According to the National Library of Medicine, at least 4% of adults are diagnosed with ADHD in the course of their lives; for children, that number is even higher. The good news: once you know what you’re dealing with, there are ample ways to help manage and control ADHD and its symptoms.

In our guide, we’d like to give you a short overview of what ADHD actually is, what causes it, what its most common signs and symptoms are, as well as what you can do to keep them in check as much as possible.

And while we’re going to provide you with all the facts you’ll need, should you be affected by ADHD yourself, we would also like to encourage you to join Carecircle.org to gain access to our helpful community of fellow patients, carers and medical experts to share experiences and receive help in navigating your condition with all its challenges.

What is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a common health condition whose main symptoms are elevated levels of hyperactivity, difficulty in focusing on specific tasks or paying attention, as well as impulsive behaviours. However, not every person affected by ADHD will experience all these symptoms, or experience them with the same intensity. Because ADHD can take many forms, some of which are hard to pin down, it often takes months or even years before the condition is officially diagnosed and sufficient help provided.

ADHD can occur in children as well as adults, and about 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD will, in fact, carry the condition into adulthood. Depending on the type of ADHD and its intensity, it can have a significant impact on the affected person’s life, ranging from issues at school or work to social struggles.

In recent years, awareness of ADHD and its effects has significantly increased, while the possibilities for treatment have continuously improved. For this reason, ADHD has also become increasingly easier to diagnose, manage, and control.

Types of ADHD

There are two main types or presentations of ADHD, whereas people affected by the condition can show symptoms of either or both.

1. Predominantly inattentive presentation

This type, previously named ADD, represents the ‘attention deficit’ part of ADHD and is dominated by frequent inattention and a lack of concentration. This may lead to issues such as time and task management troubles, forgetfulness, or difficulties studying and retaining information.

This type is more common in girls/women than boys/men.

2. Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation

The second type represents the ‘hyperactivity’ part of ADHD and is dominated by unusually increased activity levels and impulsive behaviours. People affected by this type of ADHD may experience a constant need to fidget or move about, increased impatience, stress, and/or frustration, as well as difficulty maintaining appropriate behaviour in social situations.

3. Combined presentation

While it is possible for only one of the presentations above to manifest in a person affected by ADHD, most patients show symptoms of both to varying degrees.

Not sure if you have ADHD and would like to talk to diagnosed patients to get first-hand insights? Or are you looking for helpful tips to get a head start on your own symptoms and how to manage them? By joining carecirle.org you’ll gain access to a large, international network of fellow patients, carers, and medical scientists to share experiences with and receive advice from. And it’s 100% free, too!

Types of ADHD

As mentioned before, ADHD manifests differently in different people. There are, however, several primary symptoms strongly associated with it. These include:

• difficulty focusing on certain tasks or paying attention
• general trouble concentrating
• being easily distracted
• a constant urge to move around/fidget
• impulsive behaviours

Secondary symptoms that result from the primary ones above may include:

• trouble studying or completing tasks
• frequent errors and mistakes due to lack of concentration
• time management issues
• forgetfulness
• a tendency to misplace/lose belongings
• disruptive behaviours (getting up during class, interrupting people speaking/learning/working, …)
• excessive talking
• impatience
• social troubles caused by the symptoms above

Depending on whether ADHD occurs in children or adults, as well whether it’s diagnosed in boys/men or girls/women, the actual symptoms typically vary. Coming up, we’ve therefore put together the most common signs of ADHD for each group.

Signs and symptoms of ADHD in children

Children with ADHD might:

• have difficulty paying attention in class or completing schoolwork
• regularly run out of time during exams and other time-critical tasks
• disrupt class by fidgeting around, moving about, talking to their peers during lessons, blurting out answers before being called, etc.
• forget they have homework to do
• be easily distracted (during class, doing homework, while studying, etc.)
• talk excessively and/or switch topics quickly
• be impatient or have difficulty waiting their turn
• frequently lose things or forget them at school/their friends’ places etc.
• seem unusually active

Signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults

In adults, ADHD symptoms are often less obvious, although they can have as significant an impact on the patient’s life. Adults most commonly experience:

• difficulty managing their time and keeping up with deadlines
• poor organisation skills
• trouble keeping up with daily tasks
• an increased need to be active or general restlessness
• frequent feelings of stress, frustration, irritation, and/or anxiety
• frequent mood swings
• increased forgetfulness
• a tendency to misplace or lose items

Signs and symptoms of ADHD in girls and women

While ADHD is common in all sexes, males are twice as likely to be diagnosed as females. So far, [it is unclear](https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-020-02707-9) whether this is due to the fact that girls/women are less prone to the condition, or because ADHD is often much more subtle in females, with only the attention deficit part manifesting, which simply leads to fewer diagnoses. The typical symptoms for girls and women include:

• difficulty focusing or paying attention
• poor organisation skills
• trouble completing tasks or keeping up with deadlines
• being easily distracted
• frequent daydreaming
• increased forgetfulness
• frequently losing or misplacing belongings and other items

What causes ADHD?

Despite the massive amounts of research conducted in recent years, it is still unclear what exactly causes ADHD. There are, however, two likely main contributors.

The first is low dopamine function. Dopamine is a molecule in our body whose functions include transferring signals between nerves, controlling emotions and movement, as well as triggering physical reactions such as nausea or arousal. If dopamine levels are too low, it could therefore interfere with a person’s attention levels or their ability to control their emotions and impulses, which are tell-tale signs of ADHD.

