ADHD Awareness Month 2025: The Many Faces of ADHD

October is ADHD Awareness Month, and this year’s theme, “The Many Faces of ADHD,” aims to highlight the wide range of ways ADHD can present in people of all ages. 

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is often thought of in narrow terms, but the reality is far more complex. ADHD can look like: 

• A child who struggles to sit still 

• An adult overwhelmed by everyday tasks 

• A teenager zoning out in class, labelled as lazy 

• A person who speaks out of turn and doesn’t know why 

• Someone who works twice as hard to stay organised but still falls behind 

These are just some of the many faces of ADHD. It affects individuals differently, often depending on age, gender, environment and co-occurring conditions like anxiety or autism. For many, especially women and girls, ADHD can go undiagnosed for years because the signs don’t match outdated stereotypes. 

Raising awareness means helping people recognise the signs of ADHD, not just the obvious ones. It means challenging stigma, encouraging earlier diagnosis, and promoting understanding and acceptance in our schools, workplaces, and communities. 

Let’s use this month to listen, learn, and recognise that ADHD doesn’t have one face, it has many. And every one of them deserves understanding and support.