i mean whats the difference between regular adhd and adult adhd? you have responsibility and get to administer your own meds? do i have adult adhd? my doctor didnt tell me so... im 24...am i an adult? is anyone else as bored as me....i dont sleep...sigh

The difference is the same as between childrens' shoes and grownup shoes i.e. none. I think the term came into being because it was first thought that only kids could have ADD.

Luthien's on track. Take a look at this article for a more detailed explanation: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_adult_symptoms.htm

I would assume that its exactly the same, only a few years down the line. At this point alot of people have developed coping strategies, issues and i've heard alot of people lose the hyperactivity, i've experienced this myself, although i've also heard of alot of people who haven't.

Why people assume that ADD/ADHD just magically dissapears after this magical phase called 'youth' is beyond me..

Why people assume that ADD/ADHD just magically dissapears after this magical phase called 'youth' is beyond me..

I think that many folk who grow up (either diagnosed or not) learn coping skills, avoidance of certain foods,dyes etc.. so a lot of symptoms that would otherwise be rather obvious could be chilled down a bit. As was the case with me.

In reviewing my own history and those of children of family friends who have adhd/aspergers both are the same. However the levels of severity can range from somewhat mute to grossly obvious. If anything, the adult "version" is harder for doctors to detect.

Some believe it goes away for children but it never really does. The child grows up, learns some way to deal with things and thus since the signs aren't as obvious, people think it magically disappears.

From a doctor's perspective, a fidgety child would be viewed as hyper but a fidgety adult would likely be confused by just being anxious.

-s

I think that many folk who grow up (either diagnosed or not) learn coping skills, avoidance of certain foods,dyes etc.. so a lot of symptoms that would otherwise be rather obvious could be chilled down a bit. As was the case with me.

In reviewing my own history and those of children of family friends who have adhd/aspergers both are the same. However the levels of severity can range from somewhat mute to grossly obvious. If anything, the adult "version" is harder for doctors to detect.

Some believe it goes away for children but it never really does. The child grows up, learns some way to deal with things and thus since the signs aren't as obvious, people think it magically disappears.

From a doctor's perspective, a fidgety child would be viewed as hyper but a fidgety adult would likely be confused by just being anxious.

-s

Right. I think it's easier to explain away the symptoms in adults. Depression. Stress. Not eating properly. Taking on too much. Growing up too quickly. Growing up to slowly. New marriage. New baby. New job. New home. Plenty of valid explanations for the majority of people, from a professional perspective or their own.

It isn't often that there isn't *something going on in an adult's life that could be mistaken as a reason.

i've heard alot of people lose the hyperactivity, i've experienced this myself, although i've also heard of alot of people who haven't.

Or the hyperactivity changes form or finds an outlet...

Change in form can be internal restlessness, or to less overt hyperactivities like fidgeting or biting pens, paperclips, pencils, doodling...

Outlets can include more "mature" activities like non-stop shopping, exercising, high risk sports, high risk careers, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, job changes, multiple simultaneous jobs, relationship changes, multiple relationships including affairs, swinging, gambling, and any other form of energy expenditure you can think of.

Or, if you're really unlucky, change in form including internal restlessness, less overt forms of hyperactivity and a combination of outlets :) :(