How old was everyone when they found out they had ADD/ADHD?

[Adult ADHD]

I was 48 and wish I had been tested earlier in life...I feel like I have missed out on so much.

[Brodie Stowell]

I was 57-so much would have been understood had I realized earlier in life

[Tina Anderson]

yeah I would have done so much better in school but such is life like Mssphoto said you have to let the past be the past and move on

[Christina Kasapi]

I was 30 I think, I can remember actually. I had never heard about ADD. A friend told me who was diagnosed.
Now I can understand so many things, I can understand why my mind is flowing away so many times...because Its independent :) My two of three children have ADD also, Its not always easy but we understand each other and make jokes about our ADD. I think we three love to be day dreamers, for me its like to live in another world sometimes.........

[EmotionGauge]

I'm not sure ... my mom and I started to talk about it when I was in my early 20's I think. I haven't had actual services for it until the last few years (and I'm 35). I think it's just been tough to know what it really is.

[Kim Iberg]

I was actually diagnosed, began treatment, education and a process group at 40. It's been 12 years and I couldn't be happier with my life! I have embraced it completely. Not just the fabulous parts but also how to cope and strategize for the parts I hadn't already figured out. One of my favorite things is realizing I'm a great speller... I can spell almost any word at least 3 ways.

[shane viens]

i was 24 and when i was 7 i could of got tested but my father was nothing but a drunk and beat me all the time, so he said no to the testing because he thought i would have told on him. this was back in 1987, i am now 30... i still feel like there is no hope.

[Kim Iberg]

No hope?

[shane viens]

no hope as in i am always going to be stuck where i'm at. i want to go back to school, i dont even have my grade 12 :( i am a very smart person, just not school smart...

[shane viens]

nice to meet you also :) i do think of myself as a very smart person, however in this day & age school smarts are all that seem to matter. i have a hard time not geting depressed or being happy about this. i cant even get my grade 12, when i was tested the notes say i need help with my schooling, so i went back to school. i got no help :( so i gave up. no i guess im just very upset, and i feel like there is no hope. i know there is hope. i just cant find it right now....

[shane viens]

i will not take pills because all they do is mess you up even more, maybe not right away but longterm they do. i would love to come first but never do lol. as for my GED i dont even think i can pass that. being depressed right now and most of the time makes me feel like that. :(

[Kim Iberg]

May I ask your age?

[David P. Bernard]

I was 52 when diagnosed with ADHD. Looking back over my life it is clear that I have had an ADD brain since early childhood. I've also had many of the challenges and failures that result from untreated ADD including marital, work, school, and interpersonal issues. Too bad no one ever diagnosed this until my wife literally forced me to confront my behavior. Only then did I seek out professional help.

I'm still struggling to find the right combination of medications, behavior modification, diet, exercise, etc. that will produce full and optimal treatment. Nonetheless, I am blessed to have this type of brain and appreciate the creative insights that have helped me in some aspects of my life.