“An estimated 2.5% of adults worldwide have ADHD and 4.4% of adults in the U.S. have ADHD. More than half of those who have ADHD also have other behavioral health and mood disorder diagnoses like depression or anxiety.

“When adult ADHD is not attended to, with either therapy or medicine, it results in the adult leaving a trail of incompletions in their path, and leaving things incomplete can cause some people to get anxious or depressed,“ says Dr. Manos. “Many times, adults with ADHD can be diagnosed with a depressive disorder or anxiety disorder because of that very thing.”

For this reason, it’s important to get the diagnosis for adult ADHD correct and identify any underlying causes to provide the best course of treatment. When diagnosing ADHD, doctors look at 18 different symptoms — nine inattentive symptoms and nine hyperactivity symptoms.

Diagnosing ADHD is a 3-step process. When diagnosing an adult for ADHD, a doctor looks for:

• Symptoms of ADHD that are problematic to a person’s life.
• External factors that could be causing the behavior in question.
• The presence of another mental health disorder.”

Cleveland Clinic (18 Symptoms That Could Indicate Adult ADHD)

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most well-recognized childhood developmental problems. This condition is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It is now known that these symptoms continue into adulthood for about 60% of children with ADHD. That translates into 4% of the U.S. adult population, or 8 million adults. However, few adults are identified or treated for adult ADHD.

ADHD in Adults

Adults with ADHD may have difficulty following directions, remembering information, concentrating, organizing tasks, or completing work within time limits. If these difficulties are not managed appropriately, they can cause associated behavioral, emotional, social, vocational, and academic problems.

Adult ADHD Statistics

• ADHD afflicts approximately 3% to 10% of school-aged children and an estimated 60% of those will continue to have symptoms that affect their functioning as adults.
• Prevalence rates for ADHD in adults are not as well determined as rates for children, but fall in the 4% to 5% range.
• ADHD affects males at higher rate than females in childhood, but this ratio seems to even out by adulthood.

Common Behaviors and Problems of Adult ADHD

The following behaviors and problems may stem directly from ADHD or may be the result of related adjustment difficulties:

• Anxiety
• Chronic boredom
• Chronic lateness and forgetfulness
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating when reading
• Difficulty controlling anger
• Employment problems
• Impulsiveness
• Low frustration tolerance
• Low self-esteem
• Mood swings
• Poor organization skills or messy (clutters in the office or in the house)
• Procrastination
• Relationship problems
• Substance abuse or addiction

These behaviors may be mild to severe and can vary with the situation or be present all of the time. Some adults with ADHD may be able to concentrate if they are interested in or excited about what they are doing. Others may have difficulty focusing under any circumstances. Some adults look for stimulation, but others avoid it. In addition, adults with ADHD can be withdrawn and antisocial, or they can be overly social, going from one relationship to the next.

School-Related Impairments Linked to Adult ADHD

Adults with ADHD may have:

• Had a history of poorer educational performance and been underachievers
• Had more frequent school disciplinary actions
• Had to repeat a grade
• Dropped out of school more often

Work-Related Impairments Linked to Adult ADHD

Adults with ADHD are more likely to:

• Change employers frequently and perform poorly
• Have less job satisfaction and fewer occupational achievements, independent of psychiatric status

Social-Related Impairments Linked to Adult ADHD

Adults with ADHD are more likely to:

• Have a lower socioeconomic status
• Have driving violations such as being cited for speeding, having their license suspended, and being involved in more crashes
• Rate themselves and others as using poorer driving habits
• Use illegal substances more frequently
• Smoke cigarettes
• Self-report psychological maladjustment more often

When ADHD enters the bedroom, distraction, wandering thoughts, and a lack of desire usually aren’t far behind. In fact, sexual boredom is one of the biggest complaints among ADHD couples, and a major reason behind their high divorce rate. Unfortunately, even when couples are sexually active, ADHD symptoms can interfere with emotional and sexual intimacy, leaving one or both partners feeling unconnected, alone, and sexually frustrated or unsatisfied.

Looking at ADHD & when intimacy just doesn’t jive.

Hurt feelings, confusion, and resentment can build and fester when one or both partners feel emotionally and/or sexually unsatisfied. If misinformation or misunderstanding is the main culprit, a marriage counselor or sex therapist can help the non-ADHD spouse understand how the disorder affects sexual desire and performance.

For instance, many ADHD partners are too hyperactive to relax and get in the mood. Instead of shutting out the world and focusing on their partner, they’re distracted by their racing thoughts. Others are distracted by loud music, even if it’s romantic. Instead of focusing on their partner, they may start singing along or talking about how much they loved the last concert.

How to Improve Sexual Intimacy

Provided there aren’t emotional distractions or barriers interfering with intimacy, it’s possible to overcome distractions that may prevent an ADHD spouse from being able to focus on, respond to, or enjoy sexual intimacy.

