ADHD Awareness Month: Seeing the Whole Person
October is ADHD Awareness Month, and I wanted to take this time to share what the research tells us about ADHD and why awareness matters so much. Through my work with children, teens, families and adults in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, I have seen how much changes when someone has language for their experience. Awareness is often the first step toward understanding, support and the right care.
What Is ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has historically been seen as a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, activity level and impulse control. Dr. Russell Barkley, one of the most well-known ADHD researchers, has described ADHD as a disorder of self-regulation. Self-regulation is the ability to manage your own behavior through self-observation, self-assessment and self-reward, and it is something people with ADHD often struggle with (Barkley, 2010).
How Common Is ADHD?
A large international consensus statement, endorsed by researchers from 27 countries, found that ADHD occurs in about 5.9% of youth and 2.5% of adults (Faraone et al., 2021). The same review found that most cases come from a combination of many genetic and environmental factors, and that there are small but real differences in the brain between people with and without ADHD.
Does ADHD Go Away in Adulthood?
ADHD does not simply disappear after childhood. A global meta-analysis estimated that about 2.58% of adults have ADHD that began in childhood and continued into adulthood, while about 6.76% of adults experience clinically significant ADHD symptoms. That translates to roughly 140 million to 366 million adults worldwide (Song et al., 2021).
Why ADHD Is Often Missed in Girls and Women
When many people picture ADHD, they picture a young boy who cannot sit still in class. That picture leaves a lot of people out. Research suggests that the gap between the number of boys and girls diagnosed with ADHD is due, at least in part, to girls and women going unrecognized or not being referred for evaluation (Young et al., 2020). Girls and women are more likely to present with inattention, which is quieter and less disruptive in a classroom than hyperactivity.
The same expert consensus found that some girls and women become skilled at camouflaging their struggles with compensatory strategies, something often called masking [LINK: masking or late-diagnosis blog post]. From the outside, everything may look fine. On the inside, it can take an enormous amount of energy to keep up, and that effort can lead to stress, anxiety and burnout (Young et al., 2020). I see this often in my work, and I believe it is one of the most important messages of ADHD Awareness Month. A person can be successful and organized in public and still be struggling significantly.
The Impact of ADHD Stigma
One of the reasons awareness is so important is stigma. A review of the research found that children and adults with ADHD are at high risk of facing stigma, prejudice and discrimination, and that this extends to their families as well (Mueller et al., 2012). The review also found that stigma is fueled in part by public doubt about whether an ADHD diagnosis and its assessment are reliable. The international consensus statement adds that misconceptions about ADHD stigmatize those affected and can prevent or delay treatment (Faraone et al., 2021).
Why a Comprehensive ADHD Assessment Matters
This is why I believe so strongly in comprehensive assessment and in taking the time to get to know each person. ADHD can look different from one person to the next, and it often occurs alongside anxiety, depression or other concerns. A thorough evaluation, done by a team that listens, helps make sure people receive an accurate picture of what is going on and a plan that fits their life.
What Helps? Evidence-Based ADHD Treatment and Support
The encouraging news is that ADHD is relatively treatable, and there are several evidence-based options. When I say treatable, I mean it is possible to learn to work with your symptoms and your brain. There is no cure for ADHD, but that doesn't mean support isn't possible. Support is most effective when it is tailored to the individual.
Medication
A large network meta-analysis comparing ADHD medications found that methylphenidate was the preferred first choice for children and adolescents, and amphetamines for adults, when both effectiveness and tolerability were considered (Cortese et al., 2018). Decisions about medication are best made with a prescriber who completes a thorough evaluation.
Therapy, Including CBT for ADHD
A meta-analysis of 28 studies found that cognitive behavioral therapy [LINK: Services page] (CBT) reduced both core ADHD symptoms and emotional symptoms such as depression and anxiety in adults. Participants also showed improvements in self-esteem and quality of life, whether therapy was delivered individually or in a group (Liu et al., 2023).
Body Doubling
Body doubling means working on a task in the presence of another person, whether in the same room or virtually. In a survey of 193 neurodivergent individuals, participants overwhelmingly reported using body doubling to help start, stay motivated during and complete tasks (Eagle et al., 2024). Research on body doubling is still early, but I have found it to be a helpful, low-pressure tool for many of the people I work with who struggle with motivation and procrastination.
Moving Forward Together This ADHD Awareness Month
This October, I invite you to take a moment to learn, reflect and check in with yourself or the people you care about. If something in this post sounded familiar, you are not alone, and a comprehensive evaluation can be a meaningful first step. Understanding how your brain works can open the door to strategies and support that truly fit your life.
If you are in New Jersey or Pennsylvania and looking for ADHD-affirming support for yourself or your child, you can learn more about working with me. You can also join my email list for ADHD tools, workshops and resources throughout the month.
As always, if you have any questions or thoughts, please feel free to reach out to me [LINK: Contact page]. I would love to hear what ADHD Awareness Month means to you, and your feedback helps me reach as many people as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About ADHD
When is ADHD Awareness Month?
ADHD Awareness Month takes place every October. It is a time to share accurate information about ADHD, reduce stigma and help people recognize when an evaluation or support might help.
How common is ADHD in adults?
A global meta-analysis estimated that about 2.58% of adults have ADHD that continued from childhood, and about 6.76% of adults experience clinically significant ADHD symptoms (Song et al., 2021).
Why is ADHD often missed in girls and women?
Girls and women are more likely to present with inattention, which is quieter and less disruptive than hyperactivity. Many also learn to camouflage, or mask, their struggles, so everything can look fine from the outside (Young et al., 2020).
Can ADHD be cured?
There is no cure for ADHD, but it is treatable. With support that fits the person, such as therapy, medication when appropriate and practical tools, people can learn to work with their brains.
What is body doubling for ADHD?
Body doubling means working on a task alongside another person, in the same room or virtually. Many neurodivergent people report that it helps them start, stay motivated during and finish tasks (Eagle et al., 2024).
References
Barkley, R. A. (2010). Deficient emotional self-regulation: A core component of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of ADHD and Related Disorders, 1(1), 5–37.
Cortese, S., Adamo, N., Del Giovane, C., et al. (2018). Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), 727–738. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30269-4
Eagle, T., Baltaxe-Admony, L. B., & Ringland, K. E. (2024). "It was something I naturally found worked and heard about later": An investigation of body doubling with neurodivergent participants. ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing. https://doi.org/10.1145/3689648
Faraone, S. V., Banaschewski, T., Coghill, D., et al. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 evidence-based conclusions about the disorder. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 128, 789–818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022
Liu, C.-I., Hua, M.-H., Lu, M.-L., & Goh, K. K. (2023). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural-based interventions for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder extends beyond core symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 96(3), 543–559. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12455
Mueller, A. K., Fuermaier, A. B. M., Koerts, J., & Tucha, L. (2012). Stigma in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 4(3), 101–114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-012-0085-3
Song, P., Zha, M., Yang, Q., Zhang, Y., Li, X., & Rudan, I. (2021). The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Global Health, 11, 04009. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.04009
Young, S., Adamo, N., Ásgeirsdóttir, B. B., et al. (2020). Females with ADHD: An expert consensus statement taking a lifespan approach providing guidance for the identification and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in girls and women. BMC Psychiatry, 20, 404. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02707-9
