ADHD, Brain Adaptions, Dopamine

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia areas of the brain. These areas are responsible for movement (slowing, increasing, or fast), executive function (attention, focus, motivation, initiating and completing tasks or activities), processing, higher-level cognitive thinking, and the dopamine reward pathway. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 9.4% of children aged 2-17 years in the United States were diagnosed with ADHD as of 2016. The prevalence varies by age group: 2.1% in children aged 2-5 years, 9.6% in children aged 6-11, and 13.6% in children aged 12-17.

However, we are learning that ADHD is not merely a syndrome of inattention and hyperactivity but a complex human experience involving hyperattention, hyperfocus abilities, selective attention, selective motivation, and hyperactivity in various areas of interest, with the opposite when exposed to areas of no interest. ADHD is a spectrum syndrome, producing a cluster of behavioral and chemical symptoms we truly do not yet fully understand. Your traditional psychiatrist selects a checkbox of symptoms that minimizes the extent of clinical symptoms many sufferers of this neurodiversity syndrome experience.

As stated, ADHD diagnosis uses clusters of symptoms to conclude a diagnosis that affects the cognitive and physical functionality of the individual. But the reality of living with ADHD often goes far beyond the official checklist. Imagine losing your car keys 50 times a year, forgetting your passwords at every change, mistakenly locking your newborn in the car with the keys still inside, or leaving your groceries on your vehicle while driving away. These are just a few examples from thousands of real-life experiences that don't make it onto the checkbox's official list of possible symptoms.

To give you an idea, the symptoms reported and presented are life experiences accompanied by overwhelming anxiety, deep-seated shame, crushing guilt, persistent depression, and a pervasive sense of low self-worth. These feelings aren't just side effects; they're integral to the ADHD experience for many.

However, it's important to note that many individuals with ADHD are just relieved to finally have a name for their life experiences, even if that diagnosis comes from having only a few minimal symptoms checked off the current DSM-5 ADHD symptoms checklist. This diagnosis, limited as it may be, provides validation for the difficult life pathways and struggles they've faced. It offers an explanation, however partial, for the challenges that have shaped their lives.

The current diagnostic criteria, while helpful, often fall short of capturing the full complexity and depth of the ADHD experience. They fail to recognize the myriad ways this condition impacts daily life, from minor inconveniences to major life events. Yet, for those who have spent years feeling "different" or "broken," even this limited recognition can be a lifeline, a starting point for understanding and managing their unique neurological makeup.

If you ever want to understand somewhat your child's or your own ADHD with clinical presentation at its best, a mentor of mine, Dr. Russell A. Barkley, provides an introductory yet foundational understanding of your child's symptoms. This understanding makes it clear that the child is actually remarkable if they get proper assessment, diagnosis, and early intervention, and if we optimize their so-called deficits with much love, support, guidance, consistency, and understanding.

Understand that science and concepts of ADHD are evolving, and many of the concepts will continue to evolve. Still, thanks to the work of Dr. Russell A. Barkley and podcasts such as the Limbic Pediatrics Integrative and Functional Approach, many parents and individuals can learn to understand the basic foundations and neuroscience that are highly important in learning how this syndrome presents itself and impacts the child. Parents can learn what they can do to start supporting their children's growing brains, allowing parents and individuals to normalize the neurodiversity we exhibit as humans. If we learn how to optimize for what may be considered a deficit, neurodiversity can produce many unique and highly effective contributors to society.