Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health disorders affecting children across the world. Although the disorder strikes at a younger age, the symptoms may penetrate even into the adulthood.

1. 5 Mental Health Conditions That
Mimic ADHD

2. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most
common mental health disorders affecting children across the world.
Although the disorder strikes at a younger age, the symptoms may
penetrate even into the adulthood. Most children diagnosed with
ADHD show debilitating behaviors such as inattention, hyperactivity
and impulsivity, which interfere with their activities in school or at
home.

3. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), as of 2011, nearly 11 percent American children
aged 4 to 17 years were diagnosed with ADHD.
Sadly, ADHD is often misdiagnosed by doctors, primarily due to its
overlapping symptoms with other mental health conditions, such as
bipolar disorder, autism, sleep disorders, etc. Only a mental health
professional can differentiate between the symptoms of ADHD and
other mental health conditions.

4. Listed below are a few mental illnesses whose symptoms mirror ADHD
symptoms:
1. Bipolar disorder
While bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that results in unusual shifts in
mood, energy and activity levels and hampers the ability to carry out
day-to-day tasks, it is often confused with ADHD due to the presence
of certain common symptoms, like mood instability, sudden outbursts,
restlessness, talkativeness and impatience.

5. 2. Autism spectrum disorder
A child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibits a group
of developmental disorders comprising ongoing social problems and
repetitive behaviors that usually appear during the formative years.
Some of the symptoms of ASD, such as hyperactivity, social
development issues, and emotional immaturity, often overlap with the
symptoms of ADHD, which, in turn, leads to misdiagnosis.

6. 3. Sleep disorders
Children diagnosed with ADHD suffer from a variety of sleep problems.
Studies have shown that children with ADHD often exhibit daytime
sleeping habits and poor sleeping patterns, which may profoundly
impact the existing symptoms of ADHD. Thus, sleep deprivation,
which is a growing problem among the American children, is often
mistaken as a symptom of ADHD.

7. 4. Fetal alcohol syndrome
When a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, it is very likely that
the newborn will suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), resulting in
problems with the vision, hearing ability, memory, attention span, etc.
Such infants are also likely to exhibit several other behavioral
problems, such as hyperactivity, attention problems and learning
disorders, which are often misdiagnosed as ADHD.

8. 5. Hypothyroidism
Also referred to as an underactive thyroid disease, hypothyroidism leads
to both under and overproduction of thyroid hormones in a child, which
leads to energy imbalances, mood disorders and problems in
concentration. The disorder also triggers the feelings of sadness,
depression, and memory problems, which often misleads a health
care practitioner to misdiagnose the condition as ADHD.

9. Road to recovery
Mental health issues can affect anyone at any stage of life. If you or
someone you love is struggling with a mental health illness, it's better
to consult a specialist. Mental health disorders can impact children
and adults alike. One must seek professional help if it becomes
cumbersome to deal with a mental health issue. Ignoring signs of a
mental problem, especially in children, can lead to complications and
may even threaten life.

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