Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood and is commonly diagnosed in children. But ADHD is often underdiagnosed in women and people of color, which can lead to some people not realizing they may have the disorder until adulthood.
Busy Phillips is one of them. The actress recently revealed that she was diagnosed with ADHD after visiting a doctor for her daughter. “My oldest daughter was having some problems in school and we took her to be evaluated. Literally, my ex-husband Mark, We looked at each other because the doctor was asking Bertie and talking about everything, and I was like, ‘But this is who I am. This is what I have,” the 44-year-old said US Weekly.
Phillips said she felt like “something was wrong” with her before her diagnosis, but later learned that her challenges with completing tasks and managing her schedule were likely due to ADHD. “There are solutions to this problem, there are medications. It has changed my life,” she said.
Phillips isn’t the only one who has experienced this. Justin A. Barterian, Ph.D., a psychologist and assistant professor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said that in the past few years, “there has been a significant increase in the number of people seeking ADHD diagnoses.” He added: “There currently appears to be less stigma around ADHD and other mental health disorders in our culture, leading some people who meet the criteria for ADHD to seek a diagnosis for the first time.”
But Butrian said there were also “misleading” social media and influencer accounts that “misrepresented” the symptoms of the disease, “leading many people to believe they have the disease but don’t meet all the criteria.”
All of this raises many questions about ADHD in adults and how to diagnose it. Experts who treat these patients break it down.
How is ADHD different in adults and children?
ADHD symptoms are the same in children and adults; May vary.
“Childhood ADHD is often characterized by high levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity,” he said. “In contrast, ADHD in adulthood is characterized primarily by problems with concentration, concentration, organization, and time management.”
Although ADHD is more pronounced in children who experience it, it often creates a sense of inner unease in adults, Lamberg said. “While ADHD symptoms may be less obvious to others in adulthood, they can be just as important and damaging,” he said. “Difficulties with sustained attention, attention to detail, and organization and planning can lead to significant problems with postsecondary achievement, career functioning, and interpersonal relationships.”
ADHD symptoms in adults
People with ADHD often struggle with certain symptoms. These include inattention, which is difficulty concentrating; hyperactivity, or having too much energy; impulsivity, which is acting without thinking, said Dr. James McGaw, professor of clinical psychiatry and co-director of the ADHD Clinic at UCLA. Or have difficulty controlling yourself.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), people with ADHD may have predominantly inattentive symptoms or predominantly hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, and some people experience a combination of both.
According to NIMH, people with ADHD may have difficulty completing these tasks:
- pay close attention to details
- Focus on longer tasks, such as preparing reports, filling out forms, or reviewing longer papers
- Listen carefully when speaking directly to people
- Follow instructions and complete job responsibilities
- Organize tasks and activities
- management time
- Do tasks that require sustained concentration
They may also lose items such as keys, wallets, and cell phones, be easily distracted, and forget to do things like pay bills, keep appointments, or return phone calls.
According to NIMH, hyperactive and inactive people may experience the following symptoms:
- Extreme restlessness and difficulty sitting still for long periods of time
- Fidgeting, tapping hands or feet, or squirming in seat
- Make an effort to engage in quiet leisure activities
- Talk too much
- Answer a question before it is fully asked
- Having trouble waiting in line
- disturb others
But Hillary Ammon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety and Women’s Emotional Health, stresses that all adults experience some of these symptoms from time to time. “Sometimes, you may have difficulty accomplishing everything you want to accomplish, or find yourself forgetful,” she says. “It may not be ADHD, but instead you may be trying to do too many things at once, leading to forgetfulness or mistakes.”
People with ADHD often have a history of making long to-do lists but having little success completing the tasks on the list, always choosing interesting tasks over boring ones, and being concerned about mistakes or unfinished tasks. Have real consequences, or delay a task that seems “too difficult.”
But if you suddenly start experiencing symptoms of ADHD, it’s unlikely the disorder is to blame, McGaw says. “You can’t become a partner in a law firm at 50 and suddenly develop ADHD,” he said. “It’s hard to believe.”
How is ADHD diagnosed in adults?
McGough said a diagnosis of adult ADHD often begins when a person realizes they are struggling. “Some people who are smarter or who come from families with more resources may make it to college or beyond without realizing what’s going on,” he said. But suddenly face more challenging life situations may bring these issues to light.
“I’ve met people who are starting medical schools or law schools who are smart or have had enough support in the past that this has never been an issue before,” McGough said.
Doctors typically ask a lot of questions during the initial meeting, said Dr. Shazia Savul, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. “We ask them what’s going on and what difficulties they’re having,” she said. People with ADHD often have problems in multiple areas of life — work, school and relationships — and understanding what’s going on in those areas can be enlightening for doctors, she said.
But doctors also want to know about your past. “We also ask them if they had these problems growing up – if they had similar symptoms when they were in elementary school or middle school,” Savul said.
Savul noted that factors such as severe depression or severe anxiety may also mimic ADHD symptoms, so it’s important to rule out those factors as well. “People who smoke marijuana regularly can also start to experience symptoms that are very similar to those of ADHD,” Savul said. “We have to take these things into account.”
While your doctor may have you fill out a questionnaire, you should also expect an in-person or virtual meeting that lasts several hours, Lamberg said. “The clinician’s main job is to determine the cause of ADHD symptoms and whether those symptoms are best attributed to ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep, stress, environmental changes, etc.,” he said. “Clinicians use a diagnostic manual that requires specific and well-defined symptom thresholds to be met both currently and in childhood in order to meet criteria for ADHD.”
Lamberg emphasized that there is no single test for ADHD. “If someone tells you that they can look at your blood type, brain waves, or performance on a computer task and use that information solely to diagnose ADHD, they are not following recommended or best practice procedures, and they are not operating in an ethical manner,” he said. explain.
What is the treatment for ADHD in adults?
Treatment for adult ADHD is similar for children and adults, Bartrian said. According to the Mayo Clinic, this includes the use of stimulant drugs such as amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts (Adderall) or dextroamphetamine (Vyvanse, Elvanse), which may cause headaches, Side effects such as anxiety and difficulty sleeping.
Savul said other options include non-stimulant medications and drug-free treatments.
“Adults may also benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy designed to address skill deficits related to executive functioning,” Bartrian said. “Skills learned through therapy can help people with ADHD learn to modify their environment to reduce the impairment associated with ADHD symptoms.”
If you suspect you have ADHD, doctors stress the importance of getting evaluated by a licensed mental health provider. “Sometimes I find that anxiety disorders are misdiagnosed as ADHD,” Amon said. “To be clear, individuals may have both anxiety and ADHD. However, I have evaluated some clients who suspected they had ADHD, when in fact the root of their procrastination habits was actually anxiety-driven. Here’s why Proper assessment is so important.
If you’re diagnosed with ADHD, the right treatment can change your life, McGaugh says. “I had a friend who was on the right ADHD medication and was getting good reviews at work. The lawyer would say, ‘My bill now is three times what it was,'” he said. “These are very clear results.”
Savul agrees that the right treatment can make a huge difference. “Most patients respond,” she said. “They feel better about themselves and start to function better in their professional and academic lives. We have many stories of people doing well after starting treatment.
