The main signs of ADHD

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Most cases of ADHD are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it’s diagnosed later in childhood According to the NHS, the symptoms associated with ADHD can be categorised into two types of behaviour: inattentiveness and hyperactivity and impulsiveness. “For example, around 2 to 3 in 10 people with the condition have problems with concentrating and focusing, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness.” The main signs of inattentiveness are: having a short attention span and being easily distracted making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork appearing forgetful or losing things being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions constantly changing activity or task having difficulty organising tasks The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are: being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings constantly fidgeting being unable to concentrate on tasks excessive physical movement excessive talking being unable to wait their turn acting without thinking interrupting conversations little or no sense of danger open image in gallery GPs are not able to formally diagnose the condition but can refer patients for a specialist assessment How is ADHD diagnosed? “Diagnosing ADHD in adults is more difficult because there’s some disagreement about whether the list of symptoms used to diagnose children and teenagers also applies to adults,” the NHS says. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says ADHD affects around 2.6 million people across the UK -