In Case You Haven't Heard…

A study by The Ohio State University found that one in four adults suspect they may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), raising concerns about how they'll receive adequate treatment during a drug shortage, the Washington Examiner reported last week. Coinciding with the rise of social media, researchers have found that in the past 20 years, adults' attention spans have dropped from 2½ minutes to 45 seconds. Now, adults who may be scrolling on apps such as Instagram and TikTok, which are known for their short, seconds‐long videos, have come across content and pages dedicated to exploring ADHD symptoms and what living with ADHD is like. According to the study author, psychologist Justin Barterian, ADHD is a disorder that a person has lived with their entire life, but it may have just gone undiagnosed. “Whilst some people may think that ADHD is being over‐diagnosed now, it is actually just a case of the health care system catching up and realizing that many went under the radar, simply because there wasn't enough education and understanding,” Barterian said. More adults are turning to online telehealth websites for diagnosis and also for prescriptions. More than half of people diagnosed with ADHD receive their diagnosis in adulthood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.