Plenty of adults only start to wonder about ADHD in their twenties, thirties or later. Sometimes a child gets diagnosed and the description sounds familiar. Sometimes a new job, a promotion or a move to remote working changes what is being asked of them, and coping strategies that used to work stop working. This guide covers the common signs of ADHD in adults, how it is described clinically, how to get assessed in the UK and what can help at work.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, activity levels and impulsivity, and it looks different from one person to the next.
The clinical name focuses on deficits, but many ADHD adults describe their attention as different rather than missing. It can be hard to direct at things that feel dull and very hard to pull away from things that are interesting. That is why the same person can lose track of an admin task within minutes and then spend five hours absorbed in a problem they care about.
Nine common signs of ADHD in adults
The NHS guidance on ADHD in adults groups the signs into inattentive and hyperactive or impulsive traits. In everyday life they often look like this:
- being easily distracted, especially in busy or noisy places
- finding it hard to keep attention on tasks that feel repetitive
- restlessness, or finding it hard to sit still for long periods
- organising time and tasks taking a lot of effort
- forgetting tasks, appointments or where things have been put
- fidgeting
- talking a lot
- interrupting or finishing other people’s sentences
- making quick decisions and finding it hard to wait
Everyone does some of these some of the time. What matters for a diagnosis is that the traits have been there since childhood, usually before the age of 12, and that they have a real impact on work, study, relationships or daily life. Many people also recognise upsides in the same traits, such as energy, curiosity, creativity and the ability to focus intensely on the right task.
The three ADHD presentations
Clinicians describe ADHD in terms of which traits are most noticeable. The NHS notes that most people have traits from both groups, while some mainly show one.
Predominantly inattentive
Here the main differences are around attention and organisation: starting and finishing tasks, following long instructions and keeping track of details. There may be little visible restlessness, which is one reason this presentation is often missed, particularly in women and girls.
Predominantly hyperactive and impulsive
This presentation shows up more as restlessness, fidgeting, talking a lot, interrupting and acting quickly. In adults the hyperactivity is often internal, such as a busy mind or a constant need to be doing something, rather than running around.
Combined
People with the combined presentation have a mix of both groups of traits. The balance can shift over time and in different settings.
Why ADHD in adults is often missed
Many adults were never assessed as children, especially if they did well at school or their traits were less disruptive in a classroom. The NHS also notes that ADHD appears to be recognised less often in women, possibly because inattentive traits are harder to spot. If this sounds familiar, our piece on getting a neurodivergent diagnosis later in life is worth reading.
How to get an ADHD assessment in the UK
Getting assessed as an adult can take time, so it helps to know the route.
Talk to your GP
Explain which traits you notice and how they affect your work, study or relationships. Examples help, as does anything you remember from childhood or old school reports. Your GP may also check for other conditions.
Referral to a specialist
Your GP can refer you to an ADHD specialist, often a psychiatrist, for an assessment. They will look at your history, especially in childhood, and how your traits affect different parts of your life. They may ask to speak to someone who knows you well.
Right to Choose in England
NHS waiting lists for adult ADHD assessments can run to months or years. In England you may be able to use the Right to Choose scheme, through your GP, to be assessed by another provider that offers NHS ADHD services. ADHD UK’s guide to diagnosis pathways explains the options step by step.
ADHD at work
You do not need a formal diagnosis to ask for changes that help you work well, although a diagnosis can make conversations easier. Common adjustments include written follow ups after meetings, flexible hours, quieter places to work, noise cancelling headphones and breaking large projects into smaller deadlines. Our guide to ADHD in the workplace goes into more detail.
Deciding whether to tell your employer is a personal choice. If you are weighing it up, read our guide on how to talk to your employer about being neurodivergent and use our disclosure templates to plan what to say. Our working styles guide can help you explain how you work best.
How Enna can help
If you are looking for your next role, our neurodivergent jobs board lists roles from employers who want to hire neurodivergent people, and you can sign up for job alerts so new roles come to you. For help presenting your experience, take a look at our CV guidance.
Managers and HR teams who want to support ADHD colleagues better can start with a workplace needs assessment or one to one workplace coaching.
