Some adults may spend years feeling that certain aspects of their lives were more challenging than they were for other people. They may have attributed these difficulties to stress, a busy lifestyle, or simply accepted them as normal. They may not have thought of discussing these concerns with a healthcare professional.
However, conversations about these concerns have since become much more common. More people are now asking whether there could be a reason for these challenges, although the answer may not always be simple.
One of those possible explanations is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental condition that typically begins in childhood, even though it may not be diagnosed until adulthood. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)1, an estimated 15.5 million U.S. adults (6.0%) had a current ADHD diagnosis in 2023. Among them, 55.9% reported receiving their diagnosis at age 18 years or older, meaning that more than half reported receiving their diagnosis in adulthood.
Seeing more adults diagnosed with ADHD does not automatically mean that more people are developing ADHD. Instead, current evidence12 suggests that the rise in diagnoses is likely influenced by several factors rather than necessarily reflecting a true increase in the condition itself.
For many years, ADHD was sometimes viewed as a condition that children would outgrow as they got older. Because of that belief, ADHD was not always considered a possible explanation when adults sought help for problems such as difficulty staying focused, keeping track of everyday tasks, or managing daily responsibilities2.
Many children, however, continue to experience ADHD symptoms as they grow older. For some, the condition may present differently in adulthood than it did in childhood. Hyperactivity, one of the key features commonly associated with ADHD in children, may become less noticeable with age, making the condition easier to miss in adults.
As more research became available, doctors gained a better understanding of how ADHD can present in adults. This contributed to greater recognition of adults who might benefit from an assessment for ADHD, rather than their difficulties being dismissed as something else.
For many years, ADHD was diagnosed more often among boys than girls,3 while research also provided more information about boys than girls.12 Boys are more likely to exhibit hyperactivity and other externalizing behaviors, while girls are more likely to display more passive symptoms3. This might be one of the reasons why ADHD was more often diagnosed in boys than girls for a long time.
Not all of them fit the same pattern. Some people might not present obvious symptoms like hyperactivity, and might have challenges that are easier to overlook4. Others may have developed strategies to compensate for these challenges, which may make the symptoms less apparent to parents, teachers, or clinicians.
As these presentations became better understood, people who did not display the classic patterns of ADHD were more likely to be recognized and receive appropriate support. This has been especially important for many girls and women, who previously may not have been diagnosed as children.5
As children, many people have a structured routine. Parents, teachers, and the school environment can play an important role in reducing some of the responsibilities kids would otherwise need to manage themselves. Additionally, responsibilities are usually shared or handled by adults.
Responsibilities grow more difficult as one ages and transitions into adulthood. Working, paying bills, managing a household, making appointments, or raising children require individuals to plan and organize their own schedules while balancing multiple responsibilities at once. These are just some of the pressures that could amplify ADHD symptoms that may have been manageable as adults.5 It’s only when these difficulties begin to affect work, relationships, or overall quality of life that one decides to seek professional help.
Medbound Times connected with Mayank Rajput, Clinical Psychologist (RCI), PhD Scholar, Assistant Professor, Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology (MGUMST), Jaipur, and Founder of Mann Sahay Psychological services to share his experience on dealing with such cases.
"Earlier, most adults sought ADHD assessments because of academic or work-related difficulties. Today, many, particularly women and working professionals, seek assessment because of chronic overwhelm, burnout, emotional regulation difficulties, or a feeling that everyday tasks take much more effort than they should."Mayank Rajput, Clinical Psychologist (RCI), PhD Scholar, Assistant Professor, MGUMST, Jaipur, and Founder of Mann Sahay Psychological services
These days, it is easier to find a lot of information about ADHD on the internet. Social media, podcasts, forums, communities, and educational content raise awareness about the condition, and people may identify themselves with those shared experiences.6 For some, it becomes a source of strength to be vocal about their problems and find a way to seek help.
However, research shows that not all the information about ADHD available online is correct.7 Therefore, one should be careful and use the information only to complement proper medical advice.
“Online content has made many adults more aware of ADHD and has encouraged people who may have been struggling for years to seek help. That is a positive change because it has reduced stigma and increased awareness. At the same time, some online content can oversimplify ADHD and create unrealistic expectations about the assessment process or diagnosis. Many ADHD-like symptoms can also be caused by stress, anxiety, depression, or poor sleep. That is why a comprehensive assessment is important.”Mayank Rajput, Clinical Psychologist (RCI), PhD Scholar, Assistant Professor, MGUMST, Jaipur, and Founder of Mann Sahay Psychological services
The DSM-5, a guide used by clinicians to classify and diagnose mental disorders, contains revised criteria8 for ADHD. This edition allows more adults to meet the diagnostic criteria by lowering the number of required symptoms for adults. These changes might help more adult ADHD patients get diagnosed than before.
