When most people hear the term ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) they frequently think of rambunctious boys. That’s because there are a lot of misconceptions about this condition. Are there hidden signs of ADHD that you or someone you love has been overlooking for years? ADHD does not always manifest as hyperactivity and it does not disappear automatically when someone becomes an adult. Could you or someone you know have ADHD without realizing it?
Questions to Ask About AHDH
According to the CDC, over 15 million Americans have had a diagnosis of ADHD. Over half “received their diagnosis in adulthood.”
What the CDC stats do not tell us, though, is how many people have ADHD but have gone undiagnosed for years. Here are some questions to ask:
- Do you have trouble meeting deadlines?
- Are you a chronic procrastinator?
- Are your always late for appointments?
- Do you start projects but have trouble finishing them?
- Do you frequently misplace your keys, glasses, phone, wallet or other necessities?
- Do you have difficulty staying focused during meetings, lectures or conversations?
- Does your mind wander even when you are trying hard to pay attention?
- Do you become easily distracted by noises, notifications or things happening around you?
- Do you sometimes interrupt people or finish their sentences?
- Do you make impulsive decisions that you later regret?
- Do routine tasks seem difficult to organize or complete?
- Does your desk, kitchen counter or bedroom seem perpetually disorganized?
- Do you frequently underestimate how long tasks will take?
- Do you sometimes become so absorbed in a project that you lose track of time?
- Do you become very frustrated when something does not go as planned?
- Do you have difficulty shifting from one activity to another?
- As a child, were you frequently described as absent-minded?
- Does your child do well academically but have to work really hard to keep up?
- Does your child frequently forget homework, lose school supplies or have trouble getting ready in the morning?
- Does a youngster in your family have emotional reactions that seem surprisingly intense when frustrated?
Most of us will recognize ourselves in a few of those questions. Who hasn’t mislaid keys, glasses or a phone at sometime or another? Almost everyone can be distracted or forgetful at one time or another. That does not mean we have ADHD.
When Do Hidden Signs of ADHD Become ADHD?
In our latest nationally syndicated People’s Pharmacy radio show, ADHD expert John Mitchell, PhD, explains that many of us experience individual ADHD-like traits. The diagnosis becomes relevant when enough symptoms are persistent and interfere significantly with everyday functioning.
That may mean trouble at school or work, difficulties in relationships or a lifelong struggle to organize ordinary activities that seem much easier for other people.
Many people have spent decades compensating so effectively that nobody recognizes what is going on. Dr. Rosen describes this beautifully with the metaphor of a duck gliding across a pond. It looks so smooth and peaceful, but under the water the duck is paddling furiosly to stay afloat and keep moving. We just can’t see those legs working.
Girls, for example, may not fit the stereotype of the disruptive little boy who cannot sit still. Instead, they may be inattentive or dreamy. Adults who were never diagnosed as children may spend years wondering why they procrastinate, miss deadlines, lose things or struggle with follow-through.
That is one reason the hidden signs of ADHD are so easy to miss. Our podcast this week asks the question:
What Are We Still Getting Wrong About ADHD?
If you have ever wondered whether you, your child or another family member might have ADHD that was never recognized, our short video offers a glimpse into this fascinating conversation.
Why not take a few minutes to listen to our latest podcast? Download the mp3, or listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You may be surprised to discover the hidden signs of ADHD in people you work with or care about.
