When you think of ADHD, you may picture a “hyper” child who runs around and cannot sit still, play quietly, or pay attention in school. Adults with ADHD also have trouble with attention, focus, and impulsivity, but these symptoms play out in other ways.
An adult with ADHD may have trouble meeting deadlines or finishing tasks. They may forget appointments or social commitments. For adults with ADHD, it’s harder to organize projects and prioritize tasks.
Other symptoms include being forgetful, getting easily distracted, and making careless mistakes. Also, people with ADHD may feel restless, have trouble relaxing, or feel on edge much of the time. They may squirm or fidget, talk too much, or have trouble waiting for their turn.
Like children with ADHD, adults also have trouble controlling their impulses. That is, they don’t always think before they speak or act. For example, people with ADHD may tend to interrupt people when they’re talking or answer questions before other people asking the questions have finished talking.
When it comes to ADD / ADHD, no one diagnosis or treatment fits all. Everyone is different. The American Psychiatric Association has identified three types. Each has different symptoms, and treatments are based on those symptoms.
