Does ADHD Affect Adults Differently than Children?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is most often associated with children. In fact, ADHD’s original name was “hyperkinetic disorder of childhood.” With adults, ADHD is more often used as pop culture shorthand for any time we feel forgetful or distracted. That said, adults also struggle with this neurodevelopmental condition. Some of them were diagnosed as kids and grew up with the disorder. Others are diagnosed in adulthood.

Perhaps the most alarming aspect of these realities is that most adults with ADHD don’t know they have it. Meanwhile, they’ve undergone the same neurological changes and impacts as a child with ADHD — without getting the treatment they need and deserve.

ADHD Can Affect Adults Differently Than Children

Adults with ADHD typically fall into two broad categories:

• Diagnosed During Childhood: If they’ve had decades to adapt, they almost certainly have a bag full of coping mechanisms to mask the symptoms.
• Diagnosed During Adulthood: Those without coping mechanisms might initially display signs similar to those that children and teens exhibit.

A Few Common Signs That an Adult May Be Coping With ADHD

Hyperactivity

This word is literally in the condition’s name so it will likely be obvious. Children will struggle to sit still or stay quiet. Adults also feel restless and seem adverse to the concept of relaxation. They’re always on the go — bouncing from one task to another and back again.

Inattention

This covers the “attention deficit” part of ADHD. In school, children lose focus on chores like homework. On the other hand, adults are typically better able to develop enough skills to disguise such tendencies. However, they may still make careless mistakes and lose attention in meetings or during long conversations.

Losing Items

Children and adults with ADHD find it difficult to stay organized. As a result, things tend to get misplaced. For kids, it could be a school book. For adults, it can get more complicated when your phone, keys, or wallet go missing. It gets more impactful when a bill goes unpaid or crucial documents can’t be found.

A Different Sense of Time

When a child or adult loses track of time, it can be because ADHD changes how they perceive time. Also, they tend to focus intensely on what they’re doing. Time flies by and to much of the world, this is viewed as a very negative quality.

Other Red Flags to Watch For at Any Age:

• Impulsiveness
• A tendency to interrupt others
• Constant movement and fidgeting
• Impatience
• A social style that is considered inappropriate

All of these symptoms (and more) can be especially challenging for adults who are diagnosed with ADHD later in life. They are left scrambling for ways to manage behaviors that make them feel awkward and out of place.

How Is Adult ADHD Treated?

Yes, medication may be involved but it’s not always needed. As adults, you can handle those conversations with your medical team. Unlike children with ADHD, you get to ask the questions that arise in your mind and heart. You become an equal partner in the treatment process.

Meanwhile, as an adult with ADHD, you can be an active self-healer by committing to daily self-care. This means prioritizing yourself in ways that build resilience and confidence in your ability to cope and thrive. That could relate to your sleep routine, stress management, and more.

Therapy Is a Game-Changer

Running parallel to all of the above is the foundation of therapy. Whether you’ve had an ADHD diagnosis since childhood or it’s something new in your life, that therapy room is where you can feel safe, secure, and validated. ADHD is a challenge but, with guidance, you can rise to the occasion. Let’s connect and talk about how anxiety therapy can help.