ADHD ACROSS THE LIFESPAN:
CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS & SENIORS
ADHD doesn’t disappear with age, it evolves.
Understanding how ADHD shows up at different life stages can help you to recognise your own patterns, or those in your child, and feel more confident while waiting for assessment. It is important to understand that everybody with ADHD presents uniquely; brain-differences, environment and life experiences have an impact on how symptoms present.
Children
In children, ADHD can often show up as high energy, constant movement, difficulty sitting still and challenges with focus and following instructions.
Some children may talk a lot, interrupt or act without thinking. Others may be quieter, appearing daydreamy or disorganised.
These behaviours aren’t defiance, they are signs of a brain that processes attention and impulse control differently. It is estimated that there is a delayed development in certain areas of the brain of around 30%, this doesn’t mean that the brain won’t develop normally but rather than it may meet certain milestones later than typically developing peers.
Teenagers
Teenagers with ADHD may struggle with motivation, emotional ups and downs, managing schoolwork or keeping up with routines. They might feel misunderstood or become frustrated with constant feedback about behaviour or ‘not trying hard enough.’
Hormonal changes during the teenage years can have a profound impact on the presentation of ADHD symptoms. This is the time when young people most want to identify and fit in with their peer group but the delayed development can cause barriers to achieving this.
Social relationships can also feel tricky, especially if impulsivity or rejection sensitivity gets in the way.
What teens often need most is understanding, support and tools that work with their brains.
Adults
In adults, ADHD can be harder to spot because it often shows up as chronic disorganisation, forgetfulness, burnout, difficulty finishing tasks or feeling overwhelmed by daily responsibilities.
Many adults have masked their symptoms for years or blamed themselves for not living up to their potential. An assessment can bring relief, clarity, and a chance to start working with your brain rather than against it.
Between the ages of 25-30 the developmental delay of the brain will have caught up.
Older adults
For older adults, ADHD is often overlooked or misdiagnosed as exaggerated symptoms of ageing.
Many older adults only begin to recognise ADHD in themselves after a child or grandchild is diagnosed.
The loss of routine or structure that comes with winding down or retiring can exacerbate ADHD symptoms and has as profound an impact as young people leaving home for the first time and having to be independent.
The impact of undiagnosed ADHD can linger across a lifetime, from disrupted careers to strained relationships, but it is never too late to understand your brain and find new ways to manage attention, routines and emotional wellbeing.
Recognition at any age can bring healing, validation and a new sense of control.
You are not starting too late.
You are just starting now, and that is enough.
If you are waiting for an assessment, take this time to learn, reflect and know that ADHD support is not one-size-fits-all. It is never too late to understand how your brain works.
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