The MayoClinic.com indicates that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is the preferential term for attention deficit disorder. While adult onset of ADHD does not exist, the disorder often persists from childhood to adulthood. Drs. J. Ramsey and Anthony Rostain, writing for the journal "Professional Psychology: Research and Practice" state that this occurs about 50 to 70 percent of the time. Adults with ADHD often have difficulties completing college, maintaining jobs, and have legal problems and relationship issues.
Childhood Onset of Symptoms
Drs. Ramsey and Rostain indicate that in order for an adult to receive a diagnosis of ADHD, evidence of symptoms must exist during childhood. The assessment for ADHD in adults would include a review of functioning during childhood, seeking evidence of ADHD symptoms. Caregivers and school records may provide the information needed to substantiate a history of problems.
Inattention
The adult with ADHD often has problems focusing on tasks for long periods of times. Due to problems maintaining attention, the individual can make careless mistakes at work, may have problems following complex instructions, miss deadlines and fail to finish other work duties. The individual's workspace or home environment may appear unorganized, with items in disarray. Attempts to arrange and plan complicated tasks and activities may often meet with failure. The adult with ADHD may avoid work that involves sustained attention or complicated tasks, not because of laziness, but because of problems with attention. Problems functioning in an adult world may be compounded by the individual's tendency to forget what needs to be done, constant loss of needed things like keys, paperwork or tools, and being easily distracted by everything that is going on around him.
Hyperactivity
The adult with ADHD may seek employment that allows him the ability to move about and remain active, as remaining seated and still for sustained periods of time can pose difficulties. When sitting, the individual may fidget constantly and prefer to get up and move around as much as possible. The individual may complain of constantly feeling restless. The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," published by the American Psychiatric Association indicates that the individual with ADHD may talk excessively and have difficulty remaining quiet. As a result, the adult with ADHD may always seem loud.
Impulsivity
The MayoClinic.com indicates that the adult with ADHD may show various problems with impulsivity, including impatience when waiting in lines or sitting in traffic. He may be prone to mood swings and display a low tolerance for frustration. The individual with ADHD may often interrupt others while talking, butting into conversations. Due to problems with mood swings and general impulsivity, the individual with ADHD may have a long history of failed or strained relationships. Living and constantly interacting with an adult with ADHD can be frustrating and stressful.
References
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition"; American Psychiatric Association; 2000
- "International Review of Psychiatry"; Beyond the 'Typical' Patient: Treating Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Preschoolers and Adults; Brigette S. Vaughan, Martin W. Wetzel and Christopher J. Kratochvil; 2008
- MayoClinic.com: Adult ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- "Professional Psychology: Research and Practice"; Psychosocial Treatments For Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults: Current Evidence and Future Directions; Ramsay J. Russell, Ph.d. and Anthony L. Rostain, Ph.D.; 2007
