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ADD Symptoms in Young Adults

A common misconception is that ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder, is a condition which only affects children; however, this is not the case. The symptoms of ADD continue into adulthood in up to 50 percent of persons with childhood ADD, according to the American Academy for Physicians. ADD has a range of symptoms; a person may get all or only a few of them. Identifying the symptoms is the first step to understanding the condition.

  1. Concentration

    • Young adults with ADD may find it extremely difficult to concentrate for any period of time. This can be frustrating, especially as it can lead to being forgetful and overlooking tasks. Poor listening skills often mean breaking away mid-conversation or appearing uninterested. This can cause problems not only at home but also in school and employment. Many young people who suffer with ADD have a history of school and employment problems according to the Mayo clinic.

    Hyper Focus

    • Hyper focus is the complete opposite of poor concentration, where a person becomes so absorbed in something, it is hard to break that focus. Subjects of interest or rewarding tasks are more likely to trigger hyper focus. This symptom is actually a way of coping with distraction, according to the HelpGuide website. Hyper focus can be so strong that the young adult loses all track of time to the point of forgetting other tasks or completing them late. This is one symptom which can cause young adults to feel as if they are underachieving in school or employment.

    Organizational Skills

    • A young adult with symptoms of ADD will have difficulty with organization as well as managing time effectively. Poor organizational skills may make it a struggle to remember important appointments and tasks. The young adult might also lose or misplace items regularly, such as bills, appointment cards and even possessions. People with ADD have a tendency to put things off, handing assignments in late at school or not completing something as part of their employment. Punctuality can also be an issue, with the young person finding it difficult to get to important appointments on time or even at all.

    Behavioural Difficulties

    • Young adults with ADD tend to struggle with their emotions; they may not be able to control anger or often appear agitated. A young adult with may be hard on herself and frustrated with her ADD symptoms, to the point that she feels at a disadvantage compared to her peers. ADD sufferers generally have low self-esteem; this is mainly due to feeling insecure. Their inability to handle certain situations can cause irritability and mood swings leading to frustrated outbursts. They may have an explosive temper and will more than likely be easily annoyed. These symptoms could be why ADD sufferers in general struggle to maintain relationships, often appearing uncaring and even violent.

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