Adult ADHD: 7 practical tips for parenting success

Research has found that ADHD symptoms in parents are associated with harsher parenting behaviour and more lax parenting practices. However, parents’ ADHD symptoms do not appear to impact their ability to be warm, caring, and loving. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often goes undiagnosed in adults — including parents — but it has a significant impact on family life. A parent with ADHD may struggle with time management and remaining focused. They may seem to be in control, but their daily life can be chaotic with missed appointments, trouble remembering and enforcing rules at home and a struggle to meet responsibilities. When under stress, a parent with ADHD may be prone to moments of frustration and anger in response to minor provocations. This emotional struggle can lead to harsh responses to children, which parents often regret once the moment has passed. Understanding ADHD in adults ADHD involves patterns of inattention (forgetfulness, being easily distracted), hyperactivity (fidgeting, restlessness) and impulsivity (interrupting conversations or speaking out of turn). ADHD is highly heritable, which mean parents with ADHD will often have a child with ADHD. An estimated 8 percent of children worldwide have ADHD, while only 3 percent of adults meet criteria for ADHD. One reason for this difference may be that symptoms of ADHD especially hyperactivity/impulsivity become milder as individuals age. While some individuals may no longer meet ADHD diagnostic criteria in adulthood, they can still experience significant life impairments. These include poorer physical health and socio-economic outcomes compared to those with no history of ADHD. However, research indicates increase over the last decade in diagnosis of adult ADHD, probably due to increased awareness of ADHD and/or availability of clinical assessments. Several anecdotal reports indicate that parents only become aware of their own ADHD symptoms when seeking help for their children. ADHD’s impact on parenting ADHD’s tendency to be passed down in families has important implications because it can affect the way parents interact with their children. Research has found that ADHD symptoms in parents are associated with harsher parenting behaviour (like yelling at a child, overreactive and severe punishments) and more lax parenting practices (like inconsistent discipline or providing few or no boundaries). This makes sense in light of the symptoms of ADHD, including difficulties with forgetfulness and impulsivity. People with ADHD also often struggle with regulating intense emotions. Together, these symptoms can make it more difficult for parents to remain calm and consistent when interacting with their child. However, research also indicates that parents’ ADHD symptoms do not impact their ability to be warm, caring, and loving. Other research also suggests there is a “similarity fit” if a parent and child both have ADHD. In these families, parents with ADHD may also have more empathy and tolerance for their child’s difficulties and may be able to play more effectively with them because they can follow the pace of their child’s play. Practical strategies for parents with ADHD Raising kids with ADHD can be challenging. Children with ADHD often benefit from specific strategies…