Potential ADHD Adults Should Seek Diagnosis

Written by CHADD

Learn about the characteristics of adults with AD/HD, what causes AD/HD, and the importance of adults with AD/HD getting a diagnosis.

AD/HD has been recognized and treated in children for almost a century, but the realization that AD/HD often persists into adulthood has only come over the last few decades.

The prevailing belief among professionals for many years was that children and adolescents would outgrow their symptoms of AD/HD by puberty, and certainly by adulthood. However, contemporary research has shown that as many as 67 percent of children diagnosed with AD/HD will continue to have symptoms of the disorder that significantly interfere with academic, vocational or social functioning in their adult lives. ¹

The core symptoms of AD/HD: inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity appear in childhood (usually by age seven) and result in a chronic and pervasive pattern of impairment for most. AD/HD in adults is sometimes viewed as a "hidden disorder" because the symptoms of AD/HD are often obscured by problems with relationships, organization, mood disorders, substance abuse, employment or other psychological difficulties. It is a complex and difficult disorder to diagnose, and should only be diagnosed by an experienced and qualified professional.

AD/HD is first recognized in some adults because of problems with depression, anxiety, substance abuse or impulse control. Others recognize that they may have AD/HD only after their child is diagnosed. Despite increased awareness and identification of the disorder in adults, many adults remain unidentified and untreated.

Characteristics of Adults with AD/HD

The growth of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and a renewed interest in research have contributed to the increased recognition of this disorder in both children and adults. Still, many adults grew up at a time when clinicians, educators, parents and the general public knew very little about AD/HD or its diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, greater public awareness has led to an increased number of adults seeking evaluation and treatment for AD/HD and its associated symptoms.

The current diagnostic criteria for AD/HD (reworded slightly to be more appropriate for adults) according to the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) are:

1. Fail to give close attention to details or make careless mistakes at work
2. Fidget with hands or feet or squirm in seat
3. Have difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or fun activities
4. Leave seat in situations where seating is expected
5. Don't listen when spoken to directly
6. Feel restless
7. Don't follow through on instructions and fail to finish work
8. Have difficulty engaging in leisure activities quietly
9. Have difficulty organizing tasks and activities
10. Feel "on the go" or "driven by a motor"
11. Avoid, dislike, or are reluctant to engage in work that requires sustained mental effort
12. Talk excessively
13. Lose things necessary for tasks and activities
14. Blurt out answers before questions have been completed
15. Easily distracted
16. Have difficulty awaiting turn (impatient)
17. Forgetful in daily duties
18. Interrupt or intrude on others

Although other symptom checklists are sometimes used in assessing adults for AD/HD, the above DSM-IV criteria are currently considered the most empirically valid. These core symptoms of AD/HD frequently lead to associated problems and consequences that often co-exist with adult AD/HD. These may include:

1. Problems with self-control and regulating behavior
2. Poor working memory
3. Poor persistence of efforts toward tasks
4. Difficulties with regulation of emotions, motivation and arousal
5. Greater than normal variability in task or work performance
6. Chronic lateness and poor time perception
7. Easily bored
8. Low self-esteem
9. Anxiety
10. Depression
11. Mood swings
12. Employment difficulties
13. Relationship problems
14. Substance abuse
15. Risk-taking behaviors
16. Poor time management