How to Better Understand ADHD in Adults

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of those terms people tend to jokingly throw about when attempting to explain a forgetful or disorganized moment. But for the 8.7 million U.S. adults with ADHD, the condition is no laughing matter.

While the average age for an ADHD diagnosis is in the 4 -to 7-year-old window, depending upon the severity of symptoms, sometimes symptoms are overlooked or misdiagnosed. But, because the condition lasts into adulthood and symptoms can change over time, a later in life diagnosis is entirely possible.

For an adult to be diagnosed with ADHD, they must exhibit at least five or more symptoms of inattention and least five or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity for at least six months.

Inattention symptoms in adults can include:

► difficulty paying attention for long periods

► difficulty completing forms

► a tendency to lose their phone, their keys, or other important items

► trouble staying organized

► easy distraction

► forgetfulness

► trouble focusing when speaking to someone

► a tendency to try to do more than one thing at once

► a desire for quick fixes to issues

► difficulty keeping employment

Hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms can include trouble with:

► engaging in leisure activities

► sitting still

► taking turns

► interrupting others

► fidgeting or tapping the feet or fingers

There is no cure for ADHD but some people find success managing symptoms through treatment including:

Medication: Medication is more commonly prescribed for adults as compared to children, in part because adults have lived with their symptoms through all of their lives. Your doctor may prescribe a stimulant or non-stimulant based on the symptoms experienced as well other medications you may be taking, the potential for substance abuse, and other existing medical conditions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT can help you identify problematic thoughts and behaviors and implement strategies to help you cope, self-regulate, and change negative behaviors.

Counseling: Counseling, in the form of marital, family, and individual therapy can improve communication and help others better understand the causes behind an individual’s perceived forgetfulness, lack of motivation and other disruptive behaviors.

If you’re concerned you or a loved one may have adult ADHD, contact a healthcare provider for an assessment. The right treatment can markedly improve your mood, self-esteem, relationships, performance at work, and more.

Reija Rawle, MD, is a family medicine physician at the SVMC Pownal Campus of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center