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Social media videos make people think they have ADHD,
study claims; A quarter of adults surveyed now suspect they
may have the condition but have not received a diagnosis.
Date: Oct. 14, 2024
From: The Telegraph Online
Publisher: Telegraph Group Ltd.
Document Type: Article
Length: 510 words
Content Level: (Level 5)
Full Text:
Article Commentary
"Symptoms of ADHD vary depending on the form of the condition and can be different from one person to another."
Joe Pinkstone is a science correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, a national newspaper headquartered in London, United Kingdom
(UK). In the following viewpoint, Pinkstone argues attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) awareness has increased in part
due to social media videos about the condition. The author highlights an Ohio State University study indicating that one-quarter of
adults in the United States suspect they may have undiagnosed ADHD. Pinkstone asserts only half of adults who believe they may
have the condition have sought professional help, with younger adults more likely to seek treatment than older generations. The
author points to comments made by Dr. Justin Barterian, who suggests it is important for adults who feel they may meet the ADHD
criteria to seek an evaluation from a qualified medical professional.
As you read, consider the following questions:
1. Why do you think the author highlights the prevalence of ADHD awareness videos on social media sites like TikTok?
2. Do you agree with the author's contention that ADHD is likely underdiagnosed in the United Kingdom? Why or why not?
3. In your opinion, what steps, if any, can medical professionals take to avoid over-diagnosing ADHD? Explain your answer.
Byline: Joe Pinkstone, Science Correspondent
Social media videos are making people think they have ADHD, scientists have said.
A study suggests a quarter of adults believe they may have the condition but have not received a diagnosis.
Only half of those who think they might suffer with the condition have sought professional help, data show.
A survey of 1,000 American adults conducted in August by Ohio State University found 25 per cent of adults now suspect they may
have undiagnosed ADHD.
Awareness of the condition, which can manifest as distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, is increasing with better diagnosis in
children and social media sites such as TikTok being populated with awareness videos on the condition.
The survey found younger adults are more likely to believe they have undiagnosed ADHD than older generations, and they are also
more likely to do something about it.
"If you're watching videos on social media and it makes you think that you may meet criteria for the disorder, I would encourage you
to seek an evaluation from a psychologist or a psychiatrist or a physician to get it checked out," Dr Justin Barterian, a clinical
assistant professor in Ohio State's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Health, said.
Experts say that getting correct treatment is key to managing symptoms.
"Anxiety, depression and ADHD -- all these things can look a lot alike, but the wrong treatment can make things worse instead of
helping that person feel better and improving their functioning," Dr Barterian said.
"There's definitely more awareness of how it can continue to affect folks into adulthood and a lot of people who are realising, once
their kids have been diagnosed, that they fit these symptoms as well, given that it's a genetic disorder."
Symptoms of ADHD vary depending on the form of the condition and can be different from one person to another.
"Some people might have more difficulty focusing on lectures or with organisation, while others may have more social difficulties with
impulsivity and trouble following along in conversations," Dr Barterian added.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) estimates the global prevalence of ADHD in children to be about 5 per
cent, and in adults in the UK at 3 to 4 per cent.
This is likely to be an underestimate and there is no concrete data on actual prevalence in Britain.
Henry Shelford, the ceo of ADHD UK, said that getting a diagnosis in the US and UK is very different, and they can be hard to
compare.
"This US research underlines some of the significant differences between the UK and USA regarding ADHD," he said.
"In the UK we recognised ADHD decades later than them and have significant under diagnosis and population gaps as a result.
"In the UK we also have a very different healthcare system with much more restricted protocols on who can diagnose ADHD when
compared to the US.
"Our situations are not the same so we should be very careful in how we consider the relevance of attitudinal research like this."
CAPTION(S):
Credit: fizkes/iStockphoto
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Source Citation (MLA 9th Edition)
"Social media videos make people think they have ADHD, study claims; A quarter of adults surveyed now suspect they may have the
condition but have not received a diagnosis." Telegraph Online, 14 Oct. 2024. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/A812241379/OVIC?u=miam11506&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=f951e07b. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A812241379