With currently 15.5 million American adults diagnosed with ADHDthere is an increasing focus on the warning signs of the disorder.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a “developmental disorder characterized by persistent symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
“ADHD is often misunderstood as just excessive distractibility or hyperactivity—in reality, it’s a neurodevelopmental condition that affects focus, emotional regulation, time management, and impulse control,” Lisa Anderson, licensed clinical social worker and clinical director at Brooks Healing Center in Tennessee, he told Fox News Digital.
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More than half of adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they did not learn they had the condition until adulthood.
Approximately 15.5 million adults in the US are currently diagnosed with ADHD, according to the CDC. (iStock)
Fox News Digital spoke with multiple mental health experts, who identified the most common signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults.
1. Impulsive behaviors
Adults with ADHD have difficulty managing impulsivity, according to Zoë Kahn, a licensed psychotherapist and ADHD therapist in Pasadena, California.
“This can look like mumbling answers in the classroom, interrupting conversations, and having difficulty thinking about the long-term consequences of choices,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Impulsivity can also lead to making rash decisions without considering the long-term consequences, Anderson added.
“It can also manifest itself subtly, like overspending on impulse purchases or having trouble waiting your turn in group discussions,” she said.
2. Difficulty focusing or staying on task
Procrastination and difficulty completing tasks are common signs of ADHD, Anderson noted.
“You may have trouble starting tasks, even when they’re vital, or abandon them halfway through,” she said. “You may jump between tasks without completing anything, or focus on smaller, less urgent tasks while leaving larger, more critical ones untouched.”
“It’s a persistent challenge that affects work, relationships and daily responsibilities.”
It’s not laziness, Anderson noted, but rather feeling overwhelmed with what needs to be done.
“ADHD-related daydreaming is persistent and often disruptive, especially when it occurs during crucial tasks or conversations,” she said.
Procrastination and difficulty completing tasks are common signs of ADHD, experts say. (iStock)
“This isn’t just the occasional disconnect during a long meeting — it’s a persistent challenge that affects work, relationships and daily responsibilities.”
3. Problems with time management
People with ADHD may have trouble managing their schedules, often underestimating how long it will take to complete a project or reach a destination.
“Deadlines might creep up on you, or you might feel like you’re constantly behind on assignments, no matter how early you start,” Anderson told Fox News Digital.
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“This can create a constant cycle of stress and failure, leaving you feeling frustrated with yourself.”
4. Mental fatigue
Mental fatigue and burnout are widespread in people with ADHD, according to Anderson.
“The ADHD brain often works at high speed, juggling competing thoughts and struggling to stay on track,” she said.
“ADHD-related daydreaming is persistent and often disruptive, especially when it occurs during crucial tasks or conversations.” (iStock)
“This constant effort to stay focused and organized can leave you exhausted, even after relatively short periods of productivity.”
5. Forgetfulness
Another sign of ADHD in adults is general disorganization, Kahn said, which can lead to an inability to complete tasks, meet important deadlines, pay bills on time or keep appointments.
“The ADHD brain often works at high speed, juggling competing thoughts and struggling to stay on track.”
They may also find themselves in a situation where they have lost important things, such as car keys.
“Adults with ADHD have difficulty finding and maintaining focus, which may look like not paying attention in a conversation, missing key details, being easily distracted in certain settings, or even focusing on the wrong details,” added Kahn.
6. Inability to sit still
People with ADHD often fidget and generally feel restless, says Dr. Michelle Dees, a board-certified psychiatrist at the Luxury Psychiatry Clinic in Chicago.
People with ADHD may lose important things, such as car keys. (iStock)
“In adults, it can represent inner restlessness or incomplete calm,” she told Fox News Digital.
Anderson reiterated this common symptom, noting that in childrenit often takes the form of physical hyperactivity.
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“It often transforms into inner restlessness in adults, where you feel like you can’t fully relax or sit still without feeling nervous,” she said. “This constant feeling of being ‘on edge’ can become exhausting over time.”
7. Relationship challenges
“Many adults with ADHD have difficulty maintaining relationships with others due to inappropriate social behaviors, such as frequent interruptions, loss of interest in conversations, difficulty paying attention, and forgetfulness,” Kahn noted.
“You may forget to call friends or forget about obligations to others, which can cause problems your relationships.”
Emotional sensitivity often accompanies ADHD, which can manifest as mood swings, irritability, or heightened responses to minor frustrations. (iStock)
Emotional sensitivity often accompanies ADHD, according to Anderson. This can manifest as mood swingsirritability or heightened reactions to minor frustrations.
“Many people with ADHD describe feeling that their emotions are more intense and harder to control than those of others around them,” she added.
When to seek help
If you have experienced several of the above signs and they are interfering with your daily life, experts recommend that you seek help.
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“ADHD is not a handicap or something to be ashamed of — it’s simply a different way of processing information and interacting with the world,” Anderson said.
The first step is to talk to a health care professional who specializes in ADHD, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or even your primary care doctor, she suggested.
“They can give you a proper assessment and help you explore treatment options, including therapy, medication or lifestyle adjustmentsAnderson pointed out.
Potential solutions include mindfulness exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help people with ADHD improve their organization, time management and emotion regulation, according to the same source.
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“For many people, medication is also an essential part of managing ADHD, as it can help balance brain chemistry and improve focus,” Anderson added.
Brooke Bardin, a licensed clinical social worker and director of Clinical Quality Assurance in Los Angeles, noted that ADHD can sometimes be mistaken for other conditions.
It’s important to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or mental health clinician if you have multiple ADHD symptoms, experts advise. (iStock)
“ADHD has overlapping symptoms with other disorders and is often comorbid with other diagnoses,” she told Fox News Digital.
From 40% to 70% of people with autism spectrum disorder also have ADHD, according to Bardin.
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It can also occur in tandem with learning disorders, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders.
“That’s why it’s important to evaluate a psychiatrist or mental health clinicianBardin advised.
“ADHD is not a handicap or something to be ashamed of – it’s simply a different way of processing information and interacting with the world.”
As you seek the right support and strategies, Anderson emphasizes the importance of being kind to yourself.
“ADHD is not a limitation—it’s a unique way of experiencing the world, and with the right tools, you can learn to tap into its strengths and overcome its challenges.”
