DSM-5 CRITERIA
The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition - originally published in 2013) is what healthcare professionals use to help diagnose ADHD.
It lists specific symptoms that fall into two main categories:
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Predominantly Inattentive: This means having trouble staying focused, being organised or following through with tasks.
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Predominantly Hyperactive and Impulsive: This means being very active, restless or acting without thinking.
Types of ADHD Diagnosed in DSM-5
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation
Combined Presentation (both sets of symptoms)
While You Wait...
Waiting for assessment can feel frustrating, but it’s also a great time to:
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Learn about ADHD and how it might show up in your life.
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Try different tools (like reminders, timers and body-doubling).
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Be kind to yourself. ADHD isn’t a flaw it is just a different way of processing the world.
You are not imagining it. You are not alone and you deserve to be understood, not judged.
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