There are three main types of ADHD; inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. The inattentive type of ADHD is more frequently diagnosed in females than males and is commonly characterized by becoming distracted or bored easily, having difficulty focusing on one single task, struggling to follow directions or organize thoughts, having difficulty processing information quickly and accurately, tending to lose small items that may be required to complete tasks, and appearing to daydream frequently. Hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD is more often diagnosed in males than females and is often associated with characteristics such as restlessness, constant movement or speaking, impatience, struggling to engage in boring or quiet activities, and lacking foresight before speaking or acting. Anyone who is diagnosed with ADHD and exhibits characteristics that fall into either the inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive categories is typically diagnosed with combination type ADHD, which is the most prevalent type diagnosed in children. While your symptoms of ADHD can change over time, so can the type of ADHD that you display.

Many adults will not even realize that they have ADHD, just notice that many daily tasks seem to be more difficult for them to complete than they are for others. ADHD in adults is often characterized by struggling to prioritize or focus, potentially affecting deadlines for work, or forgetting about social plans or meetings. It is common for adults with ADHD to also experience varying degrees of impulsivity, which may appear as being more impatient in situations requiring a great deal of waiting or as mood swings. More common symptoms of ADHD in adults can appear as:

– Poor time management
– Struggling to focus on specific tasks
– Struggling with multitasking
– Lack of organization
– Restlessness
– Struggling to cope with stress
– Struggling to complete tasks or following-through

ADHD in adults can be differentiated depending on the severity of the symptoms and designated as mild, moderate, or severe. A mild designation of ADHD in adults consists of only a few symptoms of ADHD beyond the amount that is required for the diagnosis being experienced, and those symptoms seem to only have a minor impact on their daily life and activities. A severe diagnosis of ADHD in adults requires there to be many more symptoms present than the minimum amount required for diagnosis, multiple of which may be severe enough to heavily impact day-to-day functioning. A moderate diagnosis will fall anywhere in between mild and severe, with a few more symptoms than the mild designation and having slightly more of an impact on the day-to-day activities of the patient, but being less impacted by ADHD than those with severe cases.

When left untreated in adults, ADHD can lead to symptoms that cause problems with impulsivity, focus, and concentration that are unmanaged and can quickly cause feelings of irritability and frustration when performing daily tasks. Leaving these feelings to grow and go unmanaged can lead to other mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression and can start to take a significant toll on the patient’s self-esteem. Adults with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD are more likely to suffer from a lack of confidence in their skills and capabilities, may feel a lack of drive, and may feel as if they are missing the joy in life that they are able to see others experiencing.

Dr. Soroya Bacchus, MD, of Psychiatry Unplugged, can assist people with ADHD in learning how to arrange their lives. We have convenient locations to serve you in Glendale and Los Angeles,CA. Contact us for more information or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Los Angeles CA, Glendale CA, Beverly Hills CA, Santa Monica CA, Hollywood CA, Burbank CA, and Pasadena CA.