ADHD Awareness Month: What does ADHD Really Look Like?

More Than "Not Paying Attention"

When we picture ADHD, we might imagine a child who cannot sit still, runs around the classroom, or constantly gets in trouble. While ADHD can certainly look that way, it can also be much less obvious. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect attention, impulse control, activity level, organization, working memory, planning, and the ability to follow through on tasks. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a child with ADHD might frequently lose belongings, forget instructions, daydream, rush through work, interrupt conversations, struggle to wait, or have difficulty transitioning from one activity to another. Cornell Health also describes ADHD as involving broader areas such as emotional regulation, time awareness, motivation, working memory, organization and planning, mental flexibility, and impulsivity. In other words, ADHD is much more than simply “not paying attention.”



Gender Differnces

Although these differences should never be treated as strict rules, girls can be hyperactive and impulsive, and boys can have primarily inattentive symptoms. However, girls with ADHD are more likely to display less obvious inattentive symptoms, while the hyperactive and impulsive behaviors commonly associated with ADHD have historically been recognized more readily in boys. According to Children and Adults with ADHD, a girl with ADHD may appear dreamy, forgetful, disorganized, excessively talkative, overwhelmed, or internally restless rather than visibly hyperactive.

What About ADHD in Adults?

In adults, hyperactivity may become less visible and instead feel like internal restlessness, difficulty slowing down, a need for constant activity or stimulation, or trying to manage several things at once. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, adults with ADHD may struggle with procrastination, organization, time management, remembering appointments, completing large projects, losing things, interrupting, or following through even when they genuinely want to do something.

How to Help

One of the most helpful things families, teachers, partners, and friends can do is recognize that these difficulties are not simply laziness or a lack of caring. Clear and specific directions, predictable routines, visual reminders, breaking larger tasks into smaller steps, and recognizing effort and progress can all be helpful. Most importantly, learning what ADHD looks like for that individual can shift the question from “Why won’t they just do it?” to “What is making this difficult, and what support might help?”