Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a psychological disorder due to abnormal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. While ADHD is often diagnosed during children, it is also found in adults. However, the symptoms of childhood ADHD and adult ADHD differ. Adult patients have more inattention symptoms than child patients, which can impact their level of productivity at work. Symptoms of ADHD in adults can be divided into three groups: impulsiveness, hyperactivity and inattention symptoms. To be considered a disorder, patients must have six inattention symptoms or six hyperactivity-impulsiveness symptoms that interfere in their lives.
Impulsiveness Symptoms
Impulsiveness symptoms are grouped with the hyperactivity symptoms during the diagnosis. Impulsiveness symptoms are broken up into two categories: decision making and relation to others. Issues with decision making include making sudden decisions, or having trouble listening to others when making a decision. Patients who have problems relating to others as a result of ADHD have trouble following a conversation, blurting out, interrupting others and answering unfinished questions.
Hyperactivity Symptoms
The hyperactivity symptoms of ADHD in adults are significantly different from ADHD in children, according to the authors of the article "Adult ADD/ADHD." Common ADHD hyperactivity symptoms include being full of nervous energy, incessant talking and restlessness. Other hyperactivity symptoms are boredom, irritability and mood swings. In addition, adult ADHD patients may feel that quiet activities are impossible; as a result, they may avoid those activities.
Inattention Symptoms
The last group of adult ADHD symptoms is inattention symptoms. According to the authors of the article "Adult ADD/ADHD," inattention symptoms are more dominant in adult patients than child patients. Inattention symptoms can be grouped into categories: concentration symptoms and organization symptoms. Patients with concentration problems have trouble following conversations, are easily distracted and forgetful. In addition, patients may "zone out" or have problems finishing tasks. Symptoms of organization problems include becoming cluttered and messy, losing items and procrastinating. It is possible for adult ADHD patients to have only inattention symptoms and no hyperactivity-impulsiveness symptoms, or vice versa.
