Rise in diagnoses is prompting more US adults to ask: ‘Do I have ADHD?'
During her daughter's evaluation, Burk thought, 'Wait a minute. This sounds familiar,' she recalled.
'I was able to piece together that this might be something I was experiencing,' said Burk, of Columbus, Ohio. She subsequently underwent her own testing and was diagnosed with ADHD — at age 42.
More adults are being diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Diagnoses have been rising for decades but seem to have accelerated in the last few years.
Read: Orange County Animal Services to host free microchipping and vaccination event for pet owners
A recent study suggested that more than 15 million U.S. adults — roughly 1 in 17 — have been diagnosed with ADHD. The condition always starts in childhood, but about half of adults with it are diagnosed when they are 18 or older.
Some doctors say the number of people coming in for evaluation is skyrocketing.
'Just in our clinic, requests for assessments have doubled in the last two years,' said Justin Barterian, a psychologist based at Ohio State University.
Here's a look at the phenomenon, and how to know if you might have the condition.
ADHD makes it hard for people to pay attention and control impulsive behaviors. It can be inherited, and is often treated with drugs, behavioral therapy, or both.
'It's like there's an engine in you and you feel like it's always running, and you can't turn it off except with medication,' said Judy Sandler, a 62-year-old Maine woman who was diagnosed in her 50s.
ADHD has been called the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorder in U.S. children, with more than 7 million kids diagnosed. Historically, it was thought to mainly affect boys (perhaps because boys with ADHD were seen as more disruptive in school) and to be something that kids grew out of.
But experts believe many people aren't diagnosed as kids and live with symptoms into adulthood.
Adults with the condition talk about having trouble focusing on tasks, juggling responsibilities, and planning and managing their time. Some talk about not putting things away, and straining personal relationships with their restlessness, mood swings and impulsiveness.
Burk said she was grouped with talented and gifted students in grade school but didn't complete college until her 30s because, 'when I was 19, I hitchhiked across the country on a whim' and ended up a single mother in her early 20s. She now works in marketing and media relations for Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Read: Triple fatal Palm Bay condo fire claims the lives of single family
Diagnoses have been climbing in both kids and adults, and the recent government report found adult ADHD was more common than earlier estimates.
'We haven't had (federal) adult ADHD data in a long time,' said one of the study's authors, Angelika Claussen of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There were indicators of the rise, she added. Increasing demand for ADHD medication led to widespread shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. A 2023 study showed the rise in prescriptions was particularly notable in adults — especially women.
ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions were increasing before the pandemic, due partly to a change in general diagnostic criteria in 2013 that broadened the definition of ADHD and reduced the number of symptoms a patient needed to have.
But case counts really seemed to jump in 2020, when schools were closed and many adults were forced to work from home.
'It's very difficult to focus when you are home and you have kids,' Claussen said. 'That may have exacerbated the symptoms for people who'd had mild ADHD but were able to cope' before the pandemic.
Read: Auschwitz was liberated 80 years ago. The spotlight is on survivors as their numbers dwindle
The last few years have seen growing cultural acceptance and curiosity about the condition, fueled by a proliferation of 'I have ADHD' social media videos and online medical start-up companies offering 5-minute diagnostic quizzes.
Indeed, the long-held belief that ADHD was underdiagnosed in adults has given way to recent debates about whether it's become overdiagnosed.
There's no blood test or brain scan for ADHD. Experts say it is diagnosed when symptoms are severe enough to cause ongoing problems in more than one area of life, and when those symptoms can be traced to pre-adolescent childhood.
Ideally, a psychologist or psychiatrist diagnoses it by taking careful histories from patients and from people who know them, experts say. They also might ask patients to take tests designed to check their memory and ability to concentrate. Doctors also must rule out anxiety, depression and other conditions that can have similar symptoms.
But getting an appointment with a mental health professional can take months, and intensive ADHD evaluations can cost thousands of dollars. Many patients turn to family doctors or even online diagnostic quizzes, some of them connected to telehealth companies that prescribe medications.
