ADHD Awareness Month: adult ADHD is real, common, and treatable
By Frank Aliganga, MD, FAAFP
October is ADHD Awareness Month. It's a good time to say something I hear patients wonder about quietly: ADHD isn't only a childhood condition, and it's never too late to get a clear answer.
Many adults I meet in West Deptford and Philadelphia have spent years thinking they were just disorganized, forgetful, or "bad at following through." For some of them, ADHD turned out to be part of the picture. Getting that answer often brings relief, not a label.
Adult ADHD is more common than many people think
In a national survey the CDC published in 2024, about 6% of U.S. adults, an estimated 15.5 million people, reported a current ADHD diagnosis. More than half of them were first diagnosed as adults, at age 18 or older.
That matches what I see. Plenty of people grew up before ADHD was well understood, especially if they did fine in school or didn't fit the stereotype of a hyperactive child. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that girls and women are more likely to have been missed in childhood.
What ADHD can look like in adults
ADHD isn't about effort or character. It's a lasting pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity that makes everyday life harder in more than one area, like work and home. In adults it can show up as:
Getting easily distracted, or losing track partway through tasks
Chronic disorganization and forgetfulness
Procrastination and trouble finishing projects
Interrupting others or acting before thinking
Feeling restless, or mentally "always on"
Everyone has days like this. With ADHD, these patterns are more frequent, more persistent, and they get in the way of life.
ADHD also often travels with other things. Anxiety, depression, and sleep problems are common alongside it. NIMH reports that sleep problems affect up to 70% of adults with ADHD. That's one reason a whole-person look matters.
How adults get diagnosed
There's no single blood test or scan for ADHD. A careful evaluation usually includes:
Your story. Adult diagnosis looks for symptoms that started in childhood, before age 12, so we talk about your early years too.
Other perspectives. Sometimes it helps to hear from someone who knows you well, or to look at old school report cards.
Rating scales and questionnaires. These are standard, validated tools.
Ruling out look-alikes. Thyroid problems, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and some medications can mimic or worsen attention problems. This is where your primary care doctor is especially useful.
Treatment works, and it's more than a prescription
NIMH puts it plainly: treatment for ADHD can reduce symptoms and improve functioning. The most common options are medication, usually stimulants, and therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Many people also benefit from ADHD coaching, regular exercise, better sleep, and workplace accommodations.
One practical note: the same CDC survey found that about 7 in 10 adults taking stimulants had trouble filling a prescription because the medication was unavailable. Having a doctor you can reach directly makes it easier to adjust the plan when that happens.
Where direct primary care fits
ADHD care works best with time, follow-up, and someone who knows you. At Empowered Health Direct Primary Care, our visits are longer and you can reach me directly between them, with no copays or per-visit fees, ever. That means we can:
Talk through your concerns without rushing
Screen for ADHD and check for other causes
Coordinate a full evaluation when it's needed
Build and fine-tune a treatment plan together, including medication when it's appropriate
Keep an eye on sleep, mood, blood pressure, and overall health along the way
We welcome neurodivergent patients, including adults with ADHD or autism, and we'll work with how your brain works, not against it. If it helps, we can use written plans, reminders through the member app, or shorter check-ins.
Ready to talk?
If you've wondered whether ADHD might be part of your story, you don't have to figure it out alone. Text us at 609-678-3299 to set up a free 15-minute Meet & Greet.
Educational, not medical advice.
