A hyperactive child, moody teenager, and exhausted adult. According to UAE experts, it can all be the same condition.
When asked to think of ADHD, people will often think of a hyperactive little boy. In reality, it is a complex condition that many families won’t know about. Experts spoke to Gulf News and said that many people suffer from ADHD and don’t get the answers they need because the symptoms can change as they grow older.
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What is ADHD?
This is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects your ability to concentrate, control impulses, and organize/manage tasks. This is not related to a behavioral issue or lack of discipline, stated Carolyn Yaffe, counselor at Medcare Camali Clinic.
Childhood
Many symptoms will show between the ages of 3 and 6. They may struggle to concentrate, talk non-stop, and be hyperactive and impulsive. These symptoms tend to become apparent when they start school, as they have to sit still and complete tasks within a timeframe. However, not all children will have these symptoms. Some may be quieter, easily distracted, or appear daydreaming (Zobia Amin, Clinical Psychologist, RAK Hospital). Girls who aren’t hyperactive are most likely to be missed. This is the first stage of ADHD symptoms changing and can be missed.
Teenage Years
More subjects, deadlines, and independent study can cause symptoms to change. Children may lose their hyperactivity but instead struggle with organization, putting tasks off, and having extreme emotions. Parents and teachers will often blame them for being lazy, too much screen time or just being a teenager. However, sometimes it can be due to ADHD symptoms changing.
Adult Years
Adults rarely mention they struggle to sit still. Instead, they often feel overwhelmed. They may miss payments, be late for appointments, and struggle to balance work and home life. They will often make impulsive decisions. Missing things and forgetting can easily be blamed on stress, anxiety, depression, or poor sleeping. Many adults develop strategies to cope with the issue. This is where ADHD symptoms changing can often cause confusion.
Do Not Diagnose Yourself
Just because your child is hyperactive, your child is quiet or your adult misses deadlines does not mean they have ADHD. Professionals assess if they are struggling with concentration, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, or organization on a regular basis. ADHD doesn’t just happen in adults, so if they didn’t have any symptoms as a child, there could be another issue (Amin). Whilst knowing about ADHD symptoms changing is helpful, the only real answer is to be properly assessed.
Getting Support
There can be many barriers to getting support. This can include costs, inconsistent insurance coverage, stigma, and misunderstanding. Support can include therapy, support from family, medication where necessary, changes to school/work, and strategies to learn. ADHD is not a sign of low intelligence, lack of discipline, or failure (Vinusha Kandaswamy, Clinical Psychologist, Prime Hospital). She would like to see more culturally sensitive assessments, affordable services, and better collaboration between doctors, schools, and families. The sooner people understand about ADHD symptoms, the sooner they may ask for support.
Conclusion
ADHD has a strong genetic link and has nothing to do with bad parenting or lack of effort. If any of this sounds familiar to you or your child, please speak to a qualified professional. This is general information only and is not medical advice. Next time someone mentions ADHD symptoms changing, now you know it isn’t just a childhood issue.
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