'There is wide variability in this country in how people diagnose, how strict they are, and who they diagnose,' said Margaret Sibley, a University of Washington psychologist.
The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders is drafting a first national set of diagnosis and treatment guidelines for health professionals who treat adults, and expects to release them later this year.
The goal is 'to improve the accuracy of diagnoses in this country,' said Sibley, who is leading the work on the guidelines.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
How to weigh the benefits and risks of disclosing a disability to your employer
Whether you decide to tell your employer about a disability or a long-term health condition is a personal decision. In an ideal world, disclosing this kind of information should be easy – and enable you to access support and accommodations, should you need them. But in reality, it often carries the risk of bias and discrimination. 'I have had long-term mental health issues, autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder),' says Claire Fisher, head of communications and engagement at Inclusion Barnet, an organisation for deaf and disabled people. 'When I tried to advocate for myself in a previous role, the board had no understanding or expertise in reasonable adjustments,' she explains. 'Instead, they reacted by focusing on why I had not previously disclosed my disability. In fact, I had done so but they had failed to document it or provide any follow up support. At the time I'd not understood myself what should have happened.' Read more: How to stay motivated during a long job hunt Legally, nobody has to tell their employer they're disabled, have a health condition or that they are neurodivergent. But if you have an informed and supportive employer, telling them can give them the opportunity to provide support. For many, though, deciding whether to tell an employer about a disability or condition involves weighing up the benefits and risks. So what should you take into consideration before deciding what is best for you – and how can you approach the conversation? Consider your employer's attitude First, do your research on the organisation. 'What do existing employees say, how do they talk about health, disability, long-term conditions?' says Fisher. Have a look on the company's website and social media accounts to see if there is any mention of inclusivity. You could also look at reviews left by current or former employees on sites like Glassdoor, which can provide an insight into an organisation's culture. Think about your needs It can help to consider your wants, needs or requirements before disclosing personal information about yourself. For example, if workplace adjustments like working from home or an adapted desk are non-negotiables, telling your employer may be the right move. Equally, it may be important to you to be able to speak openly about yourself – which is a valid reason. Consider the pros and cons Some positives of disclosure include legal protections from discrimination, the chance to discuss health-related needs, support from management and access to accommodations. 'Often, a few simple adjustments can make a world of difference to both the employee and the employer – everyone wins,' says Fisher. However, it's common for a disability disclosure to lead to negative attitudes – both intentional and unintentional. Studies show that telling an employer can lead to accusations of 'faking' it, as well as stigmatisation and bullying. According to a 2025 survey by the TUC, half of disabled workers reported being bullied or harassed in the past year, with experiences ranging from exclusion from activities to verbal and physical threats. 'Employers may make assumptions about what you can and cannot do based on misinformed knowledge of your condition or impairment,' adds Fisher. 'Awareness of others mistakenly feeling like they need to tread on egg shells around you or protect you from certain duties can be patronising.' Know your legal rights It's essential to know your legal rights so that you can spot discrimination in the first place and decide if and how you want to address it. 'If an employee does not disclose a disability to their employer, it cannot generally be held that they discriminated against the employee because of it,' says Kate Palmer, employment services director at Peninsula. 'If they were to bring a claim of disability discrimination, it would fail.' Read more: How to give your job applications a 'human touch' in the AI era However, Palmer explains that if an employer could reasonably have known about a disability – for example, seeing an employee use a walking aid – they have 'constructive knowledge' and can be liable for any unfair treatment. 'Employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for employees with a disability,' says Palmer. 