Do you or your child have ADHD? Take the quiz as experts explain the TRUTH behind surge and danger of ‘normalising’ it

IT’S no secret that ADHD diagnoses are soaring, with nearly three million people in the UK living with the condition. Ant McPartlin, Lily Allen, Paloma Faith and most recently, TV presenter Frankie Bridge have shared their experiences. The 37-year-old admitted she was hesitant to go public with the news because “the world and his wife is telling everyone that they’ve got ADHD”. So how do you know if your forgetfulness, brain fog or burnout is just that, or a warning sign of ADHD? Frankie Bridge revealed she’d been diagnosed with ADHD Credit: Getty She said the diagnosis was a ‘relief’ Credit: YouTube/Frankie Bridge Frankie is not alone in her fears about speaking out. The stigma around ADHD is reducing, only to be replaced by a new, cynical accusation – that you’re simply jumping on a trendy bandwagon to excuse behaviours like forgetfulness. It leaves many people with more questions about themselves and their kids; Am I actually neurodivergent, or is this just my personality? Mum-of-two Frankie joins around 2.97 million people in the UK with the condition, including a long list of celebrities. Paloma Faith, Lily Allen, Aimee Lou Wood, Ant McPartlin and Adrian Chiles have all revealed diagnoses in recent times. But Frankie admitted she wasn’t sure whether to share hers publicly. But in a video on her YouTube channel, TV presenter Frankie, 37,said of her diagnosis: “A part of me is, like, ‘Hopefully this is thelast missing piece that is going to help’.” ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, sitting under the same umbrella as autism and dyslexia. Diagnoses of ADHD are increasing – as are referrals for an assessment. New data shows that the number of patients on ADHD medication – including adults and children – has increased by a third, from 326,000 last year to 427,000 now. More than 800,000 people in the UK are waiting for an assessment, NHS data shows, with most people waiting between two and seven years. Referrals have increased by 400 per cent since 2022. Frankie went and got tested after her Loose Women co-star Denise Welch spotted symptoms Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Lily Allen announced she’d been diagnosed with ADHD in 2023 Credit: Splash White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood also has the condition Credit: Getty So does singer Paloma Faith Credit: AP And the publication of the annual Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services report said neurodevelopmental conditions, including ADHD and Tourette’s syndrome, have increased by nearly a quarter. But Dr Rebecca Ker, psychologist and clinical director at Carlton Psychology, recently told Sun Health: “Just because we are recognising more people are neurodivergent, it doesn’t mean there are more neurodivergent people. “When we invented the telescope, we discovered more stars in the sky. “When people started deep-sea diving, we discovered more fish. You get the gist…” So why, then, are more people seeming to have it than ever? Dr Devendra Narayanaswamy, a specialist in private ADHD assessment and treatment at Private ADHD, says: “Increased awareness of ADHD doesn’t mean more people are developing ADHD; rather, it means more people can accurately recognise the symptoms and seek assessment. “Understanding ADHD has evolved, and as a result, more adults have recognised traits in themselves and sought assessment. “It begins in childhood, but it does not affect everyone in the same way. “Some individuals develop effective coping strategies that allow them to manage – and mask – their symptoms for many years, particularly if they’re in a structured environment. “For women in particular, ADHD symptoms can be masked for years through coping strategies like perfectionism, over-preparing, or people-pleasing. “One of the most commonly overlooked presentations is chronic overwhelm, which is often mistaken for anxiety or stress. “Others may find their symptoms more noticeable when life becomes more demanding, such as starting university or a new job. Increased awareness around ADHD means more people can spot symptoms Credit: Getty What is ADHD? ADHD is a type of neurodiversity, which means the brain works in a different way to what’s considered ‘normal’. There are three key presentations – predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. Dr Narayanaswamy says: “The symptoms, their severity, and the impact they can have on daily life vary from one person to another.” Dr Wall says: “ADHD can cause significant impairment in attention, impulsivity, and emotional regulation – which I think is one of the most overlooked aspects. “It can also affect organisation, sleep, education, work, and relationships because of the knock-on effects these difficulties create. “At its core, ADHD involves differences in the brain’s chemical messenger systems, particularly dopamine.”Dopamine is a chemical messenger responsible for reward, motivation, and focus. ADHD brains appear to process it differently, causing symptoms. “Clinicians talk a lot about people with ADHD ‘chasing dopamine’, [i.e. looking for a reward ‘hit’ or stimulation] but that’s probably an oversimplification,” says Dr Helen. “Current thinking suggests many people with ADHD may have enough dopamine, but their brains don’t utilise it effectively. “The receptors that recognise dopamine may function differently, or certain brain networks may simply be wired differently.” Dr Helen says much more needs to be done to help those with the developmental condition. “The challenge with treating and managing ADHD, in both children and adults, is that there simply aren’t enough NHS services,” she says. ADHD costs the NHS more than £314 million annually – more than double the allocated budget of £150 million – but Dr Helen says the incurable condition needs more money. She says when it comes to treatment, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach either. “For many adults diagnosed later in life, the greatest benefit comes from validation; understanding themselves better, and learning strategies that work with their brain rather than against it,” she says. “I’ve seen many patients whose lives have been transformed by medication. “Equally, I’ve