大人の注意欠如多動性障害（ADHD）、やはり見逃されていることが多い、名古屋の児童精神科医が解説

 

こんにちは、名古屋市千種区　児童精神科専門クリニック、医療法人永朋会　和光医院、加藤晃司です。

 

今回は、大人のADHD、やはり見逃されていることが多い、について解説します。

 

大人の方は、大人になり、メンタルクリニックを受診することになる、その時まで、なんとかやっていた方ばかりです。

 

となると、ADHDがあたっとしても、それを努力でなんとかしてきたということです。

 

ADHDをなおしたい、という主訴で来られる方は、最近は減ったと思います。

 

ADHDの内服が発売になったときに、製薬企業が大きくプロモーションをやっていたときは、ADHDの情報に触れる機会が多かったせいか、結構ADHD治療目的での受診も多かったです。

 

ですが、また最近は埋もれてきていると感じます。

 

ADHDの中核症状は不注意です。

 

不注意とは、集中力が続かない、忘れっぽい、などが分かりやすいですが、同時処理ができない、というのが結構じゃまになっています。

 

並行処理ができないと、仕事ではかなり困ります。

 

だから大人になり、仕事をするようになってから、困難が生じる人が多いです。

そして仕事での困難から、うつ、不安、不眠、などがでてきて、クリニックを受診。

 

そうすると、それが主訴になるため、その症状に対する内服が処方されて、終わり、ということも多いはずです。

 

しかしそれでは根本的な解決にはなりません。

 

ADHDは生育歴をとらないと診断できない疾患なので、やはり児童精神科にきてもらわないと診断されないことが多いです。

 

同時処理が苦手

 

これがキーワードです。

 

なんとなくそうかもしれない、と思われる方は、ぜひ当院へご相談ください。

 

いまの困難を乗り切るきっかけを作ることができるかもしれません。

 

 

当院ホームページはこちらより

https://wako-psy-clinic.com

ご予約は公式ライン、ホームページから可能です。

友達追加はこちらから↓

https://lin.ee/HorvYiv

当院インスタグラムはこちら

https://www.instagram.com/wako_iin/

 

子どものためのメンタルクリニック

医療法人永朋会　　和光医院

児童精神科・精神科・心療内科

 

〒464-0092  愛知県名古屋市千種区茶屋が坂1丁目12番2号

電話　：　052－712-1777

地下鉄名城線「茶屋ヶ坂」駅 1番出口より徒歩3分

地下鉄名城線「砂田橋」駅 1番出口より徒歩10分

 

 

 

 

 

Adult ADHD: Often Overlooked – Explained by a Child Psychiatrist in Nagoya

By Dr. Koji Kato, Wako Clinic, Nagoya

 

Hello, I’m Dr. Koji Kato from Wako Clinic, a specialized child psychiatry clinic in Chikusa Ward, Nagoya.

 

Today, I will discuss Adult ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and why it is often overlooked, especially in adults who have struggled to cope without a diagnosis or treatment.

 

1. Adult ADHD – Why Is It Often Missed?

Many adults who visit mental health clinics have spent years compensating for their ADHD symptoms through sheer effort, without realizing they had ADHD. As they transition into adulthood, the demands of work and life can highlight challenges they previously managed to endure or mask.

 

Interestingly, fewer people now visit clinics with a primary concern of “wanting to treat ADHD.” When pharmaceutical companies first launched ADHD medications and publicized ADHD awareness, there was a notable surge in patients seeking evaluation and treatment. However, awareness has since declined, leading many adults to continue struggling without proper recognition or diagnosis.

 

2. The Core Symptom of Adult ADHD: Inattention

ADHD in adults often manifests as inattention, which includes:

 

Difficulty maintaining focus

Forgetfulness

Struggles with organization and prioritization

However, one symptom that particularly hinders adults, especially in professional settings, is difficulty with simultaneous processing (handling multiple tasks or responsibilities at the same time).

 

3. Why Adults Face Challenges at Work

In adult life, especially in work environments, tasks often require parallel processing—juggling multiple responsibilities, organizing schedules, and managing various tasks simultaneously.

 

Adults with ADHD struggle with:

 

Switching between tasks efficiently

Keeping track of details or deadlines

Managing complex workflows without becoming overwhelmed

When these difficulties impact work performance, they can trigger secondary issues such as:

 

Depression

Anxiety

Insomnia

Unfortunately, when adults seek help, these secondary issues often become the focus of treatment. Medications for depression, anxiety, or sleep may be prescribed, but the underlying ADHD remains undiagnosed and untreated.

 

4. Why ADHD Often Goes Undiagnosed

ADHD requires a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s developmental history (childhood behaviors and experiences) to establish a diagnosis.

 

Many general mental health clinics may not gather this developmental history in detail.

Consequently, ADHD in adults can be misattributed to other conditions or remain entirely unrecognized.

This is why ADHD evaluation is often more accurately performed in child psychiatry clinics, where developmental and behavioral patterns are thoroughly assessed.

 

5. Recognizing “Simultaneous Processing Difficulties”

A key characteristic of adult ADHD is difficulty with simultaneous processing—a challenge often overlooked but profoundly impactful.

 

If you find yourself consistently:

 

Struggling to handle multiple tasks at once

Overwhelmed by prioritizing responsibilities

Forgetting steps or tasks in daily routines

Facing workplace challenges that feel disproportionate to the task load

These may be indicators of undiagnosed ADHD.

 

6. The Importance of Seeking Help

If you suspect that ADHD may underlie your current struggles, addressing it could be the turning point you need. ADHD treatment not only alleviates core symptoms but also empowers individuals to navigate daily challenges more effectively.

 

At Wako Clinic, we provide comprehensive assessments and support for both children and adults.

 

7. Conclusion

Adult ADHD is often missed, especially when the primary symptoms manifest as work-related difficulties, depression, or anxiety. The core challenge of simultaneous processing difficulties is a critical clue that can help uncover ADHD.

 

If you resonate with these challenges, don’t hesitate to seek support. Understanding your difficulties and addressing the root cause can provide practical solutions for overcoming current struggles and improving your quality of life.

 

At our clinic, we aim to offer the tools and support you need to regain control and thrive. Please feel free to reach out to us for consultation.