Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Expert review by:

Dr Rebecca Hunt, Senior Clinical Psychologist

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition. This means that your brain has developed differently from others. ADHD can affect how your brain functions and how you behave. It can make school, work, and relationships more difficult. It can also impact your mental health and wellbeing. But getting the right treatment and support can help.

About ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) develops during childhood. People with ADHD may feel easily distracted and restless. Around 4 out of 100 people in the UK have ADHD. Three out of four adults with ADHD also have a mental health disorder such as anxiety. And people with ADHD will often have another neurodevelopmental condition – for example, autism.

ADHD can be described as a form of neurodivergence. This is a term used to describe the wide range of differences in how our brains work.

ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood. But sometimes the disorder might be missed or misdiagnosed.

Causes of ADHD

It’s not clear what causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Studies have shown that if a close relative has ADHD, you’re more likely to have it. Environmental factors may also be linked with ADHD. These include stress during pregnancy, premature birth, and low birth weight.

Signs of ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a wide range of signs (also known as characteristics or traits). The main traits can generally be sorted into different ADHD subtypes:

hyperactivity–impulsivity
inattentiveness
combined

Some people may have more traits of one subtype than another. Or they may have a combination of all subtypes.

Hyperactive and impulsive characteristics tend to be grouped together. If you have the hyperactive–impulsive subtype, you’ll have more energy than most people and may struggle with acting before you think. You might also be impatient and take risks. Signs of this subtype are:

fidgeting and struggling to stay still
leaving your seat in situations where you’re expected to stay seated – for example, in meetings
feeling restless
being unable to do leisure activities quietly
being often ‘on the go’ or ‘difficult to keep up with’
blurting out an answer before a question has been completed
difficulty waiting your turn
being overly talkative
interrupting others

If you have the inattentive subtype of ADHD, you may struggle to focus and pay attention to details. Signs of inattentive ADHD are:

overlooking details or making careless mistakes
difficulty staying focused during tasks or activities such as lectures or conversations
seeming as if you’re not listening or your mind is elsewhere when spoken to
struggling to finish tasks or follow instructions
difficulty with organisation – for example, struggling to keep your things tidy
avoidance, dislike, or reluctance to do tasks that require sustained mental effort
losing items needed for tasks – for example, your wallet, keys, or glasses
forgetfulness – for example, when paying bills or keeping appointments
being easily distracted – for example by unrelated thoughts

Someone with the combined subtype could have a range of all these different characteristics. Other signs of ADHD include:

emotional dysregulation
excessive mind wandering
hyperfocus

ADHD is also associated with differences in sensory processing.

Having ADHD can make work and relationships difficult. For example, struggling to finish tasks or being unorganised could affect your performance at work. And forgetting important dates or being impatient could put stress on your relationships with loved ones.

As an adult, you might be able to better adapt and cope with ADHD than when you were a child. Or you may find yourself hiding your characteristics (masking). This can make your neurodivergence seem less noticeable to others.

Signs of ADHD in children

Adults and children with ADHD can have the same traits, but these may present in a different way. In children, characteristics of ADHD are likely to affect school life and how they interact with others. For example, if your child has ADHD, you or your child’s teachers may notice that they:

struggle to stay still when expected to sit down – for example, in classrooms
have difficulty waiting for their turn
make mistakes in their schoolwork
seem like they’re not listening when you speak to them
lose items they need for a task – for example, pencils and paper
run about or climb in inappropriate situations

Everyone feels distracted or restless from time to time. But people who have ADHD may find daily life difficult. If unmanaged, ADHD may also cause mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. You may need adjustments or extra support to help you to thrive at work or school. If you think you or your child may have ADHD, speak to your GP for advice.

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Diagnosis of ADHD

If you’ve shown signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since childhood, and daily tasks are difficult, your GP may refer you to an ADHD specialist for assessment.

Before your assessment appointment, it may be helpful to write down examples of traits that you have. To assess you, the specialist may:

ask you how your traits and behaviour affect your daily life
gather details about your medical history
gather details about your behaviour from people who know you well, such as your partner, parents, or siblings (if your child is being assessed, the specialist may ask for reports from you or your child’s teachers)
ask about your emotions, thoughts, and behaviour
ask you to complete an ADHD screening questionnaire or test such as an Qb check

Your ADHD may be classed as a certain subtype depending on what characteristics you have. These subtypes include inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined.

Girls and women are diagnosed less often than boys and men. This might be because girls and women may have fewer hyperactive–impulsive traits than boys and men. Or it might be that girls and women are less well studied or that they ‘mask’ or hide their neurodivergence better.

