October is ADHD (attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder) Awareness Month! Some of you may have ADHD, have a child with ADHD, or know someone who does. Some adults have ADHD but have never been diagnosed!
According to Web MD (www.webmd.com), ADHD is a brain-based disorder. It can interfere with everyday activities at home and at school or work. Symptoms of ADHD can include inattentiveness like: being easily distracted, difficulty following directions and staying on task, forgetfulness, losing personal items, not paying attention to details, problems staying organized, and short attention span. Symptoms of ADHD can also include hyperactivity like: fidgeting or squirming, running or climbing inappropriately or feelings of restlessness, difficulty engaging in activities quietly, seeming to always be on the go, excessive talking, blurting, and frequently interrupting others.
While there is no one test to diagnose ADHD, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; cdc.gov) tells us that Healthcare providers use the guidelines in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fifth edition (DSM-5), to help diagnose ADHD. This manual states that ADHD has three types: inattentive type (sometimes casually called ADD), hyperactive-impulsive type, and combined type. According to Very Well Mind (https://www.verywellmind.com/), traits of the condition are similar in kids, teens, and adults, but they may also change over time. Children may be more likely to be affected by hyperactivity.
The Chatham Area Public Library has many books on ADHD. A comprehensive guide, and newer than his previous books about ADD, is Edward M. Hallowell’s (2021) ADHD 2.0. With a history of ADD himself, author David A. Greenwood’s Overcoming Distractions is a book about thriving (not just surviving) with the disorder for adults. Sarkis’s tiny guide for the newly diagnosed adult is titled simply Adult ADD. And, Beyond ADHD by Jeff Emmerson is a personal story about ADHD diagnosis, interviews with experts, and individual treatment plans. We also have books about parenting children with the disorder which include Parenting Your Child with ADHD (Craig Wiener) and 8 Keys to Parenting Your Child with ADHD by Cindy Goldrich.
Finally, some children and youth books about the disorder help kids see themselves (or how their friends act) in characters who have ADHD. All kids will like the funny picture book All Dogs Have ADHD by Kathy Hoopmann. The U-nique Lou Fox (Jodi Carmicheal) is about a fifth grader who has ADHD and dyslexia. And youth books: Tilly in Technicolor (Mazey Eddings) and The Extraordinaries (T.J. Klune) focus on neurodivergent teens.
We hope whatever resource you use, that these books help spread awareness about ADHD! Find these and more at the Chatham Area Public Library.