What ADHD Actually Means

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that starts in childhood and affects how the brain works. ADHD affects the brain's ability to regulate attention, impulses, memory, emotions, and hyperactivity. 

According to the CDC, an estimated 15.5 million adults in the United States have a current ADHD diagnosis. Only about half of these received their diagnosis in childhood. So ADHD can often go undetected into adulthood.

ADHD is not a sign of laziness, willpower deficiency, or low intelligence; instead, it is a condition of the brain. To receive an ADHD diagnosis, ADHD symptoms must be persistent, stemming from childhood, and disrupt your way of life in at least two settings. (work, school, or home) 

Let's go over the symptoms and signs of ADHD in detail so you can figure out if your issues are normal or if you might have ADHD.

The Three Main Types of ADHD Symptoms

ADHD symptoms fall into three basic categories: inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive. People can experience one subtype, or what is known as combined ADHD symptoms. Let's look at each subtype deeper.

Inattentive Symptoms: When Focus Feels Impossible

Inattentive ADHD symptoms are a broad category of symptoms where individuals have problems with focus, concentration, and memory issues. People with inattentive type ADHD may find it really difficult to pay attention to tasks or in conversations.

So if you're easily distracted and tend to make careless mistakes or have difficulty noticing small details, you might be experiencing symptoms of inattentive ADHD.

Some other inattentive ADHD symptoms can include:

• Organizational issues: You might struggle to keep your house or workspace tidy and organized, and you may often be searching for important documents or items.
• Losing important items: You are always looking for your phone, keys, and wallet, even though they have designated places, but they don't always make it back to their "homes."
• Time management problems: You experience "time blindness" when you become hyper-focused on something important and skip meals or forget to stop and get the milk on the way home.
• Procrastination: You put off everything, especially mundane housework, until it becomes a must. You have to do laundry now because you can't find any clean, matching socks.
• Easily distracted: While trying to work, your dog wants to go outside. You end up raking leaves and forget to finish your assignments, only remembering them at bedtime when you see the folders.
• Forgetfulness: Even with a grocery list, you still forget two or three items.
• Poor prioritization: You do what you think is important, but you always seem to be multitasking and putting out fires, only to end up feeling burned out and not wanting to do anything.

Hyperactive Symptoms: Feeling Constantly Restless

Hyperactive ADHD symptoms are attributed to restlessness. Unlike children, most adults with hyperactive ADHD symptoms will feel it more internally. Some describe it as feeling like they are driven by a motor, with electricity pulsing through their body and just needing to move it around. 

Basically, if you find it hard to settle your thoughts or your physical body, then you may be experiencing some hyperactive ADHD symptoms.

Some other hyperactive ADHD symptoms can include:

• Racing thoughts: Your thoughts are constantly racing, or music lyrics play in your head, even when you're trying to focus on something important.
• Talking excessively or fast: You talk very fast, especially when you get excited or animated about something, and people find it hard to follow you and ask you to repeat yourself.
• Can't wait in line: You have to get the fast-pass at theme parks because waiting in line for 45 minutes to ride a ride seems so daunting.
• Tapping your feet or moving: When you have to sit for long periods, you tap your foot or move your legs because you can't sit still.
• Getting up multiple times: If you are at a desk for work or sitting in a chair for a long time, you will get up and walk around just to move your body.

Impulsive Symptoms: Acting Before Thinking

Impulsive ADHD symptoms are all based on acting without thinking first. These symptoms can result from a need for immediate gratification. You may just act on impulses, including emotions. Some possible impulsive ADHD symptoms can include:

• Interrupting others: You are often accused of interrupting people, but it's really because you are afraid you'll forget what you want to say.
• Engage in high-risk behavior: When you were younger, you liked the rush of driving too fast, but now maybe you get the rush from slot machine apps or online shopping sprees.
• Oversharing: You blurt out personal or private information that you later regret sharing, either in person or on social media.
• Quitting jobs: You quit your last job because of your boss’s attitude, unsure of your next steps, but you didn't look back.
• Shopping: Sometimes you buy a bunch of stuff you don't need because it seems to calm your emotions, but it also causes you to take on debt.
• Eat unhealthy: You make a fruit smoothie for lunch, only to have an impulse hit and buy a cheeseburger meal instead.

How ADHD Symptoms Show Up Differently by Age

ADHD symptoms can vary significantly across different age groups. Here's a closer look at how attention-deficit symptoms manifest in children, teens, and adults.

ADHD Symptoms in Children 

ADHD in children looks a bit different than it does with teenagers or even adults. Hyperactivity and impulsivity are the most visible ADHD symptoms in children. So these kids would run and climb even more than the average child, to the point that it disrupts classroom or home activities. 

Children with ADHD may be extremely fidgety, interrupt, talk over others, and cannot seem to sit still. This is the child who gets up from the dinner table two or three different times, even when he knows that you are supposed to stay seated and finish your meal.

Some children with ADHD will find it difficult to follow directions or finish their tasks; they get distracted very easily. They find it challenging to wait in line or wait for their turn. 

Typical ADHD symptoms in young children tend to show up more in school years when the workload gets more rigorous. Inattention, in particular, can manifest in the later elementary years.

ADHD Symptoms in Teenagers

When children become teenagers, the ADHD symptoms change even more. Hyperactivity may decrease, but the restlessness remains and is often internal. This leads to teens having difficulty with emotional regulation or social issues with peers.

Teens with ADHD may struggle with organizational skills, often leaving homework unfinished or forgetting to bring it home.  They may struggle to handle responsibilities at home or work, such as leaving their room or car messy, or misplacing work clothes or shoes. 

They may miss deadlines and start to struggle with time management. So this teen would come home, play video games until dinner, and then finally get to their homework, only to be unable to complete it because they hadn't started in time. Another sign is poor grades. 

A teen with ADHD may start to notice that they are different than their peers. Teens who get into relationships may have intense mood swings and find relationships challenging. It's important to note that some of these behaviors may just look like teenage laziness, but could be ADHD symptoms.

ADHD Symptoms in Adults

ADHD symptoms in adults look even different from those of teens or children, as many adults learn to adapt and can mask their symptoms. Adults with ADHD may find it hard to follow through with tasks or commitments. Time management skills issues and disorganization are common adult ADHD signs.

Procrastination can become a chronic ADHD symptom in adults. Adults with hyperactivity might not run or climb, but they do experience internal restlessness that, like in teens, can appear as emotional regulation problems or simply constant busyness.

Impulsiveness may show up as impulse shopping, especially online. Adults with ADHD may make impulsive, big life choices like job hopping or career switches. They may find it hard to maintain long-term relationships or be prone to emotional outbursts.

Adults with ADHD find it hard to focus on things at work or at home. They may find it hard to concentrate during work meetings or to get all the household chores done. Reading a book can be difficult because they may get distracted easily by noises or interruptions.

Another major ADHD symptom in adults is low frustration tolerance. They may get upset faster or more easily than others. Again, some of these can actually be hard to spot, as many adults have learned how to mask these symptoms to live as normally as possible.

Why ADHD Symptoms Often Look Different in Women and Girls 

ADHD in women is often underdiagnosed or even misdiagnosed because of the way that their symptoms present. Many girls and women do not have hyperactivity traits but more often have inattention and emotional dysregulation. Females tend to mask their symptoms more easily than men.

ADHD in women can manifest as "daydreaming" or feeling an intense energy flowing inside them that makes them feel constantly restless. Their internal restlessness can show itself as brain fog, disorganization, and procrastination.

Girls in school may compensate by trying to be well-behaved and internalize. Hormones can play a big role in ADHD symptoms in females. Estrogen levels can cause ADHD symptoms to get worse during puberty or menstrual cycles.

Studies indicate that women and girls are not diagnosed until later in life. Females are typically misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression before accurately receiving an ADHD diagnosis. But is it really a misdiagnosis? Studies show that around 93% of women with ADHD also report at least one co-occurring mental disorder, including anxiety and depression.

Women experiencing ADHD symptoms should get a clinical evaluation because untreated ADHD can mimic anxiety and depression, and symptoms may improve with treatment.

When ADHD Symptoms Mean It's Time to Seek Help

It's perfectly normal for people to experience some focus issues or organizational problems here and there, but when it becomes persistent and chronic, you may want to reach out for help. Let’s look at how to know if you have ADHD.

If you have been dealing with these symptoms since childhood, they affect you at work, home, and school, and they significantly disrupt your day-to-day life, then you could have ADHD. If left untreated, it can progressively get worse, causing issues with relationships, work, and even your mental health. Co-occurring disorders like anxiety and depression can also develop or get worse if ADHD is left unchecked.

The good news is that ADHD treatment is available, and you now have access to faster help through telehealth. If your ADHD symptoms are causing issues in your life, you should consider getting a proper ADHD evaluation to see if you have ADHD.

At ADHD Advisor, we offer same-day online appointments, so you can get the answers you need and, if needed, begin treatment.

What Happens During an ADHD Evaluation

There is no single test for ADHD. However, licensed clinicians conduct a thorough evaluation, which includes medical history, symptom checklist, and behavioral assessments to determine if you have ADHD. Providers will also rule out any other condition, as many conditions can mimic ADHD symptoms. Evaluation can often include input from those around you, like family, friends, or colleagues, as they know you best.

For you to be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, you would need to meet five or more symptoms across two or more settings. If you meet the threshold of ADHD symptoms, then they can see if you have inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combination of ADHD symptoms. 

The process is straightforward and judgment-free. With telehealth options, you no longer have to worry about the stigma associated with going to a psychiatrist's office. You can simply meet with your provider over the phone in the comfort of your own home. Virtual appointments are just as effective as in-person appointments.

Take the first easy step toward getting your ADHD symptoms under control by finding out if you have ADHD with ADHD Advisor. Take our short quiz and get started with a same-day virtual assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main symptoms of ADHD in adults?

The main symptoms of ADHD in adults include: restlessness, impulsivity, procrastination, disorganization, time management difficulties, trouble staying on task or focusing, and excessive talking or interrupting.

What are the most common ADHD symptoms in children?

The most common ADHD symptoms in children include fidgeting, difficulty staying seated, forgetfulness, trouble following directions, hyperactivity, difficulty waiting their turn, and distractibility.

How can I tell if I have ADHD symptoms or just anxiety?

If it's anxiety, your symptoms will be stress-related; if it's ADHD, your symptoms will be present daily without a direct cause.

Can ADHD symptoms change as you get older?

Yes, ADHD symptoms evolve with age. For example, hyperactivity manifests differently across life stages. In childhood, it often appears as fidgeting; in adolescence, as racing thoughts; and in adulthood, as a need for constant busyness.

What are the overlooked ADHD symptoms in women?

Women often experience daydreaming, masking symptoms such as people-pleasing, difficulty with emotions, and other inattentive ADHD symptoms, as women don't always present with the hyperactivity often seen in males.

How do I know if my ADHD symptoms are affecting my work performance?

If you are struggling to meet deadlines, losing important documents, frequently distracted, managing your time ineffectively, procrastinating, or experiencing any other disorganization issues, it may be that your ADHD symptoms are negatively affecting your work performance.

What's the difference between ADHD symptoms in adults versus kids?

ADHD symptoms in adults manifest differently, with some being more subtle than in children. For example, while a child with ADHD can't sit still and runs around at inappropriate times, an adult may feel more impatient or experience internal restlessness. Adults may also find it difficult to maintain relationships, jobs, and household chores, while children struggle with schoolwork and social interactions.

How can I manage ADHD symptoms without medication?

You can manage ADHD symptoms without medication by ensuring you get enough sleep, finding natural dopamine hits like exercise, sunlight, and time in nature, engaging in therapy or coaching, and creating routine and structure.

What medications work best for treating ADHD symptoms?

There are both stimulant and non-stimulant medication options for ADHD symptoms that are effective. Stimulants are often first-line choices, but non-stimulants are great for people who can't tolerate stimulants or have a history of substance use disorder.

Are there natural remedies that help reduce ADHD symptoms?

Yes, exercise, sunlight, cold plunging, limiting screen time, and even some supplements can help to reduce ADHD symptoms. They work best when a part of a comprehensive treatment plan.