'Where this does not happen, the employee is entitled to make a claim to an employment tribunal. It's important, therefore, for employers to discuss with their employees any adjustments that may help and, where these are reasonable, to make them.' Choose the right time Disclosing may help you access accommodations, but choosing the right time is important. Whether you talk about your condition in a job interview is your choice, but it can lead to discrimination. 'Employers should not ask job applicants any questions about their health or medical history until after a job offer has been made and accepted, except in specific circumstances permitted by the law,' says Palmer. If a candidate discloses a medical condition after accepting a job offer, employers must ensure they make reasonable adjustments to remove any barriers to work caused by a disability. Focus on your skills If or when you do disclose, focus on your skills, experience and expertise – and how these align with the company's goals and values. 'Be clear about what reasonable adjustments you need, if you know,' says Fisher. 'It would be impossible for any employer, even if they had other staff with the same condition or impairment as you, to know exactly what you need to succeed in the role. You might not fully know yet yourself. If you can go in with possible solutions and an open mind to work together with your employer you can usually work something out.' Read more: What to expect from a maternity discrimination employment tribunal Deciding whether to disclose a disability at work is rarely simple. It's a balance between protecting your privacy and ensuring you have the support you need to thrive. By weighing the culture of your workplace, understanding your legal rights and thinking about your personal needs, you can make a choice that feels right for you. Ultimately, the responsibility for creating inclusive workplaces lies with employers – but until that's the norm, only you know what the right decision is. Read more: How to speak to your boss about miscarriage How to stay motivated during a long job hunt Does mental health first aid work?Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
These parents don't only fear the death of their child. They fear dying first.
Karen and Jeff Groff have read the same children's books to their son Danny for nearly four decades. At 6 feet, 1 inch tall, 39-year-old Danny Groff enjoys sitting in between his parents on their couch in Upper Arlington, Ohio holding a stuffed Bert Muppet toy. He leans in toward his mother as she reads "Curious George Rides a Bike," and breaks into a smile when she whispers, "George got curious." Danny Groff has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare and severe type of epilepsy that typically develops in early childhood. About 50,000 people in the U.S. and 1 million people worldwide have the condition, according to the LGS Foundation. Every time a seizure happens, brain damage occurs that can lead to learning difficulties and other lifelong disabilities. Danny Groff has seizures daily, and Karen Groff said he has the developmental abilities of a 2-year-old. He also has Type 1 diabetes, which means he can only stay part time at his adult day program. The staff there can't distribute the insulin he needs to live. He spends mornings at the program with his peers, and the rest of his time at home with his parents. More: Revealing data shows number of caregivers in the US has skyrocketed Danny Groff has grown accustomed to his routine: morning coffee, daily injections and medications, story time, afternoon outings, "Wheel of Fortune" in the evenings and Friday 'happy hours' with his extended family. He adores his 10-month-old niece, Cecelia, and his Buckeye-themed bedroom, where the Ohio State University logo adorns everything from his bedding to his lamp to his wall art. The Groffs know it can't always be this way, but their son can't talk about his future. Now, both 66 and retired educators, they are planning for two outcomes, which Karen Groff said are equally scary. 'Our worst nightmare is that we lose him first,' she said. 'And our worst nightmare is that we go first.' When parents and caregivers die or otherwise can no longer provide care to their loved one − whether they be a person with a disability or someone else who needs care − that responsibility inevitably gets passed down to another friend or family member. Even if the person being cared for moves to a facility with caregiving staff, someone still needs to help with that move and keep tabs on the person's care and finances. Caregiving is becoming increasingly common in the U.S., where a new study from AARP found nearly 1 in 4 adults are caregivers. The Groffs are in the midst of prearranging three funerals: their own and Danny's. 'It's a little overwhelming," Karen Groff said. "I can't die.' 