The Mystery of Adult-Onset ADHD

By Dylan Roche

Ever feel as if you have trouble paying attention, or that you’re impulsive in a way you can’t control? If you were a kid, a doctor might say it’s ADHD. But you’re not a kid…

The reality is that ADHD isn’t something that always develops (or gets diagnosed) in childhood. And though understanding of adult-onset ADHD is evolving, the National Institutes of Health estimates that about 4.4 percent of adults struggle with the condition.

FIRST, WHAT IS ADHD?

ADHD is a common abbreviation for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder commonly seen in children. It’s characterized by, as its name suggests, difficulty paying attention and hyperactivity. Although ADHD can be managed with medication and psychotherapy, adults with this disorder might not realize they have it if they were not diagnosed in childhood.

That’s because in adults, the symptoms look slightly different. Adults with ADHD will often be less hyperactive, but they’ll still struggle with lack of focus and impulsiveness. When they miss a deadline or forget about an important appointment, they might think themselves irresponsible. If their impulsiveness manifests itself in road rage or low frustration tolerance, they might think they have difficulty managing their anger. Ultimately, adults with ADHD don’t end up getting the help they need.

SO, DO ADULTS DEVELOP ADHD?

It’s still not clear. In 2021, Psychiatric Times reported studies looking at test subjects from childhood through adulthood. Some adults developed symptoms after age 12, the designated cut-off age for ADHD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition).

In some of those cases, symptoms presented themselves in teen years. But the Attention Deficit Disorder Association explains that there are other cases when the symptoms were present in childhood but were not so severe that they warranted a diagnosis, or else they went undiagnosed because parents and teachers dismissed the symptoms as simply bad behavior. There’s also a chance that the symptoms were attributed to another condition, such as anxiety.

There are a few rare exceptions when people develop symptoms well into adulthood, but these are usually because of noteworthy incidences, such as brain trauma, which could change thought patterns and, in turn, affect behavior, according to the Mayo Clinic.

WHAT SHOULD ADULTS DO IF THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OF ADHD?

The only person who can diagnose ADHD is a primary care provider or a mental health expert, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. If you think your inability to focus or your impulsiveness goes beyond what’s typical, it could be beneficial to get insight from a professional. The good news is that adults are typically better equipped—emotionally, mentally, and socially—to manage their symptoms than children often are. While medication and therapy can be an option, many adults find they do just fine by practicing time management skills, meditating, doing concentration exercises, and making time for distraction-free (no phones) socializing.