The common depiction of ADHD is a school-aged child who can’t sit in their chair. However, ADHD affects people of all ages and can look different from person to person. In this post, we’ll cover both the common and the lesser known symptoms of ADHD, and we’ll explain what to do if you have any of these symptoms.

It can be frustrating to know that you or your child are struggling and still find yourself unable to find the right solution. You tackle the problems, and things seem to improve for a bit, but you are unable to make that progress stick.

Maybe you often lose precious time searching for misplaced items, or miss events because important dates were overlooked. Perhaps you are always scrambling to finish projects, or fighting to begin them.

As hard as it is dealing with this in your own life, watching your child hit these roadblocks can be even harder. Trying to guide your child through these challenges is emotional and exhausting, and the resulting stress wears on each of you, and on your relationship.

You might be wondering whether you should seek an ADHD diagnosis. To help you answer that question, let’s look at ADHD symptoms, both common and lesser known, and how ADHD shows up in day-to-day life.

Common and lesser known ADHD symptoms

Although an ADHD diagnosis is often first received in childhood, the disorder can last into adulthood. Its most well-known symptoms are difficulty concentrating and hyperactivity, but our improved knowledge of ADHD has helped us develop a more complete picture of its symptoms.

Due to increasing awareness, and since ADHD is often not outgrown, today there are many adults seeking ADHD diagnoses and pursuing treatment. Overall, ADHD is now understood to be more than just a childhood disorder and is understood to impact many areas of functioning.

Common ADHD symptoms

ADHD’s very name contains both important information about common symptoms as well as potentially confusing implications about what the disorder is really like. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- let’s take a closer look at those words.

Attention deficit- that seems clear enough- a lack of attention or inability to focus. Hyperactivity also seems self-explanatory-suggesting lots of energy and movement. While these descriptions can certainly fit many people with ADHD, they do not paint a full picture.

Inattention

The “attention deficit” referred to in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be misleading. Many parents are confused when a professional suggests their child has ADHD because it seems impossible their child could have difficulty focusing when they have witnessed their child become absorbed in a favorite video game or book for hours. The “deficit” is actually in the ability to command or direct your attention. It does not mean you can never focus.

Hyperactivity

This is often described as being driven by a motor and is sometimes visible to others as fidgeting or difficulty remaining seated. Hyperactivity can lead to impulsive actions and impacts both social and academic situations, by making it difficult to sit through a movie or a long class for example. Hyperactivity can also be experienced more internally, with thoughts that are difficult to slow down.

Impulsivity

Though not part of the title this is a fairly common symptom of ADHD. It is important to note that impulse control can be impaired even if someone does not display any hyperactive behaviors.

Poor impulse control is sometimes less recognized if the impulsivity is less about jumping out of your chair and more about what comes jumping out of your mouth. Shocking statements, poorly thought-out decisions and reckless spending can all be the result of impulsivity and may be taken into account when diagnosing ADHD.

Lesser known symptoms of ADHD

Common ADHD symptoms like poor concentration, impulsive actions and fidgeting can be easily recognizable but there are many more subtle ways for ADHD to manifest itself. Once you have an understanding of the underlying dynamics of ADHD, the connection to these less obvious symptoms becomes clear.

Anxiety

Difficulty directing your attention and maintaining focus puts you at greater risk of having unfinished tasks or being less successful at projects. Is it any surprise then that one of the lesser known symptoms of ADHD is anxiety?

When viewed as the result of worrying about forgetting details or deadlines, or stressing about difficulty finishing projects, it makes perfect sense that ADHD is often accompanied by anxiety. The hyperactivity that sometimes manifests as a brain that never turns off can also contribute to feelings of anxiety.

Executive functioning deficits

Executive functioning skills are those skills that many of us developed naturally that help us keep things running smoothly. They included organizational skills, time management skills, and prioritizing, to name a few.

Skills deficits in these areas are a very common symptom of ADHD and can make staying organized, being on time, or keeping track of belongings very difficult. In fact, problems with time are so common for those with ADHD that a term has been coined to describe this: time blindness. Time blindness describes being unable to gauge the passage of time or predict how much time is needed to complete a task.

Relationship problems

A partner with ADHD may forget and fail to keep plans that were made or miss anniversaries or other important events. It’s also harder to befriend someone with ADHD if their symptoms include forgetting to call or being too impulsive to refrain from interrupting you during conversations. Those with ADHD tend to experience at least some difficulty maintaining relationships.