The following are some strategies for turning up the heat in your ADHD marriage or relationship.

• Talk openly about what turns your ADHD spouse on — and off. If she’s super-sensitive to scented oils or lotions, finds music more distracting than romantic, or can’t stand your scratchy beard, get rid of it.
• Be open to new experiences. ADHD adults love novelty, so don’t be afraid to introduce something new to ward off ADHD boredom. Make sure you’re both comfortable with it before trying anything. If your ADHD spouse isn’t comfortable with it, it’s likely to become yet another ADHD distraction.
• Practice being in the moment. To help your hyperactive partner stay in the now, try doing yoga, tai chi, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or massage as a couple. Then move the relaxed togetherness into the bedroom.
• Let go of libido-killers. When ADHD symptoms make your ADHD spouse unreliable, it may force you into assuming the role of parent. Once the child/parent pattern becomes the norm in a relationship, romance and sexuality between partners usually declines. If you and your partner are trapped in this pattern, work with a therapist to rebalance your relationship so you’re both equal partners.
• Make a date. If conflicting schedules are preventing you and your partner from having fun together, playing together, or hooking up, make a date and put it on the calendar. Then commit to it.

Lasting Happiness and Love

While ADHD poses disadvantages in a relationship, it also has many advantages. Opposites often attract, so if you’re the steady, reliable, and dependable type who could use a jolt of spontaneity, impulsivity, novelty, and excitement, an ADHD spouse may be just what the doctor ordered. On the other hand, if you’re an ADHD adult who has trouble balancing his checkbook, matching his socks, or remembering to feed the dog, a non-ADHD spouse could be the gift from heaven you’ve been searching for.

While it may take some effort, it’s possible for an ADHD relationship to have a happy and permanent ending. An ADHD spouse needs to take responsibility for his disorder rather than use it as an excuse for his problems.

In addition, the non-ADHD spouse needs to remember that she’s married to someone who’s wired a little differently than most people. While an ADHD marriage may not always run like clockwork, it could be a lot more lively and fun.

Treatment for ADHD or ADD in adults:

• Individual Therapy
• ADD Coaching
• Medication
• ADHD/ADD centers
• Neurofeedback Training for ADD/ADHD

“An estimated 7 million (11.4%) U.S. children aged 3–17 years have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, according to a national survey of parents using data from 2022.

Estimated on sex, race and ethnicity the following was stated by CDC:

• Boys (15%) were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (8%).
• Black children and White children were more often diagnosed with ADHD (both 12%) than Asian children (4%). American Indian/Alaska Native children (10%) were also more often diagnosed with ADHD than Asian children.
• Approximately 6% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander children were diagnosed with ADHD.
• Overall, non-Hispanic children (12%) were diagnosed with ADHD more often than Hispanic children (10%).

Estimates nationally of children 3-17 y/o ever diagnosed and those who have receiving ADHD treatment are:

• National estimates among U.S. children aged 3–17 years who have ever been diagnosed with ADHD vary from 6% to 16% across states.
• Estimates for receiving any ADHD treatment among children with current ADHD vary from 58% to 92% across states.”

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (Data and Statistics on ADHD | Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | CDC)

“Primary liver cancer occurs in adults in two forms—hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of adult primary liver cancer. It is relatively rare in the United States. However, the incidence of liver cancer is rising, principally in relation to the spread of hepatitis C .

The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It filters harmful substances from the blood, produces bile that helps in the digestion of fats, and stores sugar that the body uses for energy.

The National Cancer Institute estimated that 42,240 new cases of liver cancer and intrahepatic bile duct cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2025. Approximately 30,090 people are estimated to die from these cancers. The five-year relative survival rate is 22%.

Having hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or cirrhosis are significant risk factors for adult primary liver cancer. It is more common in men than women. In the United States, liver cancer is also more common among American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanics than among other population groups.”

American Association for Cancer Research – AACR (Liver Cancer Awareness Month | AACR)

“October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. A safe sleep environment can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death, like suffocation. To help raise awareness about safe infant sleep, the Safe to Sleep® campaign developed the SIDS Awareness Month Toolkit, which offers guidance and resources for organizations to plan their SIDS Awareness Month activities, including:

• Sample social media posts, emails, and language to handle unsafe sleep images
• A before-you-post checklist, including guidance to caregivers for taking their #SafeSleepSnap photos
• Weekly themes
• Graphics and photos
• Flyers with and without placeholders for logos

The Safe to Sleep® campaign provides a number of other resources (many of which can be ordered for free) to help with education and outreach efforts, including:

• An Interactive Safe Sleep Environment Tool caregivers can explore to help them learn how to create a safe sleep environment for baby in the home.
• Videos, such as Safe Sleep for Your Baby, grandparent videos, and Breastfeed Your Baby to Reduce the Risk of SIDS (with an accompanying handout that helps explain the information in the video).
• Fact sheets, such as What Does a Safe Sleep Environment Look Like? and other downloadable materials for caregivers, including handouts, brochures, and door hangers.
• The Healthy Native Babies Project toolkit and guides, which includes videos, handouts, and training for the American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also provides information on infant sleep and recommendations for caregivers, including How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe, a checklist of items for making a baby’s room safe, why “back is best” for an infant’s sleep position, and more.”

