Can ADHD Develop in Adulthood?

There’s a reason people think of children when attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comes up. It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders affecting young people in the country.

Kids with ADHD often struggle to stay focused, display excessive movements that don’t fit their setting, and engage in impulsive acts in the moment.

With behaviors like these, it’s no surprise that it’s typically first diagnosed in school-age children. After all, nothing attracts an adult’s attention like classroom disruptions or challenges with schoolwork.

However, kids don’t have a monopoly on ADHD — it affects adults, too, and it’s not always present from childhood. Instead, it can develop for the first time in adulthood.

In fact, 17-22% of adults seeking treatment for a different mental health issue end up learning they have ADHD.

Fortunately, you don’t have to diagnose yourself. Caroline Bjorkman, DO, works with people 12 and older at her private practice, Mind Space Wellness, LLC.

Whether you’ve had ADHD since childhood or recognize new symptoms now, Dr. Bjorkman can answer questions and help reach a diagnosis in Fort Lee, New Jersey, or the Upper West Side in New York.

ADHD in adults

In the past, experts believed that adults with ADHD were simply grown children who had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as kids. This assumption made sense since ADHD is often a lifelong condition.

But the latest research indicates something completely different: ADHD can develop in adults with no history of the condition. The exact cause isn’t known, but experts suspect it occurs from brain injuries, nutrition, genetics, and social environment.

However, spotting this neurodevelopmental condition can prove challenging at any age, especially in adulthood. That’s because its symptoms vary from person to person and can change over time.

For instance, consider the behaviors mentioned above where children may be unable to sit still. During the teenage years, someone with ADHD can lead to more negative outcomes, like drug use and reckless driving.

Yet, in adulthood, the intense behaviors seen in young people can lessen, making the adult seem restless, forgetful, or easily frustrated.

Diagnosing ADHD in adults

Standard blood tests to diagnose every condition, including ADHD, would make life much easier. Unfortunately, that doesn’t exist yet. However, Dr. Bjorkman can diagnose the condition by observing specific symptoms.

ADHD symptoms typically fall into two categories: inattention and hyperactive-impulsive.

In adults, examples of these behaviors often include:

Struggling to follow instructions
Difficulty organizing and finishing activities
Problems listening to other people
Challenges paying attention, especially when bored
Struggling to deal with stressors
Interrupting people and finishing their sentences
Becoming impatient, irritable, or frustrated easily
Impulsivity

In many cases, ADHD symptoms occur in at least two settings — like home and work — and interfere with daily life.

It’s also common for adults with ADHD to have coexisting mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, personality disorder, and substance use issues.

Once Dr. Bjorkman reaches a diagnosis, she can outline the best treatment strategy to control your symptoms.

Treating ADHD in adults

There may not be a cure for ADHD, regardless of your age. However, Dr. Bjorkman has numerous methods to help people cope.

In most cases, a combination of strategies provides the most effective management solution for ADHD, ranging from medications and psychotherapy to complementary treatments, like supplements.

At the end of the day, it’s important to seek help if you experience symptoms you don’t understand or that interfere with everyday life. Dr. Bjorkman can help you get to the source of your symptoms and feel your best again.

Could you have adult-onset ADHD? Book a consultation at Mind Space Wellness, LLC, to get answers today.