Symptoms of ADHD in an Adult

If you find yourself constantly losing things, inability to complete your work and easily distracted, then you may have ADHD symptoms that are causing you stress.

The symptoms of adult ADHD can range from mild to severe. They can cause problems in multiple settings such as at school, home as well as at work.

1. Difficulty Focusing

ADHD can cause problems to sit still and focus. These symptoms can affect children and adults alike, and may have a an adverse impact on the daily routine of a person at work, school, and home.

Focus issues can be difficult, especially since it's a constant issue and can lead to low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness and feeling of failure. It can also lead to health problems, such as missing doctor's appointments, not taking prescribed medication and eating or drinking excessive amounts of fast food. It can also cause financial problems too, such as payments being late or the overdrafts becoming out of control due impulsive spending.

ADHD symptoms in adults uk with ADHD typically have difficulty to stay on task however, they might be able to focus intensely on the tasks that are important to them - a phenomenon known as hyperfocus. This can be helpful in certain situations but it's harder to cope with when doing everyday chores and responsibilities like paying bills, shopping for groceries or filing documents at work.

Additionally, those with ADHD are also prone to being indecisive and easily distracted by text messages, calls or television, social media and music. This can make it difficult to complete work at the classroom or at work and can affect relationships with family as well as colleagues, friends and family.

In order to assess whether someone is suffering from ADHD, their health care provider will ask about their childhood behavior and school experiences. They will then interview the person and their parents, if possible to obtain additional information. They will use ADHD symptoms checklists and standard scales for assessing behavior to determine the extent to which symptoms impact the lives of adults. They will also conduct psychological tests and a physical examination, which can help to rule out medical conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

2. Ignoring Specifics

People suffering from ADHD are often so immersed in an activity that they ignore those around them. They might also fail to follow up on conversations or miss important details which can result in relationships that are not working. They also tend to make snap decisions without thinking through the consequences. This can lead to risky actions in the absence of studying for exams, affairs, quitting jobs, financial overspending and aggressive actions such as hitting or throwing things.

A mental health professional is unable to diagnose adult ADHD simply by noting that symptoms are evident in different settings and interfere with work, school, or social activities. To be able to be diagnosed with ADHD, an adult must meet the criteria laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This includes having five or more symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. The symptoms must be present for a minimum of six month and interfere with the person's performance in different settings. A healthcare provider may request the person's spouse or someone else close to them for a medical record.

The symptoms of primarily inattentive ADHD are more frequent and can be summed up as difficulty paying attention and having trouble keeping track of tasks, overlooking particulars and loosing things. Those with this type of ADHD usually show these symptoms throughout their lives, but they are not as prominent as the symptoms of predominantly hyperactive/impulsive ADHD.

Adults with ADHD might be able to be more successful by identifying and adjusting their surroundings, habits and lifestyle to overcome their difficulties. They can also seek assistance from a healthcare professional and take steps to improve their social abilities. Adults suffering from ADHD can also access a variety of sources to help them make and maintain friendships, such as a peer support group.

3. Losing Things

Many people with ADHD struggle to locate things such as keys phones, wallets, or keys. They also tend not to locate paper or other materials required to attend school or work. This can be extremely frustrating.

Losing things is a typical experience for adults suffering from ADHD. This is because the disorder affects the way the brain processes information. ADHD symptoms in adults uk means that the working memory that lets you manage new information and older, stored information is impaired. In this situation, it's easy to forget what you've just heard, the steps of the recipe, or even that grocery list.

Additionally, some adults with ADHD have difficulty staying focused on their work and ensuring their finances are in order. This can lead poor performance reviews, stressed relations with colleagues, and financial difficulties as a result of missed payments or spending too much. It can be helpful to explore different options for managing symptoms such as medication and psychotherapy.

Some experts believe dietary changes particularly those that contain high protein foods, can help reduce ADHD symptoms. It's also important to eliminate sugary foods and drinks since they can cause mood fluctuations and make it more difficult to concentrate. Meditation or mindfulness techniques are also effective in improving focus. These approaches have not been proven to be effective in treating ADHD.

4. Forgetting Things

Often, people with ADHD forget things they have to do. They might forget to go to appointments, or not take their groceries, or leave the house without keys. This can have a significant impact on daily life and relationships. People in their lives may believe that the person is not organized or careless. People who don't have a diagnosis of ADHD can also have trouble paying attention or following directions at school and at work which can lead to missed deadlines and mistakes.

If you think you have ADHD then you should speak with your GP to request an appointment with a specialist of health care who can evaluate adults with ADHD. A professional will look at factors like your mood, medical history, and whether you have any other issues that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD such as stress or addiction to substances.

To qualify for an ADHD diagnosis, one must prove that their ADHD symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two different areas of their lives including school, work, and family, and that the difficulties are not caused by other conditions like anxiety or depression. A provider will examine the behavior of a person in the past, discuss their concerns with them and observe their work. They might also solicit the help of their loved ones for feedback.

Adult ADHD diagnosis can bring hope and relief to adults. It can help people understand that they aren't an insignificant or bad person. It can teach them strategies to manage ADHD like learning to prioritize their tasks and remain organized. This will help them achieve their goals and make positive changes in their life and develop a stronger network of support.

5. Inattentiveness

While hyperactivity isn't the sole symptom of inattention ADHD, adults with this kind of disorder may experience low focus and difficulties staying focused. They may have difficulty to focus in meetings at work or complete college assignments. They may be unorganized at home, or fail to pay bills. They could lose their jobs or fail to meet deadlines, which can make their lives difficult. Inattentive ADHD symptoms can also cause issues with family relationships.

Many people with inattentive ADHD have been suffering for years before they were diagnosed. Coworkers and friends may judge them as irresponsible or lazy. They might be overwhelmed by their indecisiveness, procrastination and impulsiveness. Inability to finish tasks on time and frequent errors could result in problems with their finances, work or even legal problems.

In order to receive an inattention ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional must confirm that the symptoms started before age 12 years old. They must also determine that the disorder is causing impairment in two main settings (like school and work). Impairment includes being absent from important meetings at work or not paying bills on time, struggling academically in college, not being able to finish household chores and putting themselves into debt with excessive spending.


In an ADHD evaluation, a health professional will look over the medical history of a patient and perform other tests, including hearing tests or eye exams, to rule out physical issues. The health care professional could also talk to the patient about symptoms, lifestyle, and work and family life. He or she may also ask for old reports and family conversations to determine if the symptoms were present since childhood.