ADHD in Kids Vs. Adults
by The HealthCentral Editorial Team
The main ADHD symptom categories are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness, but they can look different in kids versus adults. Here are some ways these characteristics can be displayed by each.
Hyperactivity
Children
Often in motion (whole body)
Run and climb excessively
Often fidget or squirm
Cause classroom distractions by getting up, dropping pencils, and the like
Have difficulty sitting still
Talk excessively
Adults
Frequently in motion (parts of body)—tapping feet, doodling, fidgeting
Easily bored
Move from job to job
Often leave projects uncompleted
Restless
Have trouble sitting still
Like active, risky, fast-paced activities and jobs
Inattention
Children
Often easily distracted
May make careless schoolwork mistakes
Tend not to pay attention to details
May have short attention span for age
Often avoid homework/schoolwork
Don't seem to listen when spoken to
Often don't complete projects/chores
May move from activity to activity
May be disorganized
Often lose things
Can be forgetful
Adults
Often lose or misplace items (keys, phone numbers, important papers)
May forget routine tasks
Often leave tasks uncompleted
Can be easily distracted, moving from task to task
Often have difficulty following conversations
May lack self-motivation
May lose track of time
May be disorganized
Often have problems prioritizing
May lack focus
Impulsiveness
Children
May seem rude or have behavioralproblems
May blurt out comments in conversations or in school
May have problems waiting their turn
Often interrupt others and/or jump into games other kids are playing
May act without thinking about risk (e.g., jumping from the top of a slide or running into the street)
Adults
May have financial problems or spend money impulsively, wreaking havoc on household budget
May drive fast, gamble, have risky sex
Often interrupt others in conversation
May blurt out offensive or hurtful comments without thinking
May have low frustration tolerance
May have frequent mood swings
May have a hot temper
Often have trouble coping with stress
May have trouble holding a job
May get in trouble with the law
May misuse alcohol or other substances
