Ever get a moment where it seems as if you’ve got too many things bouncing off the screens? Or a time when the conversation just seemed to get heavier the longer it went on? I’ve experienced both of those things at various points in my life, and trust me, to put it “mildly,” it ain’t fun!
I’ve wondered for years whether I had a form of ADHD, perhaps a mild one. That brings us to the question that’s both in our heads: Does mild ADHD exist?
ADHD in general
ADHD is a form of neurodevelopmental condition that can affect areas of your life such as attentiveness, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. You might have an idea about what ADHD is from stereotypes online featuring people who seem to have short attention spans.
But for ADD, that’s just a part of the whole. ADHD comes in a spectrum from people who experience severe symptoms and those who have few symptoms or do not experience any at all.
As we said, there are three areas of attention-deficit hyperactive disorder that can impact your life. A person can experience symptoms such as restlessness, inability to focus for long, or fidgeting a lot; you might be having these as you’re reading!
But those are just some feelings that a person with ADHD might feel. However, depending on which end of the spectrum a person falls into affects how severe the symptoms affect that person’s life.
Is there a mild form of ADHD?
Yes, there is a mild form of ADHD that exists on the spectrum. If you think about it like a fuel gauge, mild ADHD would be somewhere between the halfway point and the empty symbol.
Why didn’t I say it would be between the full and the empty signs? Well, if you think about it, a mild version of ADHD doesn’t mean that you can read paragraphs but are messy or disorganized, or even forgetful but not impulsive.
Simply put, mild ADHD means you are a high-functioning person despite the symptoms that you are experiencing. So, it can mean you can’t sit still for a long time, but you are able to do work or school. Or it may mean you are an impulsive person, but you are still able to go through life without full-time care.
So, setting the empty sign as a fully-functioning person, a person with mild ADHD would be a lot closer to that than you think!
Effects of mild ADHD
A person with mild ADHD feels the same effects as someone who has ADHD but without the “mild” tag, however, the difference is in the number of symptoms and the way they function.
For example, a person may feel a few of the following symptoms:
- Inability to sit still
- Constant fidgeting.
- Inability to concentrate on tasks or work
- Too excessive physical movement.
- Excessive talking.
- Being unable to wait their turn.
- Impulse thinking
- Interrupting conversations.
Since you’re only feeling a few, you are still able to function. Thus, you might be feeling the effects of mild ADHD. However, this does not mean life is smooth sailing for someone with this condition.
You might find that you function well in some aspects but are deficient in other areas. For example, you might struggle to maintain conversation which can make communication quite difficult. Or, you might be a bit messy and disorganized which can affect your planning.
These might be some of the effects mild ADHD could be having on you.
How common is mild ADHD?
Mild ADHD is commonly found in children, where 41.8 of children from 2-17 who were tested for ADHD were found to have mild versions of it. It is much more common to catch the mild form of ADHD in children.
In adults, statistics are unclear as it’s uncommon for high-functioning adults to test for ADHD.
I found my answer to my question years ago after some research, and yes, a mild version of ADHD did exist. It meant you were able to function well as an adult despite experiencing a few symptoms of ADHD.
Perhaps if you’ve felt moments of inattentiveness or impulsiveness, it might be of value to you to know whether you have a mild form of ADHD or not. But, it’s not something to be worried about as long as you are a high-functioning person without experiencing the severe aspects of ADHD.
What is mild ADHD called?
Mild ADHD has no alternate name, it is just a mild version of what ADHD is. It is just a form of ADHD where you experience a few symptoms of what is typically experienced.
Can mild ADHD go away?
Mild ADHD can go away as a person gets older. It is more common in children, who can lose symptoms as they grow. Another way to make it go away is through treatment or therapy with a licensed doctor.
Can you grow out of mild ADHD?
Yes, many children can grow out of their symptoms and especially with mild ADHD. In other cases, symptoms may grow into different forms or children can be taught to manage their symptoms effectively. Adults may find it harder to grow out of their symptoms.
Is mild ADHD serious?
No, since it is a milder version of ADHD, it is not a serious condition. Depending on the severity of the symptoms that you experience, that can affect how much it impairs your functioning.
Does mild ADHD require medication?
In most cases, mild ADHD does not require medication. If you are a high-functioning adult who experiences a few symptoms of ADHD, you may not need medication. But if you find that you are constantly being impaired, you might need to consult a doctor to get prescribed medicine.