Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychological disorder that develops in childhood, but often persists through adulthood. In the United States, 5 to 15 percent of children are estimated to have ADHD. ADHD is characterized by poor attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity in children, but adults often have less of the hyperactivity component. ADHD without hyperactivity symptoms is often interchangeably classified as attention deficit disorder (ADD). Many patients with ADD are not diagnosed until adulthood, although symptoms have been present throughout their lives.
Childhood Origins
Fifty to sixty-five percent of children with ADHD will continue to have many symptoms of the disorder into adulthood, according to "Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete Authoritative Guide for Parents." Symptoms will be mostly related to inattentiveness and impulsivity--commonly attributed to ADD--but not hyperactivity as in ADHD. This amounts to 8 million adults with ADD in the United States alone. About 25 percent of those with adult ADD have other problems, including personality disorders or mood disorders. Only 12 percent of those who have ADD in childhood complete college, and only 3 percent receive graduate degrees, notes Ava T. Albrecht in "100 Questions and Answers About Adult ADHD." Adult ADD is a real problem that impairs functioning at school and work as well as in relationships.
Greater Pressures
ADD may be identified in adulthood when it was missed in childhood because the adult world requires greater organization skills, complex social skills and greater concentration than does childhood. College is more demanding than elementary or middle school, and a full-time career is more stressful than a laid-back part time job. In the same way, personal relationships are also more demanding, as partners of ADD adults will usually want fulfilling sexual relationships, marriage and family life including children, as opposed to the having-fun, no-strings-attached relationships of younger years.
Impaired Exective Functioning
Symptoms of adult ADD are generally different from those of childhood ADHD. Childhood symptoms include problems paying attention in school, difficulties in organizing tasks and avoidance of tasks that require concentration, not listening when spoken to, forgetfulness, losing things easily, being easily distracted and not heeding details. Other childhood symptoms include problems waiting for a turn to play or speak, interrupting others and answering questions before they are completely asked. Childhood symptoms of hyperactivity are not relevant, for the most part, as most adults with ADD are not hyperactive.
Adults with ADD continue to have poor attention span, high distractibilty and poor motivation to start or finish projects--problems related to executive functioning, largely orchestrated by the prefrontal cortex of the brain, according to Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D., author of "Attention Deficit Disorder: the Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults." They also continue to show restlessness and a tendency to interrupt others. Symptoms seen primarily in adulthood versus childhood are low sex drive, promiscuity and relatively high rates of gambling and substance abuse. Adults with ADD also tend to have difficulties driving, managing money and maintaining marriage relationships. They also show relatively high rates of being fired from jobs.
References
- "ADHD: A Survival Guide for Parents and Teachers," Richard A. Lougy and David K. Rosenthal; 2002
- "Taking Charge of ADHD: the Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents," Russell A. Barkley; 2000
- "100 Questions and Answers About Adult ADHD," Ava T. Albrecht; 2010
- Merck Manual: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
