Monthly Spotlight: ADHD

What is it?

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or being overly active. --CDC

ADHD is considered a chronic and debilitating disorder and is known to impact the individual in many aspects of their life, including academic and professional achievements, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning (Harpin, 2005). ADHD can lead to poor self-esteem and social function in children when not appropriately treated (Harpin et al., 2016). Adults with ADHD may experience poor self-worth, sensitivity towards criticism, and increased self-criticism, possibly stemming from higher levels of criticism throughout life (Beaton, et al., 2022). Of note, ADHD presentation and assessment in adults differ. --American Psychiatric Association

Do you have it?

Healthcare providers use the guidelines in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)¹, to help diagnose ADHD. This diagnostic standard helps ensure that people are appropriately diagnosed and treated for ADHD. Using the same standard across communities can also help determine how many children have ADHD, and how public health is impacted by this condition. 

To look further into the criteria for ADHD DSM-5, check out this CDC page.

Symptoms

ADHD predominantly inattentive presentation

• Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
• Has difficulty sustaining attention
• Does not appear to listen
• Struggles to follow through with instructions
• Has difficulty with organization
• Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort
• Loses things
• Is easily distracted
• Is forgetful in daily activities

ADHD predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation

• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair
• Has difficulty remaining seated
• Runs about or climbs excessively in children; extreme restlessness in adults
• Difficulty engaging in activities quietly
• Acts as if driven by a motor; adults will often feel inside as if they are driven by a motor
• Talks excessively
• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
• Difficulty waiting or taking turns
• Interrupts or intrudes upon others

ADHD combined presentation

• The individual meets the criteria for both inattention and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD presentations.

These symptoms can change over time, so children may fit different presentations as they get older. --CHADD

Living with ADHD

There are many ways that ADHD can present itself to others:

• Hard time listening at school or work
• Movement in arms and legs seemingly uncontrollably 
• Making funny little noises
• Being overly emotional 
• Hyper-focusing 
• Not having filters
• Speaking out a lot/ shouting out
• Seeming to lack respect for authority
• Time gets away often
• Fiddles around
• Sensory issues
• Misplacing items
• Procrastination

And these are just some of the things those diagnosed with ADHD have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. --The Telegraph Online 

Bookish Suggestions

Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell

What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew by Sharon Saline

Straight Talk about ADHD in girls: how to help your daughter thrive by Stephen P Hinshaw

Smart but Scattered Teens by Richard Guare

You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! by Kate Kelly

Statistics

• The estimated number of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with ADHD, according to a national survey of parents, is 6 million (9.8%) using data from 2016-2019.
  • 3-5 years: 2%
  • 6-11 years: 10%
  • 12-17 years: 13%
• Boys are more likely to be diagnosed than girls
  • 13% vs 6%
• Black, non-Hispanic children and White, non-Hispanic children are more often diagnosed with ADHD (12% and 10%, respectively) than Hispanic children (8%) or Asian, non-Hispanic children (3%).
• According to a national 2016 parent survey, 6 in 10 children with ADHD had at least one other mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder:
  • About half of the children with ADHD had a behavior or conduct problem (52%)
  • About 3 in 10 children with ADHD had anxiety (33%)
  • Other conditions affecting children with ADHD are depression (17%), autism spectrum disorder (14%), and Tourette syndrome (1%).
• About 3 in 4 US children (2-17 years) with current ADHD receive treatment
  • 62% on medication
  • 47% behavior treatment
  • Altogether, 77% were receiving treatment

This information is from the CDC. Should you wish to learn more, check out this page from CHADD.

ADHD Stigmas

Usually, the stigmas around those with ADHD are "You're just lazy" or "You need to try harder.", In some cases it can be discriminatory with those who don't recognize ADHD as a diagnosis and think people need to just try harder or slow down. It also doesn't help that ADHD is a relatively new term and can look different from person to person.  Sometimes, it can be the label "ADHD" that puts people at a disadvantage, as they may not believe they are living up to their best potential. While the stigma has gotten a bit better over the years, it hasn't changed all that much for people of color. Rates of children of color receiving an ADHD diagnosis are lower than for children in other groups. Stigmas regarding mental health and behavioral health within their communities can get in the way of proper medical care for ADHD. --CHADD