Sleep Disturbances

One of the lesser-known symptoms of ADHD that can contribute to a host of problems is difficulty sleeping. Racing thoughts, impulsive decisions about what to do around bedtime rather than going to bed, and worries and anxiety can all impair sleep. A vicious cycle can then ensue, as poor sleep negatively impacts thought processes like focus and concentration.

Behavior Problems

Children with ADHD can appear to be deliberately disobedient. Difficulty remaining focused when directions are given can look like they are disregarding adults. Impulsively leaving an activity or a classroom seat can be misconstrued as oppositional. An impulsive change in behavior or activity can be misinterpreted as mood swings.

Symptoms of ADHD over time

The demands placed upon us change as we grow through the different stages of our lives, and as a result ADHD symptoms present differently at these different life stages.

For young children adjusting to the demands of school, ADHD can present as inability to remain in a classroom seat or wait their turn to talk, or ADHD-related sleep problems can make it hard to adjust to the early mornings of their school schedules. They may struggle to make friends because of impulsive behaviors or difficulty playing focusing during games or social times.

As children grow older and enter high school, the executive function deficits caused by their ADHD can make keeping up with the greater workload and increased independence of high school difficult.

Without the reminders from teachers that may have been common in their younger years, teens with ADHD who have to rely on their limited organizational skills may forget deadlines and miss assignments. Being easily distracted in class when they are now expected to take notes on their own, struggling to internalize more complicated material due to poor working memory, and making careless mistakes, can really take a toll on their grades.

Worrying about this can contribute to their anxiety, especially as they weigh potential consequences such as lower GPAs, looming graduation requirements, and college acceptances.

Once in college, their executive functioning skills become even more important as college classes typically demand even more independence. Sleep problems can lead to oversleeping and missing classes, or difficulty focusing during long lectures.

What to do if you have ADHD symptoms

Many of the symptoms discussed here are not unique to ADHD. No one symptom on its own can definitively indicate ADHD, or rule it out. It takes work to find the correct diagnosis. In order to fully understand what is behind a group of behaviors or a cluster of symptoms takes careful questioning and, in many cases, a professional evaluation.

The good news is that help with this process is available in many forms, and support can be delivered in many ways. And rather than being dreaded, a diagnosis can be the key that unlocks the answers you were searching for all along.

Seeking a Diagnosis

Understanding and learning more about ADHD and its symptoms can increase self-acceptance and combat low self-esteem. This mindset may make it more likely that someone will seek out support and use resources. Trusted healthcare sites or books written by experts can provide great foundational information to help foster this understanding. Evaluations, diagnoses and treatment can be an important next step.

When reaching out to professionals, be aware that it takes both experience and specialized training to develop a comprehensive understanding of ADHD so be sure to seek out a professional who specializes in ADHD if possible.

Schedule a phone consultation and check a provider’s website for information on specialties and trainings. A good provider will understand and be happy to answer any questions you have about their expertise and ability to help address your specific ADHD related concerns, so ask away.

Available supports

A diagnosis and the support offered by learning what has helped others, or even simply that there are others with similar struggles, can bring both relief and hope.

Targeted therapy, coaching, or support groups facilitated by professionals with experience in ADHD and its impacts can provide concrete tools, tips, and strategies to help with day-to-day struggles. In contrast, untreated ADHD can take a toll on your mental health, and increase risk of substance abuse, low self-esteem, and depression.

Medications provide another layer of support, sometimes giving the symptom relief needed to fully engage in therapy so you can truly reap the benefits. It can take time to find both the right ADHD medication and the dosage that manages your symptoms, so it is best to view this aspect of addressing your ADHD as a process rather than a quick fix.

Those with ADHD can also seek accommodations at work or school. Accommodations provide supports that are aligned with and individual’s unique strengths and weaknesses. Guidance counselors or student accessibility offices can facilitate this process for you and your student.

Learn how to cope with ADHD

Now that you have a greater understanding of ADHD symptoms and available resources, you are on your way to finding solutions that stick. Share your concerns and all you have learned about ADHD with your healthcare provider. Remember there are resources ranging from education and support groups to coaching, therapy and medication.

You can also reach out to Christina Sullivan at Evolve Learning Community for a free consultation to determine if our flexible learning environment can help your child with ADHD, or if our experienced clinicians can support you in learning to manage your own ADHD. Free phone consultations, campus tours, and trial days are available to help you explore our programs and services.

Do You Have These Lesser-Known Symptoms of ADHD?