“My child has ADHD and I continually see myself reflected in him at the same age, do I have ADHD too?”. This comment is common in parents of schoolchildren who are diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) when they go for consultation accompanying their child.
Does ADHD exist in adulthood or is it just a childhood disorder?
ADHD, although less well known, is also diagnosed in adulthood and needs to be studied and treated correctly. In fact, ADHD, although diagnosed in adulthood, is a disorder that always begins in childhood. Therefore, adults diagnosed with ADHD have been suffering from it since childhood.
About 50% of children with ADHD will present the disorder in adulthood. What happens is that, depending on age, symptoms vary, because it manifests differently in childhood and adulthood, and this symptomatic variability can sometimes mask or confuse the diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood, because it can be complicated by other disorders, such as mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder) and anxiety disorders among others.
What symptoms does a person with ADHD show in adulthood?
ADHD in adulthood is usually characterized by less hyperactivity, but impulsivity (deficit in impulse control) and attention deficit persist. The frequency of ADHD in adults is about 3-4% in the general population (in childhood it reaches 8-12%).
Although it is more prevalent in men, it also affects many women who, because of its particular clinical manifestation, often in the form of inattention, can more easily go unnoticed and be underdiagnosed. The presence of symptoms, depending on the severity, can lead to significant difficulties and conflicts that can significantly interfere with daily life on a personal, occupational, academic and social level.
The most common difficulties reported by adults with ADHD are difficulties in the optimal development of their work or academic performance (poor concentration and disorganization of work, problems in maintaining attention, poor planning of tasks to be performed, difficulty in setting priorities, leaving tasks for later, difficulties in time management, commitment to cope with stressful situations), difficulties at a personal level (low tolerance to frustration, numerous absent-mindedness, forgetfulness and distractions, constant loss of objects, mood swings and frequent irascibility, difficulty to relax, restlessness, feeling of “going like a motorcycle”, low self-esteem) and in social relationships (inability to wait their turn or queue, difficulty to maintain stable relationships, legal problems, traffic accidents).
If difficulties such as these are persistent in different areas (home, work…) and significantly impair and interfere with activities of daily living, preventing their normal performance, it is advisable to consult a qualified medical professional to conduct a clinical study, establish the diagnosis and plan the appropriate treatment for each person.
The exhaustive study of the functioning of the central nervous system in people with ADHD includes several neurophysiological and neuropsychological aspects:
- Neurophysiological study of attention and memory. Brain mapping to analyze the functional state of brain activity and cognitive evoked potentials to dynamically study cognitive processing of information.
- Study of brain bioelectrical activity. Electroencephalogram to rule out the presence of abnormal brain activity.
- Specific neuropsychological study for the diagnosis of ADHD. Study of higher cognitive functions (attention, memory and executive functions…) by means of standardized tests.
Once the complete study has been carried out, if all the criteria established for diagnosis are met, the diagnosis of ADHD is issued. From this moment on, a personalized treatment can be planned according to the specific needs of each person.
What types of treatment are there?
ADHD treatment includes several approaches that complement and combine to achieve a comprehensive therapy. These different approaches or levels of action include:
- Pharmacological treatment. A wide range of effective and safe pharmacological options are available for the treatment of ADHD.
- Cognitive-behavioral psychological treatment. Specific psychological interventions are planned for each person with ADHD in the different areas of his or her life.
- Rehabilitation or cognitive training of higher cognitive functions. Individualized cognitive stimulation programs are developed for the training and strengthening of cognitive functions such as memory, perceptual skills, information processing speed, decision making, planning, attention, executive functions and language.
- Treatment with neuromodulation using tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation). tDCS is an innovative non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has proven to be effective in the management of people with ADHD, improving attention, inhibitory control, impulsivity and working memory. It has a modulating effect on neuronal excitability by modifying the resting membrane potential, while increasing its capacity to be modulated and favoring brain plasticity (the brain’s capacity to reorganize its neuronal connections and improve its functioning).
In conclusion, and answering the question “do I also have ADHD?”. When ADHD is suspected in an adult, the first step is to recognize the symptoms, face them with courage and put yourself in the hands of a specialized doctor to carry out a study and correct diagnosis.
From this point on, a new vital reality will begin in which many of the obstacles and difficulties “suffered” over the years will be argued and understood, but which with proper treatment and training can improve their future.