A survey of 1,000 US adults has found that 25 percent of respondents believe they could have undiagnosed attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, only 13 percent of them had spoken to a doctor about their concerns, sparking fears that incorrect self-diagnoses could be leading people towards unhelpful treatment strategies.
ADHD in adults
When it comes to diagnosing ADHD, the focus has historically been on children. However, an increasing number of adults are now being diagnosed for the first time. Signs of ADHD may be subtle and go unrecognized for many years – this is particularly true for women and girls, who have historically been underdiagnosed in childhood as sex differences in how ADHD presents have been underappreciated.
The National Institute of Mental Health explains that to receive a diagnosis in adulthood, there must be evidence of symptoms going back to before the age of 12. Adults must meet the criteria of five symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity, and the assessment may include looking back at childhood records, school reports, and interviews with close family and friends to get a better understanding of someone’s symptoms.
A medical professional will then be able to determine which of the three subtypes of ADHD a person has. There’s the inattentive subtype, which manifests as difficulty paying attention and being easily distracted; there’s the hyperactive and impulsive subtype; and there’s a combined type with features of both.
Hyperactivity tends to be less common in adults with the condition than in kids, whereas memory and concentration issues may be more apparent. Some examples of symptoms include forgetfulness, poor time management, difficulty sitting still, trouble focusing on multiple tasks or completing longer tasks, and procrastination. Sleep problems commonly co-occur with ADHD in adults.
Because symptoms can worsen during times of stress, the demands of daily adult life can become challenging. But getting a diagnosis can allow people to access treatment that may be very beneficial.
Stimulant medications are the most commonly prescribed for ADHD, including methylphenidate – this is the active ingredient in Ritalin. They can help to ease some of the symptoms of ADHD to allow people to better cope with daily tasks. Cognitive behavioral therapy may also be useful in helping people to build skills to better manage their condition.
The problem with self-diagnosis
You can probably gather that the process of diagnosis can be drawn out and complex. It can be hard to tease out signs of ADHD from symptoms of other mental health conditions, and two people with ADHD can have very different experiences.
“Some people might have more difficulty focusing on lectures or with organization, while others may have more social difficulties with impulsivity and trouble following along in conversations,” said Dr Justin Barterian, a clinical assistant professor at Ohio State University, in a statement.
The new survey was commissioned by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and carried out in August 2024. A quarter of respondents said they believed they could have undiagnosed ADHD.
An estimated 4.4 percent of adults aged 18-44 have ADHD, some of whom will have been diagnosed as children; greater awareness of diagnosis in adulthood, or experience with their own kids, may be leading some to consider the possibility for themselves for the first time.
“There’s definitely more awareness of how it can continue to affect folks into adulthood and a lot of people who are realizing, once their kids have been diagnosed, that they fit these symptoms as well, given that it’s a genetic disorder,” said Barterian.
Younger survey respondents were more likely to say they suspected they had ADHD, but crucially they were also more likely to do something about it. This is a key message that the researchers want to get out there: the importance of seeking advice and guidance from a qualified professional.
“If you’re watching videos on social media and it makes you think that you may meet criteria for the disorder, I would encourage you to seek an evaluation from a psychologist or a psychiatrist or a physician to get it checked out,” said Barterian.
There’s an abundance of social media content with hashtags like #adhddiagnosis and #adultadhd. As well as information from charities and medical bodies, much of it is people sharing their personal stories, often with the hope of bringing more awareness to the condition and helping others who may be struggling. While well-meaning, the researchers say it is no substitute for professional assessment.
However, it’s impossible to talk about adult ADHD diagnosis without recognizing the barriers that can prevent people from accessing a professional assessment. The situation varies between countries and healthcare systems; in the UK, for example, at least 196,000 adults are thought to be on a waiting list for specialist ADHD services, the BBC reported in July.
Only a small number of professionals – psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and specialist ADHD nurses – can give a formal diagnosis of ADHD in the UK. The backlog in the National Health Service has driven people towards private clinics, but this is not a cost everyone can bear. In this landscape, it’s easy to see why people may resort to social media information and self-diagnosis.
As head of charity ADHD UK Henry Shelford told The Telegraph, in the US there are fewer restrictions on who can diagnose ADHD, so it may be easier for people to access formal support.
The increase in awareness of ADHD and how it presents in adults is a good thing if it helps more people get treatment that improves their lives – but before any treatments are started, it’s vital to have the foundation of a professional diagnosis.
“Anxiety, depression and ADHD – all these things can look a lot alike, but the wrong treatment can make things worse instead of helping that person feel better and improving their functioning,” Barterian said.
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
