---
title: "ADHD in Adults: Signs, Assessment and Treatment in India"
heading: "ADHD in Adults"
url: https://drvohras.com/guides/adhd-in-adults
language: en-IN
author: "Dr Vohra's"
updated: 2026-10-21
license: "Page text: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)."
---

# ADHD in Adults

This is the markdown version of https://drvohras.com/guides/adhd-in-adults, a page of Dr Vohra's, a psychiatry and psychology clinic in New Delhi. It is information, not medical advice; the clinic's contact details are at the end.

Adult ADHD is the persistence into adulthood of a condition that began in childhood: trouble sustaining attention, chronic disorganisation and lateness, impulsive decisions, inner restlessness, and a history of underachievement relative to ability. About half of children with ADHD still meet criteria as adults, and many adults are diagnosed only in their thirties or forties, often after a child's diagnosis. Assessment is clinical, by a psychiatrist; treatment with medication and skills therapy usually produces clear change within weeks.

Dr Vohra's · Updated 21 October 2026

## Signs in adults

Women more often have the inattentive form and are diagnosed later; anxiety and depression are commonly treated for years before ADHD is recognised.

- Starting many things, finishing few
- Missing deadlines and appointments despite caring about them
- Losing keys, documents, phones; a messy desk and inbox
- Zoning out in meetings and conversations
- Impulsive spending, speaking or decisions
- Restlessness, fidgeting, difficulty relaxing
- Emotional reactivity and low frustration tolerance
- A sense of having always had to work harder than others for the same result

## How assessment works

A psychiatrist takes a detailed history of current symptoms and their effect on work, relationships and daily tasks, and of childhood (school reports, a parent's or sibling's account, old habits). Rating scales such as the ASRS support the interview. Other explanations are checked: anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, substance use, thyroid problems, and learning difficulties. There is no single test; the judgement is clinical.

## Treatment

Medication: methylphenidate (short- or long-acting) or atomoxetine in India; dose is titrated over weeks with reviews; the first stimulant prescription requires an in-person visit. Therapy: CBT adapted for adult ADHD, focused on planning systems, time, task initiation and emotion regulation; coaching for work. Treating co-occurring anxiety, depression or insomnia. Practical changes: external structure (calendars, timers, lists), single-tasking, and exercise, which reliably improves attention.

## Frequently asked questions

- **Can adults be diagnosed with ADHD if they were not diagnosed as children?**: Yes. The requirement is that symptoms were present in childhood, not that they were diagnosed then.
- **Is adult ADHD treated online?**: Assessment and therapy can be online; a first stimulant prescription must be in person in India.
- **How do I book at Dr Vohra's?**: Call or WhatsApp +91 99992 49223, email help@drvohras.com, or use the contact form. In person at 29/24, East Patel Nagar, New Delhi 110008, or online across India.
- **What if this is an emergency?**: Call Tele-MANAS 14416 or KIRAN 1800-599-0019 (24x7, free) or 112. Dr Vohra's is not an emergency service.

## Book a consultation

Call [+91 99992 49223](tel:+919999249223), email [help@drvohras.com](mailto:help@drvohras.com), or visit us at 29/24, East Patel Nagar, New Delhi 110008. Online consultations are available across India in English and Hindi.

[Explore Clinical Care](https://drvohras.com/clinical)[Take the Stressometer](https://drvohras.com/screening)

## Sources

- [NIMH: ADHD](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd)

If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, call Tele-MANAS [14416](tel:14416), KIRAN [1800-599-0019](tel:18005990019) or Emergency services [112](tel:112). Tele-MANAS and KIRAN are 24x7 and free anywhere in India. Dr Vohra's is not a crisis or emergency service.