Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.

Though it's called adult ADHD, symptoms start in early childhood and continue into adulthood. In some cases, ADHD is not recognized or diagnosed until the person is an adult. Adult ADHD symptoms may not be as clear as ADHD symptoms in children. In adults, hyperactivity may decrease, but struggles with impulsiveness, restlessness and difficulty paying attention may continue.

Treatment for adult ADHD is similar to treatment for childhood ADHD. Adult ADHD treatment includes medications, psychological counseling (psychotherapy) and treatment for any mental health conditions that occur along with ADHD.

Many adults with ADHD aren't aware they have it — they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge. Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger.

Adult ADHD symptoms may include:

• Impulsiveness

• Disorganization and problems prioritizing

• Poor time management skills

• Problems focusing on a task

• Trouble multitasking

• Excessive activity or restlessness

• Poor planning

• Low frustration tolerance

• Frequent mood swings

• Problems following through and completing tasks

• Hot temper

• Trouble coping with stress

This short clip provides some insight into the late diagnosis of ADHD and how this can help adults understand not only their current difficulties, but why life may have been a struggle to date.

Adult ADHD is associated with:

• Difficulties with relationships

• Substance use

• Frequent changes of jobs

• Moving home location because of restlessness

• Increased risk of road traffic accidents

• Increase in driver violations (parking tickets, speeding fines etc)

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Unplanned pregnancy

Diagnosis of ADHD in adults can be difficult because certain ADHD symptoms are similar to those caused by other conditions, such as anxiety or mood disorders. And many adults with ADHD also have at least one other mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety.

Almost everyone has some symptoms similar to ADHD at some point in their lives. If your difficulties are recent or occurred only occasionally in the past, you probably don't have ADHD. ADHD is diagnosed only when symptoms are severe enough to cause ongoing problems in more than one area of your life. These persistent and disruptive symptoms can be traced back to early childhood.

But you can suspect and then seek out a qualified clinician to assess you and advise on treatment if a diagnosis is confirmed.

In order to reach that stage, you will need to get a referral from your GP and convince them that this is necessary. That can be quite a challenge.

For ADHD to even be considered, you need to be demonstrating both symptoms and impairment, sufficient that your quality of life is being affected.

Before going to the GP:

• Make a list of all the difficulties that you have had throughout your life (evidence is necessary that you had problems before 12 years old) and those that are affecting you now. Keep a list of bullet points and keep adding to it.

• Try to secure some collateral information - input from your parents, from old school reports, from people who currently know you well.

• Keep yourself well-informed by joining social media groups such as the Scottish ADHD Coalition but beware fake news on some.

• If you are finding it difficult to persuade your GP that a referral is necessary and you can afford to go private, ensure that any diagnosis will be accepted and that your clinician has the necessary expertise.

One of the biggest challenges in adult ADHD is in separating it from other possible disorders.

Another is in getting good quality collateral information from other sources (e.g. parents).

An introduction to ADHD

A good clip with expert input from Professor Eric Tatlor, one of the UK’s pioneers in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.

The risks and costs of adult ADHD

This highly informative presentation may make for uncomfortable viewing but helps us to understand how ADHD, treated or unstreated, can increase the risk of poor outcomes for young people and adults, and where intervention may be of help.