Initially, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was considered a childhood disorder, however, ADHD in adults is also a reality.
At the same time, the main symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention span were thought to dissipate during adolescence, but this belief was wrong.
- Prospective studies examining long-term ADHD outcomes in children indicate that ADHD can persist into adulthood.
- In addition.
- 2% of adults may meet the diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR).
Up to two-thirds of young adults have been shown to have at least one disabling symptom of ADHD (Weiss 1993). The expression of symptoms in adulthood seems to change as the disorder progresses.
Several surveys conducted at Maudsley Hospital in London indicate that impulsivity and hyperactivity seem to decrease with age; however, attention problems are still present in half of adult life.
Studies have determined that ADHD has a strong genetic component. There is an inherited component of 60 to 90%. This means that identical twins have a greater match of symptoms of ina attention and hyperactivity compared to non-identical twins.
The risk of a parent with ADHD having a child with the disorder is 57%, but not everything is a genetic legacy in ADHD, as there seems to be a relationship between genes and environmental risks.
These risk factors include congenital problems, alcohol and tobacco use, traumatic brain injury, etc.
Inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity are the main symptoms of ADHD; In adulthood, these symptoms are closely associated with disorganization, poor time management, and inadequate problem-solving skills.
Let’s look at some of these symptoms below
Attention issues are often the main complaint of ADHD in adults. These people find it difficult to focus on a task and change focus if necessary.
There are four facets of attention that are often affected in ADHD (selective, divided, variable, and continuous).
These attention issues can lead to many other problems in daily operation, such as difficulty listening, inability to complete tasks, and ease of being distracted.
For adults with ADHD, difficulty maintaining attention can be the most disabling problem. These adults strive to stay involved in prolonged, boring, repetitive or tedious activities.
In turn, they are able to concentrate without difficulty when activities are motivating or involve immediate gratification.
Adults with ADHD mis-administer their time because of their attention issues, while lacking organizational capacity, problems that are more pronounced in adults with ADHD than in young people with ADHD.
The ability to organize and prioritize is a challenge for people who tend to fly like butterflies between tasks, which becomes more evident when an activity is trivial or when they are attracted to a task that seems more important.
In this way, people with ADHD respond well to an imposed structure, especially in terms of schedules, so it is essential that they work on ways to integrate into planning, prioritize and avoid dilation.
Impulsivity in ADHD is linked to a low tolerance to frustration, a stable and lasting feature in adults and children with ADHD.
People with ADHD seem to prefer short-term rewards and can’t wait long to be satisfied, which can lead to waiting problems.
What we just described is why people with ADHD may seem demanding or self-centered.
In addition, people with ADHD find it difficult to consider the consequences of their behavior before acting, as the consequences of their impulsivity can worsen in adulthood.
Bad impulse control with one?They can lead to antisocial, violent, aggressive behaviors or a mixture of these aspects.
This can also lead, for example, to fines for speeding, road violence, accidents and criminal acts. As you can see, ADHD exists in adults and its consequences can, in many cases, be more severe than in childhood.