These changes help clinicians better recognize ADHD symptoms in adults that previously may have been overlooked. However, this does not mean that ADHD has become much easier to diagnose, or that everyone with these symptoms has the condition. Therefore, it is important to seek the help of a healthcare professional, who performs a detailed assessment before giving any diagnosis.9
During the assessment, clinicians take into account multiple factors, including a patient’s medical history, how the symptoms affect different areas of life, such as the workplace, home, or school, and other conditions that may have similar symptoms. This contributes to a more accurate diagnosis based on a more thorough assessment rather than just a few individual symptoms.
Whenever possible, I also gather information from an informant, such as a parent, sibling, or partner, because ADHD is a lifelong condition and collateral information helps build a more accurate picture. A diagnosis is based on the overall clinical picture, not just the person's current symptoms.Mayank Rajput, Clinical Psychologist (RCI), PhD Scholar, Assistant Professor, MGUMST, Jaipur, and Founder of Mann Sahay Psychological services
Difficulty in concentration, forgetfulness, restlessness, or having problems with being able to organize things do not necessarily indicate that one has ADHD. People might experience these problems for reasons other than ADHD, such as stress, lack of sleep, or major life events.11
Moreover, conditions such as anxiety, depression, thyroid problems, medication side effects, or substance use disorders have been reported as possible contributors to ADHD-like symptoms.10 However, for some, underlying medical issues may be the cause of ADHD symptoms, while in other cases, these may co-exist along with ADHD.
One needs to understand that these struggles need not necessarily be associated with ADHD. In order to get the right diagnosis and receive appropriate treatment, it is essential to identify the underlying cause of the difficulties9.
We look at the person's developmental history to see whether the symptoms have been present since childhood, whether they occur across different areas of life, and how much they affect daily functioning. We also carefully assess for other conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep problems, substance use, or medical issues that can produce similar symptoms. Sometimes a person may have ADHD along with another condition, and sometimes those other conditions fully explain the difficulties. The diagnosis comes from looking at the whole clinical picture.Mayank Rajput, Clinical Psychologist (RCI), PhD Scholar, Assistant Professor, MGUMST, Jaipur, and Founder of Mann Sahay Psychological services
Reading about ADHD, you may want to ask yourself if you have ADHD. But instead of making that assessment yourself, it is much more important to ask yourself if you have been experiencing these symptoms for a long time, whether they affect your daily life, and whether you should talk to a healthcare professional about it.
Clinical Psychologist Mayank Rajput talks about getting an assessment, not just for the purpose of labeling someone with a disorder, but to find the underlying causes of their issues:
"Even if the assessment does not result in an ADHD diagnosis, it can still help you understand what is contributing to your difficulties and guide you toward the right support. The goal is not simply to get a diagnosis but to get clarity.”
1. Staley, B. S. (2024, October 10). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults — National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, United States, October–November 2023 | MMWR. CDC. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7340a1.htm
2. Faraone, S. V., & Antshel, K. M. (2008). Diagnosing and treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 7(3), 131–136. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2008.tb00179.x
3. Sapkale, B., & Sawal, A. (2023). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Causes and Diagnosis in Adults: A Review. Cureus, 15(11), e49144. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.49144
4. Quinn, P. O., & Madhoo, M. (2014). A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: uncovering this hidden diagnosis. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 16(3), PCC.13r01596. https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.13r01596
5. Roy, A., Hechtman, L., Arnold, L. E., Sibley, M. H., Molina, B. S., Swanson, J. M., Howard, A. L., & MTA Cooperative Group (2016). Childhood Factors Affecting Persistence and Desistence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Adulthood: Results From the MTA. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 55(11), 937–944.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.05.027
6. Isser, M., & Gazit, T. (2026). Scrolling for support: informational, emotional, and social support in adult ADHD Facebook groups. Frontiers in psychiatry, 16, 1755437. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1755437
7. de Vries, W., Batstra, L., & van Assen, A. (2025). Exploring concept creep: Youth’s portrayal of ADHD on TikTok. SSM - Mental Health, 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100489
8. Rigler, T., Manor, I., Kalansky, A., Shorer, Z., Noyman, I., & Sadaka, Y. (2016). New DSM-5 criteria for ADHD — Does it matter? Comprehensive Psychiatry, 68, 56–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.03.008
9. Kooij, J. J. S., Bijlenga, D., Salerno, L., Jaeschke, R., Bitter, I., Balázs, J., … Asherson, P. (2019). Updated European Consensus Statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD. European Psychiatry, 56(1), 14–34. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.11.001
10. Walker, C., & Hulsey, B. (2025). Beyond childhood: Understanding ADHD in adults. JAAPA, 38(12), 22–29. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.JAA.0000000000000286
11. Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Symptoms and causes. (2023, January 25). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350878
12. Abdelnour, E., Jansen, M. O., & Gold, J. A. (2022). ADHD Diagnostic Trends: Increased Recognition or Overdiagnosis?. Missouri medicine, 119(5), 467–473. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9616454/