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The Secret Behind Childhood: How Does ADHD Affect Adult Life?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is no longer viewed as just a childhood problem, but continues to impact the lives of many adults. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically presents symptoms in childhood and may persist throughout life. But for many people, the challenges of adult life are often underestimated.
It is reported that about two-thirds of childhood ADHD cases continue into adulthood, with symptoms ranging in severity from mild inconveniences to impairments in daily functioning.
The latest DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for psychiatric disorders have clearly stated that ADHD is "a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition", emphasizing that its diagnostic criteria are different at different ages. For adults, a diagnosis of ADHD requires the onset of at least five symptoms before the age of 12 that interfere with a person's social, academic or work performance.
Three forms of ADHD
The manifestations of ADHD can be divided into three types:
- Primary attention deficit disorder (ADHD-I): This form of presentation is primarily characterized by inattention.
- Primarily hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-HI): This form of ADHD is characterized by excessive activity and impulsive behavior.
- Mixed type (ADHD-C): exhibits characteristics of both inattention and hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Especially among adults, primary inattention deficit disorder is the most common form, with approximately 45% of adults meeting diagnostic criteria for this category.
Symptoms of people with ADHD may include an inability to start and complete tasks, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, and persistent tardiness.
Diagnostic challenges of ADHD
The process of diagnosing ADHD is often complex. A medical professional needs to conduct a comprehensive structured interview to collect the patient's symptoms and their childhood history to determine the appropriateness of an ADHD diagnosis. Additional information is also obtained from close relatives and friends of the patient to provide a clearer picture of the patient's condition.
The fact that many adults are not diagnosed with ADHD may be related to a variety of factors, including insufficient knowledge among health care providers and social stigma. Many doctors may ignore ADHD symptoms in adults for fear of misdiagnosis.
About 80% of adults with ADHD have other mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, making diagnosis more difficult.
The impact of ADHD on adult life
ADHD poses significant challenges to adult life. Many adults experience difficulty at work, completing tasks on time, communicating effectively with colleagues, and often struggle even when making simple plans. These problems not only affect their professional performance but also their social life and mental health.
Difficulties in emotional regulation
Emotion regulation is a key aspect of ADHD, with many adults reporting problems such as low frustration tolerance, irritability, and negative emotional outbursts. Difficulties in emotion regulation appear to be more persistent in all age groups and particularly affect daily life in adults.
Although affective regulation is not listed as a core symptom in DSM-5, it is considered one of the important manifestations of ADHD patients.
Effective coping strategies
Effective management of ADHD often requires a combination of strategies. This may include psychoeducation, behavioral interventions (such as cognitive behavioral therapy), and medication. For adults, the use of psychostimulants, such as amphetamines, is considered the most effective form of treatment.
Summary
ADHD is not a condition that naturally resolves with age, but can be a lifelong challenge. Greater awareness and understanding of ADHD can help improve adults' quality of life and ensure they receive the necessary support. And how can society better understand this problem and provide support for adults in need?
