Do You Have These Signs of Inattentiveness?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often thought of as a mental health illness that causes hyperactivity or fidgeting. While ADHD can lead to hyperactivity, that’s far from the only symptom of ADHD. One type of ADHD — predominantly inattentive ADHD — doesn’t even present with hyperactivity. It’s possible to have ADHD with inattention as your main symptom. But how do you know if inattention is holding you back?

As a double board-certified doctor, Dr. Hadi Estakhri is an expert when it comes to diagnosing and treating ADHD, regardless of whether you’re struggling with inattention or hyperactivity (or both). If you’re having a hard time focusing, we recommend you visit us for an evaluation. 

In the meantime, continue reading this article to learn more about inattention.

ADHD and inattention 

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there are nine signs of inattentiveness associated with ADHD. 

If you note any of the following, it may be worth scheduling an ADHD evaluation:

1. You often have trouble staying focused on tasks or projects at home and at work
2. You often make careless mistakes at work because you didn’t pay close attention to the details 
3. You often miss deadlines or activities 
4. You are easily distracted
5. You often fail to follow through with projects or tasks
6. You struggle to keep up with routine chores such as paying bills, returning emails or phone calls, or keeping appointments
7. You frequently avoid tasks that require long periods of mental focus (this includes preparing reports at work or filling out long forms or tackling time-consuming chores)
8. You frequently lose or misplace items 
9. Friends or family often say you’re not listening even when they speak directly to you

According to the experts at Cleveland Health, adults with predominantly inattentive ADHD must demonstrate at least five of those nine signs. Note: It’s possible that inattention isn’t caused by ADHD. Other non-ADHD causes of inattention can include fatigue, side effects of other medications, and other underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism.

Can you experience inattention and hyperactivity?

Yes! It’s possible that you experience symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. If you do, you might have a different type of ADHD, the combined type.

This type of ADHD may cause you to experience the above symptoms of inattention as well as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and distractibility. This is the most common type of ADHD, according to the experts at Johns Hopkins.

Do you struggle with inattention?

Inattention can make it hard to thrive at home, at work, or in your personal relationships. The good news is ADHD is treatable, and with the right treatment, you can reclaim control over your life. ADHD treatment includes medication, lifestyle changes, and therapy. 

To learn more about ADHD or to schedule an evaluation, call our Newport Beach, California office at 949-269-6263 or visit our website.