What Is ADHD in Adults?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often starts in early childhood, but an estimated 4% of adults have the condition. Adult ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may cause inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. The condition is the same whether it's in children or adults, but the symptoms might be different.

Symptoms in children may include a lack of attentiveness, daydreaming, or impulsive behavior. Signs of ADHD in adults may include extreme restlessness, forgetfulness, and trouble paying attention. The condition may also affect day-to-day life, causing problems with work or relationships. ADHD medications for adults, like stimulants, can manage symptoms.

Adult ADHD isn't totally understood, and that lack of understanding ends up causing a lot of misunderstanding. Here, people living with adult ADHD offered up some of the truths about coping with the condition to clear up some of the misconceptions about this condition.

Adult ADHD Symptoms

ADHD can cause inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity in adults. Common signs and symptoms of adult ADHD include:

• Being easily distracted or forgetful
• Difficulty following instructions and completing tasks
• Disorganization 
• Excessive talking or interrupting others
• Extreme restlessness
• Fidgeting 
• Making careless mistakes 
• Misplacing keys, wallets, phones, and other items
• Trouble paying close attention to details 

"I equate ADHD to having 50 pages open on a browser, and you keep jumping among all of them," Michelene Wasil, a marriage and family therapist who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 41, told Health. Other times, "I can hyper-focus and tune out the world."

"People with adult ADHD can actually focus extremely well on topics that they find stimulating and interesting," Dale Archer, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, told Health. "It's when the brain is bored that the mind begins to wander all too easily."

Terena Bell was diagnosed with ADHD at age 15. As an adult, Bell is growing a second start-up project, TVrunway, after selling a translation business.

"While I owned my first company, I was appointed to the White House Business Roundtable and took two calls with the President," Bell told Health. "So, when I cut the check to pay a bill but forget to mail it when I start to tell a story in the middle of a conversation, [the people around me] look at these amazing things I'm capable of doing and think I must just not be trying, but I am. I am trying every day, and I try very hard."

Adults with ADHD are also just as intelligent as those who don't have the condition. Their intelligence "is no different whatsoever than someone that doesn't have the diagnosis," said Dr. Archer.

Causes and Risk Factors

It's not exactly clear what causes ADHD in adults. Some risk factors that can increase the likelihood include:

• Brain injuries
• A family history of ADHD or other mental health conditions
• Lead exposure
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Poor social environment
• Premature birth

How To Diagnose ADHD in Adults

Many people diagnosed with ADHD as children also have the condition during adulthood. Britt Bischoff, 29, a digital marketing specialist who was overactive as a child, remembered how parents and teachers dismissed the hyper behavior as a temporary phase.

"My mother always chalked it up to me being a daydreamer," Bischoff told Health. "One teacher swore that I could hear the lights buzzing or a ticking clock, and that's where my attention would go."

There's no diagnostic test that can confirm adult ADHD. A healthcare provider will instead collect your health history and ask questions about your symptoms. You'll likely undergo a screening that includes a questionnaire.

A mental health specialist can use the questionnaire to:

• Determine if you meet the criteria for ADHD
• Figure out whether you have any conditions related to ADHD
• See whether you may have had ADHD during childhood or adolescence

ADHD often occurs alongside other conditions in adults. Related conditions can include anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), bipolar disorder, or depression. A healthcare provider can diagnose these conditions during a screening.

Adult ADHD Treatment

Some of Bischoff's symptoms have gone away as an adult, but others linger. "My inattentiveness has also improved significantly. I am more able to control where my attention goes and tune out what's unnecessary. However, my hyperactivity and flooding thoughts have increased slightly with age," said Bischoff.

Part of the reason many believe ADHD can be outgrown is that most people get better at making lifestyle adjustments to better manage their symptoms. People with adult ADHD have a better understanding of how their brain works as they get older. This understanding allows them to recognize how they need to modify their work or study obligations.

Medication

The attention center of the brain isn't working at maximum efficiency at all times. Medications can help the brain of those with adult ADHD focus better and concentrate. The most common medication used to treat ADHD in adults is stimulants, which have been shown to be highly effective.

A healthcare provider can monitor how well stimulants work and whether they cause adverse effects. They may prescribe a non-stimulant medication or antidepressant if stimulants don't work. Antidepressants aren't approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ADHD. These drugs are used "off-label" in adults with the condition.

Alternative Treatments

It's possible to manage ADHD without medication in some people. One strategy "is setting false or early deadlines and waiting until the last minute to finish projects. That little bit of stress or panic that happens by doing so actually helps the brain hyper-focus," said Dr. Archer.

Some people can benefit from psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that can help you improve attention and focus and reduce impulsivity. A therapist might teach you how to make tasks more manageable or prevent risky behaviors.

Extra discipline and a pared-down routine also help with managing symptoms, Peter Shankman, creator of the ADHD podcast "Faster Than Normal," told Health. "I have what I like to call unchangeable life rules that help me not only get through the day but also help me use my ADHD to my advantage and make me a better person."

"I wake up at the same time every day. I don't drink. And I have a ridiculously organized closet," said Shankman. "If I had a bunch of random belts, pants, sweaters, whatever, I'd be thinking, 'Oh, I remember that sweater! Laura gave me that sweater! I wonder how Laura is doing!'—then, three hours later, I haven't left the house. The routine doesn't allow me to get off track as easily."

Complications

If untreated, adult ADHD may cause complications, such as:

• Difficulty keeping a job
• Having a hard time remembering appointments or important dates
• Problems with relationships, school, or work
• Trouble being productive or staying organized

For Chris Rither, a professor and author, ADHD typically comes out during interaction with other people. "I literally have to remind myself to look into their eyes, focus on what they are saying, and give them enough time to express themselves before I move on to the next task bouncing around in my brain," Rither told Health.

Like Shankman, Rither keeps a busy, fast-paced schedule to channel energy, but this can create friction with others. "To help focus, I try to multitask on these activities over shorter periods of time. Because of this, I have a tendency to not give people my full attention," said Rither.

You may also feel very alone. "The hardest thing for me personally is the feeling of loneliness ADHD can evoke at times when it seems people don't understand you. I find that I often process information in different ways than other people," Will Steward, an entrepreneur with adult ADHD, told Health.

Living With and Managing ADHD

Having personal awareness of your ADHD symptoms is key, "but family and social support is just as important," Chris Nealy, a psychotherapist and social worker, told Health. "My impulsivity, forgetfulness, and racing thoughts create challenges as a husband and parent. My wife's support allows us to work together to cope."

Other ways to cope with and manage adult ADHD include:

• Avoiding alcohol, drug, or tobacco use
• Eating nutrient-rich meals at regular times
• Getting plenty of sleep
• Improving time management and organizational skills
• Scheduling time to spend with family and friends
• Staying physically active, especially if you're restless 
• Taking medications as prescribed 

A Quick Review

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect adults. Signs of adult ADHD include extreme restlessness, forgetfulness, and trouble paying attention.

Talk to a healthcare provider if you have ADHD symptoms that impact your day-to-day life. Stimulants are highly effective at reducing inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. Non-stimulant drugs, antidepressants, and psychotherapy can also treat ADHD in adults.