It's important to recognize that many of the behaviors associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) change over time. The table below shows how ADHD symptoms typically evolve from childhood to adulthood in the three core symptom categories: hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.^3,4

People who have lived with ADHD for most of their lives often develop ways of dealing with it. Without even realizing it, their ADHD may influence their choice of job, the way they interact with others, and much, much more. Because people with ADHD develop these coping methods, they may seem to be "normally" functioning adults to the outside world. This may be one reason ADHD has been under-diagnosed historically in adults.^2,3

So if I've coped for most of my life, why treat now?
If you have undiagnosed ADHD, you may be missing out on the opportunity to function better than you may have thought possible. Learn more about the consequences of adult ADHD.

How common is adult ADHD?
There are no definitive statistics on the prevalence of ADHD in adults. Some estimates put the range at 2% to 7% of the adult population.² And whereas some experts suggest the male-to-female ratio is 2 to 1, others say that in adulthood, the condition occurs equally between genders.

Is there a genetic link?
Research indicates there is indeed a very strong genetic component in ADHD.⁵ In fact, many parents don't realize they have ADHD until their children are diagnosed. Read more about children with ADHD and teens with ADHD

Significant Risk for Having Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder⁵

Which relatives are most at risk?	Approximate % chance of having ADHD
Parents of children with ADHD	25%
Children of adults with ADHD	57%
Siblings of children with ADHD	41%