Adult Diagnosis of ADHD on the Rise

If you have never been more aware of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) than now, we’re not surprised. Once a diagnosis almost exclusively for hyper-restless (mainly male) youngsters, more adults than ever are now presenting with ADHD symptoms and are not afraid to go public with their diagnoses. Only recently, Wellington mayor, Tory Whanau, bravely announced she had been diagnosed with ADHD, but was quick to add that as well as symptoms posing challenges, they are part and parcel of who a person is, and discussing them out loud helps others to understand neurodiversity doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks. In fact, as we now know, in some areas of life, ADHD can actually give a person the upper edge.

ADHD is listed on the DSM-IV (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), and focuses on three specific sets of symptoms: those involving being inattentive, those involving being abnormally, or extremely, active, and those including both being inattentive and abnormally, or extremely, active. If this is ringing any bells about your own behaviours, you may want to investigate further. If so, it’s possible to check out your hunch by visiting an appropriate medical professional who may refer you for a diagnostic test. In addition to checking for symptoms of ADHD, the test will examine where your concerning behaviours are exhibited (such as at home or work). It’s the combination of specific behaviours and where they present that sets the scene for a true ADHD diagnosis.

While you may be taking ADHD seriously, sadly, since adult-diagnosed ADHD hit the headlines, many have been quick to get on their high horse, claiming it’s ‘just a fad’ that ‘attention-seekers’ have cottoned on to. However, there are many valid reasons why more adults than ever are being diagnosed with ADHD. For starters, we live in an age where mental health issues are at last being discussed openly. This means many people who have suffered for decades with poor mental health now feel able to ‘step out of the closet’ with their concerns and seek the help they need. We now understand behaviour is driven, to a large degree, by gender traits we may no longer feel required to adhere to. In the past, more males than females were diagnosed with ADHD. This may well have been because it was deemed more acceptable for young men to display restlessness, frustration, and aggression. Young women, on the other hand, no matter how neurodiverse they may have felt, were expected to ‘sit quietly,  cross their legs, and ‘behave.’ Which is why their distress may never have gained the attention it should have.

There may also be environmental reasons for a rise in ADHD diagnoses. Some researchers are pointing the finger at our increasing use of technology as a factor in brain disturbance – technology accessed by adults and young people. Others point to a combination of genetics (nature), nurture (upbringing), medication, and environmental conditions. Whatever the reason, we now know ADHD currently affects from 2% to 5% of adults and children, and a diagnosis of ADHD in early life continues into adult life in 65% of cases.

If you find it challenging to concentrate or focus on the task at hand, if impulsivity leads to actions you regret, or if your work performance and relationships are affected by behaviours you wish you had more control over, it may be time to look for answers with a medical professional to guide you. Left undiagnosed, ADHD symptoms may lead to feelings of low self-worth, alcohol and drug abuse, toxic relationships, and intimate partner violence (among other negative experiences).

Instead of treating those with an adult ADHD diagnosis as ‘fakes,’ let’s support them for their bravery in seeking help. If you’re wondering if you should do the same, talk to a medical professional today. It may bring relief and reassurance to both you and those you love.