Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD)

Adult ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects executive functioning, which involves our ability to plan, prioritise, organise, and sustain our behaviour towards a goal across time

What are some of the signs of ADHD in adults?

  • Restlessness and Anxiety

  • High Rejection Sensitivity

  • Emotion Dysregulation

  • Poor Impulse Control

  • Difficulties with Concentration and Attention

  • Poor time management and organisation skills

  • Forgetfulness

  • Constantly Losing or Misplacing Belongings

  • Difficulties in interpersonal Relationships

  • Substance Misuse

In addition ADHD is actually characterised by a dysregulation of attention, rather than deficit. People with ADHD generally have difficulty maintaining focus and attention when it comes to tasks that are boring, tedious, or not of personal interest to them. However, when a task is something new, urgent, exciting, or of personal interest to them, people with ADHD can enter into a state of hyperfocus where they are actually unable to shift their attention away from the task (sometimes at the expense of other important things like eating and sleeping!). As a result, people with ADHD often excel in their areas of interest, and this may or may not be reflected in their school or work performance.

Many people with ADHD, particularly adults, have learned to mask their external hyperactivity (e.g. not sitting still, fidgeting), and tend to experience more internal hyperactivity (e.g. racing thoughts, “busy brain”). This was formerly known as ADD or the primarily inattentive type of ADHD.

For these reasons, ADHD is often a misunderstood condition that is easily missed amongst other diagnoses such as anxiety and depression, which people with ADHD often also experience as a result of the difficulties their symptoms cause in day-to-day living.

Adult ADHD Assessments

At ANIMA Health Network, our Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists offer comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and diagnostic clarification for adults who may have ADHD.

If you have any questions about the assessment process or would like to find out more, please feel free to contact us for more information about your individual situation and fees.

References

Goodman, D. W. (2007). The consequences of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 13(5), 318-327.https://doi.org/10.1097/01.pra.0000290670.87236.18

BACK

Helpful Links

ADDitude - articles, videos, lectures, and other resources for children, adolescents and adults with ADHD and their loved ones

How to ADHD YouTube Channel - as shown above, videos about understanding ADHD and skills and strategies for managing symptoms

Podcast:
Psych Spiels and Silver Linings
"Demystifying Adult ADHD" on Spotify

Research Paper:

A qualitative and quantitative study of self-reported positive characteristics of individuals with ADHD

Introducing our Director, Dr Ozgur (Oz) Yalcin, who discusses adult ADHD as both a clinical psychologist and as a person with lived experience.

ADHD sucks, but not really | Salif Mahamane

ADHD in Girls: How to Recognise the Symptoms

What is ADHD anyway?

What we do

Therapy:

Assessments:

Ready to Book with Anima Health Network?

Please call us on 08 9381 8868 to book an appointment.

Alternatively, click below to fill out our new patient enquiry form and one of our friendly patient care team will be in touch.