Have you or anyone you know ever been referred to as ‘scattered’ or maybe ‘disorganised’ For adults managing work and family, struggles with focus, time management, and following through had become overwhelming.
Millions of adults have ADHD, yet many don’t get diagnosed until their 30s or 40s. Unlike childhood stereotypes, adult symptoms can be subtle and easily dismissed as personality traits or stress.
Understanding Adult ADHD
Adult ADHD looks different from childhood:
- Physical hyperactivity becomes internal restlessness
- Attention difficulties get worse with increased responsibilities
- Organisation challenges become more obvious
- Emotional struggles may appear for the first time
The Three Types
- Inattentive ADHD: Hard to focus, forgetful, easily distracted
- Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD: Internal restlessness, impulsive decisions, can’t relax
- Combined ADHD: Mix of both types, most common in adults
Research shows that stimulant medications have 70-80% response rates in children and 58-70% in adults, indicating that whilst treatment is effective, adult presentations can be more complex¹.
Inattentive ADHD Signs
Attention and Focus
- Can’t concentrate on routine or boring tasks
- Mind wanders during conversations or meetings
- Hard to stay focused on long activities (films, books)
- Often lose track of what you’re doing
- Need to reread things or ask people to repeat themselves
Organisation and Time
- Always losing important things (keys, wallet, phone)
- Spaces (desk, car, home) are chronically messy
- Can’t organise paperwork or digital files
- Always running late despite trying
- Underestimate how long tasks will take
Memory and Information
- Forget what people tell you shortly after
- Miss appointments even when written down
- Need instructions repeated or written down
- Can’t follow multi-step directions
- Feel overwhelmed by too much information
Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD Signs
Internal Restlessness
- Feel ‘revved up’ inside even when sitting still
- Fidget with pens or jewellery during meetings or similar situations
- Can’t relax for long periods
- Need to move around frequently
- Racing thoughts, especially at bedtime
Impulsive Behaviour
- Make purchases you later regret
- Say things without thinking about consequences
- Interrupt others in conversation
- Make significant life changes on impulse
- Struggle to stick to long-term goals
Emotional Intensity
- Feel emotions more strongly than others seem to
- Quick to anger when interrupted or criticised
- Reactions seem too big for the situation
- Intense emotional pain from criticism or rejection
- Others say you’re ‘too sensitive’
ADHD at Work
Workplace Struggles
- Zone out during long meetings
- Start projects enthusiastically but struggle to finish
- Work best in crisis situations, struggle with routine
- Email inbox is overwhelming and disorganised
- Difficulty with office politics and small talk
Career Patterns
- Strong starts followed by declining performance
- Multiple career changes
- Work much harder than colleagues for similar results
- Seen as having ‘potential’ but inconsistent
Only 22-30% of autistic adults are employed (which often co-occurs with ADHD), showing how neurodivergent conditions significantly impact career success without proper support².
ADHD in Relationships
Communication Issues
- Partner or loved ones say you don’t listen
- Interrupt during conversations
- Forget important commitments
- Focus intensely on interests whilst ignoring loved ones
Home Management
- Struggle with household routines
- Partner handles most planning tasks
- Start home projects but don’t finish
- Money management causes relationship stress
Health and Wellbeing Impact
Mental Health
- Anxiety about performance and meeting expectations
- Depression from repeated difficulties and criticism
- Sleep problems
- Stress-related physical symptoms
Lifestyle Challenges
- Irregular eating patterns
- Hard to maintain exercise routines
- Higher accident rates due to inattention
- May use caffeine or other substances to cope
When to Get Assessed
Consider a professional assessment if you:
- Have multiple symptoms affecting daily life
- Symptoms have been present since childhood
- Significant impact on work or relationships
- Family history of ADHD or similar conditions
- Previous anxiety/depression treatment didn’t address core difficulties
UK NHS waiting times have reached crisis levels, with 131,000 people waiting for ADHD assessments and some individual waits reaching **443 weeks (8.5 years)**³. This makes private assessment a realistic option for many people.
Preparing for Assessment
You might consider gathering information, like:
- School reports mentioning attention or organisation
- Family history information
- A symptom diary for a few weeks
- Examples of how symptoms affect work and relationships
Finding the Right Assessor
Private ADHD assessments average £1,267 with significant variation across the UK⁴. Look for providers who:
- Have experience with adult ADHD
- Use thorough evaluation methods
- Consider other conditions that might occur alongside
- Understand how ADHD appears differently in men and women
What Good Assessment Includes
- Detailed clinical interview
- Standardised questionnaires
- Review of childhood and current functioning
- Consideration of other possible explanations
- Clear explanation of results and recommendations
Common Concerns
“I’m successful at work – can I still have ADHD?”
Yes. Many people with ADHD are high achievers who work much harder than necessary to compensate.
“I wasn’t hyperactive as a child – could I still have ADHD?”
Yes. Inattentive ADHD doesn’t involve obvious hyperactivity. You might have been described as quiet or dreamy.
“Can ADHD develop in adulthood?”
ADHD symptoms must be present from childhood for diagnosis, but they may not have been recognised at the time.
“Should I consider both ADHD and autism assessment?”
Research shows 28-40% of people with autism also have ADHD, so if you relate to both conditions, a comprehensive assessment is valuable¹.
Think you might have ADHD?
Don’t spend another year wondering. The answers you’re looking for could change everything.
- Speak to specialists who understand adult presentations
Book Your Online ADHD Assessment - Get initial insights
Take Our Free ADHD Screening - Many people have both ADHD and autism
Consider Full Assessment
References:
- Cortese et al. (2018). The Lancet Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30269-4
- Buckland Review (2024). UK Government
- ADHD UK Report (2023)
- UK Private Assessment Cost Analysis (2024)