In a world filled with oversaturation and distractions, it’s easy to forget that a portion of the population struggles with daily tasks that many find to be automatic. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not a new disorder by any stretch of the imagination, despite how long it takes some individuals to receive a diagnosis (if they ever do).
The mention of a disorder that doctors and historians can only agree is the earliest study into ADHD is credited to a Scottish doctor by the name of Sir Alexander Crichton in 1798. He described it in the simplest terms we know today as just the surface of the symptoms people with ADHD experience:
The incapacity of attending with a necessary degree of constancy to any one object, almost always arises from an unnatural or morbid sensibility of the nerves, by which means this faculty is incessantly withdrawn from one impression to another. It may be either born with a person, or it may be the effect of accidental diseases. When born with a person it becomes evident at a very early period of life, and has a very bad effect, inasmuch as it renders him incapable of attending with constancy to any one object of education. But it seldom is in so great a degree as totally to impede all instruction; and what is very fortunate, it is generally diminished with age. (Crichton, 1798, reprint p. 203)
We know now that in modern society, symptoms still very much do continue into adulthood, most often evolving as access to support wavers and varies from person to person. In modern times compared to the early days of psychiatry, it is much easier to accumulate what symptoms mean what, especially in children, but that isn’t a guarantee.
Adults with ADHD have their own, unique set of symptoms that impact the most important aspects of their lives, including relationships, physical health, and work. To understand how someone is affected by a disorder of the brain, it’s important to be aware of the deeper symptoms as well as the easier-to-catch indicators.
While ADHD is a unique disorder of its own, there are three types to be aware of, as they present differently:
Inattentive type
Hyperactive or impulsive type
Combined type
Depending on the type a person experiences, it can greatly affect their ability to succeed in the modern world. While symptoms can vary from person to person, there are a significant number of them to be considerate of when discussing ADHD, especially in the workplace.
Hyperactivity – This symptom is probably the most recognized by the layman and may be physical or verbal. For example, bouncing, tapping, fast walking, and other physical representations. Verbal hyperactivity is seen in talking fast, verbal tics such as humming, whistling, and seemingly arbitrary sounds
Impulsivity – This can be seen as recklessness in many different settings such as poor money management, e.g. lack of savings, immediate gratification buying, etc.
Emotional dysregulation – Wikipedia defines emotional dysregulation as the difficulty in managing emotions, resulting in an intense and prolonged reaction to emotional stimuli, often seen as outside of the “normal”, societal range of responses
Trouble completing tasks and frequent procrastination – Probably the most popular symptom to quote, trouble multitasking and executive dysfunction (the ability to initiate tasks, poor working memory, time blindness (not recognizing how long a task will take, e.g. getting ready for work, preparing for deadlines, etc.), disorganization, short attention span, especially for non-preferred tasks
Throughout history, including common-day psychiatry, ADHD has been seen as a lack of discipline, a failure on the part of parents and educators, or simply a depiction of “the bad seed”. It is none of those things by any scientific study. It is not a disorder of randomness or “bad luck”, but primarily genetic in its likelihood. ADHD is 70% to 80% heritable and therefore, is considered a genetic disorder, though the likelihood of diagnosis becomes less and less (as little as one generation) the farther back into history one goes.
Based on the diagnosis statistics, two-thirds of children with ADHD become adults with ADHD. A recent study found that ADHD in these adults presents in two subtypes: attentional and emotional (Reimherr, Frederick, et al. “Types of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Replication Analysis.”). These types are similar to inattentive and hyperactive, respectively, as we naturally develop the ability to hold still and contain emotional expression, despite the discomfort that follows.
Too often, these discomforts and struggles are overlooked or invalidated as childish or selfish, when in reality, they are unavoidable realities for individuals with ADHD. The portrayal in the media of this disorder does no favors to those genuinely struggling with more than just the common, ill-humored “Shiny objects!” joking. These jokes only serve to undermine the disorder itself and invalidate those who experience it for what is more often than not, lifelong and sometimes overwhelming. This unfair media portrayal serves to further discredit the experience of ADHD from childhood through adulthood.
A lack of emotional support, disregarding symptoms as poor behavior, and a failure to implement Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) accumulate to failing to reach milestones, falling behind in schoolwork, and eventually struggling to hold jobs for significant periods as adults. Success in school and work is directly correlated to feelings of failure and, as a result, low self-esteem.
“When ADHD is not diagnosed—when it’s not treated effectively—over time, chronic stress and frustration lead to anxiety,” Jaksa said. “This has a very negative impact on self-esteem. It’s very common to see adults with ADHD grow up with a strong sense of underachievement.” Peter Jaksa, PhD, psychologist specializing in the treatment of ADHD. The longer ADHD is undiagnosed and untreated, the less likely these adults will learn the coping tools necessary to come close to reaching the goals and expectations of society as a whole, both socially and professionally.
The least we can do for our children who exhibit symptoms of potential ADHD is take them seriously and seek the support they can’t seek themselves. To understand oneself is to know how to advocate for oneself. Wild or extreme behavior in a child might dissipate as they grow, but it might not, and it very well may lead to a lifetime defined by feelings of failure, low self-esteem, the difficulty or inability altogether to reach goals, and ultimately falling short of all the things they were told they had so much potential for.
To learn and understand more about how ADHD impacts adults in the workplace, from consistent tardiness to long histories of terminations, please read the second part of the series here. The more we seek to understand and empathize, the happier and more successful our peers and children will be.
As a lifelong writer of creative stories and novellas, Vance graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Communication. She is deeply invested in the art of connecting others through writing and words and shining a light on otherwise shrouded communities such as LGBTQ+, neurodivergent groups, and survivors of domestic abuse. Located in Talkeetna, AK with her five cats and Australian Shepherd, Corvo, she works towards a career in writing and editing as well as a Master’s in Communication.
Well written! As an adult with ADHD who was not diagnosed until my early 30’s, I appreciate the idea that identification and support for children is incredibly important.