'It's OK to ask for help' Parents of adult children with rare diseases often struggle with the ongoing care their kids need. Research into rare conditions is often limited, leaving many parents like the Groffs uncertain on how to plan for the future. More: Nearly half of parents with disabled kids report suicidal thoughts, but can't find help The National Organization for Rare Disorders' help line in 2024 responded to nearly 135,000 requests for assistance. Jill Polander, vice president of patient services, said at least 125 of those calls, annually, are from parents and guardians seeking guidance on how to plan for their kids' futures. Some families opt for residential facilities. Others cobble together a team of family, friends and paid caregivers that can provide 24/7 in-home care. Both options can be costly − for example, a 2020 report from the National Disability Institute, in partnership with several universities, estimated that a household with an adult with a disability requires, on average, an additional $17,690 a year. The Groffs said they are still figuring it out. A 2018 University of Illinois study, which surveyed more than 380 parents of children and adults with disabilities, found fewer than half of those parents made long-term plans about who will take over their child's care. Several hadn't made plans at all, citing financial constraints and lack of resources, and more than 7% of parents in the survey said the topic was too "emotionally loaded" or stressful to talk about. "It's normal to have these concerns," Polander said. "It's OK to ask for help." Finding the right help Equally anxiety-inducing for the Groffs is the level of responsibility they feel they'll have to leave to their daughter, who has a family of her own. 'We hate to put that burden on them," Karen Groff said. But Jessica Hartman, 36, said she doesn't see her brother as a burden. As a special education preschool teacher, she said, "everything Danny taught me I now use in my career." Hartman's husband agreed early on – they'd be ready to take care of Danny. More: Your kids are all grown up. But what does being an 'empty nester' mean in 2025? It can be hard for some parents and guardians to explain how difficult their care duties are, and to find caregiving help from those who understand the level of care that's needed. The Groffs rarely sleep through the night and are tasked with everything from first aid to clean-up after a seizure. An in-home nurse helped for 25 years, but recently retired. Kena Pearson, CFO for the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, has a daughter, Ashley, with Angelman Syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder. Safety is a big concern, she said. Her daughter is 20 years old and 120 pounds. If she falls, she needs someone to catch her. 'There's no hitting up for us and having a date night," Pearson said. Hartman grew up with Danny Groff and understands what his care entails. The Groffs plan to add Hartman as her brother's guardian. Still, her parents would rather spare her the responsibility of his daily needs by having a nursing staff lined up to care for him in their home, if and when they die before him. Hartman and other family members would still have to help manage those caregivers and his finances to make sure everything runs smoothly. Danny Groff gets a little more than $600 each month through Supplemental Security Income, Karen Groff said. But that's not enough for him to live on. And to keep government benefits, people with disabilities need to keep their assets under $2,000. For now, Hartman is set up to inherit everything her parents own with the understanding that the money is for her brother's care. 'We're trying to be extremely frugal in retirement so that that is untouched," Karen Groff said. Building a road map for other families battling rare diseases There is an emotional toll to caring for a child with a rare disease and planning for their future, Polander said, but many caregivers don't want to talk to their family and friends about it because they don't want "their entire world to revolve around caregiving, illness, sickness." 'Parents have so much shame and fear around this topic. It's such a taboo, even in the disability world,' said Rosellen Reif, a mental health counselor in North Carolina who works with patients with disabilities and their families. Thanks to medical advancements, people with disabilities are living longer, Reif said. Before the turn of the century, many parents of children with disabilities were certain they would outlive their children. For some, that grief came with relief since those parents could see through their child's end-of-life care. Parents who need to make long-term care decisions that extend their own lives are in a "more ambiguous place," Reif said. Reif said she often rehearses conversations about long-term care with her patients, or helps them write letters to friends and family members. It's most important, Reif said, for the main caregivers (often parents) to be aligned on those decisions before involving others. Reif also encourages families of people with high care needs to make some transitions early, so that parents can be involved in the early stages of those next steps, and to not overwhelm their kids. 