Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was once known as “hyperkinetic disorder of childhood.” It wasn’t perceived to be a condition that could persist into or arise during adulthood. Here’s a little of what we know now:
ADHD is known as a disorder of children because it is most often diagnosed at a young age. That said, about 80 percent of kids with ADHD will become adults with ADHD. Those adults are harder to identify because they’ve developed solid coping skills or their symptoms are not severe enough to warrant diagnosis. Even so, you can be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and about 75 percent of adults with ADHD are unaware of its presence. Understandably, research continues.
ADHD Symptoms: How They Look Different in Adults and Children
A good place to start this comparison is to examine four of the most well-documented signs of ADHD:
Hyperactivity
- Having a non-stop motor is a hallmark sign of ADHD in kids. Teachers, for example, can speak volumes about fidgeting children who can’t sit still and will talk a mile-a-minute.
- With adults, hyperactivity can manifest is what others might call a Type A personality. The adult with ADHD needs to always be busy and this can be mistaken for a harmless display of ambition.
Forgetfulness
- In this case, the basic presentation is the same but the specifics are different. Children lose their school books and forget what their parents asked to buy at the store.
- Adults can be just as apt to lose their phone or forget to pay a bill.
Hyper-Focus
- Both children and adults with ADHD will demonstrate a tendency to zero in on a single activity or interest. They lose track of time and other obligations in order to hyper-focus in one direction. Of course, what the focus on may differ due to their age differences.
Inattention
- Anyone with a child who’s been diagnosed with ADHD knows all about their challenges to pay attention for extended periods. Once again, the primary distinction between children and adults lies in the particulars. Both are likely to “daze out” and lose the plot.
Exploring the Gray Areas
Someone diagnosed with ADHD during childhood will almost certainly develop coping skills that enable them to disguise their symptoms. The co-workers of an adult with ADHD may not see any red flags, but that doesn’t mean that such an adult isn’t feeling negatively impacted by tendencies like those listed above.
Meanwhile, there is a growing number of people garnering their first ADHD diagnosis long after they’ve grown into adulthood. Sure, they might have developed coping mechanisms out of necessity. But, without a diagnosis, it’s also possible that they floundered—showing modified versions of the signs a child with ADHD would.
Such in-between scenarios require a seasoned therapist to apply their experience and knowledge through a period of observation and assessment.
What Happens as a Child with ADHD Ages?
While some will “grow out” of the condition, many others will mask their problems through time-proven tactics. However, ADHD changes a child’s brain. Those changes can fluctuate in intensity, but they don’t magically disappear. That’s why adults with ADHD require treatment as much as anyone diagnosed during childhood.
Getting People of All Ages with ADHD the Help They Need and Deserve
Generally speaking, ADHD in children will be more obvious. This is because children have not yet learned that they present differently and are less apt to suppress symptoms. In adults, as mentioned above, people are better at fitting in, even if they are silently struggling. Neither group should be left to their own devices. Connecting with a ADHD counselor is an excellent first step toward relief.
