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A Malaysian father discovered he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after three of his four children were diagnosed with the condition
Ahmad Faidzal Abdul Rashid, 41, an information technology (IT) engineer, said he had noticed certain behaviour and challenges since his school days, though he never fully understood them. He even sought help from a counsellor back then, but no clear answers were given.
"Even the counsellor didn't know the cause, possibly due to a lack of awareness about ADHD at the time," he told Harian Metro.
Still, he recognised certain traits, including being forgetful, not realising how loudly or excessively he was speaking, and struggling to keep secrets — behaviour that sometimes made people around him, including teachers, uncomfortable.
"I didn't know the cause until three of my children — my eldest, Ahmad Norman Adha, 14; my third child, Muawiyah, 8; and my youngest, Ali, 6 — were diagnosed with ADHD last year," he said.
He took his children to see a doctor after he and his wife noticed they had signs like delayed speech and hyperactivity
Further examinations later suggested that their condition could be linked to genetics.
"So, I also underwent an assessment and was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 40," he said.
Ahmad Faidzal admitted that it wasn't easy to accept the diagnosis at first, and initially went through a phase of denial.
"But eventually, I accepted it. What was harder was finding out that my children have ADHD. It was painful, and if I could turn back time, I might have chosen not to have a family because I felt like I was the cause," he shared.
Nevertheless, despite the diagnosis, he said he is still able to work and go about his daily routines without medication or therapy.
His three children, however, regularly attend medical check-ups and therapy sessions
"My eldest goes for check-ups every six months, my third child is still undergoing occupational therapy, while my youngest, who is also autistic, attends both occupational and speech therapy every two weeks.
"Doctors have found that three of my children have high IQ levels, which is their strength. But as a father, I still worry about their future," he said.
He hopes his children will grow up well and that society will be more understanding towards those with ADHD.
"I really hope for greater awareness, because although people with ADHD may appear normal, they do have their challenges.
"For those showing symptoms, seek help from doctors and get treatment. I've seen positive changes in my children after they started medication — it has supported their development and even helped them receive awards at school," he added.
