Hi, my name is Eve. I am a TU student in her final year. Throughout my life, there was one constant, and that was ADHD. Learning about ADHD and how it affects individuals has been eye-opening. I plan to continue educating myself and others on this topic. With ADHD, it doesn't just affect gender differently but race as well. Twenty-one studies found that in most of the minority groups of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), African Americans made up 15%. Over the years, with various factors, I have uncovered that connect to being undiagnosed, whether it's race, gender, or something else. (Cénat et al., 2020)
By these findings, I hope to raise awareness and advocate for better support and resources for individuals with ADHD, regardless of their background. It is crucial to address these problems to ensure that all the resources go to everyone and not one group over the other. For African American women, they are more at risk of being undiagnosed, either with the wrong diagnosis or not at all. (Cénat et al., 2020) African Americans are not more likely than the general US population to receive an ADHD diagnosis, according to the study, underscoring the need for more thorough ADHD testing and monitoring. (Cénat et al., 2020)
A few factors explain the variability observed in the studies:
Either overdiagnosis, which turns out to be wrong, or underdiagnosis, which turns out to be never diagnosed within the African American communities.
One could be based on economic status, which is a risk factor associated with a diagnosis of ADHD, and it's over or underdiagnosed.
Many studies reporting high rates of ADHD have included samples of African American individuals from disadvantaged families.
Limited access to insurance and mental health services for underprivileged families prevents children from receiving appropriate ADHD diagnoses.
I was more intrigued by the societies where individuals of minority groups, specifically in the United States, a disproportionate number of families are in the low-income group, which is associated with structural and systemic racism. These elements may likely serve as major risk factors associated with ADHD among African American individuals and may also limit access to healthcare services. It is crucial to address these systemic barriers to ensure that all children, regardless of anything, have equal access to mental health services and appropriate diagnoses. We can endeavor to enhance results for adults with ADHD from underprivileged homes by tackling these inequalities.
The goal of the article is to address African American people's knowledge of ADHD and related risk factors, such as racial difficulties. To provide an overall estimate of ADHD and identify the individual, family, and societal variables associated with the illness. The objective is to aid in the creation of more effective methods for recognizing and treating ADHD in African American people by providing information on culturally relevant therapies and support networks. The study synthesizes previous research to give trustworthy data based on evidence and culturally appropriate actions. With all these resources and information, I hope we all can have a better understanding of ADHD.
Sincerely,
Eve.
Cénat, J. M., Blais-Rochette, C., Morse, C., Vandette, M.-P., Noorishad, P.-G., Kogan, C., Ndengeyingoma, A., & Labelle, P. R. (2020). Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among US Black Individuals. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(1). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.2788
Comments