Do I Have ADHD?

Are you highly disorganized with a chaotic lifestyle? Do you face problems with attention, self-control, and self-motivation? Are you plagued with memories of childhood hyperactivity?

These are the most common symptoms of ADHD in adults. These symptoms may mean that you are one of the estimated 4.7% of American adults thought to be living with this condition. So how do you know if you really have ADHD?

Symptoms of ADHD in children include clinically significant inattention and impulsivity/hyperactivity.

In order to be diagnosed with ADHD, six symptoms from either category must be present. Symptoms must have appeared before the age of seven, lasted at least six months, and been displayed in more than one social setting.


Adult ADHD is diagnosed with the same criteria, although compensations and coping mechanisms of adulthood may alter the ADHD symptoms from those of childhood. Adults may display a wider variety of less clear-cut symptoms than children. Symptoms of adult ADHD must have begun during childhood and lasted into adulthood.

Treatment of ADHD in adults is similar to treatment of the disorder in children. Medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two can help adults cope with the disorder.

For more information on ADHD, see below:

Attention Deficit Disorder: Top 5 Symptoms

Attention Deficit Disorder: How Your Diet Plays a Role

Attention Deficit Disorder: Latest Medical Breakthroughs

Attention Deficit Disorder: Top 5 Drugs That Work