Being diagnosed with ADHD can feel like a complicated and isolating experience—but for Vanessa, her ADHD diagnosis as a 28-year-old Latina gave her much-needed clarity. Vanessa spent most of her life questioning why "simple" tasks were so challenging. She knew something was not right, so she sought out a psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety disorders. In this two-part episode, reporter Carmen Marquez explores the challenges of receiving a correct ADHD diagnosis, the cultural misconceptions that prevent parents from acknowledging the illness, and how embracing a diagnosis can lead to self-empowerment and healing.
Several risk factors define the relationship between ADHD and immigration. Socioeconomic stress is a primary concern, as immigrant families often face financial instability, which can increase the likelihood of stress-related conditions, including ADHD. Language barriers can also complicate the process of seeking and receiving proper diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the experience of pre-migration trauma and the stress of navigating a new cultural landscape may exacerbate ADHD symptoms or increase the likelihood of a diagnosis.
Dr. Nadar says it’s crucial to understand how ADHD presents differently based on cultural norms.
Dr. Nadar: So for example, somebody who's an immigrant might have gotten so used to having to constantly do backflips to belong in a certain society, right? Because we're moving into a society that isn't ours, because we want to belong. So a person who is coming from another country is going to try to mask their actual experience and try to present an experience or a way of being that is more in line with the new society that they're in.
The process of diagnosing and treating ADHD in immigrant populations poses several challenges. Language barriers and cultural differences can lead to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis. For instance, behaviors that might be considered normal in one culture could be interpreted as symptoms of ADHD in another.
ADHD is not merely about attention deficits; it includes a range of experiences, from emotional regulation to self-perception.
Dr. Nadar: The big one for me is, like, somebody comes in objectively looking at them, they have a good job, they have degrees, they have a family, and from the outside looking in everything is great, right? But they'll come into my office and there'll be this theme of, I just can't get myself together.
The Attention Deficit Disorder Association says many ADHDers are high achievers. They get advanced degrees, build thriving careers, and launch successful businesses. However, they’ve likely worked twice as hard as their peers to achieve it due to their ADHD. Outward success often hides high-functioning ADHD. The effort put into workarounds and coping mechanisms can sometimes lead to burnout, exhaustion, and anxiety if not properly addressed.
Missing appointments, buses, flights, or trains. Running late and forgetting dates. Struggling to manage time. Constantly procrastinating. Trouble sitting still and reading for long periods. Getting easily distracted. Interrupting others in conversations. Struggling with self-esteem and leaving things unfinished. These are among the most common behaviors of high-functioning ADHD.
Dr. Nadar: Another thing that I look for is, um, basically their presentation within the room. Like, it doesn't have to be a hyperactive presentation. It might just be sometimes that, you know, they're talking about one thing and then they're jumping to something else and then they're jumping to something else. And even though I have ADHD, I can follow them, right? But somebody maybe who doesn't have ADHD might be like, Wait, how did you get from here to here?
Recent findings indicate that ADHD continues to be less frequently diagnosed in young people of color and female, compared to those who are white and male. Girls continue to be diagnosed at older ages than boys, and tend to endorse higher levels of perceived stress. These disparities stem from a variety of factors, however racial and gender bias is likely to play a major role. Dr. Nadar says for Latinas, symptoms look really different.
Dr. Nadar: Quiet, withdrawn, very anxious, some isolation, irritation in interpersonal relationships, over developed control mechanisms, like if someone breaks your process you’re like AHH! and that doesn’t look like ADHD the way people think of ADHD.
She emphasizes the need for culturally competent healthcare providers who understand the specific challenges faced by BIPOC individuals.
Dr. Nadar: Almost every Latina patient that has come to me either A) did not catch their ADHD or B) was assessed and said they didn’t have ADHD. And then through my assessment they did have ADHD.
It’s over 93 degrees with high humidity, and Dr. Zoe Smith is in her office writing while drinking a big glass of water. Dr. Z - as her students affectionately call her, is an assistant professor of psychology at Loyola University Chicago. She directs a program that provides free mental health assessments for Black and Latino teens with ADHD.
Dr. Z: They've gone to other providers, they've gone and been told again and again, no, nothing, nothing, nothing's happening, nothing's wrong. And of course nothing's wrong other than the providers that they go to not believing their experiences.
She tells me that many of the families in her program experience systemic racism and stigma, which can deter them from seeking help and accepting diagnoses.
Dr. Z: Oftentimes, the people that we serve have gone to providers, and these providers have biases against families that are kind of entrenched in racism, entrenched in a lack of education on how symptoms appear different for different people.
Dr. Z has seen parents respond to an ADHD diagnosis in many ways.
