Ian Graff

Research Proposal Paper

January 20, 2022

ADHD: More Than Just a Distraction

Introduction

According to the FDA, “ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders in

childhood.” Around 10 percent of children in the U.S. have the disorder, which is therefore met

with much skepticism surrounding overdiagnosis. However, that is not as much of an issue as the

gross lack of attention that is brought to some of ADHD’s more hidden facets. The criteria for

diagnosing ADHD only include the most well-known symptoms. Thanks to this, the other

psychological differences and issues surrounding ADHD often go undetected until it becomes a

concern.

There is often no way to treat these underlying issues, either. Most ADHD medications

only serve to treat the main conditions of inattention and hyperactivity, and separate medications

are required to treat the mental illnesses that can be caused by lesser-known symptoms. As a

result, many people who are treated for ADHD are often treated for disorders such as anxiety and

depression due to larger mental health issues caused by lesser-known and less researched ADHD

symptoms. ADHD contains many facets that affect so much more than simply one’s attention

span, and attention must be brought to these underlying symptoms in order to discover more

about the disorder.

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Literature Review

I found that ADHD has an effect on a much larger portion of the population than

previously believed. Studies from 20 years ago showed that about 3-5 percent of children in the

U.S. had been diagnosed with ADHD, but more recent studies have displayed results at about 10

percent. My research also showed that symptoms such as rejection-sensitive dysphoria, sensitivity

to environmental changes, and dissociation are very common among those with ADHD, which in

turn contributed to mental health issues later in life. A prime showing of this statistic comes from

the article “ADHD Affects Adults As Well,” where they state that “Childhood attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder frequently persists into adulthood, bringing heightened risks of additional

psychiatric issues and nearly five times the risk of suicide…”

Furthermore, I found that there are many people who believe that ADHD is being

overdiagnosed. More and more children have been diagnosed with ADHD in recent years as

aforementioned. However, “Underscoring the strong role of genes in the development of attention

deficit disorders… studies found that a child's likelihood of having ADHD that persists into

adulthood is significantly greater if either parent--but especially his or her father--suffers from

serious attention problems too” (Healy). This role that genetics plays could possibly be a large

contributor to the increase in ADHD diagnoses.

Method

I will be using trusted databases to conduct my research. Specific information that I will

look for includes information about mental health issues related to ADHD and how it affects
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people socially and personally. This is because underlying ADHD symptoms can affect how

children interact with their peers. These differences can often manifest in mental health disorders.

Questions

● What are some of the lesser-known symptoms of ADHD?

● How do these symptoms affect those with ADHD?

● Why should we bring attention to these symptoms?

Discussion

Ultimately, the less well-known symptoms behind ADHD can affect the individual more

than some of the most commonly recognized ones. For example, a lack of social acceptance due

to simple neurological differences can trigger rejection-sensitive dysphoria, which often amplifies

the effects of rejection. These issues found in children with ADHD can also continue into

adulthood. According to the article “ADHD Affects Adults As Well,” “Childhood attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder frequently persists into adulthood, bringing heightened risks of

additional psychiatric issues and nearly five times the risk of suicide…” Therefore, the underlying

issues associated with ADHD are not to be taken lightly, as they can have much greater

consequences than perceived.

Furthermore, attention must be paid to these lesser-known symptoms in order to normalize

them. For example, symptoms such as “ADHD brains’ sensitivity to light, sound, temperature,

uncomfortable clothing, smells, and so many other things…” can often have much larger overall

effects on how an ADHD person is able to get through their day (Pratt). Alienating these

symptoms and by proxy people with ADHD can often end up leaving negative effects on the
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person with ADHD. Normalizing ADHD-related issues such as dissociation and a lack of risk

assessment is key to being able to understand them more.

Bibliography

FDA Permits Marketing of First Brain Wave Test to Help Assess Children and Teens for

ADHD. , 2013. SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2260148733?accountid=3785.

Healy, Melissa. "Growing Up with, and Out of, ADHD." Los Angeles Times, Jan 2008.

SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2262306261?accountid=3785.

Mohan, Geoffrey. "ADHD Affects Adults as Well." Los Angeles Times, 04 Mar 2013.

SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2262355374?accountid=3785.

Pratt, Rebecca. "ADHD is Misrepresented in Social Media." University Wire, 17 Feb

2021. SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2500613940?accountid=3785.

"Women with ADHD are More Likely to Attempt Suicide than Men." Asian News

International, 26 Dec 2020. SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2476709538?accountid=3785.
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