Support for ADHD

Understanding that you may be neurodivergent can be an important first step in accessing support. There isn’t a cure for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but there are ways to manage it. At first, your doctor is likely to suggest changing your environment – for example, making adjustments at work. If this doesn’t help, you may also be offered medicine or therapy or a combination of both.

If you have another condition as well as ADHD, your doctor may suggest treating that first. Sometimes, several conditions can be treated at the same time. Ask your doctor if you’re unsure.

Therapies

Therapies for ADHD include psychoeducation, behavioural therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Psychoeducation

This is when a mental health professional teaches you about ADHD to help you manage it. As part of psychoeducation you may be given information about:

potential traits
treatment options
coping skills
organisations you can go to for support
practical changes you can make to your environment – called reasonable adjustments

Having this knowledge may help you to live more easily with ADHD.

Behavioural therapy

This is aimed at children or teenagers with ADHD. It involves educating parents and carers on how to help improve their child’s behaviour. If you take part, you’ll learn about various strategies to help your child, such as:

clear communication
positive feedback – noticing and praising good behaviours
consequences for behaviour
school behavioural plans

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

This is a type of talking therapy that’s used with both children and adults. Part of CBT involves learning strategies to cope with negative or unhelpful thoughts. Addressing these thoughts can then help to change how you feel and behave. CBT can help you to work on:

organisational skills
social skills
procrastination
time and task management
controlling impulsive behaviours
reducing stress

Medicines

There are two types of ADHD medication: stimulants and non-stimulants. A stimulant will usually be suggested first. Both types of medication are thought to change the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. Common stimulants include:

methylphenidate
lisdexamfetamine
dexamfetamine

Stimulants work for most people with ADHD. If they don’t work for you, your doctor may prescribe a non-stimulant such as:

atomoxetine
guanfacine

Like all medicines, both stimulants and non-stimulants come with potential side-effects. Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine carefully. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you’re unsure about anything. A specialist will review your medicine once a year to check that it’s still working well for you. They will also discuss if you need to stop taking the medicine or change the dose.

Living with ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can make life difficult. But there are things you can do to help yourself or your child deal with these challenges.

Diet and exercise

Having a healthy lifestyle may help to manage ADHD, as well as being good for your health in general. Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet and do regular exercise.

If you notice that any foods or drinks make your traits worse, tell your doctor. It may be helpful to see a dietitian to identify if it’s worth avoiding any particular foods or drinks. A dietitian can also help if you’re struggling to eat regular meals and a balanced diet.

Reasonable adjustments

You may find that making small changes to your daily environment could have a big impact. Such changes are called reasonable adjustments. Colleges, universities, and employers must provide you with reasonable adjustments if you need them. These could be practical changes such as:

being able to adjust the lighting at your desk
access to a quiet area away from doors, noise, and strong smells
using noise-cancelling headphones
using a standing desk or a balance chair
access to information in a range of formats such as written, audio, video, drawings, diagrams, and flowcharts
being able to work or study from home, if possible
access to technology and software that will make it easier to work or study; examples include screen readers, speech-to-text, and mind-mapping software

Tell your manager, HR team, or education provider that you need adjustments. If you feel comfortable, tell them about your ADHD. It may help to tell them you have ADHD, but you don’t have to.

Children should have access to support at school. This could include changes to help manage their characteristics – for example:

extra time to complete tests
allowing breaks to move around
taking tests in a separate room
access to organisational tools

Each person with ADHD can experience different traits. Someone with the hyperactive–impulsive subtype may feel restless, struggle to stay still, feel impatient, and take risks. Someone with the inattentive subtype may experience forgetfulness and lose items.

Someone with the combined subtype may experience a range of these different traits. Unmanaged ADHD may also affect your mental health.

For more information, see our section on signs of ADHD.

A child with ADHD may have difficulty at school and when interacting with others. This can show in different ways. For example, difficulty waiting for their turn or making mistakes in their schoolwork. They may need extra support at school – for example, more time for tests.

For more information, see our sections on signs of ADHD and support for ADHD.

People with ADHD often find that their traits make daily life difficult. If you think you may have ADHD, speak to a GP for advice. They can refer you to an ADHD specialist who can assess you.

For more information, see our sections on signs of ADHD and diagnosis of ADHD.

To be assessed for ADHD, ask a GP to refer you to an ADHD specialist. The specialist will ask you questions about yourself such as your medical history and traits. You can prepare by bringing a list of your traits with you. They may also ask you to complete an ADHD screening questionnaire.

For more information, see our section on diagnosis of ADHD.

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Page last reviewed: 31 July 2024
Next review date: July 2027

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