ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. ADHD can cause significant problems functioning. Most often Adults with ADHD underachieve.
ADHD can be a risk factor for many problems that affect the quality of life. These problems range from the minimal to the serious. Examples of the less serious include losing keys and forgetting appointments. Examples of the serious include drug addiction, losing jobs, divorce and placing themselves in or staying in situations leading to physical injury or adverse legal consequences.
Time blindness can be a problem in adults with ADHD. Adults with ADHD may not naturally sense time passing. There can be difficulty assessing how long a task will take. This can create difficulty with deadlines. There is often difficulty organizing behavior in anticipation of the future. Difficulty preparing for future events can lead to last minute chaos.
Often adults with ADHD have adequate knowledge of skills. What tends to be missing is the actual performance of these skills. It is not a lack of knowing what to do to achieve a goal, it is a lack of persistence toward the goal. There are frequently deficits in motivation and future directed behavior.
Emotional dysregulation. Adults with ADHD may experience emotions quite intensely. Individuals may be easily excitable. There may be proneness to frustration and impatience. An adult with ADHD may experience brief, mood swings lasting minutes to hours. Adults with ADHD may be hypersensitive to perceived rejection from other people. There is growing awareness of "Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria" connected to ADHD.