Youths’ and Adults’ Stories Related to the Background for ADHD Assessment

Abstract

In connection with a study relating to the diagnosing of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), youths and adults represent a particularly interesting group, partly because they have lived a relatively long time with the condition but without the diagnosis. In this article, I am focusing particularly on the life stories of youths and adults before they were referred for an ADHD assessment. A narrative analysis of a body of empirical data material shows that the subjects’ stories about the background for their referral are dominated by three themes: substantial health-related disorders and problems, diffuse sensations that “something” was wrong, and experiences relating to their identification with the diagnosis. The study shows that most of the respondents had been in contact with their regular general practitioner (GP)—and in many cases had tried out various diagnoses and treatments—long before the question of ADHD was raised.