Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodivergent conditions, affecting an estimated 1 in 20 people in the UK. Despite the name, ADHD isn’t simply about attention, it’s a difference in how the brain regulates attention, impulse control, emotional response and executive function.
ADHD presents differently in different people. Some people experience predominantly inattentive traits including difficulty sustaining focus, losing things, becoming easily distracted. Others experience predominantly hyperactive or impulsive traits including restlessness, talking over people, acting before thinking. Many people experience a combination of both.
ADHD is also frequently missed, particularly in women, girls and people from minoritised communities, where traits are often masked, misattributed or simply not recognised.