05/03/2026
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can start in childhood and may continue into adulthood. It affects attention, activity levels and impulse control in a way that can make daily life (school, work, relationships, routines) feel harder than it “should”. An estimated 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults have ADHD.
Side note: You might still hear people say "ADD," but today, the correct medical term is ADHD.
If we look into the history of ADHD, in 1980 the term ADD (with or without hyperactivity) was introduced to describe attention issues. However, by 1987, research showed that hyperactivity was very common so it changed to ADHD covering inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. And then it wasn’t until more recently that the medical community fully recognised that ADHD can be seen in and persist into adults, not just childhood and that there are three ADHD subtypes:
Predominantly inattentive presentation
Common challenges include: losing focus, forgetfulness, difficulty following through, poor organisation and being easily distracted. In kids it can look like daydreaming, in adults it often shows up as time-management struggles, mental clutter and unfinished tasks.
Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation
Common challenges include: restlessness, fidgeting, talking a lot, interrupting, acting quickly before thinking and feeling internally “on the go”. In adults it may look less like running around and more like impatience, impulsive decisions or difficulty switching off.
Combined presentation
A mix of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive traits.
ADHD is still called a “disorder” in medical settings because it can significantly impact functioning but we also like to frame it as a different style of brain wiring. Many people with ADHD have strengths like creativity, problem-solving, energy, curiosity and the ability to hyperfocus on what truly interests them. Research also shows average differences in brain development and function in ADHD but it’s not something you can “see” on a scan for diagnosis.
If you relate to several of the points below often, and it affects your life in more than one setting (work/home/school), it may be worth chatting to a qualified healthcare professional.
Do you struggle to stay focused, especially when something isn’t interesting right now?
Do you miss deadlines or forget appointments even when you genuinely meant to remember?
Do you start projects with energy but battle to finish them?
Do you bounce between tasks and end the day feeling like nothing is actually complete?
Do you feel restless or “driven”, like you need to be doing something?
Do you interrupt, blurt things out, or make quick decisions you later regret?
Is prioritising and organising simple tasks weirdly overwhelming?
Do you often misplace things like your keys, phone or wallet and later find them in random places (even the fridge)?
Do you underestimate time (or lose track of it completely)?
Do routines that seem easy for others feel like they take disproportionate effort?
There's a fantastic TED talk about procrastination that if you've ever experienced procrastination (let's be honest, who hasn't) then this will speak to you. He might not give you answers, but when you hear it explained like this, it all makes perfect sense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU
