ADHD in Adults: Common Symptoms to Watch For

Have you ever wondered if you or someone you know had ADHD? If so, this article on ADHD in adults may help answer some of your questions.

ADHD is like having a Ferrari engine for a brain with bicycle brakes. Strengthen the brakes and you have a champion. – Edward Hallowell, MD

ADHD in a nutshell

ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the executive function part of your brain that is involved in planning, focus, working memory, and follow-through. It is characterized by a combination of problems such as hyperactivity, difficulty paying attention, and impulsive behavior. Symptoms start in early childhood but may remain undiagnosed until adulthood.

Many times adults with ADHD don’t even realize they have it. They just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge and that something about their life seems off.

Is it ADHD or distractedness?

ADHD symptoms can range in severity from mild to severe, and many of them are behaviors that anyone can experience at one time or another, but for adults with ADHD, they are ongoing and persistent, causing significant challenges in their day-to-day life.

DSM-5-TR^* breaks ADHD down into three subtypes – predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive or hyperactive/impulsive, and combined.

To be diagnosed with adult ADHD, a person needs to have exhibited at least five of the nine types of symptoms in a particular subtype for a minimum of six months, his or her symptoms must significantly impact at least two areas of his or her life, such as work, family life, or social relationships, and they must not be the result of another medical condition or disorder such as depression or anxiety that can have similar symptoms.

Difference between ADHD in adults and ADHD in children

Symptoms of ADHD in adults may not be as clear as they are in children and may follow a slightly different pattern because of the different demands of each stage of life. Problems at school, for example, are replaced by job-related ones in adulthood.

Symptoms such as childhood hyperactivity tend to decrease and become more of inner restlessness and inability to relax in adults. Disorganization, on the other hand, may not be as noticeable in children who have an established structure at home and school but tends to become more pronounced in adulthood when the person is on his or her own and facing responsibilities such as paying bills and taking care of workplace duties.

DSM subtypes of ADHD in adults

Predominantly inattentive.

Carelessness. He or she often fails to pay attention to details or makes careless mistakes, which may result in inaccurate work.

Diminished attention span. He or she has trouble staying focused on tasks or conversations. Incongruously, however, he or she may tend to hyperfocus on things of high interest and get so engrossed in what he or she is doing that he or she loses awareness of anything else, including losing track of time and ignoring the presence of people around him or her.

Poor listening skills. He or she does not appear to be listening when spoken to directly, and his or her mind often seems to be elsewhere. Drifting thoughts cause him or her to zone out and have trouble following the conversation or instructions, which often leads to misunderstandings.

Lack of follow through. He or she is quick to lose focus and get sidetracked and has trouble following through on instructions and finishing tasks.

Disorganized. He or she has difficulty with organizing and keeping things in the right place, as well as prioritizing tasks logically and keeping track of time. His or her work is often messy and disorganized, and his or her tendency to underestimate how much time it takes to finish a project often leads to missed work deadlines and being late for appointments.

Avoids tasks requiring concentration. He or she dislikes and is reluctant to perform tasks that require a lot of thinking, and may ignore ones he or she considers to be tedious, such as preparing reports or filling out forms.

Loses things. He or she often loses or misplaces things he or she needs such as keys, tools, paperwork, wallet, eyeglasses, or cell phone.

Easily distracted. He or she tends to get bored quickly, be easily distracted, have trouble staying on task, and bounce from one thing to another.

Forgetful in daily activities. He or she often forgets appointments and tasks that need to get done, such as returning phone calls, paying bills on time, or sending out a birthday card.
Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive.
Fidgeting. He or she tends to fidgets a lot, squirm in his or her chair, drum his or her fingers on the table, swing his or her legs, or bounce his or her feet up and down.

Trouble staying still. He or she has trouble remaining seated, may talk or move around at inappropriate times, and will often get up and leave his or her seat in situations where he or she is expected to remain seated.

Restlessness. He or she needs to keep moving about, is easily overwhelmed, has trouble coping with stress, and may turn to harmful coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol, or gambling in an attempt to self-soothe.

Trouble keeping quiet. He or she may talk loudly and have difficulty doing things quietly or engaging quietly in leisure activities.

Always on the go. He or she acts as though driven by a motor and is uncomfortable being still for any extended amount of time. He or she has racing thoughts, tends to have trouble controlling his or her impulses, and may do things like rush through tasks or impetuously do or say something without thinking of the consequences, which can create problems at work, home, or in his or her social interactions.

Talks excessively. He or she tends to be very chatty and often talks non-stop.

Blurts things out. He or she has trouble restraining him or herself in conversations, and will often finish other people’s sentences or blurt out answers before questions have been completed.

Trouble waiting his or her turn. He or she is impatient, has trouble controlling his or her emotions, and doesn’t like to wait for anything. He or she is easily irritated and frustrated by situations such as having to wait in line or being stuck in traffic. This can lead to risky behavior such as dangerous driving or outbursts of temper over minor issues.

Interrupts or intrudes on others. He or she may act in socially inappropriate ways such as butting in on conversations or activities, intruding on what others are doing, interrupting people while they are speaking, or using other people’s things without asking for permission to do so.

Combined inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive.

This subtype includes both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms and includes people who meet the criteria for both types of adult ADHD.

Strengths of adult ADHD

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:13-14, NIV

ADHD can have an upside. With proper support, people with ADHD can be big thinkers and do extraordinary work. Adults with properly managed ADHD tend to be energetic, have unique problem-solving skills, and often show great imagination and creative flair. Symptoms such as hyperfocus, for example, can be a valuable strength when a person is fixated on something productive.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that has been proven successful in treating symptoms of ADHD in adults. It can help you learn skills to improve your focus, set goals, better control your impulses, improve organization skills, manage your time, and deal with stress.

If you would like to set up an appointment to meet with one of the faith-based counselors in our online directory, please give us a call.