Can people develop ADD in adolescence?

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I don't want to elaborate, but I'm interested in seeing people's answers.

Last edited by DJRnold on 03 Jan 2009, 8:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Technicially, I think it's something you're born with. You can develop characteristics of it, though.

Probably not, but I think most "mental conditions" (for lack of a better term) flare up and worsen during adolescence. Many only become apparent then, so they might look like they just appeared, but there are almost always littls signs before.

I was more "inattentive" when I was a kid, and then when I hit puberty, I became more "hyperactive"...but I have had issues associated with ADD since I was a kid.

I dont think so, its either your born with it or not born with it, its that simple of a concept.

No.

ADD and ADHD must have been present from before age 7.

That's what you must fit if you have AD(H)D.

Though there is a diagnosis for those professionals demand to have parents reporting for your but if that's not possible. I assume I'll get that one too, which is ADHD-nos. Nos means 'not otherwise specified' and is the category for everyone who doesn't fit all necessary criteria.

It's unusual to get that diagnosis though. If you started being inattentive or hyperactive out of sudden sometime in your teens, professional might first look into bipolar disorder. ADHD-nos is usually not considered.

Last edited by Sora on 04 Jan 2009, 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

Some ADD person are not diagnosed (at least in my country) so they might think they became ADD with years but it's just like realizing you have AS traits or other disorder traits, you grow aware of it.
I've read that some people become less ADD when they grow up but it's not always the case, especially when you're undiagnosed...

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My view is that people in adolescence who are (undiagnosed) ADD may ask themselves if what they have is neurological in nature, that is, along the lines of is there a name/label for what they have like: ADHD Inattentive, central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), petit/absence/TLE/complex partial, side-effect of a from birth brain injury, mild cerebral palsy, etc.? ADD, to my knowledge, is present from birth (simplified answer). There are cases where persons can suffer brain injuries/sports concussions which can cause attention deficit(s)/ADD symptoms/ADD-like symptoms. That's my understanding.

Symptoms can get worse when you are under stress. That's probably why it is diagnosed around the time you start school.

There is acquired ADHD from brain injury but it's rare.

I think a lot of people will think they have a mild form of ADHD because of attention problems but really it's this new technological age that is to blame. And those people don't have half the problems of someone that was born with ADHD.

I've had it all my life, more inattenive than hyperactive though I still do exhibit some hyperactivity. It was clear in school that something wasn't right but there was never a name for it. But now I've got two names to describe it and I'm no longer in school.