Facebook Pixel
Q: 

Can ADHD form at an older age?

By July 28, 2014 - 1:18pm
 
Rate This

Can ADHD form when you are older (or over time), or are you born with this? What are the symptoms of mild ADHD? How do I know if I have it and how can I be treated for it?

Add a Comment1 Comments

Guide

Hello Carrie,

ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common childhood disorders. It can continue through adolescence and adulthood. The average age of onset is 7 years old. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity.

There are three subtypes:
predominately hyperactive-impulsive
predominately inattentive
combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD. For children with ADHD, these behaviors are more severe and occur more often. To be diagnosed with the disorder, a child must have symptoms for 6 or more months and to a degree that is greater than other children of the same age.

No single test can diagnose a child as having ADHD. Instead, a licensed health professional needs to gather information about the child, and his or her behavior and environment.

To be diagnosed with the condition, an adult must have ADHD symptoms that began in childhood and continued throughout adulthood.

Treatments include medication, various types of psychotherapy, education or training, or a combination of treatments.

Carrie, I hope I have answered your questions.
Maryann

July 28, 2014 - 5:48pm
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.

Tags:

ADHD

Get Email Updates

ADHD Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!