seen many others make significant improvements through education, practical strategies, environmental changes, and the right support, without medication. “The most appropriate approach is always an individual one.” “This can lead to a diagnosis later in life, even though the traits have been underlying since childhood.” Frankie said fellow Loose Women star Denise Welch suggested she get assessed – having been diagnosed herself in 2023, aged 64. Dr Helen Wall, GP at the Oaks Family Practice in Bolton and author of Menopause and ADHD, says Frankie’s experience feels familiar. But the condition shouldn’t be downplayed as it gets more exposure, because it can have life-changing effects. “ADHD isn’t a personality quirk or a passing trend,” she says. “In reality, it’s a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning we’re born with it. It’s also highly heritable. “Greater awareness is valuable, but the downside is that ADHD can become over-normalised. “People may begin to identify with it simply because they’re forgetful or procrastinate. “True ADHD is different; It’s persistent, begins in childhood, occurs across multiple settings, and causes significant impairment. That’s the key.” She adds: “What concerns me is how polarised the conversation online has become. It can feel as though you’re either portrayed as having very severe ADHD or as simply making it up, when the reality is much more nuanced.” While ADHD can have a severe impact on relationships, work and more, Dr Helen says it can be hard to see quite how much someone is struggling. They may “appear to be coping well on the surface”, she says, with a successful career, raising a family and more. She says: “But behind closed doors, we never really know what someone is struggling with or how much effort it takes for them to function.” Long referral waitlists means many Brits, including children, are going for the faster route – private assessment. Scrutiny of the private process has suggested checks are not as thorough, and patients with a diagnosis would not have received one via the NHS, potentially starting treatment they do not need. But Dr Helen says: “Despite what some people think, private clinicians aren’t trigger-happy when it comes to diagnosing ADHD. “There are a lot of excellent private providers; many of them also work within the NHS, so just because someone pays for an assessment doesn’t mean they’ll automatically receive a diagnosis. That’s a myth. “There is, however, a huge variation in the quality of private providers. “A good assessment should include a detailed childhood history, school history, family history, medical and mental health history, and evidence of impairment across different settings. “It should use multiple validated rating scales – not just screening questionnaires, and wherever possible, gather information from people who knew you as a child.” Dr Helen says, despite increased awareness, the condition is still misunderstood. “For many, the goal isn’t necessarily medication or even a diagnosis. “They’re looking for an explanation; an answer to why life has always felt harder than it seems to be for everyone else. “Some people chose to self-identify (not get a diagnosis), as that process can be lengthy and traumatic for some.” Do you or your child have ADHD? Take our quiz to find out Credit: Getty While Dr Helen says clinical assessment is vital for a diagnosis, the questionnaire below can indicate whether a GP assessment and joining the waiting list might be beneficial. Please answer the questions below, rating yourself on each of the criteria. Use the answer that best describes how you have felt and conducted yourself over the past six months. If you answer c, d or e more than four times in Part A, you have symptoms considered highly consistent with ADHD and it is recommended you speak to your GP, says Dr Wall. Part B offers additional clues that should also be mentioned for investigation. Part A 1 – How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging parts have been done? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 2 – How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organization? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 3 – How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 4 – When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 5 – How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long time? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 6 – How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often Part B 7 – How often do you make careless mistakes when you have to work on a boring or difficult project? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 8 – How often do you have difficulty keeping your attention when you are doing boring or repetitive work? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 9 – How often do you have difficulty concentrating on what people say to you, even when they are speaking to you directly? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 10 – How often do you misplace or have difficulty finding things at home or at work? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 11 – How often are you distracted by activity or noise around you? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 12 – How often do you leave your seat in meetings or other situations in which you are expected to remain seated? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 13 – How often do you feel restless or fidgety? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 14 – How often do you have difficulty unwinding and relaxing when you have time to yourself? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 15 – How often do you find yourself talking too much when you are in social situations? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 16 – When you’re in a conversation, how often do you find yourself finishing the sentences of the people you are talking to, before they can finish them themselves? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 17 – How often do you have difficulty waiting your turn in situations when turn taking is required? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often 18 – How often do you interrupt others when they are busy? Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often