The second possible factor are differences in an affected person’s brain structure, specifically a lack in volume of their grey brain matter, which may occur naturally or as the result of an injury. Grey matter is the outermost layer of our brains, which gets its name from its pinkish-grey colour. It is responsible, among other things, for controlling our emotions, impulses, and movements, and it also plays a critical part in how easily we remember things. Knowing all this, it’s easy to see how too little of it could contribute to, if not altogether cause, ADHD.

Besides these two most likely causes, there are also a number of possible contributing factors, including:

• genetic factors (ADHD is known to run in families)
• exposure to certain neurotoxins, such as lead, at a young age
• smoking or alcohol consumption during pregnancy
• premature delivery
• low birth weight

Rumoured causes such as unhealthy nutrition, watching TV, playing video games, poverty, or stressful social environments, have, however, been proven to play no part in whether or not someone develops ADHD, even if some of these can worsen ADHD’s symptoms.

How do you diagnose ADHD?

Even though there are self-tests you can take to get an idea about whether or not you may have ADHD (especially if you’re an adult), there is no simple way to diagnose it.

In most cases, you’ll be diagnosed with ADHD after a several months-long evaluation by a specialist. In the course of it, they will ask you about your symptoms of the past six months and compare them to a checklist of typical signs and symptoms of ADHD, as well as assess your behaviour directly during consultations.

Because ADHD varies in its symptoms and intensity from person to person, it often goes undiagnosed for months or even years. In children, it is especially hard to diagnose, since some of its symptoms are also common in children in general, and it’s often hard to determine whether normal levels of, for example, inattention or the need to move around, have been exceeded. Girls, who much more often than boys do not display hyperactivity symptoms such as disruptive behaviour, are even less likely to be diagnosed.

ADHD (self-)tests

Self-tests for ADHD or tests that you might take at your doctor’s office usually aim at getting a first idea of your symptoms and whether they could point at you having ADHD. They usually consist of a list of multiple-choice questions, asking you things like “Do you often lose everyday items such as keys or glasses?”, or “Are you easily distracted at work/school/home?”. Your answers are then compared to a checklist of typical ADHD symptoms and will return a score that tells you how likely it is that you indeed have ADHD.

Even though ADHD tests may be used in the course of your ADHD assessment, their results by themselves do not count as an official diagnosis. For that, you typically have to see a doctor and partake in a prolonged assessment period.

Just got your ADHD self-test results and would like to discuss them online before heading to your doctor? Our friendly Carecircle.org community is the perfect place to do just that – and you can join it right away and for free!

How can ADHD be treated?

At the moment, there are two main ways by which ADHD is treated: therapy and medication.

The most important method of treatment for ADHD is therapy. By talking to a medical scientist such as a certified psychiatrist, you or your child can learn to recognise and subsequently control any ADHD symptoms. Talk therapy can also help patients to deal with the social and psychological impact those symptoms may have, such as difficulty making friends, increased levels of stress, frustration, or anxiety, and the psychological burden of having a diagnosed disorder.

Medication for ADHD typically includes central nervous system stimulant drugs, that aim at regulating and normalising the levels of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in your brain. By doing so, they can significantly improve a patient’s impulse control, ability to pay attention, and activity level.

In addition, nonstimulant drugs such as certain anti-depressants might be prescribed, especially if the stimulants don’t seem to be effective or if they cause unwanted side effects.

Lastly, there is also a number of lifestyle choices that can positively affect the severity of your ADHD symptoms. These include:

• Getting plenty of sleep and exercise
• Eating a healthy, nutritious diet
• Meditation or Yoga
• Working on maintaining a healthy work-life balance
• Reducing unnecessary stress factors
• Limiting your daily screen & social media time

ADHD FAQs

Need a quick summary of everything important to know about ADHD? Check out these FAQs!

What does ADHD stand for?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a common health condition whose main symptoms are elevated levels of hyperactivity, difficulty in focusing on specific tasks or paying attention, and impulsive behaviours.

How to get diagnosed with ADHD?

ADHD can be difficult to diagnose. For you to be diagnosed, you will typically have to see a professional who will examine you, talk to you, and ask you a series of questions regarding your symptoms and experiences to determine if you have ADHD or not.

What does ADHD medication do?

ADHD medication typically aims at regulating and normalising the levels of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in your brain to counteract your ADHD symptoms.

How to get tested for ADHD?

Before seeing a specialist to be officially diagnosed with ADHD, you can take a self-test at home to decide how likely it is you really have ADHD. Even though ADHD tests may be used in the course of your ADHD assessment, their results by themselves do not count as an official diagnosis.

How to know if you have ADHD?

While self-tests can give you an idea about whether or not the symptoms you experience may indeed stem from ADHD, the only way to be sure is to see an expert for assessment.

ADHD Resources:

• ADHD self-test at adhdadulthood.com
• CDC’s ADHD Hub
• AACAP’s ADHD Resource Center (for patients and parents)
• Articles/studies on ADHD @ National Library of Medicine/PubMed Central
• Articles/studies on ADHD @ Anxiety & Depression Association of America

Living with ADHD can be challenging, but the more you know about your condition, the easier it gets. Treatments such as medication or therapy can help you manage your symptoms so that they won’t affect your daily life. And if you’re still trying to figure out if you or a loved one in fact has ADHD, our list of symptoms and signs to look out for can help you decide whether it’s time to consult with an expert for an official assessment.

Sources:

• National Library of Medicine/PubMed Central: “The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A Global systemic review and meta-analysis”
• National Library of Medicine/PubMed Central: “Low dopamine function in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Should genotyping signify early diagnosis in children?”
• National Library of Medicine/PubMed Central: “Regional Gray Matter volume differences between adolescents with ADHD and typically developing controls: Further evidence for anterior cingulate involvement”
• Anxiety & Depression Association of America
• Simply Psychology
• CDC
• adhdadulthood.com