ADHD looks different in adults: How to recognize the symptoms
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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. But ADHD tends to be underdiagnosed in women and people of color, which can lead to some people reaching adulthood before realizing they may have the condition.?
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Over the past few years, with declining stigma around ADHD, “there has been a significant increase in people seeking” a diagnosis, says Justin A. Barterian, PhD, a psychologist and assistant professor at the Ohio State University – Wexner Medical Center. But Barterian says that there are also “misleading” social media accounts that “misrepresent” symptoms of the condition, “leading to many thinking they have the disorder while not meeting full criteria.”
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All of this has raised a lot of questions about adult ADHD. Specialists who treat these patients break it down.
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Symptoms of ADHD in adults
“ADHD in childhood is often characterized by high levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity,” says Joshua M. Langberg, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist in the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. “In contrast, ADHD in adulthood is primarily defined by difficulties with inattention, concentration, organization, and time-management.”?
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People with inattentive ADHD may struggle with these tasks:
Those with hyperactivity and inactivity may have these symptoms:
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How is adult ADHD diagnosed?
Doctors will typically ask a lot of questions during an initial meeting, says Dr. Shazia Savul, a psychiatrist at Penn Medicine. “We ask them what’s going on currently and the difficulty they’re having,” she says. People with ADHD tend to have issues across several areas of life—work, academics, and relationships—and hearing how things are going in those areas can be enlightening for doctors, she says.?
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Savul points out that factors like significant depression or severe anxiety can also mimic the symptoms of ADHD, making it important to rule those out too.?
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While your doctor may have you fill out questionnaires, you should also expect an in-person or virtual meeting that will last a few hours, Langberg says: “The clinician’s primary job is to determine why symptoms of inattention are concerning and whether they are best attributed to ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep, stress, changes in context, et cetera.”
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?? Aging Well Tip of the Week
People often assume the mind does not work optimally with age. While there are some normal age-related declines in thinking speed and attention, people’s decision-making and abstract reasoning skills may actually improve with age, according to research from the National Institute on Aging and the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC).
These are the best science-backed strategies for a strong mind as you age.
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