A recent survey has found that ADHD is growing increasingly common among adults, with 1 in 4 suspecting they suffer from the disorder.
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The new survey was commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and looks to examine how many adults struggle with the disorder, which is typically diagnosed in children.
The survey found that 25% of adults suspected they may have undiagnosed ADHD, though only 13% have shared their suspicions with a doctor.
“Within this group, there are likely people who have the disorder who were never diagnosed for various reasons, while there is also a significant group who may be exhibiting some symptoms of inattention that don’t rise to the level of impairment needed for ADHD, and likely some who are experiencing other mental health disorders that can also impact focus and concentration,” Justin Barterian, a clinical assistant professor in Ohio State’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, told Newsweek.
Barterian says that ADHD suspicions popping up more in older generations is a cause for concern, with many not seeking to discuss their worries with a healthcare provider.
“It's concerning in the sense that we know that undiagnosed ADHD can have a significant impact on somebody’s life. It can affect them at their work performance. It can even affect health,” Barterian told WOSU. “So, you know, ADHD can affect keeping up with routine health appointments and those sorts of things that could have long term impacts down the line.”
However, Barterian addressed recent trends where those who wouldn’t typically have ADHD are discussing having the mental disorder online.
“Research has suggested that many of the videos on social media discussing ADHD often contain inaccuracies, leading some to believe they have the disorder while something else may explain the difficulties they are having.”
“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,” he said in a statement.
He also said that a self diagnosis can be hard to make, as a lot of the times things that are normal can seem worrisome.
“I think there is also an over-pathologizing of normal variability in human attention, as not everyone can pay attention all of the time or may engage in some of the symptoms of ADHD without them causing significant problems,” Barterian said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares that signs of ADHD in children include frequent daydreaming, forgetting or losing things often, fidgeting, talking too much, taking unnecessary risks, being unable to resist temptation, and more.
However, just because someone shows these signs, it doesn’t mean they have ADHD. The CDC recommends talking with a healthcare professional if you think your child or yourself has ADHD.
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