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FILE-A doctor examines a patient in a hospital room. (Photo: Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder known as ADHD is considered by some to be a childhood condition, but it may be more common in adults, according to the findings of a university survey.

The The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine report that 25% of adults surveyed believe they may have undiagnosed ADHD, noting that only 13% of respondents have shared their concerns with their doctor.

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Younger adults are more likely to believe they have undiagnosed ADHD than older generations and are also more likely to do something about it, according to the survey.

In addition, about 4.4% of people between the ages of 18 and 44 have ADHD, and some people are not diagnosed until they are older, Justin Barterian, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor at Ohio State Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Healthexplained in the school study.

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Around 1,000 adults were questioned for the poll, which was commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder marked by persistent symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Symptoms begin in childhood and can affect daily life, including social relationships and performance at school or work. ADHD is well known among children and teenagers, but many adults also have this disorder.

Additionally, ADHD symptoms can change as a person ages. The The National Institute of Mental Health explains on its website that In young children, hyperactivity and impulsivity are the most common symptoms. And in elementary school, inattention can become more prominent, causing children to struggle academically.

Meanwhile, in adolescence, hyperactivity often subsides, and symptoms are more likely to include restlessness or agitation. Teens with ADHD struggle with relationships and have a greater tendency to engage in risky behaviors such as substance use or unsafe sex.

What is adult ADHD?

Adults struggling with ADHD will have problems with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are severe enough to cause ongoing challenges at school, work, and home. The Ohio State University survey noted that these symptoms are persistent and disruptive and can often be traced back to childhood.

ADHD in adults occurs in adults who were diagnosed in childhood, but symptoms continue into adulthood.

It also happens to adults who are diagnosed for the first time, despite symptoms that have been ignored or misdiagnosed since they were younger.

How is ADHD diagnosed?

The The National Institute of Mental Health says based on certain symptoms a person can be diagnosed with one of three types of ADHD:

• Inadvertently: These symptoms focus on inattention but not on hyperactivity or impulsivity.
• Hyperactive-impulsive: Symptoms of hyperactivity and/or impulsivity, but not inattention.
• mix: Symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity and/or impulsivity.

ADHD symptoms must begin in childhood (before age 12). Symptoms can appear as early as preschool and often continue into the teenage years and into adulthood. The diagnostic criterion differs slightly according to age.