ADHD is one of the most common brain developmental disorders that affects the cognitive part of the brain. It is often diagnosed in Childhood but frequently continues into Adulthood. While the exact cause is unknown, It is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. People with ADHD often struggle with executive function.
' Symptoms' in Children:
Inattention:
- Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play.
- Frequently losing items needed for activities (e.g., toys, books).
- Appearing not to listen when spoken to directly.
- Struggling to follow through on instructions or complete tasks.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity:
- Constant fidgeting, tapping, or leaving their seat in situations where sitting still is expected.
- Running or climbing in inappropriate situations.
- Difficulty playing quietly.
- Interrupting conversations or games.
- Blurts out answers before questions are completed.These behaviours can often be mistaken for normal childlike behaviour, but in children with ADHD, they are more severe and persistent, significantly impairing their daily lives.
'Symptoms' in Adults
Inattention:
- Chronic procrastination and poor time management.
- Difficulty staying organised (e.g., missing deadlines, forgetting appointments).
- Frequently misplacing items like keys or phones.
- Struggling to focus during conversations or meetings.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity:
- Restlessness or feeling the need to constantly move.
- Difficulty engaging in relaxing activities.
- Interrupting others or blurting out thoughts impulsively.
- Making hasty decisions without fully considering consequences.
These 'symptoms' present more subtly in adults but are equally as impactful.
But why does it go undiagnosed???
ADHD often flies under the radar in both kids and adults for a bunch of reasons. Let’s break it down:
1. Misunderstood Symptoms
ADHD isn’t always about bouncing off the walls. In kids, it can look like zoning out in class or constantly losing their stuff. In adults, it might show up as chronic procrastination, trouble focusing, or forgetting important things amongst other things. These don’t scream “ADHD” to most people—they just seem like quirks or personality traits.
2. Stereotypes and Myths
There’s this idea that ADHD only affects hyperactive little boys. Girls or quieter kids with inattentive ADHD are often overlooked. Adults, on the other hand, might just be seen as “scatterbrained” or “lazy.” These stereotypes make it harder for people to connect the dots in addition Puberty can make diagnosing confusing because of hormones causing emotional outbursts and 'cravings' being similar to dis-regulation and hyper-fixations.
3. Coping Mechanisms
People with undiagnosed ADHD often develop workarounds. Maybe they rely heavily on planners, ask for constant reminders, or stick to rigid routines to manage their symptoms. These coping strategies can mask the underlying issue, making ADHD harder to spot.
4. Overlap with Other Conditions
ADHD doesn’t show up alone—it loves to tag along with anxiety, depression, or even learning disorders. Doctors might focus on those more obvious issues and miss ADHD entirely (like mine). Plus, the symptoms can overlap, which muddies the waters.
5. System Failures
Let’s face it, not everyone has access to proper healthcare or specialists who understand ADHD well, especially for adults. In some places, even teachers and doctors aren’t trained to recognise it properly. Long wait times and costs for assessments don’t help either. my waiting time for an assessment has been for years so far! Kaycie is in her third year of waiting, however she has had a sign of moving forward with her wait and is now waiting for her assessment appointment to be sent.
6. Stigma and Denial
Some people don’t want to consider ADHD as a possibility because of the stigma attached to it. Others might chalk up their struggles to stress, bad habits, or just “being a bit different,” and never seek help. My partner liam has been terrible for this, when i first mentioned that i thought kaycie has adhd he worried once i went to the school with it that the school was going to treat her like "just another naughty kid" then later when i noticed a connection to adhd in liam his response to me suggesting an assessment was (Puts on a manly geezer voice)" Well iv lived with it that long im just going to carry on without the fuss".
In short, ADHD can be a bit of a chameleon—it blends in, gets mistaken for other stuff, or gets ignored entirely. Recognising it means busting myths and getting the right support!
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