The increased performance demands of modern societies have almost certainly contributed to the increased likelihood of acquiring a diagnosis of ADHD.
(Another big part of the explanation is, of course, the internet and social media, which have contributed to increasing self-diagnosis. Pharmaceutical marketing over the decades is yet another factor that has contributed to increased diagnosis).
Findings. In this systematic scoping review of 334 published studies in children and adolescents, convincing evidence was found that ADHD is overdiagnosed in children and adolescents. For individuals with milder symptoms in particular, the harms associated with an ADHD diagnosis may often outweigh the benefits.
“Nobody has perfect memory… but for [people with ADHD], it's extreme. They feel like they're lost all the time,” Almagor said. He believes this is why people don't take ADHD seriously. “I think that's why some people don't respect the severity of what [a person with ADHD] can experience,” he said.
Children with ADHD are less well-liked than their neurotypical peers [18] and are more likely to be bullied during their school years [19].
Misdiagnosis can occur because symptoms of ADHD can mimic other conditions. Also, ADHD is multifaceted, and symptoms often present differently from person to person.
While diagnosis of ADHD in adults and children is on the rise, it is far from 'everyone. ' The CDC says 9.4 percent of American children have — at one point or another — received a diagnosis of ADHD. For adults, that portion is about 4.4 percent, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Just about every mainstream medical, psychological, and educational organization in the U.S. long ago concluded that ADHD is real, and that children and adults with attention deficit disorder benefit from appropriate ADHD treatment.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition featuring patterns of inattention and hyperactivity. ADHD has been the subject of considerable controversy.
Social media has also propelled ADHD into popular awareness, as it has taken over platforms like TikTok and Twitter. As of May 2022, the hashtag #adhd has 11.4 billion views on TikTok. Many people credit these platforms with helping them realize they had the diagnosis and subsequently seeking treatment for it.
Anecdotally, Dr. Gold says she's seen an uptick in people who think they have adult ADHD because TikTok told them so. “I think that ADHD and trauma are the most prevalent [mental health] conversations on TikTok that have made people think about their diagnoses or their symptoms,” Dr. Gold explains.
You can have ADHD and not seem hyper. They can have successful relationships. There's a reason behind their temper.
The social construction theory of ADHD argues that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is not necessarily an actual pathology, but that an ADHD diagnosis is a socially constructed explanation to describe behaviors that simply do not meet prescribed social norms.
Overall, the study found that about 20 percent – or 900,000 – of the 4.5 million children currently identified as having ADHD likely have been misdiagnosed.
Misdiagnosed ADHD Symptom: Sleep Problems
But insomnia doesn't always mean ADHD, and other sleep disorders can mimic ADHD symptoms during daylight hours. Sleep apnea is a common culprit that's often misdiagnosed as ADHD — and vice versa.
Autism spectrum disorder and ADHD are related in several ways. ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.
Research has shown that, if left untreated, ADHD can destroy a person's mental and physical health for decades before they even know they have it.
Neurotypicals misinterpret this as being callous, narcissistic, uncaring, or socially inept. Taken together, the vulnerability of a person with ADHD to the negative feedback of others, and the lack of ability to observe oneself in the moment, make a witch's brew.
Experts believed that Einstein had ADHD because he 'was as disorganised and forgetful as he was insightful and intelligent.
ADHD is estimated to affect around 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Effects of masking your ADHD
ADHD that is undiagnosed can prevent people from receiving support that studies have shown to be beneficial. The stress of masking untreated or undiagnosed ADHD might contribute to anxiety and depression, similar to the way 2021 research demonstrates this connection in autistic people.
So I need certain supports to make sure I can finish what I need to finish.” Bottom line: If you're doubting the accuracy of your ADHD diagnosis, you can always get a second opinion.
They can easily sense the social cues of detachment through our non-verbal gestures. This awareness alone can make us feel socially awkward because we struggle to keep up with what they say or mask our inattentive symptoms. Another thing about our inattention is it makes us less perceptive of how people are acting.