Diagnosis of
ADHD in Adults

What Does ADHD Mean to Me and My Family?

Before receiving a diagnosis, people with ADHD and those around them might not understand why they have problems with school, jobs, friends, or family and the reasons for their unpredictable or irresponsible behavior.⁷ Once they are diagnosed, patients who receive appropriate treatment, including medication and coping strategies, often report doing better in many areas of their lives.⁷

ADHD runs in families, meaning that genes likely play a role in the development of many ADHD cases.⁸ This means, someone else in your family, a sibling, a parent, a grandparent, a cousin, or a nephew may also be diagnosed with ADHD. Parents and siblings of people with ADHD have an increased risk of developing ADHD compared with the general population.⁹