ADHD is neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity.(https://chadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/aboutADHD.pdf)

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ADHD is a congenital, hereditary, neurological condition, generally appears by age 7 and often continues into adulthood.

 

People with ADHD have inadequate levels of dopamine and/or norepinephrine which makes it difficult for messages to get from the control sections of the brain to relevant activation sections of the brain. 

ADHD can be diagnosed by a medical professional, yet, often people are living with undiagnosed ADHD.

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Typical signs of ADHD can include:

Memory challenges

Poor organizational skills

Difficulty making and/or keeping friends

Self-esteem issues

Challenges with goal setting, planning, and task completion

Tendency to hyperfocus​​

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Executive Functioning Issues are often similar to ADHD but are not synonymous. Executive functions "is an umbrella term for the neurologically-based skills involving mental control and self-regulation" (Cooper-Kahn, J.,& DIetzel, L. 2008). 

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Executive functioning skills include:

activation: organizing and prioritizing

focus: focusing, sustaining and shifting attention to tasks

effort: regulating alertness, processing speed

emotion: managing frustration and modulating emotions

memory: utilizing working memory and accessing recall

action: monitoring and self-regulating action

(Sleeper-Triplett, J., 2010). 

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