Common Symptoms of ADHD
Reports of similar symptoms to ADHD have been recorded as late as the 1700s, but it wasn’t until the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980 that the condition was defined as attention deficit disorder (ADD).[3] Later editions began the shift from ADD to ADHD before the latter appeared in the 5th and most current edition in 2013.[4]
There are three sub-specifications for ADHD: predominantly inattentive presentation, predominantly hyperactive impulsive presentation, and combined presentation.[5] ADHD involves an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.
People with ADHD experience the following symptoms:
- Inattention: Difficulty staying on task, sustaining focus, and staying organized
- Hyperactivity: Moving around constantly, fidgeting, incessant talking or finger-tapping, restlessness
- Impulsivity: Acting without thinking, difficulty with self-control, an inability to delay gratification[6]
As mentioned, ADHD can have sub-specifications with more symptoms of inattention, more hyperactivity-impulsivity, or a combination of both:
Inattention
People with symptoms of inattention may:
- Overlook or miss details and make careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
- Have difficulty sustaining attention during tasks like lectures or reading
- Not seem to listen when spoken to
- Struggle to follow through on instructions or finish schoolwork, chores, or duties
- Have difficulty organizing tasks and activities, follow tasks in sequence, keep materials in order, or manage time
- Avoiding tasks that require sustained mental effort like homework or writing lengthy papers
- Lose things necessary for tasks or activities, such as school supplies, books, tools, wallets, keys, or cell phones
- Become easily distracted by unrelated thoughts or stimuli
- Become forgetful in daily activities, such as chores, errands, or keeping appointments
Hyperactivity-Impulsivity
People with symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity may:
- Fidget or squirm when seated
- Leave seats in situations when staying seated is expected, such as a classroom or office
- Run or climb at inappropriate times (in children) or feel restless
- Be unable to engage in hobbies quietly
- Be constantly in motion or on the go
- Talk excessively
- Answer questions before they are asked or finish other people’s sentences
- Have difficulty waiting one’s turn
- Interrupt or intrude on others[7]
The symptoms must be chronic or long-lasting, impair the person’s functioning, or cause them to fall behind on typical development to receive a diagnosis of ADHD.
Attention Disorders Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- About 6 million children aged 3-17 were diagnosed with ADHD from 2016 to 2019
- Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls
- About 5% of adults in the US have ADHD, which is roughly 11 million people[8]
