Overview
ADHD affects about 3-5% of adults in the United States. Symptoms of ADHD typically appear early in childhood. However, formal diagnosis and treatment may not occur until later in life, such as in college. Contrary to popular belief, children and adolescents with ADHD do not “outgrow” their symptoms by adulthood. Left untreated, ADHD can contribute to difficulties in variety of areas in an adult's life, including school, work, social, financial, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even legal. But, with proper diagnosis and treatment, people with ADHD can learn to manage their symptoms effectively and live successful lives.
Symptoms
There are several different types of ADHD and levels of severity. The disorder may not look the same from one person to the next. Listed below are common symptoms often associated with ADHD. Keep in mind that many of these symptoms are common for all people, whether or not they have ADHD. These symptoms become a problem when we experience several of them frequently, in many areas of our life, and they keep us from performing to our full potential.
Inattentive symptoms:
- Poor attention to detail resulting in frequent mistakes
- Distractibility, or easily taken off task
- Inability to concentrate on things of little interest
- Difficulty listening effectively
- Pattern of starting projects without completing them
- Disorganization
- Avoiding tasks requiring mental effort
- Forgetfulness
- Frequent loss or misplacement of items
Hyperactive symptoms:
- Restlessness and frequent fidgeting
- Inability to stay still or seated, even in environments where such behavior is expected
- Excessive talking
Impulsive symptoms:
- Pattern of acting before thinking
- Difficulty waiting
- Communication challenges, including interrupting others, intruding on conversations, or answering questions before they are completed
Treatment
Consult with a professional about your symptoms and treatment options. USU-CAPS can provide USU students with a comprehensive psychological evaluation to determine if they meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Consider both medication and psychotherapy as treatment options.
Individual therapy can help you discover and practice coping strategies that work for you.
With proper documentation of an ADHD diagnosis, you may consider registering with USU's Disability Resource Center (DRC). You may be eligible for accommodations to assist with your education.
Create healthy habits, such as:
- Proper nutrition
- Sufficient sleep
- Regular exercise
- Stress management
- Avoiding substance use
Implement techniques to help change unwanted behaviors:
- Reduce distractions while studying or taking examinations, such as clutter and random noises.
- Make important things more attention-grabbing. For example, highlight them with bright colors or put them in prominent places.
- Use a planner or calendar app to organize to-do lists, deadlines, appointments, etc.
- Plan to be early rather than on-time by giving yourself more time than is needed.
- Prioritize tasks according to importance and do the important ones first.
- Break large tasks into smaller steps.
- Take short breaks during work.
- Use alarms and timers to manage the amount of time spent on tasks.
- Fight procrastination by completing simple tasks immediately.
- Spend more time outdoors. Recent research shows that being outdoors improves focus and concentration for those with ADHD.
Resources
ADHD Workshops Series
- Part 1: Task Avoidance
- Part 2: Memory, Organizing & Time Management
Inform yourself about ADHD. Start by checking out information and resources on the national resource page for ADHD.
Back to The CAPS Resource Library