Since 2018 until November this year, the number of women between the ages of ten and 40 who have been diagnosed with ADHD has increased by almost 80 per cent. This shows national figures that news has received from Central Norwegian Health. Those who pay for the ADHD investigation themselves, and receive the diagnosis privately, are not part of these statistics. Linda (36) has a husband, three children and a foster child, studies full-time and works as a teacher at a secondary school in Drammen. From the outside, you might not have thought she had ADHD. She was diagnosed in September. – Many people think we hang from ceiling lights, have anger problems and are unable to concentrate on anything. But that’s not how it is. ADHD is not black and white, says Linda. From left: Mum Linda, Mathilde, dad Jan-Andre, little brother Ulrik and Sara Lilja. Photo: Marius Christensen / news Photo: Marius Christensen / news Among children, more boys than girls are diagnosed with ADHD. In a new survey, more than 50 percent of the women answered that they received the diagnosis after they turned 30. For Linda’s daughters, Sara Lilja and Mathilde, it was not like that. Already when Mathilde went to kindergarten, Linda and her husband Jan-Andre (38) had a clue that she might have ADHD. – Before you knew it she could climb to the top of a tree or climbing frame. She didn’t think that there was a risk that she could fall down, says Linda. Drained of energy, Mathilde was diagnosed in 2020. She was then seven years old. This spring, Sara Lilja was diagnosed as an eleven-year-old. They both have great concentration difficulties. Sara Lilja (12) struggles with social codes and is easily distracted – she often wanders from one thing to another. Mathilde (10) can get very angry, be impulsive and rarely manages to sit still. – I have a feeling that many in Norwegian homes have a clear idea of what they would do if their child did not always follow the norm. They probably think we should be stricter, but that’s not how it works, says Jan-Andre. It has been important for the sisters to get the diagnosis early. – Before they received the help they are entitled to, they could become easily frustrated and irritable, even by small things. They were also very tired. When the school day was over, they were completely drained of energy, says Linda. She believes the increase in the number of ADHD diagnoses is due to acceptance and increased knowledge in society, especially when it comes to girls and ADHD. Girls and ADHD Boys are diagnosed with ADHD around four times more often than girls. A Swedish study of ADHD in girls showed that their symptoms are perceived differently than in boys, and that attention difficulties often go undetected. This may be one of the explanations for the condition being diagnosed less often in girls than in boys. Source: Felleskatalogen and the Directorate of Health An explanation Psychological specialist Espen Idås believes that the development shows that society is in the process of making the normal sick. He does not think there has been an underdiagnosis in women who are now being caught. – The signs of typical ADHD are so massive. If you have the symptoms, regardless of the cause, you may experience getting the diagnosis, says Idås to news. Idås has investigated many people for ADHD. He believes that normal phenomena such as concentration difficulties and lack of attention are too little seen as a natural adaptation reaction to various stress factors that affect everyone’s life. At the same time, a diagnosis can help give people an explanation for why they behave the way they do. – Some will certainly feel that getting the ADHD diagnosis is helpful. After all, this is one of the few diagnoses that people actively ask to be investigated for, says Idås. Espen Idås Masked the hyperactivity When Linda was in primary school, she struggled to make friends. She was quiet and careful, felt different and struggled a lot with overthinking. – If someone looked at me strangely, I could think that the person didn’t like me. I analyzed things up and down in my mind, says Linda. This changed when she started secondary school, but she still finds it difficult to concentrate. Linda remembers that she often did homework during recess before class started. – During the school lesson, I sat and fiddled with things, moved my toes and shook my legs. I wanted to follow the norms, so I tried to mask my hyperactivity, says Linda. In the picture on the left, Linda was ten years old. The second picture is from ninth grade at secondary school. Photo: Privat – But why would you want to be investigated for ADHD when you are doing so well now? – If my daughters hadn’t been diagnosed with ADHD, I wouldn’t have investigated. I wanted to be a role model for them, and show that having a diagnosis is not an obstacle. A fashion psychiatrist Trond Aarre has examined adults for ADHD, and does not think it is a breakthrough for many to get the diagnosis. – As long as you don’t know what the cause of the ailments is, the diagnosis itself will not add any knowledge you don’t already have. The problems will be the same, says Aarre to news. Trond Aarre He does not deny that people struggle, but believes that many become passive in the face of their own challenges when they do not go into sufficient depth about what can trigger ADHD-like symptoms. – A large increase in the number of people diagnosed within a short time fits better with a fad than with a real increase in the incidence, says the psychiatrist. Head of department in ADHD Norway, Nina Holmen, thinks it is difficult to say what the reason for the increase could be. The organization has over 12,000 members. – It may be that the increase represents those who were not discovered as children, but who are now diagnosed as