ADHD in Latino and Hispanic Communities: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

Latinos and Hispanic Americans are part of every community we serve. Yet their unique stories, struggles, and gifts as they experience ADHD have only been highlighted in the larger conversation very recently. As ADHD professionals, it’s our job to continue to educate ourselves about the communities we serve. To learn what it’s like to walk in another’s shoes. And to ensure that all our patients, clients, students and families feel seen, heard, and understood.

Hispanic Heritage Month starts September 15th, but we’re kicking it off early because Latino and Hispanic stories aren’t just for one month. They’re for right now and we want to make sure EVERY community we serve knows that this conference is made for YOU.

ADHD Challenges in Latino Communities

Statistics and studies are quick to note that there is an ADHD Diagnosis Gap in Latino communities.

Children of Latino or Hispanic descent are far less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than white children, despite exhibiting symptoms that are just as severe.

Children of Latino heritage were significantly less likely to receive treatment for ADHD compared to white children, even after controlling for socioeconomic status (SES), according to research published in Pediatrics. Hispanic youngsters were also significantly less likely than white youngsters to receive a diagnosis after accounting for SES, according to the research.

An analysis published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics concluded that ADHD medication treatment disparities were some of the biggest gaps across all racial and ethnic groups studied.

There are many causes, and they overlap.

The mental health system is simply not meeting Spanish-speaking families where they are. Language barriers lead people to avoid seeking help because they don’t understand what others are saying about their child’s behavior. It makes it difficult to understand and engage with the evaluation process. It means families are forced to navigate a system that doesn’t speak their language and thus doesn’t make space for them. In that space lives a cultural stigma around mental health. Latinos are taught from a young age about the importance of family secrets. To share mental health struggles is to risk the idea that you come from a home that doesn’t know how to cope or that you are personally ashamed of your family. They don’t want to defy their families or make their parents feel ashamed.

Because many Latino families don’t trust systems designed to treat and educate their children, they suffer in silence. Immigration status. Getting pulled over by a cop who decides to ask where you’re from. Making ends meet. All of these things prevent Latino families from seeking specialty care for their children that could greatly improve their quality of life.

Culture and ADHD

As with any group, it is critical to understand culture when examining ADHD in Latino communities. Latino culture has particular ideas about children’s behavior and responsibilities, as well as expectations about mental health and psychiatric disorders.

Familismo, respeto, and personalismo are all Latino cultural values that have been shown to impact the ADHD experience.

As previously stated, Latino families value closeness and loyalty. They prioritize family over friends or other relationships. The family will provide for you if you need it. They will provide you with food when you are hungry and a place to live when you have no money. But they can also punish you if you behave in ways that are seen as disappointing or embarrassing. In some cases, families have severed ties with a family member because of their ADHD.

ADHD children who are impulsive may be seen as disrespectful in a culture that values respect so highly. They could be spanked rather than evaluated. Instead of recognizing that a child who is unable to focus may have ADHD, they could assume the parent is a bad mother.

Latinos tend to place a strong emphasis on respeto, or respect for authority. They have great respect for their elders and those in charge.

ADHD symptoms could be chalked up to disrespect rather than a disease that requires evaluation. Adults who are easily distracted by ADHD may be late for work or forget to do something important. They may lose their job because they are viewed as disrespectful rather than seeking help to find answers.

Personal connections are also highly valued in Latino culture. Latinos want to like their doctors, teachers, and psychologists. If they don’t feel a connection, they may not open up about their mental health struggles.

Culture influences how Latinos perceive ADHD symptoms and whether or not they seek treatment. Latinos may ignore ADHD symptoms because they believe they can be managed with strong family connections or don’t want to look bad in front of their family.

Strength in our Community

Family is a strength in Latino culture. The ties that bind many Latino families are strong and can help with ADHD management. For decades, researchers have been studying Latino families’ resiliency.

Strong family ties could be the only buffer between a Latino child with ADHD and negative outcomes. A caring and consistent adult can help a child with ADHD thrive, and many Latino households have multiple caring adults to fill those roles.

Faith also plays a significant role in the Latino community. Whether you believe in God or not. Latino Americans are among the most likely to attend religious services each week. Catholicism and Protestantism are also significant sources of social structure for Latino families. Churches can be a powerful tool for providing ADHD information to Latino families because pastors and leaders are trusted voices in their communities.

Imagine being able to reach these families right where they are and providing information from a faith perspective. That empowers pastors, pastors’ kids, and church-going families to better navigate life with ADHD.

Latino Communities and ADHD: Learning Together

Overcoming the gaps in ADHD diagnosis and treatment will need more than Spanish brochures. It needs bilingual providers who understand the culture. It starts with outreach in our communities, churches, and community centers. It requires us to think about the whole family when we think about a child with ADHD. Families are often the strong supporting system that Latino children need. Relationships take time. Trust must be developed. In order to reach Latino families, we must be willing to show up year-round.

Check out website at www.societyforadhd.org for ADHD resources, fact sheets and communities designed for diverse communities.