ADHD In Adults – Symptoms And Treatment

When people think of ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to give the condition its full name, most will immediately think of young children, disrupting school and misbehaving until they are diagnosed and treated.

However, ADHD can affect adults too. All adults with ADHD would also have had the condition as children, however some might not get their diagnosis until they are older; with the symptoms experienced when they were younger being put down to them simply being naughty children.

Some children can grow out of their ADHD, but figures suggest that around 60% of young people with the condition have it in some form as an adult. If you are an undiagnosed adult who thinks they might have ADHD, there are some symptoms to look out for.

Once diagnosed, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is easily managed and treated with a combination of medication and therapy.

Diagnosing ADHD in Adults

What makes diagnosing ADHD a tough task, in both adults and children, is that everyone with the condition behaves differently. Generally, people with ADHD find it difficult to focus and concentrate, to remember information or follow directions given verbally, to finish tasks for a deadline and to organize tasks at work or at home.

Obviously, these symptoms can cause problems at school, college and in the workplace; though people diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in childhood often learn to identify their strengths and find work that suits their abilities accordingly.

Adults with ADHD are also more likely to experience problems in their social lives, such as difficulties forming friendships or maintaining romantic relationships. In addition, people with ADHD are more likely to develop drug or alcohol problems, often through misguided attempts to self-medicate.

ADHD Treatment

If you think that you or a loved one may be an undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder sufferer, seeing a doctor as soon as possible is the best course of action. There are various treatment options available for adults with ADHD, and there is no need to suffer in silence.

If your family doctor agrees that ADHD could be the cause for your symptoms, they will usually refer you to a specialist who will decide if psychological testing for ADHD is the best course of action.

Once diagnosed, there are various treatment options available to adults. Drugs are one option, but not everyone will be happy to rely solely on medication. You can always take tablets in the short time, while also engaging with a therapist, with the long-term goal of managing your ADHD without drugs.

Many adults can learn to manage their condition simply by learning more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and finding ways to avoid situations that they find difficult by changing jobs or making changes at home.

All of these options require a lot of support from family, friends, and loved ones, so it is important that they educate themselves about ADHD too so they know what situations are likely to make you stressed and how they can help you to deal with them.