Are You Part of the Lost Generation?

The adults who were never told, but always knew something was different

I used to think I was just “bad at the basics.” Lost keys. Half-finished projects. A mind sharp enough to solve complex problems, yet forgets his car keys. Then I learned there’s a name for it. Not a character flaw. Not laziness. A wiring difference.

If you’re reading this, there is a good chance you’re part of a quiet crowd walking around with the same secret: you didn’t get a neurodivergent diagnosis as a kid, and you’re only now putting the puzzle together as an adult. You are not alone. In the U.S., about half of adults who carry an ADHD diagnosis received it at 18 or older. That is millions of people who grew up without a map.

And this is bigger than ADHD. Recent research on autism in older adults shows jaw-dropping underdiagnosis: roughly 9 in 10 autistic people in midlife were never identified, and in those over 60 it is closer to 97 percent. That is not a rounding error. That is a generation left out of the conversation until now.

Why so many were missed

In the 80s and 90s, the cultural story was simple: ADHD was for little boys who bounced off walls. Autism was portrayed as rare and obvious. Real life was different. Many of us learned to mask, to overachieve in one area to hide what was crumbling in another, or to survive by becoming the class clown, the workhorse, the perfectionist, the ghost. As adults, we still feel the cost: shame about “easy” things, social hangovers after small talk, or a home full of half-finished “I’ll get to it” projects.

The data backs up what you feel. Reviews note that in at least one study, 75 percent of adults with ADHD had never been diagnosed as children. Other work shows most adults with ADHD still don’t know they have it, or only discover it when everything finally tips.

The quiet grief no one warned us about

Getting language for your brain is relief. It can also sting. You notice the years you called yourself lazy when you were actually overloaded. The career paths you didn’t try because “paperwork eats me alive.” The relationships that bent around your sensitivities you didn’t have words for. If that grief shows up, it means you are telling the truth about your life. That is good news. Truth is fertile ground.

The quick gut-check

No quizzes. Just a few “be honest” snapshots.

Do basic admin tasks feel heavier than they seem for others, even while you can hyper-focus for hours on something you love?
Do small social asks drain you, even with people you like?
Do sounds, lights, tags, textures, or crowded rooms push you into overwhelm fast?
Do schedule changes tilt your whole day?
Have you built workarounds that look quirky from the outside but are actually survival systems?

If your body said yes before your brain did, keep reading.

What a diagnosis can change

A diagnosis will not turn you into a different person. It gives you three things adults rarely get: accurate language, targeted tools, and permission to stop fighting yourself. Treatments and supports range from therapy and coaching to workplace accommodations and, when appropriate, medication. Early results from recent U.S. surveys suggest many adults are still in the dark, yet help starts with a simple conversation with a qualified clinician.

Start here this week

Name it. Write one “hard in a silly way” task that keeps tripping you. Bills. Email. Forms. Name the friction, not your character.
Shrink it. If there is a task you’ve been avoiding, cut it in half, then in half again. Fifteen minutes, one page, one phone call.
Phone a pro. If this piece felt like your reflection, schedule an evaluation with a licensed clinician who understands adult ADHD and autism. Bring a short history and examples. If cost or access is an issue, ask your primary care doctor for local options and referrals.

If you grew up without a map

You’ve been carrying extra weight without realizing the map was missing. You can forgive the kid who tried to be perfect or invisible. You can choose supports that fit the life you have now, and you can stop apologizing for the way your brain works.

If this felt familiar, I put together a short guide called The Lost Generation Checklist Below.

The Focused Fool Newsletter – The Neurodivergent Dad.

Sources

CDC MMWR: About half of U.S. adults with current ADHD report first receiving the diagnosis at age 18 or older.
Abdelnour et al., 2022 review: In one study, 75% of adults with ADHD had not been diagnosed in childhood.
WebMD roundup: Several studies suggest fewer than 1 in 5 adults with ADHD know they have it.
King’s College London review coverage: ~90% of autistic adults in midlife undiagnosed; ~97% over 60.
OSU Wexner Medical Center survey: 25% of adults suspect undiagnosed ADHD.