'We don't want them to lose their parents and in the same week have to move into somewhere new," Reif said. "That's a lot of really difficult transition and loss all at once.' When her son was first diagnosed, "it was literally terrifying," Karen Groff said. She longed for a community that would understand her situation, and after years, found a Facebook group that helped. 'You can go on there any time of the day or night, ask a question, and someone will be up at night and get back to you," she said. "And you need that sense that you are not alone.' The National Organization for Rare Disorders offers support groups and patient advocacy groups for families, too, so that caregivers can "talk to somebody who gets it," Polander said. As part of the organization's help line, call takers also connect families with resources that can help with an array of issues that come up while arranging care. Community is key, Karen Groff said. That's why, as board president of the Lennox-Gasaut Syndrome Foundation, she partnered with other patient advocacy groups and UCB, a global pharmaceutical company, to create a guide for families of adults battling rare epilepsy. The "C.A.R.E. Binder" is a workbook that helps families organize care and has suggestions on how to talk with loved ones about next steps. It also offers legal and financial guidance. Keeping "Uncle Danny" safe and happy The Groffs are still looking for a new in-home nurse to help them in their day-to-day routine. They said they expect that search to take at least another six months because of the nursing shortage, which is exacerbated for specialized care for someone with seizures. "We're not having luck with that so far," Karen Groff said. Pearson has had trouble finding care for her daughter, too, and said she supplements her daughter's caregivers nearly double what the state pays them. "Some people don't have that luxury," she said, but "the quality of care that you can find for $11.71 an hour is real low." Pearson is also looking for an in-home care solution, in case she dies before her daughter. The Groffs said they just want their son to be safe and happy. And he's happiest when he's around the people he loves, being "Uncle Danny" to Hartman's baby and laughing with his aunts and uncles at family gatherings. "It's all about quality of life at this point," Karen Groff said. This story is part of USA TODAY's The Cost of Care series highlighting caregivers from across the country. Previous feature for The Cost of Care: His sick wife asked him to kill her. Now that she's gone, he says the loneliness is worse. Previous feature for The Cost of Care: Her mom got sick, she moved in to help. Years later, they both feel trapped. Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach Madeline at memitchell@ and @maddiemitch_ on X.
Medscape
3 days ago
- Medscape
Australian GPs Gain Expanded Role in Treating ADHD
Australia is loosening regulations so that general practitioners (GPs) can meet the growing demand for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) care. But some specialists are advising caution. Earlier this year, the Western Australian government committed $1.3 million to training 65 GPs in ADHD management via a 13-hour online training module and a 6-month period of psychiatrist mentoring and peer learning. Sean Stevens, MD 'I'm seeing it every day in my practice, with patients struggling to get a timely diagnosis and treatment for ADHD,' Sean Stevens, MD, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) ADHD Working Group in Western Australia, told Medscape Medical News . 'GPs are able to do this,' he said. 'It's a matter of ensuring that the training is appropriate, that GPs know where the thorny problems lie, where it's appropriate to refer [to a specialist].' New South Wales, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, and Tasmania are taking steps towards relaxing restrictions around ADHD management, while Queensland has permitted GPs to prescribe stimulants for children with ADHD since 2017. Victoria remains a holdout despite intensive lobbying from GPs, as does the Northern Territory. Tim Jones, MD 'We've seen commitment from all sides of politics down here in Tasmania to reform the ADHD space,' Tim Jones, MD, chair of the RACGP Child and Young Person's Health special interest group, told Medscape Medical News . 'The details are still thin,' he said. 'But we're certainly excited to see what this could mean for communities in need where access has become such a challenge.' Tasmania has no public services for adult patients with ADHD, and public pediatric services for children with ADHD have a 2-3 year wait time, said Jones. 