Can Adults Have ADHD? What Are the Signs?

While Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, previously popularized as ‘ADD’) symptoms typically first appear in childhood, the condition can last through the teens and into adulthood. Despite former beliefs, it is now understood that ADHD is not limited to childhood.

In most cases, and in part due to the fact that children are often under the supervision of parents or teachers, it’s not difficult to notice behavior patterns and recognize ADHD symptoms in kids and teens. However, symptoms in adults may be more subtle and tricky to properly attribute to ADHD. Adults may not even realize that many of their everyday life challenges — such as lack of organization, tardiness, and inattentiveness, to name a few — are all related to ADHD. After all, it’s not easy to view one’s own actions objectively.

What are the Potential Signs of ADHD in Adults?

The three revealing symptoms of ADHD are hyperactivity, lack of focus, and poor impulse control. Having said that, hyperactivity usually fades as a child grows into a teenager. But other ADHD symptoms like inattention, lack of organization, and impulsivity often become a huge challenge for adults.

Here’s a checklist of ADHD symptoms in adults:

1. Poor Time Management

Adults with ADHD struggle with punctuality and getting things done on time. As a result, they:

  • Procrastinate 

  • Stay up late to complete assignments last-minute

  • Encounter difficulty meeting deadlines

  • Underestimate the time it will take to finish tasks or fail to prioritize and follow through on tasks

  • Can’t keep appointments because of tardiness

  • Are unable to plan and execute an action at the right time and place

  • Easily lose track of time, or fall behind schedule

  • Are unable to switch gears and effectively complete a task at hand

2. Difficulty Getting and Staying Organized

Many adult ADHD symptoms revolve around poor organizational skills. Poor organization becomes more obvious and problematic in adulthood than in childhood. Poor organizational skills show up as:

  • Inability to keep the bedroom, desk, or office clean and tidy

  • The propensity to procrastinate the start or continuation of multi-step tasks

  • Forgetfulness, such as appointments, commitments, deadlines

  • Frequent misplacement of belongings (car keys, wallet, cellphone)

3. Easy Distractibility

Lack of focus, or easy distractibility, is the most obvious sign of ADHD, both in adults and children. Adults with ADHD not only struggle with focusing, but this problem extends far beyond: They have difficulty listening to others in a conversation, completing tasks or projects on time, and acknowledging important details. 

Distractions as simple as phone calls, notifications, or emails can sidetrack adults with ADHD from the task at hand. Likewise, working in noisy or busy offices can keep interfering with their ability to concentrate.

Easy distractibility in adults with ADHD can translate into low productivity and failure to succeed in the hustle and bustle of today’s fast-paced world.

4. Trouble Initiating a Task

Adults with ADHD can not only have trouble completing a task, but they can be unsure of where and how to start a task.

They often procrastinate when initiating tasks that warrant a great deal of focus. This tendency to drag their feet further adds insult to injury to existing issues, including marital disputes, work-related problems, or relationships with friends. 

5. Traffic Accidents

Research shows that adult ADHD increases the odds of serious traffic accidents, violations, and being intoxicated while driving. 

ADHD can make it quite challenging to stay focused while driving, especially in the presence of inside distractions (phone, music, etc.) and outside distractions (construction work, etc.). 

Risk-taking behaviors, such as driving at high speeds, taking reckless turns, etc., can further hinder safety in adults with ADHD.

6. Marital or Relationship Conflicts

Having ADHD can create problems in marriages or relationships, both for the partner who has it as well as the one who doesn't. If ADHD is left untreated, such marriages may not even pan out. 

Spouses with ADHD may seem disorganized and ignorant towards household chores. They often display poor listening skills and an inability to meet obligations. If undiagnosed, these qualities may be mistakenly viewed by their non-ADHD partners as being careless and indifferent when they are not, leading to misguided interpersonal conflict.

7. Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Research reveals that people with ADHD are six times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than those without ADHD. 

People with ADHD may turn to substances in an effort to boost their mood, soothe their mind, or improve their slumber.

Pleasure-seeking and impulsive behavior — a hallmark of ADHD — also sets the stage for substance abuse, irrespective of the repercussions. Some people self-medicate to compensate for the “boredom” feeling that stems from the lack of the brain chemical dopamine.

8. Impulsive Spending

Lack of impulse control most often manifests as impulsive spending, which can be taxing for many adults with ADHD — both financially and emotionally.

An impulse buy is when you purchase anything that wasn’t on your shopping list or even on your mind. It acts as a distraction, keeping adults with ADHD from focusing on more significant tasks at hand. The dopamine-deprived brains of people with ADHD crave additional purchases or compulsive buying, as it gives the required “dopamine rush.” 

Depression is another major trigger for the impulsive spending seen in adults with ADHD. Compulsive buyers often tend to be less happy people. Hence, they may overspend to channel their energy and boost their mood. This so-called “Retail Therapy” presents a cyclical emotional and financial danger.

9. Restlessness and Anxiety

Adults with ADHD are more likely to be restless or find it ridiculously hard to relax. If others describe you as being “on edge” most of the time, your chances of having ADHD are increased.

Adults with ADHD may move around repeatedly, as their bodies don’t want to switch off. This paves the way to restlessness, which, in turn, can fuel impatience and anxiety.

Anxiety is common for adults with ADHD, as the brain tends to display excessive worry, nervousness, and fear of the unknown.

10. Anger Outbursts

ADHD often makes it difficult to control emotions, showing up as fits of anger and frustration. Adults with ADHD can find themselves irritable, and quick to get angry.

Seek Help 

If you one or many of the above signs and symptoms of ADHD, we’re here for you. Studies show that ADHD treatment can help alleviate many of the symptoms of adult ADHD, thereby improving your quality of life.

YOUR FIRST STEP IN OVERCOMING ADD/ADHD: 

If you think you might suffer from ADD or ADHD but aren't sure, you can take our free ADD/ADHD Assessment by clicking here.

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