Behavioral Health
5th Floor South
Columbus, OH 43221
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often thought of as a childhood condition, but many adults in the United States live with the behavioral disorder. In fact, 4.4% of people ages 18 to 44 have ADHD, and some people aren’t diagnosed until they’re older.
The behavioral health experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, help many adolescents (those 15 and older) and adults every year manage their ADHD symptoms, leading to improved quality of life.
If you think you have undiagnosed ADHD or you’ve struggled to ease symptoms, the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center provides evidence-based and compassionate care, from a complete evaluation to determine if you have the condition to providing treatment personalized to your needs and goals through medication management as well as individual and group psychotherapy. We’re here to help.
For more information on ADHD treatment for children, visit Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a mental health condition that can cause difficulty with paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
While we all might experience these problems at some point, in someone with ADHD, they’re severe enough to cause ongoing challenges in multiple areas of life. These symptoms are persistent and disruptive and can often be traced back to childhood.
Adult ADHD occurs in:
Hyperactivity as a symptom is typically less present in adults than in children, and many adults with ADHD struggle with memory and concentration issues. It can also be difficult to diagnose in adults, because some of the symptoms are similar to those in other mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety.
There are three types of ADHD:
Symptoms for ADHD can vary from person to person, in type as well as severity. No two people experience ADHD the same way. Here are some possible symptoms of ADHD based on the type you might have:
Symptoms of ADHD often worsen with stress, conflict or increased demands in your environment.
Causes of ADHD are often not known. Inherited or environmental factors may play a role in this condition. We do know there are certain risk factors that may increase your chances of developing ADHD. Those include:
It’s important to remember that just because you have one or more of these risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily develop ADHD, and you can still develop ADHD even if you don’t have any of these risks.
The answer is mostly no. Symptoms of ADHD don’t generally begin in adulthood without a severe brain injury. Usually, the symptoms can be traced back to childhood when they were either ignored or misdiagnosed.
Sometimes adults can cover up or manage ADHD symptoms on their own, so they’re not aware they have the condition. However, a major stressful event or new demands, such as having a baby or starting a new job, can make ADHD symptoms much more apparent.
ADHD can be difficult to diagnose in adults, mainly because the symptoms can be similar to other mental and behavioral health conditions, such as depression or anxiety. The ADHD specialists at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center have specialized training in identifying the disorder in adults.
Tools we might use to diagnose you with ADHD include:
While there’s no definitive test for diagnosing ADHD, our experts will use a combination of these diagnostic tools and decades of experience to provide the most accurate diagnosis to get you the best care.
Treatment for ADHD in adults is similar to the treatment of the condition in children. It typically involves some combination of medicine, counseling or psychotherapy and learning new coping skills.
ADHD treatment options include:
Medication helps many people with ADHD, but psychotherapy can also be an effective additional or standalone treatment for some. Therapy can help you learn new coping skills, and you can also integrate certain lifestyle changes that can relieve some symptoms.
Lifestyle changes that can positively impact your ADHD include:
Make sure you discuss with your health care provider the best treatment approach for your ADHD symptoms, and don’t stop taking current medications without first talking to your doctor.
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