Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition characterised by the core symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. While symptoms tend to cluster together, some people are mainly hyperactive and impulsive, while others are predominantly inattentive.
Symptoms of ADHD are distributed throughout the population and vary in severity; only those with significant impairment arising from the symptoms (for example; home, employment, education and social settings) would meet the criteria for a diagnosis of adult ADHD.
Symptoms/living with ADHD
Many people with ADHD and their family/carers, experience stigma and other difficulties with personal functioning because of the symptoms and impairments associated with ADHD, such as:
- Carelessness and lack of attention to detail
- Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
- Poor organisational skills
- Inability to focus or prioritise
- Continually losing or misplacing things
- Forgetfulness
- Restlessness and edginess
- Difficulty keeping quiet or speaking out of turn
- Poor social timing, blurting out responses and often interrupting others
- Mood swings, quick temper and irritability
- Limited ability to deal with stress
- Extreme impatience
- Taking risks in activities often with insufficient consideration to potential consequences of own or others safety
Possible causes
The exact cause of ADHD is not fully understood, although a combination of factors are thought to be responsible:
- Genetics/family history
- Brain function and structure
Other possible causes
- Premature birth (before 37th week of pregnancy)
- Low birth weight
- Brain damage either in the womb or first few years of life
- Drinking alcohol, smoking or misusing drugs whilst pregnant
- Exposure to high levels of toxic lead at a young age
The evidence for many of these causes is inconclusive and more research is needed to determine if they do in fact contribute to the development of ADHD.