidgeting, especially in situations where such activity is inappropriate. Impulsivity tends to go along with hyperactivity. A person with impulsivity tends to interrupt others, may be socially intrusive or make hasty decisions without considering the consequences.
Does ADD/ADHD Affect Adults?
ADD/ADHD can affect both children and adults. Older adults may have had symptoms for years, but because it has only been fairly recently that this disorder was understood, they may have been impaired throughout adolescence and adulthood. Adults with ADHD often struggled with school, have difficulty holding jobs and may have never been able to sustain a relationship. However, even older adults often respond very well to treatment.
What Are the Symptoms?
People with ADD/ADHD may have both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, or only one of the two. Symptoms vary by age: preschoolers are likely to display hyperactivity, while adolescents are more likely to show inattention. Although anyone might occasionally be distracted or make an impulsive decision, people with ADD/ADHD have more severe and frequent forms of these behaviors. The behaviors interfere with their ability to function at school, at work and in other activities. They will make careless mistakes, overlook details, be easily distracted, fidget, squirm or rush around, interrupt or intrude on others.
How is ADD/ADHD Treated?
Medications are often effective treatment options for people with ADD/ADHD, although sometimes it takes several tries to find the right medication or right dose. Medications including stimulants that increase the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine are the most commonly used. An ADD / ADHD psychiatrist can offer behavioral therapy that helps people change the behaviors that are common in ADD/ADHD. Behavioral therapy can also help parents learn how to deal with children who have ADD/ADHD, and can help families learn different ways of interacting with someone who has ADD/ADHD. Some people prefer to use only behavioral therapy in-person, or virtually via an appointment online, or techniques like stress management rather than medications.