Could I Have ADHD? What to Know About Diagnosing ADHD in Adults
March 12, 2025 By Kate Rothman and Dr Caroline Adelman
Have you ever wondered if your constant forgetfulness, trouble focusing, disorganization, or tendency to procrastinate or excitedly interrupt others might be more than just a personality quirk? Maybe you’ve joked about being “scatterbrained” or “bad with time,” but deep down you’ve started to wonder: Could this actually be ADHD? If so, you’re definitely not alone, and asking this question may be the first step towards getting the support you need to live with greater ease and self-awareness.
ADHD Isn’t Just for Kids
We tend to think of ADHD as something that mostly affects kids. But in reality, plenty of adults are walking around with undiagnosed ADHD – sometimes for years – before they realize what they’re really experiencing.
Sometimes, awareness starts growing when a child in the family is diagnosed. You might find yourself sitting in a classroom or doctor’s office learning about your child’s ADHD symptoms and thinking, “wait a minute… that sounds a lot like me.” Others may start connecting the dots after hearing friends talk about their own diagnoses or stumbling across a social media post that hits a little too close to home.
If it suddenly feels like you are hearing about ADHD left and right, this may be because awareness is growing across the board. While there is not clear evidence that underlying incidence of ADHD has increased in recent years, the diagnosis of ADHD has been steadily climbing in response to shifts in diagnostic criteria and increased awareness of the varying ways symptoms may manifest across development and across different demographic groups. Historically, ADHD in adults, especially in women and BIPOC folks, has often been overlooked. But that is finally starting to change, and more people are getting answers that help them make sense of their past and present experiences.
How ADHD Can Look for Adults
ADHD shows up differently in everyone, and in adults, it can look more subtle than the hyperactive image many of us have from childhood stereotypes.
- Some folks are more fidgety, restless and impulsive (physically, cognitively, or verbally), the clinically significant version of which is called the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD.
- Others struggle more quietly with focus, time management, and organization – the clinically significant version of which is called the inattentive type of ADHD.
- Many individuals have clinically significant symptoms from both categories, known as combined type ADHD.
Regardless of the particular manifestations of someone’s ADHD symptoms, individuals are likely to develop strategies across development to help offset the impact of their symptoms on their day-to-day functioning, and their ADHD may become less obvious to those around them in adulthood.
If you are someone who has successfully compensated for the impact of ADHD symptoms on your life, you might not even realize how much you have adapted over time. Maybe you have built a life full of systems and tools just to keep things running (hello, color-coded planners and endless alarms!). Or maybe you’ve avoided certain jobs or responsibilities altogether, perhaps without fully realizing why these particular tasks were so aversive or difficult.
ADHD in adults isn’t about being “lazy” or “careless.” To the contrary, many entrepreneurs and other highly successful people have ADHD. Having ADHD just means having a brain that’s “wired” a little differently, especially in areas that impact executive functioning skills (i.e., the skills that help us plan, prioritize, manage time, and follow through) and attentional control. There is often also a misunderstanding that people with ADHD cannot focus. The reality is that people with ADHD can often hyperfocus on whatever is interesting or motivating to them, and this can be a source of tremendous strength in the workplace, but these same individuals may struggle to sustain effort or attention on tasks that feel less engaging or interesting.
What to Expect in the Evaluation Process
If you are considering being evaluated for ADHD as an adult, you might be wondering what that process involves. The short answer: it’s not just a quick quiz, conversation with a doctor, or checklist. A thorough evaluation will look at both your current patterns and your personal history – going all the way back to childhood, since ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that begins early in life (even if our awareness of having ADHD comes later in life).
That said, not everyone remembers what they were like in third grade, or has access to old report cards, teachers, or coaches. That’s totally okay. Psychologists evaluating adults for ADHD usually take multiple sources of information into account, using clinical interviews, standardized self-assessments, testing measures, and (when possible) input from people who know you well, like family members or partners. These evaluations will also consider other factors, such as mood and other mental health symptoms, since symptoms of other mental health conditions like anxiety or depression can sometimes mimic or co-occur with ADHD symptoms.
Common Clues That ADHD Might Be Present
Here are some common signs that often come up in adult ADHD evaluations:
- Chronic procrastination (even with things you care about, but particularly for tedious tasks)
- Constantly losing or misplacing items (keys, wallet, phone… again)
- Missing deadlines or forgetting appointments
- Feeling overwhelmed by “simple” tasks, like making a grocery list or doing laundry
- Struggling to follow through on long-term goals
- Struggles with time management, such as being chronically late or underestimating how long things will take you to complete
- Losing track of tasks or mental checklists (“Why am I in this room again? What was I looking for?”)
- Relationship tension due to forgetfulness or distractability
- Feeling mentally exhausted from keeping everything together
- Difficulty tolerating boredom
It is important to note that none of the challenges above are diagnostic on their own. A full picture of symptoms, combined with an understanding of the developmental course of these symptoms and their impact on day-to-day life, is required to determine whether a person meets criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD. And again, many people with ADHD develop their own coping strategies over time, with or without a diagnosis. Some strategies are helpful, such as using calendars, writing down important information, or breaking tasks into manageable chunks. Others, such as avoiding certain commitments or tedious tasks altogether, might make things harder in the long run or cause you to miss out on valuable opportunities for growth.
What Does Treatment Look Like?
ADHD treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all, but it usually involves a mix of strategies to help you feel more in control of your daily life. These strategies might include some of the following:
- Creating structure and routines (weekly planning, to-do lists, designated spots for essentials)
- Using tools and technology (reminder apps, alarms, shared calendars)
- Breaking larger tasks into manageable steps
- Working with others (for example, a therapist, executive functioning coach, or other support system)
- Prioritizing self-care and “emotional hygiene” tasks (e.g., consistent sleep, nutrition, exercise – it all makes a difference in maintaining better self-regulation and focus)
- Possibly medication – for many people, medication can be a helpful part of the treatment plan for ADHD, especially when combined with behavioral strategies like those listed above
It’s Okay if the Process of Seeking a Diagnosis Feels Like a Lot
Let’s be honest: actually pursuing an ADHD evaluation can feel intimidating or may sound like just another task to add to your bottomless to-do list. Between finding a provider, navigating waitlists, or just getting started, it’s easy to feel stuck. And if executive functioning is already a challenge, that “getting started” part can feel like climbing a mountain.
But here’s the encouraging part: You’re not alone, and it’s absolutely worth it to get clarity about your support needs.
Whether or not you end up with a diagnosis of ADHD, going through the evaluation process can help you understand yourself better and give you concrete tools to address whatever challenges are impacting your daily life. For those who are struggling with executive functioning, emotional or behavioral dysregulation, or a feeling of being “stuck” in maladaptive patterns, the assessment process can offer clarity, compassion, and practical ways to feel less overwhelmed. Hopefully, in the process of better understanding how your brain works and what strategies are most likely to work for you, you will be empowered to take meaningful steps towards greater balance and calm in your day-to-day life.
Interested in talking with someone about an ADHD assessment? Our assessment team offers comprehensive ADHD assessments to clients in IL and we would be happy to support you! Contact us to get scheduled for a free screening call.screening call.
