08/18/2021 11:10
Clarín.com
Good Life
Updated 08/18/2021 11:10 AM
How common is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in adults?
¿
What are the symptoms
, and it
is possible that someone who was not diagnosed as
a child is diagnosed with adult?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is often characterized by inattention, disorganization, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
It is
one of the most common mental disorders
.
According to the World Federation of ADHD, it is believed to occur in almost 6% of children and
2.5% of adults
.
In the United States, an estimated 5.4 million children, or about 8% of all American children ages 3 to 17, had ADHD in 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
For decades, experts believed that ADHD
it only occurred in children
and that it ended after adolescence.
But a series of studies conducted in the 1990s showed that ADHD
can continue into adulthood
.
Experts now say that at least 60% of children with ADHD will also have symptoms in adulthood.
It's no wonder so many people are now wondering if they may have the disorder, especially if their symptoms have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
The Attention Deficit Disorder Association, an organization founded in 1990 for adults with ADHD, saw its membership
nearly double between 2019 and 2021
.
Additionally, Children and Adults with Attention - Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (or CHADD) reported that the largest proportion of people who call their ADHD helpline are
adults seeking guidance
and resources for themselves. themselves.
Childhood ADHD is often associated with restlessness and difficulty sitting still.
Illustrative photo Shutterstock.
What is ADHD in adults?
Childhood ADHD is often associated with restlessness and difficulty sitting still.
In adults, "typically, hyperactivity is
less pronounced,
" says Lidia Zylowska, a psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and author of
The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD
.
Adults with this disorder often struggle with poor concentration and disorganization, "the so-called executive function skills - planning, organization, time management - basically the
skills necessary to be an 'adult,'
" Zylowska added.
When adults ignore tasks that require these skills,
chaos
can
ensue
.
Bills pile up, late work can lead to layoffs, medical appointments get delayed or neglected, and accidents happen.
In educational and work settings, adults with untreated ADHD often
feel unmotivated
and tend to have poor planning and problem-solving skills when an obstacle arises, said Russell Barkley, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Medicine School of Medicine. Virginia Commonwealth and author of Taking Charge of Adult ADHD.
People with ADHD experience performance disorders.
Illustrative photo Shutterstock.
Time blind
"I call them
time blind,
" Barkley added.
"They just can't be handled relative to time limits."
Kylie Barron, an ADDA spokeswoman who has ADHD, called it a
"performance disorder
.
"
For her, this means "always accidentally screw up, screw up, and do the wrong thing at the wrong time."
These concerns are common among people with ADHD, Barkley said.
"They set goals, and they intend to meet them," he added.
And while they are genuinely sincere,
they often fail to deliver
, especially when it comes to long-term aspirations, he said.
Many adults with ADHD also have trouble regulating emotions and may show anger, impatience, an inability to function at work, self-doubt, and difficulty managing stress.
However, with
proper treatment and support
, people with ADHD can be very successful.
Can ADHD be diagnosed for the first time in adulthood?
Yes, but adults diagnosed with ADHD must also have experienced
significant symptoms of the disorder before age 12
, even if they were not formally diagnosed during childhood, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM.
"There are all kinds of reasons why people can
go into adulthood without being diagnosed
or detected," Barkely said.
Girls, for example, are less likely to be diagnosed than boys, which is part of the reason why the prevalence of ADHD among women has
typically
been
underrecognized
, she added.
Additionally, the DSM criteria for the disorder are subjective, said Martin Teicher, professor of psychiatry and editor of the Harvard Medical School guide to ADHD in adults.
You have to make some
arbitrary distinctions
about what behaviors occur "often," he added.
Some
extremely bright
children
may "go unnoticed" without their ADHD being detected because they are doing well academically, but they will generally have other problems like being very fussy, Teicher said.
ADHD is associated with difficulty regulating emotions.
Illustrative photo Shutterstock.
How do you know for sure if you have ADHD, and what is the treatment like?
ADHD has a spectrum of severity levels, and symptoms can be more (or less) pronounced in different settings.
If you think you have ADHD as an adult, you may consider using a
screening tool
.
It is not intended to give a diagnosis;
however, it can help you recognize the signs and symptoms of adult ADHD.
Afterwards, it is essential to get a full evaluation from a
doctor who specializes in ADHD
.
This will help determine if you have the disorder, and then a second (or third).
Up to 50% of adults with ADHD, for example, have an anxiety disorder.
If there is more than one problem going on, "it can be difficult to figure out what the cause is," says Zylowska.
"It's important to do a developmental history and create a timeline of
when the ADHD behaviors started
."
The disorder tends to run in families, which means that if one of your parents had ADHD, you are much more likely to have it as well.
A small study, for example, found that among the fathers of 79 children with ADHD, 41% of the mothers and 51% of the fathers had the disorder.
ADHD is usually treated with medicine.
People with ADHD also turn to
therapy, coaching
, mindfulness-based training, nutritional interventions, and exercise to manage symptoms.
Christina Caron © New York Times
Translation: Patricia Sar
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