Many people affected do not know that they are living with this neurobiological disease - in most cases the symptoms are non-specific.
When you think of ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, you first think of it as a disease that only affects children and adolescents. Ultimately, around five percent of all adults in Germany are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The number of unreported cases is probably much higher.
ADHD in adults: In many cases, it is diagnosed late or not at all
ADHD is therefore not a “childhood disease” - but a neurological disease of the human brain that begins in childhood, but with its complex symptoms can last into older adulthood. What is bitter for those affected is that in many cases ADHD is diagnosed late or not at all. Children often show the symptoms typical of ADHD, such as inner restlessness and the urge to move - in every fifth family there is a “fidget Philip”. The severity and form of the symptoms in those affected varies from child to child and from adult to adult.
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Some adults who have not known that they have ADHD since childhood live their everyday lives without major restrictions or difficulties. Others, on the other hand, find it very difficult to cope in various areas of everyday and professional life due to the sometimes non-specific symptoms. The signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults are diverse and sometimes difficult to categorize for laypeople and even doctors. A typical symptom that those affected can show: so-called “time blindness”, which means they live “time-blind”, so to speak.
ADHD in adults: Unspecific symptoms such as talking a lot, unreliability, depression
“In adults, ADHD symptoms are significantly more diverse and the clinical picture is therefore more difficult to recognize. The typical symptoms of attention deficit disorder, impulsivity and hyperactivity are also present in adulthood, but are pronounced differently. In addition, some of those affected have developed secondary illnesses - such as drug or alcohol addiction - which can cover up the initial illness," the information portal "Neurologists and Psychiatrists on the Internet" quotes Prof. Dr. Alexandra Philipsen from the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology (DGPPN) in Berlin.
The impulsivity that is characteristic of childhood ADHD is more likely to show up in adults in the form of impatience, thoughtless statements or spontaneous actions. Hyperactivity manifests itself in adulthood in the form of nervousness, tension and a pronounced inner restlessness. For those affected, it usually feels as if there is always “turbo in the head”.
Other symptoms that may appear in people with ADHD in adulthood include:
Inability to focus and structure yourself
Inability to set priorities
Quickly feel attacked
torrent of speech, interrupting others
Be bored easily
Severe mood swings and depressive moods
Unbalanced diet and irregular food intake
Imprudent purchases
Unpunctuality and carelessness
Losing or forgetting things
unreliability
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.