Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition typically diagnosed in childhood, yet adult diagnoses of ADHD have increased in recent years \u2014 many among women.<\/p>\n
From 2020-2022, the percentage of women ages 23-49 diagnosed with ADHD nearly doubled, according to an Epic Research study<\/a>.<\/p>\n What\u2019s behind the rise? What does ADHD look like in adulthood, and what should you do if you think you have it?<\/p>\n ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder<\/a>, which means it affects the way the brain develops and functions. It\u2019s usually diagnosed in children before the age of 12. People with ADHD may:<\/p>\n Deandra Cloy, LICSW, an integrated mental health therapist with the MultiCare Behavioral Health Network<\/a>, frequently works with children who have ADHD. She shares that this condition can be overlooked in girls because of the way it often shows up \u2014 potentially contributing to the rise of diagnoses later in life.<\/p>\n \u201cBoys with ADHD tend to show more hyperactive or impulsive symptoms, where they\u2019re blurting out in class or frequently getting up out of their seat,\u201d Cloy says. \u201cGirls, on the other hand, tend to have more inattentive symptoms, where they\u2019re zoning out, daydreaming or distracted. Because these symptoms are less disruptive, they\u2019re more likely to go unnoticed by parents and teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n Although inattentive symptoms of ADHD may be less outwardly disruptive, they can still have a significant impact on a person\u2019s life \u2014 in childhood and adulthood.<\/p>\n \u201cKids with these symptoms tend to struggle with time management and academic performance,\u201d Cloy says. \u201cThey may do their homework but forget to turn it in or lose it. Or they may struggle to complete assignments because they missed instructions that were given in class or are unable to get themselves organized.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGirls \u2026 tend to have more inattentive symptoms, where they\u2019re zoning out, daydreaming or distracted. Because these symptoms are less disruptive, they\u2019re more likely to go unnoticed by parents and teachers.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n One of the common misconceptions about ADHD is that people with this condition are lazy and just need to try harder.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir symptoms are due to differences in the way their brain processes information \u2014 not because they aren\u2019t putting in effort,\u201d Cloy says. \u201cIt\u2019s common for kids with ADHD to feel like they\u2019re constantly failing to meet expectations \u2014 a feeling that they can carry with them into adulthood \u2014 so I focus on positive reinforcement and teaching them strategies to help them solve problems and be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n Cameron Maleki, DNP, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, sees a disproportionate number of women in his practice who have been diagnosed with ADHD later in life. Maleki provides psychiatric care for adults at Navos, part of the MultiCare Behavioral Health Network.<\/p>\n Like Cloy, he attributes part of this rise to the fact that ADHD tends to be underdiagnosed in girls. Other factors play a role as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rise of adult ADHD diagnoses in general is likely due to better awareness of this condition through social media and other venues,\u201d Maleki says. \u201cPeople are more likely to seek help for symptoms they\u2019ve been experiencing, rather than suffering in silence. Since the pandemic, there\u2019s also increased access to telehealth, which reduces barriers to care.\u201d<\/p>\n A qualified mental health or medical professional typically diagnoses ADHD through an evaluation. But if the condition is missed in childhood, it can be difficult to diagnose in an adult setting.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of overlap between symptoms of ADHD and symptoms of other conditions,\u201d says Maleki. \u201cSo it\u2019s important to rule out other potential causes of inattention or other symptoms a person is experiencing.\u201d<\/p>\n Another challenging part of getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is that it can be hard to recall symptoms you may have experienced in childhood.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause ADHD has a childhood onset, it\u2019s important to have a sense of what was happening when a person was 12 and under so we can make an accurate diagnosis,\u201d Maleki says. \u201cIf you\u2019re a 40-year-old, it may be hard to remember back that far. Sometimes gathering information from family members or close friends can help.\u201d<\/p>\n Like children with ADHD, adults with this condition experience symptoms related to inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that are inconsistent with their age or developmental level.<\/p>\n Adults with ADHD may:<\/p>\n Studies show that teens and adults with ADHD have an increased risk of suicide<\/a> and are also more likely to develop substance use disorders<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re experiencing symptoms that are disrupting your life, then it\u2019s a good idea to reach out to a health care provider. Even if it\u2019s not ADHD, we can help you figure out what\u2019s going on and get you the help you need.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n While ADHD is often lifelong, effective treatment can keep symptoms under control and help people live full, productive lives. The first-line treatment for ADHD is medications, such as stimulants (non-stimulant medications are also available).<\/p>\n \u201cApproximately 60 to 80 percent of adults with ADHD experience remission from their symptoms with stimulants,\u201d Maleki says. \u201cResearch shows that adults with ADHD tend to have the best outcomes when they receive a combination of medication and therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can help people cultivate healthy behaviors, learn effective coping strategies and improve executive functioning skills (skills that help you plan, solve problems, adapt and reach goals).<\/p>\n We live in a world teeming with distractions, from constant notifications on our phones to new emails populating our inboxes. How do you know when inattentiveness or other symptoms cross the threshold into ADHD?<\/p>\n \u201cPeople can have ADHD traits in adulthood, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they have a disorder,\u201d Maleki says. \u201cThe distinguishing characteristics of ADHD are that symptoms started before the age of 12 and they have led to functional impairments across multiple areas of life \u2014 causing problems in their relationships, in their performance at work or school, or in their ability to take care of themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n If you think you may have ADHD, a good first step is to talk to your primary care provider. They can conduct an initial screening and make a referral to a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, for a thorough evaluation. Some mental health therapists may also be able to diagnose ADHD and can provide a referral as needed for medications.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re experiencing symptoms that are disrupting your life, then it\u2019s a good idea to reach out to a health care provider,\u201d Maleki says. \u201cEven if it\u2019s not ADHD, we can help you figure out what\u2019s going on and get you the help you need.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition typically diagnosed in childhood, yet adult diagnoses of ADHD have increased in recent years \u2014 many among women. From 2020-2022, the percentage of women ages 23-49 diagnosed with ADHD nearly doubled, according to an Epic Research study. What\u2019s behind the rise? What does ADHD look like in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,67,115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behavioral-health","category-kids-health","category-womens-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is ADHD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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ADHD in adulthood<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What to do if you think you have ADHD<\/strong><\/h2>\n