The infradiagnosed ADHD in adults
Having a repeated difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships may actually be due to the fact that one of the members of the couple suffers from an Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Depressive or anxiety states can also be related to ADHD. As scientists have shown, ADHD may have a significant genetic component, so parents and brothers or sisters of someone with the disorder are more likely to have it. Although between 5 and 8% of children and adolescents suffer from ADHD, this disorder affects between 4 and 5% of the adult population.
ADHD symptoms and their severity can vary greatly from person to person. In adults it manifests itself with frequent distractions, tendency to hyperactivity and impulsivity, and having a harder time focusing on specific information and prioritizing tasks. They may also show difficulties in keeping their commitments, or they delay completing and delivering tasks, forgetting meetings and medical or social appointments.
Impatience, low tolerance to frustration, lack of concentration when reading and lack of order in personal things, as well as changes in mood, are all symptoms that point to a possible diagnosis of ADHD in adults. They can negatively affect important areas of life, such as academic and work performance and family and social relationships. But they can also affect other everyday aspects of life, such as driving, managing money, raising children or caring for dependents.
The complexity of adult life, work related stress and increased responsibilities can make it difficult to detect ADHD, which is much easier to diagnose in childhood. This disorder can also be hidden by compensations, the strategies that the person uses to solve difficulties, such as getting help from family members or assistants, or avoiding activities – which s/he could very well carry out with a correct ADHD treatment. Despite being successful at their job, they may exhibit chronic feelings of low self-esteem.
In general, after a couple of diagnostic clinical interviews, the frequency and intensity of the symptoms are analyzed to rule out ADHD or other possible disorders. It is only diagnosed when the symptoms are severe enough to cause significant problems in more than one area of life, such as not performing at work, or difficulties in relationships. In addition, these symptoms must have necessarily been present in childhood, and cannot be attributed to another disorder, such as Depression, Anxiety, etc.
It is always advisable to seek professional advice from a Psychologist specialized in this type of disorder.
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Dr. Connie Capdevila Brophy can carry out an evaluation.