Browsing by Author "Forsberg, Kit Arvid"

Aim. Earlier research shows how undiagnosed ADHD has many negative consequences. Different studies show how there are many possible reasons why so many are left without a diagnosis. The aim of this study is to get a deeper understanding of ADHD and examine how individuals in elementary school have been affected by a missed diagnosis and lacking support. Methods. This thesis is an interview study that is based in hermeneutic theory of research. For this thesis, four individuals were interviewed during the months of February and March, 2023. All four interviewees got their diagnoses in adulthood. The interviews were analyzed and interpreted by using the method of thematic analysis. Results and conclusions. The study found five overlapping themes during the analysis phase, which were the presentation of the diagnosis, stigma and the environment, comorbidity, parents' participation and teachers' behavior. Three out of four interviewees had the inattentive presentation of ADHD, and the majority suffered from comorbidities. There was a pattern between experienced stigma and support-teaching. The school environment and parents influenced the amount of stigma that was experienced. Parents' participation seemed to have affected the individuals' ability to perform in school, even though the individuals' difficulties were similar to each other. Teachers' behavior and reactions directly affected the individuals' attitudes towards school. All interviewees wished for an improvement in how teachers acted in the classroom.