Can ADHD Behaviors Change with Age?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often diagnosed in young children as inappropriate behaviors in the classroom become evident. However, the condition can persist into adulthood, though it usually presents differently.

The condition falls into one of three categories:

Inattentiveness (difficulty focusing)
Hyperactivity and impulsiveness
A combination of the previous two

ADHD is more often diagnosed in boys than girls, but that may be because boys are more prone to hyperactive behavior, while girls are more likely to be inattentive, which is less obvious. This means girls with ADHD may not always be diagnosed.

At Interventional Psychiatry Group, Dr. Jim Pang, Jr., Dr. Shannon Pitts, and our expert staff treat ADHD in both children and adults at our office in the Cordova community of Memphis, Tennessee. Because it’s often thought of as a childhood condition, our experts want to shed light here on how it manifests in adults, so you’ll understand what you’re experiencing.

Causes of ADHD

The exact cause of ADHD isn’t known, but some factors that may be involved in its development include:

Genetics: can run in families
Environmental factors: lead exposure as a child may provide a trigger
Problems during fetal development: issues during development with the central nervous system may play a role

In addition to these factors, the risk for developing ADHD may increase if:

You have blood relatives with ADHD or another mental health disorder
Your mother smoked, drank alcohol, or used drugs during pregnancy
You were born prematurely (before 37 weeks)

Researchers continue to study the disorder to learn more about how and why it occurs.

Symptoms of ADHD in children

Children and teenagers may have one or more of the following symptoms, depending on their form of ADHD.

The main signs of inattentiveness are:

Having a short attention span
Being easily distracted
Making careless mistakes
Being forgetful or losing things
Being unable to stick to rote or time-consuming tasks
Being unable to carry out instructions
Constantly switching tasks
Having difficulty organizing tasks

While the above symptoms center on lack of focus, the main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness include:

Being unable to sit still, especially if it’s quiet
Being unable to concentrate on tasks
Moving or fidgeting excessively
Talking excessively
Being unable to wait your turn
Acting without thinking
Interrupting conversations
Having little or no sense of danger

These symptoms can lead to significant problems, such as underachievement at school, poor social interactions, and problems with discipline.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults

While some children find they have fewer ADHD symptoms as they age, others continue to have problems that affect their daily lives. Regardless, the symptoms often shift as you get older. For example, hyperactivity often gives way to restlessness, but impulsiveness may turn into more extreme risk-taking.

Many adults with ADHD don’t know they have it, they just know that certain tasks are a challenge. They may find it hard to focus, prioritize tasks, and manage time, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans.

The inability to control emotional impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in heavy or slow traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger.

Treating ADHD

Treatment for ADHD is pretty much the same for adults as for children. Medications, such as stimulants, may help balance neurotransmitter levels in the brain and even out behavior, and are often the first-line treatment option.

We also balance medication with some form of counseling, like psychotherapy (talk therapy) to address behavioral issues.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a particularly effective form of psychotherapy. It teaches specific skills to manage your behavior and helps change negative thinking patterns into positive ones.

CBT can also help you deal with life challenges, such as school, work, or relationship problems, and address other mental health conditions that are comorbid with ADHD, such as depression or substance use disorder.

If you’re an adult and suspect you have undiagnosed ADHD, it’s time to come into Interventional Psychiatry Group for an evaluation to determine a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Call our office at 901-752-4900 to set up an evaluation or book online with us today.