ADHD in Adults

• ADHD in Adults Overview
• ADHD in Adults Causes
• ADHD in Adults Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Questions to Ask the Doctor
• Exams and Tests
• ADHD in Adults Treatment
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Next Steps
• Outlook
• Support Groups and Counseling
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

ADHD in Adults Overview

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is well recognized in children and is increasingly recognized in adult populations. The labels used to describe this cluster of childhood problems has changed many times over the past 100 years, but currently the term attention deficit disorder (ADD), or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is most familiar to educators and medical and mental health professionals. ADHD is distinguished from other disorders by differences in intensity and persistence of particular groups of symptoms; the presence or absence of specific symptoms does not confirm the diagnosis of ADHD. ADHD develops from a combination of genetic inheritance and life experiences. In general, these inherent personality qualities often result in a lack of fit between expectations and performance.

The exact characteristics or symptoms defining this set of problems continue to be defined. ADHD is not considered just a problem with poor attention but is additionally a problem with moderating emotions and effective self-regulation. Dealing with the demands of everyday life requires self-regulation to develop successful life skills. For people with ADHD, problems with self-regulation cause difficulty managing emotions, so they might respond to small events with excessive behavior and emotion while not noticing more important events. Also, problems with self-regulation make it difficult to develop good habits. Compared with other people, those with ADHD require more practice over longer periods of time to develop effective behavior that is self-regulated or habitual.

Again, the root problem in ADHD is not a simple problem of not paying attention. When people with ADHD are involved in an area that naturally holds their interest, they can pay attention as well as, or nearly as well as, others. However, when tasks are repetitive or hold no interest for that person, these individuals experience greater difficulty staying focused and remaining on task.

ADHD is a well-recognized diagnosis in children that has been formally identified in adults for about the past 20 years. As children with ADHD grow up, their hyperactive-impulsive qualities often diminish, while the inattentive and disorganized patterns of behavior remain constant. Adults with ADHD fit this pattern: inattention and disorganization, combined with the childhood history of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The level of impulsiveness in childhood seems to be the best predictor of symptoms later in life. High levels of childhood impulsivity predict more serious adult dysfunction.

Recognizing that ADHD can continue from childhood into adulthood has taken a significant time. Current estimates are that one third of children receiving diagnoses of ADHD may outgrow many symptoms; however, not all symptoms are outgrown. The remaining two thirds of children with ADHD continue to have most symptoms but also experience significant co-occurring psychiatric and life problems, such as borderline and impulse personality problems, substance abuse, and a significant risk for depression and anxiety disorders.

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