How is adult ADHD different from childhood ADHD?
Adults with ADHD may still have trouble seeing what they do that irritates others, but with age they may learn to monitor others’ reactions and adjust their own behavior accordingly. They may learn to minimize the impact by creating an ADHD-friendly environment and by developing coping strategies. For example, a child who feels restless and frustrated sitting in the classroom all day may feel much better as an adult in his job. In these circumstances, behaviors that are problematic in the classroom may be adaptive on the job. An adult with ADHD can often modify his activities to suit his temperament, whereas children are forced to deal with the ADHD-challenging environment of school. Also, in adult ADHD the person who seeks treatment is most likely the person who receives it. This difference has several important implications. It means that children are more likely to be referred for problems that bother other people, such as being disruptive or defiant. Adults are more likely to come
