www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

In adults, the symptoms of ADHD are more difficult to define than those in children and adolescents, which is largely due to a lack of research into the adult form of the condition. It is still uncertain whether or not ADHD can occur in adults without it first appearing during childhood, although it is known that symptoms of ADHD often persist from childhood into adolescence and adulthood. Any additional problems, or conditions, experienced by children with ADHD, such as depression, sleep problems and dyslexia, are also likely to carry on into adulthood.

By the age of 25, an estimated 15% of people diagnosed with childhood ADHD still have a full range of symptoms, and an estimated 65% still have symptoms which affect their daily lives.

There is no definitive list of adult ADHD symptoms, and experts agree that simply applying the childhood symptoms to adults would not work. This is because the way in which inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness affect adults, is very different ways from the way they affect children. For example, hyperactivity tends to decrease in adults, while inattentiveness tends to get worse as the pressure of adult life increases. Also, adult symptoms of ADHD tend to be far more subtle than childhood symptoms.

Below is a list of symptoms which may be used to recognise adult ADHD.

• carelessness and lack of attention to detail.
• continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones.
• poor organisational skills.
• inability to focus, or prioritise.
• continually losing, or misplacing, things.
• forgetfulness.
• restlessness and edginess.
• difficulty keeping quiet, and speaking out of turn.
• blurting responses, and poor social timing when talking to others.
• often interrupting others.
• mood swings.
• irritability and a quick temper.
• inability to deal with stress.
• extreme impatience.
• taking risks in activities, often with little, or no, regard for personal safety, or the safety of others.

As with ADHD in children and adolescents, ADHD in adults can appear alongside many related problems, or conditions. One of the most common conditions is depression. Any problems you may have had as a child are likely to persist into adulthood, which can make life extremely difficult. For example, you may have problems finding and keeping employment, as well as relationship, and social interaction problems. Some adults with ADHD may even become involved in drugs, or crime.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/adhd/howdoiknowifihaveadhd.htm

The signs of ADHD show up in childhood, but in an adult they are less easy to spot. This is because some of the most obvious signs of ADHD may not be quite so marked because of your maturity.

If you are an adult with ADHD, you may have learned to keep some of your behaviour under control some of the time.

Questions to ask yourself

• Are you told you fidget a lot of the time?
• Are you generally restless and unable to sit still for as long as others?
• Are you impulsive?
• Do you find it hard to stop and think before doing or saying anything?
• Are you sometimes in difficult situations because you have reacted angrily or even violently?
• Are you known to have a hot temper and mood swings?
• Do people say ‘I never know where I am with you’?
• Is it hard for you to concentrate?
• Do you start projects and then abandon them?
• Are you disorganised at work and at home?
• Have you lost jobs because of poor time-keeping or because it’s hard for you to stick to a task?

Not all people with ADHD have all these symptoms. But if a lot of this sounds familiar, and you can recall these symptoms in childhood, it might help to speak to your family doctor about them.