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Experts: Adult ADHD often undiagnosed

Distraction, impatience among the warning signs

Are you easily distracted? Overly impatient? Do you often interrupt conversations?

You may be one of the millions of adults who suffer from attention deficient hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.

ADHD doesn't just affect children. It is estimated that 60 percent of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms as adults.

There are also many adults who never realized they suffer from ADHD until later in life. That includes 51-year-old Maria Edwards.

"I felt like I was different from other people. I kind of put myself down, I, you know, looked at other people and said, 'Well they're so perfect and I'm not,'" said Edwards.

Turns out the imperfection Edwards felt was actually driven by adult ADHD.

"I have had feelings of depression and just like, not right, overwhelmed. I definitely felt overwhelmed a lot," said Edwards.

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than four percent of adults suffer from ADHD.

Clinical psychologist Kate Roberts says warning signs of adult ADHD include lack of focus, difficulty completing tasks, trouble organizing and planning and a low tolerance for frustration. Sufferers also often find themselves interrupting others in conversations.

"Difficulty with what we call self-monitoring, so what that is, is basically reacting without thinking. Often times people will regret actions because they do it so quickly," said Roberts.

Just as ADHD can affect a child's performance in school, ADHD can affect an adult's performance at work. Sufferers tend to change employers more often, have less job satisfaction and fewer occupational achievements.

Roberts said routine is key for those with ADHD and suggests making a schedule to aid in time management. Planning ahead, eating healthy and working out regularly will also help people stay focused.

"I think that low self-esteem is paramount for people with ADHD," said Roberts.

That may be especially true in adults who have gone undiagnosed.

"Once I got the diagnosis, I stopped blaming myself for my shortcomings," said Edwards.

Instead, she's seeking treatment to change them.

To take a quiz to see if you might benefit from being screened for adult ADHD, click here.


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