How ADHD Affects Adults Differently Than Children

Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often begins in childhood, how it reveals itself in adults may vary. Children, for example, tend to display more hyperactivity, while adults usually experience issues with time management and focus.

Board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner Bosede Iwuamadi, DNP, PMHNP, helps both children and adults learn new ways to cope with the challenges of ADHD and other mental health issues at Newstone Behavioral Health in Garland, Texas.

What is ADHD?

Approximately 2.5% of adults and 8.4% of children fit the ADHD description. Unfortunately, many also go undiagnosed.

People with ADHD fall into three main categories:

Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive
Predominantly inattentive
Combined presentation

Dr. Iwuamadi and our team diagnose adults through an extensive evaluation, including self-rating symptoms. She also diagnoses children seven years of age and older with the help of their parents, teachers, and caregivers.

How we diagnose ADHD

Our caring team reviews your past and present symptoms, mental health, and family history. Patients only receive an ADHD diagnosis if:

They’ve experienced symptoms for at least six months
Symptoms occur in at least two different environments, such as school, home, or work
Their symptoms hinder work, education, or social functioning

Dr. Iwuamadi reviews all the issues at length before making a final diagnosis of ADHD.

How ADHD differs in adults and children

ADHD symptoms often change with age, so they manifest differently.

Children

The most common symptoms of ADHD in children include impulsivity and hyperactivity. As inattention becomes more pronounced in educational and social situations, these symptoms may interfere with their peer relationships and academic performance.

Adolescents

As children with ADHD grow into their teenage years, they’re more likely to indulge in risky behaviors, such as substance abuse. It helps to encourage independence while providing them with self-managing tools to help them function better in adulthood.

Adults

Although adults may present with common ADHD issues of inattention and impulsivity, they tend to internalize their symptoms more often than children. Inner turmoil may overshadow outward hyperactivity. Adults may also demonstrate:

Ongoing mood swings
Irritability
Low tolerance to frustration
Sleep difficulties
Temper problems

They also frequently present with non-ADHD issues, such as low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety.

Since adults learn to mask their symptoms better than children, their ADHD is more challenging to recognize. Although their coping mechanisms may obscure their issues, they don’t resolve the internal turmoil. Dr. Iwuamadi helps you learn how interventions can help you heal from within.

Managing ADHD

We take an individualized approach to treating ADHD in children and adults, following various paths based on your age and symptoms. Treatment may include:

1. Behavioral therapy

Behavioral therapy allows you to understand your behavior better while learning new interpersonal and organizational skills.

2. Family skills training

Children benefit when their families learn more about ADHD and how to handle their disruptive behavior better.

3. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT helps you become more aware of your cognitive challenges, from organization to concentration, by improving focus and other counterproductive behaviors.

4. Medication

When used in conjunction with behavioral therapies, medications, such as stimulants and non stimulants to improve attention and alertness, often help with daily activities. We may recommend stimulant medicines if you don’t respond well to non-stimulants.

Help is on the way

While there’s no cure for ADHD in either children or adults, Dr. Iwuamadi uses certain medications and psychosocial interventions to help you manage your symptoms better.

If you believe you or your child may be dealing with ADHD or would like to discuss other mental health issues via telehealth, please contact us at Newstone Behavioral Health in Garland, Texas, today.