What is it? How common is it? – Firstpost

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has gone into more detail about her battle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Alia, in an interview with The Lallantop, said, “I have been zoning out from things since childhood. I would zone out while in the classroom or in the middle of a conversation. Just recently, I took up a psychological test and after that I realised I have ADHD; my spectrum is quite high.”

Alia added that the news came as no surprise to her friends.

“When I revealed this to my friends, they said they knew this for a long time now; it is not some big revelation because of my personality, and I was like, ‘But, I didn’t know.’”

“Then I realised why I am at so much peace when I am in front of the camera. I stay present at that moment. I don’t know if it’s the character or what, but I am more present at that moment. And of course, after Raha, whenever I am with her, I am most present at that moment. I am at peace at these moments, and also mentally present,” Alia added.

Bhatt earlier revealed her diagnosis in an interview with Allure magazine.

“It needs to be something that you can do very quickly. I have ADD and don’t have [an] interest in investing too much time. Whatever needs to happen needs to happen fast,” the Jigra actor said.

Bhatt said that even during her wedding in 2022 with her Brahmastra co-star Ranbir Kapoor, she refused to sit in the makeup chair for two hours. “On my wedding day, my makeup artist, Puneet [B Saini] was like, ‘Alia, this time, you need to give me two hours.’ I told her, ‘You’ve lost it. Especially on my wedding day, I’m not giving you two hours because I want to chill.’ ”

What is attention deficit disorder? How common is it? Let’s take a closer look.

ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by hyperactivity and impulsivity.

People who have ADHD are unable to focus on a particular task and sit still for long.

Those who have ADHD experience a greater level of inattention and change in energy levels than their counterparts, according to a Healthline article.

The common symptoms of ADHD include difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, getting easily distracted, interrupting people while they are talking, and being unable to sit still.

ADHD is divided into three types: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactivity-impulsive, and a combination of the two.

What is ADD?

ADD, or attention deficit disorder, is an obsolete term used to describe a type of ADHD.

ADD was used to refer to people who had trouble paying attention but were not hyperactive. Today, the term “predominantly inattentive” ADHD has replaced the word ADD.

People who have predominantly inattentive ADHD face difficulty focusing, completing tasks and following instructions.

Experts say many children who have the inattentive type are likely to not get a proper diagnosis as they do not disrupt the classroom, reported Healthline. 

Symptoms of inattentive ADHD

Those who have the inattentive type of ADHD struggle with following conversations or instructions, focusing on details and are disorganised.

They are easily distracted, become forgetful about tasks, lose personal items and have a short attention span, as per Verywell Mind.

The symptoms of ADD change as people age, but they are likely to continue to face a lack of attention, difficulty in retaining information and trouble with organisation.

Other types of ADHD

People who have predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type show behaviours like fidgeting, interrupting people while they are speaking, and not being able to sit still for long. They are impulsive and have a hard time waiting for their turn. Such impulsiveness could lead to more accidents and injuries than others.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smaller children may jump, climb or run constantly.

People with the combined type of
ADHD show both inattentive and hyperactive symptoms.

A child who has ADHD might daydream a lot, is prone to forgetfulness, fidgets, is talkative and has difficulty sitting still.

In adults, “typically, the hyperactivity is less pronounced,” Dr Lidia Zylowska, a psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota Medical School, told New York Times (NYT). 

Adults with the disorder experience a lack of focus and disorganization, “the so-called executive function skills — planning, organising, time management — basically, skills needed for ‘adulting,’” Zylowska added.

ADHD is treated through behavioural therapies, such as psychotherapy or talk therapy, medication, or both.

How common is ADHD?

ADHD is a common mental health disorder.

According to the World Federation of ADHD, about 6 per cent of children and 2.5 per cent of adults are believed to have the condition.

Earlier, experts thought ADHD occurred in children and it ended after adolescence. However, many studies in the 1990s showed that it continues into adulthood, reported NYT. At least 60 per cent of children with ADHD will also have the symptoms as adults, according to experts.

With inputs from agencies