adults, Holmen tells news. Increased intake From 2011 to 2021, there was an increase of over 180 per cent for women with ADHD between the ages of 18 and 40 who were treated in the specialist health service. This is shown by figures from the Norwegian Patient Register that news has been sent. Both before and after the corona pandemic, Søndre Oslo DPS has experienced a very large increase in referrals among young adults. Many people want to be investigated for ADHD. – Some diagnoses can become trendy. But a trend can also help uncover real cases of ADHD because more people become familiar with the disorder, says psychiatrist Erik Søegaard to news. Psychiatrist Erik Søegaard. Photo: Marius Christensen / news This spring, Søndre Oslo DPS started with a new investigation method, which means that the vast majority of cases are investigated within half a day. Previously, this was done over a period of four to eight weeks. – It can be an additional burden for people to wait for the results of the investigation. For many, it is valuable to get help quickly, says Søegaard. No guarantees In 2018, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) reviewed the medical records of 549 children with ADHD. The conclusion was that only half of the diagnoses were sufficiently well documented. – There are no guarantees that this does not also apply to adults, says director of the Directorate of Health, Torunn Janbu, to news. Torunn JanbuDepartment director in the Directorate of Health ADHD investigation by a psychologist at the private health company Volvat takes between ten and 16 hours depending on individual factors and complexity. news has asked Volvat if they have experienced an increased workload in connection with ADHD investigations. They say they don’t have the resources to respond. Completely blank When Linda started high school, she finally found her place. She went to vocational subjects, where the tasks were more practical, and the feeling of mastery increased. During exams and tests it could still say stop. – I could picture the page number in the book where the answer was, but not the words. The mind just spun. I went completely blank, even though I actually knew the answer, says Linda. – When you look back at how you were as a child, what do you see in a different light today? – I felt very stupid at school. Now I know why I had to study much more than the others in my class. There was a reason why I was the way I was. Photo: Marius Christensen / news Changes in society Janbu in the Directorate of Health believes there are several reasons for the increase in the number of people diagnosed with ADHD. One reason may be that there has been more focus on ADHD in adults in recent years. She also thinks the pandemic could be a reason. – People who have had a high level of symptoms of ADHD, but who previously did not qualify for diagnosis, may have had an increase in symptoms and difficulties due to the changes in our society. It is only when the symptoms go beyond functioning that it is appropriate to make a diagnosis, says Janbu. Symptoms in children and adults with ADHD The symptoms in children with ADHD fall into three areas: Inattention Overactivity Impulsivity The problems must be present before the age of seven and have lasted for at least six months. The difficulties must be observed in several situations. Symptoms in adults with ADHD are that they: Are easily distracted Are impulsive and restless May have hyperactivity in the form of restlessness in the arms or legs Often are poor at planning and organizing May have mood swings and outbursts of anger Often seek excitement and the risk of able to concentrate better Has a high risk of developing other mental disorders, including anxiety, depression and abuse Has problems with time and problems falling asleep Source: The joint catalog Memory fails In her spare time Sara Lilja goes to the theater, while Mathilde goes to the gym . They dream of becoming professionals. Today is the end of the tour for Mathilde. Father Jan-Andre will be the conference host and will drive ahead. – I can’t find my car keys. Where are they, Jan-Andre asks, as he heads out the door. – I don’t know, replies the wife. – Oh, there they were. Exactly, says Jan-Andre, who finds the keys in Linda’s jacket pocket. – I’ve lost count of how many keys I’ve lost. There is a reason why we have a code lock on the front door, says Linda. Photo: Marius Christensen / news She does not take ADHD medication, but her daughters do. It took a long time before they found a medicine that worked. Linda says that the road there was painful. The children experienced many side effects: they became apathetic, had sleep problems and were very nauseous. – Are we really going to drug our children, we asked ourselves. I was afraid they would change. Are there no other ways to handle this, we thought. But in the end it was worth it. – When we saw the effect the medicine had, we decided it was right. Now the children are doing much better, says Linda. Stamp The mother of four likes to have a hectic everyday life. If the family has a free weekend, it doesn’t take long before the timetable is full. Rarely are all the points on the list crossed off. Jan-Andre thinks that many pieces fell into place when Linda was diagnosed with ADHD. – Now I know why she is a time optimist, and has 13 balls in the air at the same time. Her symptoms have never been a source of conflict, but sometimes we have had a crash of expectations, he says. Linda (36) and her family lead a busy life. Photo: Marius Christensen / news Linda accepts that she has ADHD, but is still afraid of being labeled. – We don’t want to be seen only as an “ADHD family”. We are much more than just a diagnosis.
ttn-69
Almost 80 percent increase in the number of ADHD diagnoses among women – Special
