Can You Develop ADHD as an Adult?

The short answer

It is a very common question, often asked after a new job, a new baby or a stretch when life suddenly feels harder to hold together. The honest answer has two parts.

First, ADHD is understood as a condition that starts in childhood. Second, a great many adults only discover it later. Both are true at once, and the gap between them is where most of the confusion lives.

Why the before-12 rule exists

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains that ADHD is considered a developmental disorder because symptoms must begin in childhood. ADHD can be diagnosed in childhood or adulthood, but adults must have shown symptoms starting before age 12. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the same: a provider will determine whether symptoms were present before age 12.

MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's health site, summarizes what a provider needs to find before diagnosing ADHD:

• Several symptoms that began before age 12.
• Several symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that have lasted at least six months and cause serious problems.
• Symptoms in two or more settings, such as home and work.
• Symptoms that clearly get in the way of functioning at school, at work or socially.
• Symptoms that are not caused by another mental health disorder.

Why it can feel brand new in adulthood

NIMH offers several reasons someone may not be diagnosed until adulthood. Teachers and parents may not have recognized the condition. A supportive home or school may have helped a child do well despite it. Or the symptoms may have been mild enough to manage until the stresses and demands of adult life, especially at work, made them harder to cope with.

NIMH adds that ADHD symptoms in girls and women are especially likely to have been missed in childhood. The CDC notes that symptoms may become more severe when the demands of adulthood increase, and that many adults receive their diagnosis as adults.

Symptoms can also change shape with age. NIMH says inattentive symptoms often persist while hyperactivity and impulsivity are more likely to decline, and the CDC notes that adult hyperactivity may show up as restlessness. A child who seemed simply dreamy, or an adult who has learned to sit still, may not match the picture people expect.

Other reasons focus can change later in life

If you clearly remember being organized and focused for years, and the change is recent, it is worth looking at other causes first. Some of them need a doctor to check.

What an evaluation looks at

Because the age rule depends on history, NIMH explains that an adult diagnosis relies heavily on past reports of behavior. A provider may ask to talk with a partner, family members or friends, and may look at school reports or other childhood records. Old report cards with teacher comments can be surprisingly useful.

NIMH says adults may also complete clinical interviews, behavior rating scales or symptom checklists, and report on their mood and current and past medical conditions so that other diagnoses can be ruled out. MedlinePlus notes that there is no single test for ADHD.

An evaluation is meant to understand what is going on, whatever the answer turns out to be. If thoughts of suicide or self-harm come up at any point, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.

How we can help

If you have checked in with your doctor and still wonder about ADHD, Locascio Wellness offers an ADHD evaluation carried out entirely by secure video for adults who are physically located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona. It usually involves an intake appointment, then one or two sessions, then a written report, with the findings explained in plain language. Other types are listed on our psychological evaluations page.

Evaluations are private-pay and are not billed to insurance, and a sliding scale is available; see what evaluations cost. The first step is the short evaluation request form or a free 15-minute consultation on our booking page.

You do not need a diagnosis to get support. ADHD therapy is a separate service our therapists offer by video, and it can start whenever you are ready. NIMH puts it simply: it is never too late to seek a diagnosis and treatment for ADHD.