10 ADHD Symptoms

By harper

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Symptoms.' NHS, 21 Sept. 2020, www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms
• 2. 'What Is ADHD?' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Jan. 2021, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html
• 3. 'About ADHD - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.' CHADD, 13 June 2019, chadd.org/about-adhd/overview
• 4. 'Symptoms of ADHD.' WebMD, 25 Sept. 2008, www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-symptoms
• 5. O'Regan, Fintan. 'Teaching And Managing Students With ADHD: Systems, Strategies, Solutions.' 1st ed., Shire Pharmaceuticals Limited, 2018, p. 25, https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Teaching-and-Managing-Students/FINAL.pdf

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ADHD is an extremely common neurodevelopmental disorder that presents itself during childhood. Despite its onset typically occurring in early childhood, many people aren't diagnosed until their teenage years or even adulthood. Once someone is diagnosed with ADHD, more often than not, it's a lifelong disorder that people learn to manage rather than cure.¹‘Symptoms.’ NHS, 21 Sept. 2020, www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and the disorder's symptoms usually center around inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. These symptoms can make certain activities, such as schoolwork, more complicated for those with ADHD. However, with the correct care, the disorder can be well managed.²‘What Is ADHD?’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Jan. 2021, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html

Short Attention Span

As ADHD is characterized as an attention deficit disorder, a short attention span is one of the easiest symptoms to spot. People with a short attention span may find it hard to stay attentive during school or remain proactive at work. Many people with ADHD also find it difficult to remain attentive during conversations, movies and in social environments.¹‘Symptoms.’ NHS, 21 Sept. 2020, www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms

For those with ADHD, a short attention span can be a very frustrating symptom, as it reduces productivity and can make them appear uninterested in conversations. However, with the correct management, a person's attention span can greatly improve.³‘About ADHD - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.’ CHADD, 13 June 2019, chadd.org/about-adhd/overview

Fidgeting

Hyperactivity is also a typical characteristic of ADHD. This hyperactivity can make it hard for those with the disorder to sit still. People with ADHD find it particularly difficult to sit still on a chair in quiet surroundings, and this may result in fidgeting.¹‘Symptoms.’ NHS, 21 Sept. 2020, www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms

The types of fidgeting observed in those with ADHD can range from mild to severe. Some people may fiddle with a pen or small object, while others may need to stand up and walk around.⁴‘Symptoms of ADHD.’ WebMD, 25 Sept. 2008, www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-symptoms

Difficulty Organizing Tasks

As a part of the inattentive manifestations of ADHD, people with the disorder may find it hard to organize tasks. In many cases, this leads to poor planning and poor task execution. People may schedule too many tasks for one day and be unable to complete all of them, or they may begin a task and be unable to finish it.³‘About ADHD - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.’ CHADD, 13 June 2019, chadd.org/about-adhd/overview

It can also take those with ADHD longer to complete everyday tasks due to difficulty concentrating.²‘What Is ADHD?’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Jan. 2021, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html

Excessive Physical Movement

Excessive physical movement is a symptom that presents slightly differently in children with ADHD than adults. Children with ADHD may climb or run and jump around excessively, while adults typically have milder symptoms, such as restlessness.³‘About ADHD - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.’ CHADD, 13 June 2019, chadd.org/about-adhd/overview

Although adults usually present with milder symptoms, it doesn't mean the symptom is any less distressing. Adults sometimes develop coping mechanisms to suppress the external manifestations of hyperactive symptoms but still become stressed by the urge to move excessively.³‘About ADHD - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.’ CHADD, 13 June 2019, chadd.org/about-adhd/overview

Interrupting

Many people who deal with ADHD also experience symptoms involving impulsivity. A range of ADHD symptoms are caused by impulsivity, but one of the most frequently observed is interrupting.¹‘Symptoms.’ NHS, 21 Sept. 2020, www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms

For example, people with ADHD may interject conversations at socially inappropriate times or take over in conversations when someone else is talking. It's also common for those with ADHD to blurt out answers before a question is finished being asked or when it's not their turn.³‘About ADHD - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.’ CHADD, 13 June 2019, chadd.org/about-adhd/overview

Losing Items

As a result of the hyperactivity, reduced ability to concentrate and reduced attention span that ADHD causes, forgetfulness is another common symptom. It may be hard to recognize forgetfulness at first. However, one commonly noticed sign is losing items.¹‘Symptoms.’ NHS, 21 Sept. 2020, www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms

As those with ADHD are typically mentally overstimulated, they can forget where they last saw an item or where they put it. Common items that people lose include keys, stationery, wallets and cell phones.

Daydreaming

Daydreaming is another symptom caused by a short attention span. When someone with ADHD is daydreaming, they may appear to be in their own world or as if they aren't paying attention to what's going on around them. Daydreaming is usually experienced in environments, such as the workplace or classroom.²‘What Is ADHD?’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Jan. 2021, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html

When someone with ADHD daydreams, they may not hear you when you begin speaking directly to them, as they are wrapped up in their own thoughts.⁴‘Symptoms of ADHD.’ WebMD, 25 Sept. 2008, www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-symptoms

Excessive Talking

Similarly to excessive physical movement, people who have ADHD may also speak excessively. Usually, particularly for adults, this can manifest in over-explaining stories or continuing to speak longer than expected. Some people with ADHD may also speak at inappropriate times or while in inappropriate places.

When those with ADHD begin to talk excessively, they may also find it difficult to stay on topic. This can result in people going off on tangents or forgetting the original point of the conversation.⁴‘Symptoms of ADHD.’ WebMD, 25 Sept. 2008, www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-symptoms

Inability To Carry Out Instructions

People with ADHD struggle to organize tasks, can become forgetful and have a diminished attention span. All of these symptoms combined can make it very difficult for people with ADHD to carry out instructions.¹‘Symptoms.’ NHS, 21 Sept. 2020, www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms

When giving instructions to someone with ADHD, it may appear that they aren't listening, or they may forget precise instructions quicker than usual. They get easily distracted. Allowing for additional time to carry out tasks and write out complicated instructions is a great way to combat this symptom.⁵O’Regan, Fintan. ‘Teaching And Managing Students With ADHD: Systems, Strategies, Solutions.’ 1st ed., Shire Pharmaceuticals Limited, 2018, p. 25, https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Teaching-and-Managing-Students/FINAL.pdf

Little or No Sense of Danger

One of the most worrying symptoms of ADHD is the diminished sense of danger that is sometimes associated with the disorder. This symptom is a result of the impulsivity caused by ADHD and is more common in children than adults.

Those with the disorder can sometimes act before they think, and sometimes this puts them in dangerous situations. For example, someone might climb a very tall tree and put themselves at risk of falling.⁴‘Symptoms of ADHD.’ WebMD, 25 Sept. 2008, www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-symptoms