From desks to the office: the importance of adapting the approach to ADHD throughout life

“When I was six, I was sent to a writing workshop because I wrote very poorly,” recalls Enrique García de la Noceda. “And what seemed like a child who wrote poorly ended up being ADHD .” His diagnosis took a while to come, but the symptoms were always there: difficulty maintaining attention, impulsiveness , a need to move, constant fatigue . “I was a child who had a hard time sitting still for an entire hour. Sometimes I had to get up in the middle of class and go to the bathroom or wherever because what I needed was a distraction.”

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders . According to Dr. Alberto Fernández Jaén , head of the Pediatric Neurology Department at Quirónsalud Madrid University Hospital, it is characterized by a series of symptoms that have a significant impact on the child's life: "These symptoms range from difficulty paying attention , being absent-minded or forgetful, being restless or impulsive, and how these symptoms have a significant impact on the individual's academic and social life, self-esteem, and quality of life ."

Enrique experienced it firsthand: “I remember finishing school when I was very young, very, very tired. I had a terrible time starting to do my homework because I didn't have a single minute of concentration left.”

The disorder is primarily genetic, although factors related to pregnancy, childbirth, or early development may also play a role. The estimated incidence is around 5% to 6% of the child and adolescent population , according to Dr. Fernández Jaén. Of these, two-thirds will no longer have ADHD symptoms in adulthood due to the creation of synaptic connections in certain areas of the brain, but another third will continue to have the disorder and may experience comorbidity with anxiety or addiction problems.

“ADHD treatment should be individualized and may require four types of interventions: family, educational, psychological, and medical or pharmacological.”

Despite the burden it represents, an early diagnosis can radically change the prognosis. "ADHD treatment should always be individualized and may require four types of interventions: family professionalization, educational intervention in the classroom, psychological intervention, and, finally, medical or pharmacological intervention," he states.

Enrique is well acquainted with this holistic approach. In addition to medication, he has learned to rely on practical strategies to organize his day. “I usually have a meeting every day at 9 a.m., and then I sit down for 10-15 minutes to think about what I need to do. I write it down on a piece of paper, and that sheet of paper stays with me throughout the day. As soon as I get distracted, I go back to my notebook, look at it, and say, ‘Okay, point one is done, let's move on to point two.’”

For him, these tools are as important as medicine. “Developing a series of personal tools has been key. Simple things like sitting in the front row with a notebook and pen, or not having notifications turned on on your phone so you don't get distracted. Reducing everything that can be a source of stimulation for you.”

"I started psychiatric treatment because adolescence arrived, with many changes, and you start to question ADHD a lot."

The path to balance has also included psychological support . “I started psychiatric treatment because adolescence arrived, with many changes, and you start to question your ADHD a lot. There you understand how your mind works, why there are certain things that cause you anxiety… Because there are also symptoms like the fear of loneliness, for example, and you have to treat that.”

After so many years of experience, Dr. Fernández Jaén recognizes the positive impact that a well-focused treatment can have: “I am relieved to see how this approach has changed over the years, and I am personally very comforted by the progress our patients make when diagnosed early.”

For Enrique, living with ADHD is no longer a disadvantage. On the contrary. “I've often had to talk to friends or children of friends who were recently diagnosed, and what I tell them is that they need to get treatment, manage it well , understand what it is… and then what they'll have is a blessing, not a disorder. Because knowing how to think differently than others is truly an advantage.”