Why is adult ADHD often missed? — Underdiagnosis of a treatable condition

Three-line summary

1. What: ADHD may persist into adulthood; it does not always end in childhood.
2. Who: Adults who were never assessed as children can still experience functional difficulties from symptoms; many adults use compensation strategies that mask problems, contributing to underdiagnosis.
3. So what: DSM-5 changes provide context for broader adult diagnostic access. The key idea is that difficulty may reflect under-detection, not “laziness.” Diagnosis and treatment decisions require a qualified clinician.

Keywords

adult-adhd underdiagnosis compensation dsm-5 functional-impairment

Practical tips

• In clinical conversations, it can help to consider that adult symptoms may be compensated rather than “gone.”
• Underdiagnosis reflects interaction of cognition, behaviour, and environment—not personal failure.
• This card is for information only; diagnosis must be confirmed by a qualified professional.