9.6% of children ages 3-17 have an ADHD diagnosis. Living with ADHD as a child can be very challenging, so it’s essential to support your child as much as possible. Unfortunately, some children with ADHD feel the need to mask their symptoms. But what is ADHD masking, and how does it affect your child? Keep reading to learn how you can help support your kiddo.
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What Is ADHD Masking?
ADHD masking is a term that Russell Barkley created. He used this term to describe behaving in ways that conceal symptoms of ADHD. It can be intentional or entirely subconscious. People around individuals who mask usually don’t realize that they’re dealing with this neurodevelopmental disorder.
Someone masking ADHD may be able to blend into society better than someone presenting with typical symptoms. Unfortunately, the negative aspect of doing this is that some people suppress symptoms so much that they impact their life negatively. Examples of ADHD masking are:
- Being quiet and cautious about what you say
- Reacting in a way you think you should vs. how you feel
- Obsessively checking your belongings to make sure you haven’t lost anything
- Being unable to relax leading up to appointments, often co-occurring with time blindness
Read more: What Is ADHD Brain Fog?
Masking ADHD symptoms can cause problems in your child’s life as they progress into their later years. The longer they go without a diagnosis, the better they get at ADHD masking, making a proper diagnosis more challenging as an adult.
Impact of ADHD Masking
ADHD masking typically manifests in children who feel shame around their diagnosis. Conversely, a child who accepts their diagnosis as something manageable will often not worry themselves with ADHD masking.
ADHD masking can occur in pre-adolescent children when they become more independent and want to fit in with their friends. Children may try and mask certain behaviors they perceive will potentially land them in trouble. These symptoms and behaviors can include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fidgeting and restlessness
- Forgetfulness
- Inability to properly listen to others
- Making careless mistakes
- Regularly losing items
- Excessive talking
- Consistent interrupting of conversations
Read More: What is ADHD Time Blindness?
A child masking might feel more in control of their lives and symptoms. But unfortunately, the impact of ADHD masking means that they may not receive an accurate diagnosis until later in life, which means they can struggle until having a diagnosis. Therefore, ensuring your child gets diagnosed early is essential if you want to help your child find ways of coping with symptoms of ADHD.
Inheriting ADHD
If you have ADHD, there’s a 50% chance that your child will also have ADHD. Take our brief quiz below to see if you share common symptoms with adults who have an ADHD diagnosis.
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Ways of Coping With ADHD Masking
If you feel you’re masking your ADHD symptoms, there are several things you can do to try to help compact your urge to mask your symptoms. Some of these strategies can include:
Read more: Learning Videos for Kids
1. Seeing a Doctor for a Diagnosis
Taking your child to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis is the first step to getting them the support and resources they need. It’s beneficial for the people around them to know of their diagnosis and how they can be supportive as well.
2. Develop Emotional Regulation Skills
Teaching your child to manage and regulate their emotions is a great way to help them manage impulsivity. To support your child who masks their ADHD, help them understand how to maintain mindful responses, actions, and reactions in challenging situations.
Read more: What Is ADHD Paralysis?
Try Goally For Your Child With ADHD
Goally is an excellent option for many families that have a child with ADHD. Use game play as a points-based motivator for your kiddo with ADHD, help them learn emotional regulation skills, and watch them grow! It’s simple to set up and has an expert-informed design.
Drop the ADHD Stigma Today
Understanding ADHD masking and how it can affect your child is essential to getting your child the proper diagnosis and help. In addition, teaching your child that there is nothing wrong with having ADHD means that your child can have a better chance of functioning properly as an adult. There is no shame in having ADHD at any age, and often people with ADHD have their own strengths.
This post was originally published on 12/08/2022. It was updated on 06/14/2023.
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