Understanding ADHD Symptoms

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain regulates attention, impulses, and activity levels. It is not a character flaw or a lack of willpower — it is a genuine neurological difference that can be identified, understood, and managed.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions, affecting approximately 6 to 10 per cent of children and around 2.5 to 5 per cent of adults worldwide. In Australia, it is estimated that over one million people live with ADHD — many of whom remain undiagnosed.

ADHD affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It is a lifelong condition, though symptoms often shift and change over time. Many adults who were never identified as children find that their struggles with focus, organisation, or restlessness finally make sense once they learn about ADHD.

The condition is highly heritable, meaning it tends to run in families. It is not caused by poor parenting, too much screen time, or a lack of discipline. ADHD is rooted in differences in brain structure and function — particularly in the areas responsible for executive function, motivation, and self-regulation.

Presentations

The three types of ADHD

ADHD presents differently from person to person. Clinicians recognise three main presentations, each with its own pattern of symptoms.

Predominantly Inattentive

Often referred to as "the quiet type," inattentive ADHD is frequently overlooked — especially in women and girls. People with this presentation may appear dreamy, disorganised, or forgetful rather than hyperactive.

Common symptoms include:

Difficulty sustaining focus on tasks, conversations, or reading
Being easily distracted by unrelated thoughts or external stimuli
Frequent forgetfulness in daily activities, such as missing appointments or forgetting to pay bills
Regularly losing or misplacing everyday items like keys, wallets, or phones
Difficulty organising tasks, managing time, and meeting deadlines
Avoiding or putting off tasks that require sustained mental effort
Making careless mistakes in work, study, or other activities

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive

This is the presentation most people picture when they think of ADHD — the person who can't sit still, talks a mile a minute, and acts before thinking. In adults, hyperactivity often shows up as inner restlessness rather than outwardly bouncing off the walls.

Common symptoms include:

Fidgeting, tapping, or squirming when required to sit still
Difficulty remaining seated in meetings, lectures, or other situations
Talking excessively or speaking out of turn in conversations
Interrupting others or blurting out answers before questions are finished
Difficulty waiting in queues or waiting for one's turn
A persistent feeling of inner restlessness or being "on the go"
Making impulsive decisions — spending, career changes, or relationship choices — without fully thinking them through

Combined Type

The combined presentation is the most commonly diagnosed form of ADHD. People with combined type experience a mix of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, though the balance between them can shift over time.

What this looks like:

A blend of focus difficulties alongside restlessness and impulsivity
Struggling to pay attention in meetings while also finding it hard to sit still
Forgetting important tasks and simultaneously making impulsive decisions
Difficulty regulating both attention and behaviour across different settings
Symptoms that may fluctuate — some days more inattentive, other days more hyperactive
Often the presentation that causes the most noticeable impact on daily life, work, and relationships

Often Missed

ADHD in Adults

ADHD is not a childhood condition that people simply "grow out of." For many Australians, ADHD goes undiagnosed well into adulthood — sometimes not being identified until their 30s, 40s, or even later. The consequences of a missed diagnosis can be significant.

Adult ADHD is frequently misdiagnosed as anxiety, depression, or even bipolar disorder. This happens because the downstream effects of living with unmanaged ADHD — chronic stress, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and burnout — often mirror these other conditions. Without recognising ADHD as the underlying cause, treatment may address the symptoms but not the root of the problem.

In the workplace, undiagnosed ADHD can lead to difficulties with time management, meeting deadlines, maintaining consistency, and navigating office politics. Many adults with ADHD have a history of underperformance relative to their intelligence and capability, which can be deeply frustrating.

In relationships, ADHD can affect communication, emotional regulation, and the ability to follow through on commitments. Partners may feel unheard or unsupported, while the person with ADHD may feel overwhelmed by expectations they struggle to meet.

The good news is that a proper diagnosis can be transformative. Understanding that your brain works differently is often the first step towards building strategies, accessing support, and finally feeling like things make sense.

Underdiagnosed

ADHD in Women

For decades, ADHD research and diagnostic criteria were based predominantly on studies of young boys. As a result, women and girls have been significantly underdiagnosed and underserved. Many women do not receive a diagnosis until well into adulthood — often after their own child is assessed for ADHD.

Women with ADHD are more likely to present with the inattentive type, which is less outwardly disruptive and therefore less likely to be flagged by teachers or GPs. Instead of hyperactivity, women may experience internal restlessness, racing thoughts, and chronic overwhelm.

Masking and camouflaging are extremely common among women with ADHD. Many develop elaborate coping strategies to appear organised and in control — colour-coded planners, excessive list-making, staying up late to catch up on tasks. These strategies can be exhausting to maintain and often mask the true extent of their difficulties.

Hormonal fluctuations also play a significant role. Many women report that their ADHD symptoms worsen during certain phases of their menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, postpartum, and through perimenopause and menopause. Oestrogen has a direct effect on dopamine levels, and when oestrogen drops, ADHD symptoms can intensify considerably.

If you are a woman who has always felt like you are working twice as hard as everyone else just to keep up, or if you have been told your struggles are "just anxiety," it may be worth exploring whether ADHD is part of the picture.

Myth vs Fact

Common misconceptions about ADHD

There is a lot of misinformation about ADHD. Here are some of the most persistent myths — and the facts that counter them.

Myth

"ADHD is not a real condition — it is just an excuse for laziness or bad behaviour."

Fact

ADHD is a well-established neurodevelopmental condition recognised by every major medical and psychological organisation worldwide, including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Brain imaging studies consistently show structural and functional differences in the brains of people with ADHD.

Myth

"Only children have ADHD — you grow out of it as an adult."

Fact

Research shows that up to 60 to 70 per cent of children with ADHD continue to experience clinically significant symptoms into adulthood. ADHD does not disappear — though its presentation often changes, with hyperactivity decreasing and inattention becoming more prominent.

Myth

"If you can focus on things you enjoy, you cannot have ADHD."

Fact

The ability to hyperfocus on interesting or stimulating activities is actually a hallmark of ADHD, not evidence against it. ADHD is not a lack of attention — it is a difficulty regulating attention. People with ADHD can often focus intensely on tasks they find engaging while struggling enormously with tasks that feel mundane or unstimulating.

Myth

"ADHD only affects boys and men."

Fact

ADHD affects all genders. Historically, girls and women have been significantly underdiagnosed because their symptoms often present differently — less disruptive behaviour and more internal struggles like daydreaming, anxiety, and difficulty with organisation. Current research suggests that the actual ratio of ADHD between genders is much closer to equal than previously thought.

Think you might have ADHD?

Understanding your symptoms is the first step. If any of this resonates with you, a comprehensive assessment can provide the clarity and direction you deserve. Our ADHD-specialised clinicians are here to help.

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