[tumblr]

Hi! I’m 17 and I guess it’s not that late in my life, but I usually only hear of little kids having ADD or ADHD. I haven’t seen a counselor, therapist. etc about it, but I did a whole project about ADD/ADHD in high school, realizing that I deal with many of the symptoms on a daily basis. I plan on going to a mental health professional soon anyways for my anxiety and depression issues, but I was wondering if it’s all that uncommon for ADHD or ADD to be diagnosed later in life.

[benzenering]

It is definitely not unusual. I was diagnosed at the age of 47. I graduated from college and everything years before, I just found ways to cope in my own way, and still do. I don't take meds for it, as I have been dealing with it this long, but sometimes I think it would really help me at work, especially with memory issues.

[LittleButterflyx]

Its not uncommon to be diagnosed later in life.

I knew a man that was diagnosed in his 40s and had found out what his problem was all his life and went to college and succeeded in life for the first time he was ever able too.

I was diagnosed when I was five, so I was really young--but its possible I only have ADD issues and its really just my Autism, but I still have both diagnosis of Autism and ADHD (I was a hyperactive child--still am in my adult life, but I feel its just my manic episodes).

But, you are seventeen and its not uncommon for teenagers to be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD either. In fact, it's common to be either from a young child into your teenage years. It starts to be less common in adulthood, but as I mentioned before its not even uncommon then.

[Miswimmy1]

It's not uncommon for adolescents to be diagnosed. Especially for kids with high intelligence levels, it can be easy for them to slip under the radar and get by in school simply because they are quick learners and often don't display some of the behavioral problems that can come with the hyperactivity aspect of ADHD. And in contrary to what some believe, people don't outgrow ADHD/ADD. So it's not uncommon for adults to be diagnosed either. However, I think the process of getting diagnoses is many times more extensive when you are older, particularly if you are self-reporting attention problems. This is due to the unfortunate abuse of stimulant medications.

Do you have a school psychologist or a learning specialist at your high school? They would probably be your first point of contact if you wanted to try to get a diagnosis. They would be able to help advocate for you, especially when it comes to ADHD/ADD interfering with your school work. If they can't diagnose themselves, they could at least point you to someone who could. An evaluation usually consists of meeting with the doctor/diagnostician, taking some tests (how thorough the testing is depends on the doctor - mine was seven hours of testing), and basically reviewing your history of academic performance and any other areas of life that you feel are being impacted by your inability to focus. The course of treatment can vary as well and that will be up to you and your doctor to work out.

[Marsfx]

I'm in my 20s but there were signs sense maybe preteens. I managed but eventually just had to reach out for help because I didn't want to live just managing ADHD if it meant I could never focus on what I really wanted to in life.

[bates626]

I was diagnosed at 16 or 17 (now 21) and I all the signs for ADD in girls my whole life. No one ever caught it until I was on one medication for my acne it was a type of medication that would bring out ALL those lovely "issues" full force so it would smack in the face with literally everything you had everyday. While on that Medication I was constantly anxious, unfocused, and in a mild-depression. Along with several other things that come with ADD, Depression, and Anxiety.

In all I finally screamed at my mother that I couldn't focus, i was constantly twitchy and terrified of large crowds, and that i felt trapped and wanted out yet I felt like everything was moving too quickly and yet too slowly all at once in my head.... needless to say she got me to see a doctor where within a month (or maybe it was three... my days run together) they diagnosed me with ADD (not ADHD), Anxiety, and Mild Depression. I am now 21yrs old, on no medication(as my doctor and I found what works for me in my profession) and thriving in my profession.

I do strongly suggest talking to someone. That helps me a lot. And make sure it is someone you are comfortable with. Otherwise you will get no where as you will never fully open up to them. I have a Therapist I go to after my last mental breakdown. We talk about anything and everything. Sometimes its just me talking about my week. Othertimes i go in and I end up just crying because it is a "disastrous week" and we try to figure out what is going with my emotions, and how to best express them without hurting others (i have a tendancy to bottle my emotions until they explode). Since I have been going to her I have gotten much better at expressing things without just snapping at someone. So I do strongly recommend talking to someone as it is a fantastic help and mine helps with my Anxiety and my ADD, my mild depression comes and goes but she does help with that.

[Jackalcash]

Originally Posted by tumblr

Hi! I’m 17 and I guess it’s not that late in my life, but I usually only hear of little kids having ADD or ADHD. I haven’t seen a counselor, therapist. etc about it, but I did a whole project about ADD/ADHD in high school, realizing that I deal with many of the symptoms on a daily basis. I plan on going to a mental health professional soon anyways for my anxiety and depression issues, but I was wondering if it’s all that uncommon for ADHD or ADD to be diagnosed later in life.

It is absolutely possible to be diagnosed..at any age....my advise is to look into the many different symptoms of ADD/ADHD....there are a wide range of symptoms...

[miss-inattentive]

Originally Posted by tumblr

Hi! I’m 17 and I guess it’s not that late in my life, but I usually only hear of little kids having ADD or ADHD. I haven’t seen a counselor, therapist. etc about it, but I did a whole project about ADD/ADHD in high school, realizing that I deal with many of the symptoms on a daily basis. I plan on going to a mental health professional soon anyways for my anxiety and depression issues, but I was wondering if it’s all that uncommon for ADHD or ADD to be diagnosed later in life.

Hey! I'm almost 19, and I just found out about my ADHD. I've had symptoms since I was at least six, maybe younger, but I only started getting therapy recently. I wondered if I had it sometimes when I was younger, but I didn't expect to be told "Yeah, that's ADHD."

But yeah, there's this whole adult ADHD thing, and a lot of people get diagnosed later in life. It's not just for little kids.

[Misssy2]

I'm 53 and realizing that THIS DIAGNOSIS finally is the answer to all the Whys?
Why do I do this...that...react this way....etc.

I have been diagnosed with Bipolar and I don't think it is Bipolar and i have been saying this for years!

finally my therapist said a week ago...Do you think you have ADHD? I said...Ya know..I DO think I have this and have this to a great degree....

She said when I see the Dr. on Jan 2nd to mention that she mentioned Straterra to try for me.

I feel like this is a relief to know that there is a reason which is not Bipolar...for the way I feel and act.

[tumblr]

I'm sorry. I really forgot that I made this thread. After writing it, I thought it was impossible I'd have it, so I gave up the idea. It wasn't until recently that I considered it again. I'm actually meeting an ADHD specialist about getting me a referral for testing. Seeing her Wednesday!

Originally Posted by Miswimmy1

It's not uncommon for adolescents to be diagnosed. Especially for kids with high intelligence levels, it can be easy for them to slip under the radar and get by in school simply because they are quick learners and often don't display some of the behavioral problems that can come with the hyperactivity aspect of ADHD.

It's weird that no one told my doctor about my behavior. I grew up being called smart all the time, but never felt like it. I didn't know a lot. I was often frustrated with schoolwork, threw my pencils, hit the table. I still did well in school but.. social wise, I was pretty bad.

Sure, people spoke to me, but they often avoided me. I can't count how many times I was told not to do something, and told by my own family that I'm slow, or lack common sense. My mom told me I was always moody as well. I was actually a target for bullies since middle school.

My grades sucked back then, and I sorta gave up on school cause it was so hard. 9th grade was the worse. I slapped people, never stayed in my seat, and talked a lot. In 10th, I changed schools, got bullied more, and began to become anxious. 11th was the worse of all in terms of bullying, but my grades were good. 12th was my peak because I took easier classes, and avoided my bullies.

[tumblr]

Even in graduation I managed to mess up. I actually accidentally knocked 5 people's graduation caps off on the way back to my seat. Great story. xD I've always felt really dumb and slow compared to peers, and was always left out somehow. It sucked. ADHD would kinda explain most things. But sometimes, I find it hard to differentiate whether these are normal child things, or an underlying problem.

[JakeBH9]

Originally Posted by tumblr

Hi! I’m 17 and I guess it’s not that late in my life, but I usually only hear of little kids having ADD or ADHD. I haven’t seen a counselor, therapist. etc about it, but I did a whole project about ADD/ADHD in high school, realizing that I deal with many of the symptoms on a daily basis. I plan on going to a mental health professional soon anyways for my anxiety and depression issues, but I was wondering if it’s all that uncommon for ADHD or ADD to be diagnosed later in life.

Yeah that's like asking if you can take a drink of water when you're 70 like when you were 10.

[SweetPea83]

I was diagnosed at 35. Was so relived it had a "name". Then I was angry because I wasn't diagnosed sooner. But even into the 1990's it was believed "adults can't have ADD!"

Ha!

[Moonrider125]

I was also diagnosed at 35.one of earliest in Japan because I could found dedicated doctor.And did research online before that,(no article written in Japanese)
The doctor once had 10 year waiting line...she was so overwhelmed,physically beaten,and closed her clinic when Concerta became available for adult ADHD in Japan.

and yeah,there were lots of "Adults can't have ADHD"and it was 2000'.
*Sigh*

[smm275]

I think it is becoming increasingly common for adults over forty to be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD simply because there is much more known about it know then there was back in the day. Also, it was not until the 90's that ADD/ADHD started to be regarded as an actual condition. Before, it was seen as the equivalent of metal retardation or mental illness so those who had been diagnosed were seen as stupid. As mentioned before, there is so much more knowledge these days that kids are able to be diagnosed at very young ages.

[Harmonizer]

Originally Posted by tumblr

Hi! I’m 17 and I guess it’s not that late in my life, but I usually only hear of little kids having ADD or ADHD. I haven’t seen a counselor, therapist. etc about it, but I did a whole project about ADD/ADHD in high school, realizing that I deal with many of the symptoms on a daily basis. I plan on going to a mental health professional soon anyways for my anxiety and depression issues, but I was wondering if it’s all that uncommon for ADHD or ADD to be diagnosed later in life.

Yes, absolutely you can be diagnosed as an adult. I am 68 years old, and was diagnosed at age 64. It really does explain a lot about my life, and I'm using that information to guide myself through going back to school for my second masters degree. You go, rockstar, and don't let anything or anyone stop you from reaching your goals!