Has ADHD become a fad? Here’s what you need to know and what to do

First of all, you do not develop ADHD as an adult. The roots of the disorder lie in childhood, even when nobody noticed them. What changes over time is the developmental trajectory – that is, the way in which a person’s characteristics interact with the demands of their environment.

For a long time, ADHD was regarded as a problem affecting children, particularly lively boys. A distracted but calm little girl, a bright young man who made up for it with hard work, a family able to provide a supportive framework: in such cases, the difficulties may remain below the radar for years and only emerge when demands increase – with university, work and family life. A diagnosis at the age of 35 does not mean that the condition first appeared at the age of 35.

Not exactly. As children grow up, the most obvious hyperactivity often subsides or turns into an inner restlessness, a struggle to ‘sit still mentally’. What more often remains are difficulties with attention, organisation and time management. This is why ADHD is less easily recognised in adults: it’s not very visible, but it has a significant impact on daily life.

It is estimated that around 2.6 per cent of adults worldwide have ADHD that has been present since childhood. The rise in diagnoses does not, in itself, prove that the disorder has become more common: it may simply mean that it is better recognised today and, in some cases, that it is diagnosed too readily.

There is a risk. Social media has had one merit: it has helped many people to put a name to their difficulties and ask for help. But a video lasting just a few seconds can easily turn a complex clinical condition into a list of behaviours that anyone might recognise in themselves. After analysing the 100 most popular videos on TikTok about ADHD, some researchers found that more than half of the content was misleading.

Recognising yourself in a video may raise a legitimate question, but it is not the same as a diagnosis.

First and foremost, listen to them. Dismissing their concerns as ‘things they’ve seen on the internet’ risks shutting down an important conversation, whilst agreeing with them straight away means jumping to conclusions too quickly. It’s better to ask them what led them to think that, what difficulties they’re facing, and how long this has been going on.

The first point of contact is the paediatrician or GP, who can refer you to the child and adolescent neuropsychiatry services.

As highlighted by Laura Reali, a paediatrician, Past President of the European Confederation of Paediatricians in Primary Care (ECPCP), who has always been at the forefront at national and international level in promoting children’s health, the protection of breastfeeding and environmental sustainability, and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Irene ETS Foundation, which promotes the ADHD awareness campaign ‘Immagina Sé’, sponsored by the Lazio Region: ‘ADHD is a real condition, not a fad. Medication, when indicated, is essential as part of a treatment plan that includes behavioural interventions and involves the family and school: treating a child means helping them to learn, build relationships and develop confidence in their own abilities. ADHD can persist into adulthood: it is necessary to prepare for the transition to adult services and ensure continuity of care. Social media can help in recognising a difficulty and seeking help, provided it leads to a professional assessment and appropriate treatment.”

No. There is no single test, questionnaire or examination that can determine this on its own. Diagnosis requires a clinical assessment by experienced professionals, who piece together the person’s history from childhood onwards, gather information from the family and school, and check that the difficulties are not better explained by other factors, such as anxiety, depression or sleep disorders. Being wary of anyone who promises a diagnosis in a matter of minutes is already a good first step.

The risk is there, but often the opposite happens. People with ADHD who are unaware of it grow up feeling that they are lazy, ‘someone who doesn’t try hard enough’.

Recognising ADHD, where it is present, helps to make sense of the difficulties without turning them into a judgement on the person’s worth or the family’s capabilities. It does not mean abandoning rules and goals, but understanding that different strategies and forms of support may be needed to achieve them.

It’s a very common experience. Many parents feel inadequate when what works for other children doesn’t work for their own. Notes from school and comments from relatives (‘he’s just spoilt’, ‘he needs a firmer hand’) can fuel feelings of guilt, exhaustion and isolation.

ADHD is not the result of poor parenting. Rather than looking for someone to blame, it is better to ask ourselves how our child functions, which demands cause them difficulty and what tools might help them. It is perfectly acceptable for parents to seek help too: talking about it with the paediatrician, other parents or specialist organisations can lighten a burden that is often borne alone.

Doctor, so how should we go about discussing this?

ADHD is a genuine condition that has been described for over two centuries. What has changed is its visibility, and this presents an opportunity if it leads to accurate information and appropriate diagnoses. It becomes a problem when every distraction is turned into a label, or when fear of the ‘trend’ leads to the downplaying of real difficulties.

The starting point remains the same: taking questions seriously and seeking answers together with qualified professionals – not in a thirty-second video.

Read the full article on the dottoremaeveroche website, run by Fnomceo