Dr. Smith: There is still this, like, really heavy mental health stigma in our community that I again, I understand why that's happening like we talked about before but they're too scared to have their parents be involved for because of that stigma and then we also have parents who have a lot of fear about having a label and so They recognize that something's going on, but there's a lot of fear about well What does this mean about me as a parent? What does this mean? Like did I fail? It's a lot of internalized guilt and a lot of I don't know, I don't know exactly what it is, but it's like, it's, it seems like some negative self beliefs about being a parent of a kid who's struggling and blaming themselves for that.
As July Flores stood in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, she gazed at the worn swings and colorful slides of her childhood playground nestled in Woodridge, Illinois the heart of the western suburbs of Chicago. The familiar scent of sun-baked wood and freshly cut grass triggered a rush of memories—laughter, carefree days, and the thrill of adventure that once filled her life. Now, at 23 and recently diagnosed with ADHD, she felt a mixture of nostalgia and newfound clarity.
July Flores: This is my safe space because whenI felt like I didn't belong anywhere or when I felt like I had too much responsibility laid on me um coming to the space I was able to be Julie, be someone that didn't have responsibility who didn't have all this pressure on them to be a certain way, to act a certain way where I could just feel free.
For July, this space has been a refuge—starting at the playground, to enjoy quiet moments of reflection. When we met in August, she was processing some major news.
July Flores: I got diagnosed with ADHD about a month ago. So it's definitely been an adjustment. I started taking medication as well. I'm currently taking, it's a really long name. It's methilatadine. Right now I'm taking five milligrams, but I take it twice a day. So it's a total of 10 milligrams.
There are five types of medication that doctors prescribe for ADHD. The most common for children is the stimulant methylphenidate, of which the best-known brand is Ritalin. Lisdexamfetamine is also a stimulant, taken daily; dexamfetamine is similar, taken two to four times a day.
Atomoxetine is not a stimulant; it boosts the levels of noradrenaline, a chemical which passes messages between cells in the brain. July experienced some changes after starting on medication.
July Flores: I could actually start concentrating a little bit better and, and focusing more on things that I was doing. So if it meant, like, work tasks or even just like driving, because of it, it got to the point where. It was getting very bad. Like, I could not concentrate on a 20 minute, 15 minute drive home. Um, I was always kind of losing track of everything that was in front of me.
Recent studies from Epic Research show that ADHD diagnoses nearly doubled among women ages 23 to 49 from 2020 to 2022. Experts believe that this rise is partly due to a better understanding of how ADHD affects girls and women.
For someone like July, an adult diagnosis can offer real perspective.
July Flores: I would describe it as confusing. Confusing, and it almost felt like I was drowning. I was doing my big girl job, and I was just losing focus on a lot of things while I was Working on some case notes or I was reviewing a file. Next thing I knew, I was in the middle of a file review and then I turned to my computer and I would do something completely different. And it was like I had no control over my movements and kind of like my brain.
Recently, women on social media have begun to recognize that their inattentive traits might indicate ADHD. Many have posted videos about their experiences with an ADHD diagnosis, providing relief to others who struggled to understand their own behaviors.
July Flores: Ever since I was younger, I felt like I was a very distracted kid. Like I felt like I couldn't really hyper focus on something. Like I literally had to put my whole being into being very focused on something like a conversation almost. Or following directions got me into a lot of trouble, my parents would obviously say you're not listening to me and it's like I'm sitting there and I'm like, listen, listen, listen. And trying to block out every other noise and I'm like, I know I have to listen or else I'm going to get in trouble. You know, like I need to understand what she's saying. And then she's like, okay, go do it. And then I'm like, wait, what did she say?
Although it was hard to accept, July knew she needed help.
July Flores: I was getting text messages from my boyfriend. As you know, I was doing my old routine. Texting, driving, going on TikTok, driving, and, or, you know, zoning out. I got a text message from my boyfriend and he's like, I can see your location moving. Why are you texting? Why are you on TikTok while you're driving? And I felt embarrassed because I was like, this is the first time someone called me out on it. And it's so easy to say it, but it's so embarrassing to admit it.
For many Latinas, cultural expectations can complicate the journey to seek help. As a Latina with ADHD, July has some advice for other Latinas who may suspect they also have it.
July Flores: Write those symptoms down. Write those things that you were always told or taught. That's just you, or that's just a part of your personality. Or, you're just not that good at this, you're just not that good at that. Especially if it comes academically, especially if it's personality wise. Um, and speak out to a professional about it.
It wasn’t until July came across a Latina psychiatrist that she learned what was going on.
July Flores: I've been in treatment, in therapy, psychotherapy, psychiatrists, all of them since I was 13 years old. I did not have a Hispanic/Latina doctor or therapist until I was 21 years old. That's about almost eight years of my life that I was working with, you know, cis women, cis white men, white women that did not understand the culture that I was coming from.
Despite the challenges, July says her diagnosis has been a relief.