'If you can think about that missed opportunity for early intervention to support children, that's pretty dire,' he said. Most Australian states do not allow ADHD to be diagnosed or treated in the public health system, meaning that families must pay to see private specialists, usually psychiatrists or pediatricians. In 2023, a Senate inquiry found that ADHD services were inaccessible because of lengthy wait times and high costs. New clinics opened to meet the demand, sometimes charging as much as $3000 for an ADHD diagnosis. Christopher Ouizeman 'Tens of thousands of people have called our help line, desperate for diagnosis and treatment options, and I know that most of the psychiatrists out there have got at least an 18-month waiting list,' Christopher Ouizeman, director of the ADHD Foundation, a not-for-profit patient advocacy group, told Medscape Medical News. ADHD treatment should be available within the public health system and within primary care, said Ouizeman. However, 'GPs can't provide patients with two hours' worth of care and only get paid for 15 minutes,' he said. 'That's just unfair and untenable.' Specialists Voice Concerns ADHD policy changes are underway in many states, but some specialists are nervous about the potential impacts and want greater involvement in the enactment of these changes. Roger Paterson, MD Some psychiatrists were concerned by the decision to expand the role of GPs in ADHD with what they considered insufficient consultation with specialists, Roger Paterson, MD, a psychiatrist based in Western Australia, a committee member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) ADHD Network, and a director of ADHD Western Australia, told Medscape Medical News . 'Psychiatrists should be central to the whole ADHD process,' he said. GPs have less experience in mental health than psychiatrists, who train for a minimum of 5 years, and allowing GPs to diagnose ADHD independently 'adds a degree of uncertainty to the whole process,' said Paterson. 'A select number of GPs with an interest in ADHD, and with adequate training through the RACGP, may well be helpful in areas of high unmet need,' he said. Some specialists are worried that ADHD stimulant prescribing regulations could become lax, such as the case with medicinal cannabis, where a small number of GPs are now being investigated for issuing more than 10,000 prescriptions, said Paterson. The reforms might not be necessary, some argue, since close to half of the psychiatrist workforce in Australia now has a special interest in ADHD. 'The RANZCP ADHD Network has over 2000 members,' said Paterson. Prescribing rates are also 'getting closer and closer' to the actual prevalence rates of ADHD, he added. An estimated 8.2% of children under age 12 years and 2.5% of adults have ADHD in Australia. Up to 7% of children and 2.3% of adults are now being prescribed an ADHD medication. Astha Tomar, MD 'We're all for innovations in this space, but you just want to be careful,' Astha Tomar, MD, president of RANZCP told Medscape Medical News . 'You would think for something so big … the government would bring the stakeholders together,' she said. 'It needs a whole-of-system approach, and not just a rule change here and there.' Psychiatrists usually spend around 45 minutes assessing whether symptoms are caused by ADHD or other conditions — such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, or a neurodevelopmental disorder — and up to 12 months adjusting treatments for each patient. 'ADHD assessment is not a 5-10-minute job,' said Tomar. Stimulants, which make up the majority of ADHD prescriptions, remain tightly controlled. Schedule 8 medicines misuse entails risks for psychosis, fatal overdose, and diversion. 'We have to make sure everybody stays safe,' said Tomar. Niroshini Kennedy, MD GPs can contribute meaningfully to care in ADHD, but 'changes to clinical pathways must be carefully designed in partnership with specialists,' Niroshini Kennedy, MD, the president of the pediatrics and child health division of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, told Medscape Medical News . 'Without important training, there are risks,' she said. 'Without a comprehensive and nuanced assessment, there is a risk of misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and harm to a child's development.' Queensland's Experience Some GPs in Queensland have started to set up clinics to manage children with ADHD, but they continue to 'talk things through' and get supervision from pediatricians, Tim Warnock, MD, a pediatrician in Cairns and past president of the Australian Paediatric Society, told Medscape Medical News . Tim Warnock, MD Warnock came out of retirement in 2023 because of workforce shortages. 'I couldn't transition dozens of patients to another pediatrician in Cairns,' because they were 'absolutely swamped,' he said. Given these bottlenecks, it's useful for GPs to 'try to get things done while they're waiting for a pediatric appointment' and then arrange for a review by a specialist at a later stage, said Warnock. 'GPs are aware of their own limitations,' he said. 'If GPs show the commitment and give the time to doing the assessments appropriately, they will probably run a good practice.' Stevens, Jones, Ouizeman, Paterson,Tomar, and Kennedyreported having no relevant financial relationships. Warnockreceived support for attending conferences and giving talks from Shire, a pharmaceutical company and ADHD drug manufacturer now owned by Takeda.
