The Cost of Undiagnosed ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia

Who is really discussing the cost of those still undiagnosed with ADHD, autism, or dyslexia? While I am concerned for people who might have other conditions like clinical depression or thyroid issues and are misdiagnosed with ADHD, I am especially worried about the damage done when a person goes through life not knowing why certain parts of learning, working, and living are much harder for them than for others.

For the record, I'm not a medical doctor or licensed mental health professional. I’m a guy who vacillated between winning various longshots and struggling to do the small but required things before getting diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in my early thirties. I went from being a night manager at a coffee shop to becoming a full-time English instructor at a university in three short years after diagnosis. More importantly, thanks to medication and behavior modifications, I lock myself out of my house and car 99.9% less often.

They say we're over-diagnosing people left and right. Yet more than a handful of my friends have recently found out they have ADHD, autism, or dyslexia after their children received a diagnosis. Might I have a similar number of friends who aren’t diagnosed merely because they don’t have children? Might they only be missing that inciting incident? Or might others have been in environments or careers where their strengths and weaknesses have been nearly invisible?

I didn’t get diagnosed until trying to get into grad school. I had pushed as far as possible with the coping mechanisms at my disposal. But the cognitive load of the work at hand was greater than I could compensate for. That’s when I finally started listening to mentors and professors who suggested I might benefit from some help. My story isn't unique—thousands of people with neurodivergent conditions struggle silently due to a lack of diagnosis.

Research shows that approximately 4.4% of U.S. adults have ADHD, yet many remain undiagnosed (NIMH, 2017). For autism, around 2.2% of adults are affected, with thousands going undiagnosed due to variability in presentation (CDC, 2023). The annual economic burden of undiagnosed ADHD alone is estimated at over $87 billion (CHADD, 2020). An article from Scientific American by Sarah Carr states that "up to around 20 percent of the U.S. population has dyslexia," and it is often those who are "white middle- and upper-income students" who get diagnosed, while others struggle without the necessary help (Carr, 2023). Untreated ADHD, autism, and dyslexia can lead to higher rates of comorbid conditions like anxiety and depression, along with decreased productivity. I was moody. Let's put it like that.

Many job roles like administrative assistants and middle managers have been eliminated or reduced, leading to increased cognitive load and task-switching costs for other employees. The number of systems, processes, and challenges involved in managing information has grown exponentially. I've got a feeling that the percentage of neurodivergent people in the population at large could be remaining constant but appear to be increasing due to these occupational, informational, and societal changes.

Let's work toward reducing stigma and ensuring those with neurodivergent conditions receive accurate diagnoses and support. If you or someone you know suspects they might have ADHD, dyslexia, or autism, consider seeking an evaluation from a licensed mental health professional. Diagnosis and intervention, even late in life, can make all the difference. Take it from me, a guy spending a lot less time locked out of his house these days.

Help raise awareness of the cost of undiagnosed ADHD, dyslexia, and autism by sharing this article or one of the linked references I've placed in the comments, or by supporting someone when they ask for help.

Note: A few thoughtful questions that Gillian Forth, MA, ACC posted here on LinkedIn started me down this path today.

About the image:I created the image with the help of GPT4. Here is a fuller version of the Alt Text: A young boy sits at a desk with an open book, looking distressed and holding his forehead with one hand while surrounded by a chaotic crowd. Several people gesture and lean toward him, offering a pencil, books, and advice. The boy appears overwhelmed, as multiple hands reach out to him. The background features a distant village scene with a church steeple. The image has a Renaissance-style painting aesthetic.

References:

Carr, S. (2023). Too many schools are misdiagnosing dyslexia. Scientific American.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Data and statistics about ADHD.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2017). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adults.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). (2020). The economic burden of ADHD.