One in four U.S. adults suspects they have undiagnosed ADHD, but only 13% share their concerns with their doctor, a new study finds.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a developmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. An estimated 4.4% of adults ages 18 to 44 have ADHD, according to Ohio State University researchers who led an August survey of 1,006 adults.
“Anxiety, depression, and ADHD all seem similar, but the wrong treatment can make a person feel better or less functional,” said Justin Bartelian, a psychologist and clinical assistant professor at Ohio State. Instead of getting better, things could get worse.”
Bartelian said adults who find their children diagnosed with ADHD and have similar symptoms may also realize they have undiagnosed ADHD.
Dr. Robert Dicker, associate director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital, says that sometimes he diagnoses a child with ADHD and begins treatment, but one of the child’s parents has suffered from the same symptoms for years. He said that only if he admitted that he had done so.
“Adults may find that their parents don’t believe they have ADHD, that having ADHD is frowned upon, that the school system doesn’t support them, or that there is a stigma of being a poor student or a bad kid rather than having ADHD. “People often say that they were made to wear clothes,” Dicker, who was not involved in the new study, told the Post.
ADHD tends to run in families. Environmental factors such as brain injury, premature birth, and childhood lead exposure may also increase the probability of diagnosis.
Bartelian said social media videos have recently been drawing people into the symptoms of ADHD.
A 2022 study published in the journal European Psychiatry found that many young people were diagnosed with ADHD after watching TikToks about the issue. The study’s authors said such discussions could reduce the stigma of mental health, but video producers are often not experts in the field.
“If you have seen videos on social media and think you may meet the criteria for this disorder, we recommend that you see a psychologist, psychiatrist, or doctor for diagnosis. I recommend it,” Bartelian said. .
She reports that while many adults with ADHD suffer from memory and concentration problems, children tend to experience hyperactivity more than adults.
Symptoms may be worsened by stress, conflict, or increased demands on life.
“ADHD symptoms can look different in different people,” Bartelian says. “Some people may have more difficulty concentrating in lectures or staying organized, while others may have social difficulties such as impulsivity or difficulty following conversations. ”
Treatments include stimulants to increase focus and concentration, as well as therapies to manage symptoms and develop coping strategies.
