ADHD symptoms often get better in adulthood for most people, but they don't always.
Grant G. Moncrief, PsyD, ABPP, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical CenterIf you’re feeling distracted and overwhelmed, you might think you developed adult ADHD overnight.
But if you’re diagnosed with adult ADHD, you’ve had it for years.
“Adult ADHD is just childhood ADHD that persists,” says Neuropsychologist Grant G. Moncrief, PsyD, ABPP, of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). “It's not something that comes out of nowhere and suddenly you have ADHD in adulthood.”
Millions of adults are living with adult ADHD
ADHD—which stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood.
About 15.5 million adults are living with ADHD across the nation. Symptoms can include difficulty paying attention, disorganization, difficulty remaining still, frequently losing things and poor time management, among others.
Living with ADHD means navigating a consistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that impacts your functioning in multiple areas such as home, work or school.
The challenges of adult ADHD
“ADHD symptoms often get better in adulthood for most people, but they don't always,” Moncrief says. “That can be problematic later on even if the severity is reduced.”
Adults with ADHD have higher rates of divorce, lower employment outcomes, lower socio-economic status and are more prone to driving accidents, he says.
Asian, Black and Hispanic children are less likely to be diagnosed or treated. Children from lower-income families may also go undiagnosed.
“If a child doesn't have access to treatment and diagnosis, it sets a course for their life that could be very disruptive,” Moncrief says.
A rise in cases
A recent study found a significant downward trend in ADHD in adults between 2016 and 2020, but it was followed by a rise in diagnoses from 2020 to 2023.
“We're probably identifying more cases of adult ADHD than seeing an actual increase,” Moncrief explains.
“What’s also changing is more awareness about adult ADHD among women. And medical providers have a greater willingness to accept that ADHD is not just a male disorder,” Moncrief says. “Because ADHD can affect everybody.”
People with ADHD may experience the following symptoms:
- Inattention: Disorganization, forgetfulness, trouble focusing
- Hyperactivity: Restlessness, difficulty relaxing
- Impulsivity: Speaking or acting without thinking it through.
Are smartphones to blame?
It’s not clear whether screens or social media play a definitive role, Moncrief says, adding that research has shown a connection, but not a root cause.
He explains that people with ADHD have differences in the brain's signaling and reward systems, primarily influenced by dopamine.
“People with ADHD are very sensitive to the effects of reward signals,” Moncrief explains. “It can make things like internet behaviors more addictive and lead to worse impulse control and other stimulation-seeking behaviors.”
Who is at risk for ADHD?
Risk factors for ADHD may include:
- Having a blood relative, such as a parent or sibling, who has ADHD or another mental health condition
- Exposure to environmental toxins, such as lead, commonly found in the paint and pipes of older buildings
- Being born to a parent who used recreational drugs, alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy
- Being born prematurely.
ADHD commonly occurs alongside conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), autism, learning disabilities and substance use disorders.
A May 2025 study also showed that young adults with ADHD may be more prone to harmful lifestyle choices, like smoking and sedentary behavior.
How do you get treated for adult ADHD?
No single test exists to diagnose ADHD, and symptoms often overlap with issues like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and learning disabilities.
To be diagnosed, your doctor may gather a comprehensive history of your medical, psychiatric and developmental background, as well as your family history and academic records.
Medication, therapy and behavior-based strategies are common ADHD treatments. Medications to treat ADHD include Ritalin, Adderall or Intuniv.
Behavioral approaches—like psychotherapy, cognitive skill training, job coaching or relationship counseling—can improve challenges that medications might not be able to fix, Moncrief says.
“Medications are good for some core symptoms,” he explains. “But a feature of ADHD includes executive function problems, and medications are not necessarily going to resolve those.”
Mindfulness practices can potentially ease ADHD symptoms
A 2021 research review in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that mindfulness can help alleviate ADHD symptoms.
Moncrief—who points out that larger research studies are still needed on how mindfulness can treat ADHD—says the practice is worth incorporating into your everyday life.
Setting aside time to practice mindfulness regularly can improve self-regulation, enhance attentional control, and help you better manage your emotions.
Practicing mindfulness involves:
Being present: Engage your mind in the here and now and don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future
Paying attention: Focus your attention on your breath return your attention to your breath whenever your mind wanders
Acceptance without judgment: Acknowledge your thoughts and feelings without labeling them as good or bad.
“Mindfulness can reduce distractibility by external things and internal thoughts,” Moncrief says. “It potentially lowers arousal and stress, and that may ultimately improve your health, attention span and well-being.”
