Not all kids with ADHD will have it when they grow up, but all grown-ups with ADHD had to have some signs when they were kids in order to get diagnosed. Sometimes childhood signs are dismissed as “acting up,” “being hyper,” or “causing trouble.” Other times they're just missed.

There’s no single test for ADHD. Doctors need all the clues they can get. A physical exam helps them check your physical and mental health, while your past grades and conduct in school give some insight into your childhood. To be diagnosed as an adult, there needs to have been a pattern of signs and symptoms throughout your childhood. 

Your chances of getting in a bad wreck are even higher if you’re a man with ADHD. Medication can help. One study predicts that if men with ADHD took their medication, they could cut their number of accidents in half.

The ADHD drugs are the same, but the doses or how often you take the medication may be different. Your doctor may prescribe drugs to boost brain chemicals that help you feel more focused. He might try a fast-acting stimulant medication first. If that doesn’t work, you may get a prescription for a nonstimulant or even an antidepressant, which take longer to kick in.

Put these items on your shopping list:

• Notepads for ideas, doodles, and to-dos

• Calendar and appointment book for schedules

• Sticky notes for reminders

• Colored markers to flag priorities

Cross the items off as you go. Making lists, checking things off, and setting reminders can help you when your memory fails, when you’re distracted, or when you don’t know where to start.

Your ADHD will stay with you no matter what's on the menu. Still, you should watch what you eat to stay healthy overall. Plus, even people who don’t have ADHD get distracted, impulsive, and jumpy when they skip meals, binge on sugar, or slurp too many caffeine-filled drinks. So you should avoid these bad habits.

Burn off extra energy. Move around, take a walk, or run up and down the stairs. Try yoga to relax your body and quiet your mind.

Hyperfocus -- fixating on one thing for a long time -- is common. That can be good or bad, depending on whether it helps or prevents you from getting things done and being with other people. For the times you need to snap out of it, set an alarm or ask a friend to help you move on.

Scientists have designed high-tech video games to train a player’s brain. They can help boost attention, focus, organization, strategic thinking, and patience, all of which can be in short supply with ADHD. But be careful: It can be extra hard for you to stop playing. And gaming can be as addictive for grown-ups as it is for kids.

Scientists have found quite a few genes linked to ADHD. They cause chemical and physical differences in the brain, which can make some signals go haywire. Studies show up to 60% of adults with ADHD will pass it on to their kids.

ADHD doesn’t mean you won’t be a good parent. It just means you may have a harder time with the constant demands. Schedules, limits, and consistency aren’t your strong suits. Stick to your treatment plan, or get your doctor to change it if it’s not working. Every parent needs a break. Ask friends and family to lend a hand if you need it.