USDA WIC Work Resource System / US department of agriculture (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month | WIC Works Resource System)

“Healthy people differ significantly in their overall personality, mood, and behavior. Each person also varies from day to day, depending on the circumstances. However, a sudden, major change in personality and/or behavior, particularly one that is not related to an obvious event (such as taking a medication or losing a loved one), raises concern for a mental health issue.

Sudden changes in personality and behavior can be roughly categorized as involving one of the following types of symptoms:

• Confusion or delirium

• Delusions

• Disorganized speech or behavior

• Hallucinations

• Mood extremes (such as depression or mania)

These categories are not specific mental illnesses. They are just one way doctors organize different types of abnormal thought, speech, and behavior. These changes in personality and behavior can be caused by general medical conditions or mental health issues.”

MERCK MANUAL (Personality and Behavior Changes – Mental Health Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Version)

A sudden, major change in personality and/or behavior can indicate a serious underlying issue, often related to mental health or some medical conditions. 

Healthy people differ significantly in their overall personality, mood, and behavior. Each person also varies from day to day, depending on the circumstances. However, a sudden, major change in personality and/or behavior, particularly one that is not related to an obvious event (such as taking a drug or losing a loved one), often indicates a problem.

If someone changes in mental status from awake, alert, oriented to who they are, where they are and the time of day with overall mood in that person’s behavior it doesn’t always mean it is a mental condition like dementia.  It could be as simple as low blood sugar or hypothyroidism or a more serious condition.

Other things it could be is:

-Confusion and delirium refer to a disturbance of consciousness. That is, people are less aware of their environment and, depending on the cause, may be excessively agitated and belligerent or drowsy and sluggish. Some people alternate between being less alert and being overly alert. Their thinking appears cloudy and slow or inappropriate. They have trouble focusing on simple questions and are slow to respond. Speech may be slurred. Often, people do not know what day it is, and they may not be able to say where they are. Some cannot give their name.

-Delusions are fixed false beliefs that people hold despite evidence to the contrary. Some delusions are based on a misinterpretation of actual perceptions and experiences. For example, people may feel persecuted, thinking that a person behind them on the street is following them or that an ordinary accident is purposeful sabotage. Other people think that song lyrics or newspaper articles contain messages that refer specifically to them.

“Your liver performs more than 500 important functions, from filtering blood and processing nutrients to fighting infections. It creates bile and important proteins your body needs. You can’t live without a liver: If your liver fails, you’ll need an organ transplant to survive.

Your liver is the largest internal organ in your body and one of the only organs that can regenerate itself. The liver plays a crucial role in filtering blood, storing energy and producing bile for digestion.

Unfortunately, hundreds of diseases and conditions can damage your liver so it can’t work. Some of these can be life-threatening. Hepatologists, medical specialists who diagnose and treat liver disease, can treat and sometimes cure these diseases. And there are many things that you can do to keep your liver well and working as it should.

Your liver’s biggest job is filtering harmful substances and waste from your blood. Every day, your liver filters more than 250 gallons of blood. If that wasn’t enough, and among many other duties, your liver also:

• Makes cholesterol that your body uses in different ways
• Helps produce certain hormones, protects your cells and is a key ingredient in bile production
• Makes proteins — like clotting factors that manage bleeding and albumin, which manages fluid pressure in your bloodstream
• Helps keep your blood glucose levels steady by storing glycogen (glucose) and releasing it into your bloodstream to keep your blood sugar levels on an even keel
• Breaks down toxins and germs so they safely leave your body in your pee and poop
• Works by breaking down fats in your blood to produce energy, and if there are too many, they may get stored as extra fat.”

Cleveland Clinic (Liver: Where It’s Located, Function & Anatomy)

“The liver is an organ that sits just under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. It can weigh up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms). The liver is needed to help digest food, rid the body of waste products and make substances, called clotting factors, that keep the blood flowing well, among other tasks.

Liver disease can be passed through families, called inherited. Anything that damages the liver also can cause liver problems, including viruses, alcohol use and obesity.

Over time, conditions that damage the liver can lead to scarring, called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. But early treatment may give the liver time to heal.”

MAYO CLINIC (Liver problems – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic)