ADHD in adulthood

Abstract

In a sizeable proportion of children with ADHD, their difficulties persist into adulthood. When the symptoms of ADHD, such as poor attention span and impulsivity, persist into adult life, this is known as residual ADHD. When an adult has problems that arose as a result of his having had childhood ADHD, such as poor academic skills and low self-esteem, these are known as secondary problems. This chapter discusses ADHD in adulthood, including residual ADHD, secondary problems, characteristics of residual ADHD, and diagnosis and treatment of residual ADHD and secondary problems. It also covers transition from childhood services to adulthood services, including the barriers to transition and strategies to overcome them.