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ADHD on rise, and developmental disorder affects adults as well as kids

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(CBS) ADHD isn't just for kids.

The neurodevelopmental disorder sometimes persists into adulthood, and many grown-ups who have it don't know it. As a result, they don't get the treatment they need - and continue to struggle at work or in school and in their personal relationships.

PICTURES: 15 signs you have adult ADHD

Having trouble getting organized? Finding it hard to wake up and get to work on time? Been involved in lots of car accidents? Experiencing financial difficulties. Those are all possible signs of ADHD, according to the website of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

ADHD can be harder to diagnose in adults than in kids. In addition to using diagnostic scales and psychological tests for ADHD, the doctor or other license mental health professional doing the evaluation might also consider the person's history of childhood behavior and school experiences. In some cases, the doctor will interview the individual's spouse or partner, parents, close friends, and other associates to get their take.

The good news? The same treatments that help control attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in kids -psychotherapy and drug therapy - are also effective in adults, according to NIMH.

Rates of ADHD and other developmental disorders have been rising in recent years, as CBS News recently reported. And WebMD estimates that about 4 percent of adults - or about eight million - have ADHD.

The nonprofit advocacy group Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder has more on coping with adult ADHD.


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