Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a mental condition characterized by impulsive and hyperactive behavior. The diagnostic criteria for ADHD continue to evolve. In the past, the common stereotype stated that only children experience ADHD. However, it is now known that ADHD can affect individuals of all ages and genders.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately 2.5% of the adult population experiences ADHD, while the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that this figure increases to 4.4% among adults aged 18 to 44 years. A report from The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders in 2014 showed that ADHD in adults is often underdiagnosed and frequently misdiagnosed. Quoted from Health.com (08/03), here are 15 signs or symptoms of ADHD in adults.

Children who experience ADHD may show high levels of energy, while adults tend to experience tension or anxiety. Dr. Colette de Marneffe, a clinical psychologist practicing in Silver Spring, Maryland, states that adults do not show obvious symptoms such as running or jumping. Hyperactive manifestations in adults appear more subtly in the form of anxiety, which can be reflected in frequent hand and foot movements or difficulty sitting still.

Individuals who are already adults and experience attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have difficulties in maintaining professional, personal, and romantic relationships. Coworkers, friends, and partners may feel frustrated when they interact with adults who have ADHD. This is because symptoms such as anxiety, frequent lateness, disorganization, procrastination, hearing impairments, and memory problems occur.

A study published in March 2014 in Current Psychiatry Reports showed that teenagers and adults with ADHD are more likely to abuse substances such as alcoholic beverages, drugs, and tobacco. Research published in December 2013 in The Journal of Pediatrics noted that individuals who experience attention problems as children have a higher risk of abusing tobacco, alcoholic beverages, marijuana, and/or cocaine in the future.

The initial signs of ADHD include difficulties in self-control, difficulties in focusing on the teacher, and limitations in completing tasks. A study released in October 2019 in the Canadian Journal of School Psychology found that undergraduate students often face difficulties in academics, which are generally caused by a lack of clear enthusiasm or motivation.

A research published in July 2014 in the International Journal of Psychiatric Research Methods found three forms of procrastination: Academic Procrastination, which involves starting to study or complete tasks at the last minute. Daily Life Procrastination, which involves delaying in planning activities and completing them suddenly. Decision-Making Procrastination, which occurs when someone postpones making decisions or experiences difficulty in making timely decisions.

Doctor Wetzel describes ADHD as "a state of low energy unconsciousness." When you place a key without attention, your brain will not record the event into memory. The CHADD organization recommends several methods to improve organization and productivity, including breaking tasks into small steps, organizing rooms into sections, and creating storage systems that fit individual lifestyles.

All individuals are certainly faced with some jobs that they do not enjoy, but generally they can find strategies to complete the boring parts of their work, as expressed by de Marneffe. However, for individuals who have ADHD, completing such tasks becomes a difficult challenge.

Failed to complete tasks can indicate the presence of ADHD in adults, as mentioned by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Wetzel, author of the digital book Adult ADHD Guide for Patients, Families & Friends, found that individuals with ADHD who succeed generally become entrepreneurs who are aware of these challenges and surround themselves with individuals who are meticulous in detail, skilled in completing tasks, and capable of handling routine parts of a task.

The research published in Nature Neuroscience in June 2012 concluded that impulsivity can be a characteristic of ADHD in teenagers. The latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) also includes excessive talking, answering before a question is finished, and interrupting others' conversations as signs of ADHD in adults.

A study published in August 2015 in the Journal of Mental Health Research found that adults with ADHD tend to make impulsive purchases. This may be done as a way to improve mood, counteract symptoms of depression, and reduce perceived stress levels.