July Flores: I had this like, sigh of relief where I was like, okay, what do I do next? Like, how can I get my life back together? Like, how do I get rid of this, you know, mind-altering pattern that makes me feel like crap at the end of the day, you know, like, I thought I was a chronic procrastinator. No, I have ADHD.
It’s a beautiful sunny evening at the 606 trail in west Humboldt Park, people are walking, cycling and playing music on the north trail. It’s a typical location for 27 year old Karolina Kuhl who likes to walk with her boyfriend, friends and dogs.
Karolina Kuhl: My mother is from Poland. She immigrated here in the 70’s, my dad is from Guatemala he immigrated here at about the 80’s so yeah, two different, distinct cultures coming together.
Although Karolina does not have direct Mexican roots, her mother later married her Mexican stepfather who greatly influenced her upbringing.
Karolina Kuhl: There were some Polish traditions here and there that we would practice, but mostly Mexican music and Mexican food was seen throughout our house all the time.
Just like July Flores, Karolina suspected something was amiss with her. During grad school, in her social work program she began noticing symptoms.
Karolina Kuhl: I was dealing with a lot of issues, retaining information per usual; and it was exasperated because of the pandemic. We had to be virtual, have online classes, and so it was definitely difficult for me to pay attention and stay focused and stay interested in what I was learning.
It was then that Karolina noticed a pattern, and began asking her mother and sisters about her childhood, looking at her report cards from kindergarten to seventh grade.
Karolina Kuhl: All the teachers I had would say they would write down comments on the report card saying basically the same thing like, ‘Oh, she's forgetful. She doesn't pay attention. She forgets all of her supplies, her homework. She has a tendency to, like, lie about the things that she has done in terms of work and all that stuff. Um, and gets really frustrated easily, especially when it comes to, like, math and sciences.’
It took three years for her to get the appropriate diagnosis.
Karolina Kuhl: The first time I took the testing the environment wasn't set up for someone to feel comfortable, I guess, so I was pretty much distracted the whole time because it was in a very low lit office area. The light was, like flickering, on and off. It was in one of the city hospitals that we have that are very underfunded.
No, no, so that's another thing that I had to deal with in trying to seek medication is sort of being asked, like, very intrusive questions like why I'm seeking medication, like why, um, why now? And it's like, why just got diagnosed now? Like, I want to be able to do the things I have to do without feeling like it takes a whole day to do just one thing, you know?
For Karolina, explaining her diagnosis to her mother was a challenge.
Karolina Kuhl: Well, when I told my mom, like, well, she's an immigrant, so like, naturally, I guess, like, in European countries they’re very I would say, uh, There's also stigmatization of mental health and like neurocognitive disorders, like there's not really a general understanding of it.
It took Karolina years of struggle and self-discovery to get to where she is today–fully aware of her condition and able to manage it with confidence. Along the way, she learned to battle stigma, advocate for herself, and navigate life with a condition that is as complex as it is misunderstood.
Karolina Kuhl: As a therapist, I have a lot of notes to do on my clients about like every session that I've had that week. There were moments where I would leave things to the last minute and procrastinate and then I would do it. I'll do all my notes. So sometimes it would be like 40 notes at once, and I'm just like, Oh my God, I got to get these done somehow. So I'll put on some, like, salsa music cause that's one of the things that I found on my journey is like salsa music really gets me going because it reminds me of, like, Sunday mornings where my mom would turn it on and she would start cleaning. And it would wake me up.
Karolina’s diagnoses as an adult also caused heavy sadness.
Karolina Kuhl: It just goes back to almost re parenting myself, if that makes sense. And it also reminds me of what I could have gotten as a child, I guess the special type of attention or special type of parenting that really goes into having a child with something like this.
Being a therapist and seeing, um, like Latina mothers that, um, are coming to find out that their children have something like this, like in the back of my mind, I'm just like, ‘Oh, how lovely is it to have a parent or parents that are really trying to understand their child and really develop a life where they're able to be able to accommodate themselves and really helped them thrive.’
Ultimately, Karolina encourages others to embrace their neurodiversity as a unique strength rather than a deficiency, reinforcing that those with ADHD possess valuable skills and perspectives.
CREDITS:
100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Woods Fund Chicago, the Field Foundation of Illinois, Pritzker Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the series’ fiscal sponsor.
This episode was reported by me, Carmen Marquez. Juleyka Lantigua is the show's creator, executive producer, and editor. Virginia Lora is the senior producer. Fact checking by Jennifer Goren. Mixing by Anne Lim, and mixing and sound design by Tren Lightburn. Michelle Baker is our senior producer. Corey Doran is our marketing associate. Cover art by Reina Noriega.
For more information, resources, photos, annotated transcripts of all episodes, and Spanish translations, visit 100LatinaBirthdays. com. That's the number 100 Latina birthdays dot com. Follow us on Instagram, X, and Facebook at 100LatinaBirthdays.
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