In fact, there are many conditions that are sometimes mistaken for ADHD.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is important to get the kind of treatment that is right for your needs.
Other issues can include:
Insufficient sleep is also linked to increased risk-taking behaviors in teens.
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This can include things such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking drugs.
The underlying reasons why kids may struggle with sleep can vary.
Poor sleep habits are sometimes the culprit.
Adverse mental health also affects sleep, in turn resulting in the sleep issues mentioned above.
These are all symptoms that can resemble ADHD but may be unrelated.
The disruptive behaviors and poor impulse control associated withoppositional defiant disorderand conduct disorder also can look like ADHD.
Because of this, it can also be confused withsymptoms of ADHD.
Attention problems may be related to overfocusing, and problems in shifting attention may be due to obsessive thinking.
ADHD and learning disorders often occur together, but they are separate conditions.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions can cause problems with attention, irritability, impulsivity, or hyperactivity.
Examples include:
Even certain medications can trigger ADHD-like behavior.
This makes accurate, thorough testing and evaluation using an empirically validated approach so important.
Takeaways
Naming a problem is often the first, most important step in attending to it.
A host of other conditions can mimic ADHD, each requiring a different treatment protocol.
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