Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the The most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood, and it is usually diagnosed in children. But ADHD tends to be underdiagnosed women And people of colorwhich can cause some people to reach adulthood before realizing they might have this condition.
Busy Philipps is one of them. The actress recently revealed that she was diagnosed with ADHD after going to the doctor for her daughter. “My oldest daughter was having problems at school and we took her in for an evaluation. And literally in the review, my ex-husband, Marc, we looked at each other because everything the doctor asked Birdie and talked about, I was like, “But that’s me.” This is what I have,” the 44-year-old said. Us every week.
Philipps said she felt like “there was something wrong” with her before her diagnosis, only to learn that her difficulty completing tasks and planning tasks was likely due to ADHD. . “There are ways to treat this problem, there are medications. It changed my life,” she said.
Philipps is not the only person to have experienced this. In recent years, “there has been a significant increase in the number of people seeking an ADHD diagnosis,” says Justin A. Barterian, PhD, psychologist and assistant professor at Ohio State University – Wexner Medical Center. “There 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,” he adds.
But Barterian says there are also “misleading” social media and influencer accounts that “misrepresent” the symptoms of the disease, “leading many people to think they have the disease without responding to all Criteria “.
All of this has raised many questions about adult ADHD, as well as how it is diagnosed. The specialists who treat these patients break it down.
How is ADHD different in adults and children?
ADHD is the same disorder in children and adults, but it can present differently in adults, explains Joshua M. Langberg, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist at Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology and director of Youth Social and Emotional Wellness Center.
“Childhood ADHD is often characterized by high levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity,” he says. “In contrast, ADHD in adulthood is primarily defined by difficulties with inattention, concentration, organization, and time management.”
Although hyperactivity is more evident in children who suffer from it, it tends to create internal feelings of restlessness in adults, says Langberg. “Even though the symptoms of ADHD are not as noticeable in adulthood, they are just as significant and debilitating,” he says. “Difficulties with sustained attention, attention to detail, and organization and planning can lead to significant problems in academic achievement, professional functioning, and relationships. »
ADHD Symptoms in adults
People with ADHD tend to struggle with certain symptoms. These include inattention, that is, having difficulty paying attention; hyperactivity or having too much energy; and impulsivity, which consists of acting without thinking or having problems with self-control, says Dr James McGoughprofessor of clinical psychiatry and co-director of the ADHD Clinic at UCLA.
People with ADHD may exhibit primarily inattention symptoms or primarily hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, while some will exhibit both types of symptoms, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) said.
People with inattentive ADHD may have difficulty completing these tasks, according to the NIMH:
- Pay close attention to details
- Pay attention to time-consuming tasks, such as preparing reports, filling out forms, or reviewing lengthy documents
- Listen attentively when speaking directly
- Follow instructions and complete tasks at work
- Organization of tasks and activities
- To manage time
- Perform tasks that require sustained attention
They may also lose items like keys, wallets and phones, become easily distracted and forget things like paying bills, keeping appointments or answering calls.
People suffering from hyperactivity and inactivity may experience these symptoms, according to the NIMH:
- Extreme restlessness and difficulty sitting still for long periods of time
- Shaking or tapping with hands or feet or squirming in the seat
- I have difficulty doing quiet leisure activities
- Talking excessively
- Answer questions before they are completely asked
- I have trouble waiting in line
- Interrupt others
But Hillary AmmonPsyD, clinical psychologist at Center for Women’s Anxiety and Emotional Well-Being, points out that all adults experience some of these symptoms here and there. “From time to time, it can be difficult to accomplish everything you want to accomplish or find yourself in a forgettable situation,” she says. “It may not be ADHD, but rather, you may have too many things to do at any given time and that causes forgetfulness or mistakes.”
People with ADHD often have a chronic history of making to-do lists, with little success in completing the list, consistently choosing fun over boring tasks, having real-world consequences for mistakes or tasks. not accomplished, or procrastinating on tasks that seem “too “big” or “overwhelming,” Ammon says.
But if you suddenly start exhibiting ADHD symptoms, it’s unlikely that it’s due to the disorder, says McGough. “You don’t reach age 50 as an associate at a law firm and suddenly have ADHD,” he says. “It would be hard to believe.”
How is ADHD diagnosed in adults?
An adult ADHD diagnosis usually begins when someone realizes they are struggling, McGough says. “Some people who are smarter or whose families have more resources may reach college or beyond without realizing anything is going on,” he says. But suddenly being faced with more difficult life situations can bring these issues to light.
“I’ve had people who were starting medical school or law school who were smart or had enough support in the past that it had never been an issue before,” McGough says.
Doctors usually ask a lot of questions during a first meeting, says Dr Shazia Savul, psychiatrist at Penn Medicine. “We ask them what is happening now and what difficulties they are facing,” she says. People with ADHD tend to have problems in several areas of their lives (work, school and relationships) and hearing how things are going in these areas can be informative for doctors, she says.
But doctors will also want to know about your past. “We will also ask them if they had these problems growing up and if they had similar symptoms in elementary or middle school,” says Savul.
Savul points out that factors such as significant depression or severe anxiety can also mimic ADHD symptoms, making it important to rule them out as well. “People who smoke marijuana frequently will also begin to exhibit symptoms very similar to ADHD,” says Savul. “We have to take these things into account.”
Although your doctor may ask you to fill out questionnaires, you should also expect an in-person or virtual meeting that will last a few hours, says Langberg. “The clinician’s primary job is to determine why inattention symptoms are concerning and whether they are better attributed to ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep, stress, context changes, etc. “, he said. “There is a diagnostic manual that clinicians use, and in order to meet criteria for ADHD, specific, well-defined symptom thresholds must be met currently and during childhood.”
Langberg points out that there is no one-size-fits-all test for ADHD. “If someone tells you they can look at your blood type, brain waves, or performance on a computer task and use that information alone to diagnose ADHD, they are not following recommended procedures or best practices and they are not following recommended procedures or best practices. “I’m not acting ethically,” he said.
What is the treatment for ADHD in adults?
Treatment for adult ADHD is similar for children and adults, says Barterian. This includes the use of stimulant medications like amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts (Adderall) or lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse, Elvanse), which cause possible side effects including headache, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. , according to Mayo Clinic.
Other options include nonstimulant medications, Savul says, and drug-free treatments.
“Adults may also benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy aimed at addressing skill deficits related to executive functioning,” says Barterian. “The skills learned through therapy can help a person with ADHD learn to modify their environment to reduce the impairments associated with ADHD symptoms.”
If you think you may have ADHD, doctors stress the importance of getting evaluated by a licensed mental health provider. “Sometimes I see anxiety misdiagnosed as ADHD,” says Ammon. “To be clearer, individuals can suffer from both anxiety and ADHD. However, I have evaluated clients who suspected they had ADHD when, in reality, the root of their procrastination habits was actually driven by anxiety. This is why proper assessment is so important.
If you’re diagnosed with ADHD, McGough says the right treatment can change your life. “I have a friend who took the right medication for ADHD and received rave reviews at work. The lawyers will say, ‘My bills have now tripled,'” he says. “These are very observable results.”
Savul recognizes that proper treatment can have a big impact. “The majority of patients respond,” she says. “They feel better about themselves, they start to function better in professional and academic life. We have many stories of people doing well after starting treatment.
