6 ways ADHD impacts daily life as nearly 2.5 million people in England affected
This is the first time an estimate of how common the condition could be among the population has been made publicly available.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how individuals process information, regulate emotions and interact with the world around them. While symptoms can differ between children and adults, the root cause remains the same: their brains function differently from those who are not neurodivergent.
According to NHS England, around 2,498,000 people may have ADHD – including those without a diagnosis. Of this number, an estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24.
ADHD is not usually diagnosed in children under five because some of the traits may be part of normal development, however it's estimated 147,000 preschoolers are likely to have the condition.
The new figures were developed using estimates from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which suggests that around 3-4% of adults and 5% of children and young people in England have the condition.
The figures also highlight growing pressure on healthcare services, revealing that as of March 2025, more than 549,000 people in England were estimated to be waiting for an ADHD assessment. This is up from the 416,000 people who were waiting at the end of March 2024.
The findings follow the release of Chris Packham's new BBC documentary, Inside Our ADHD Minds, which aired on 12 May. In the film, the 64-year-old broadcaster, who was diagnosed with autism at 44, explores the lived experiences of people with ADHD and criticises those who dismiss the condition as a fad.
During an interview with Good Morning Britain to promote the show, the naturalist and nature photographer said: "There is a tendency these days for people to say, 'Well, I think I'm a little bit autistic, a little bit ADHD, a little bit OCD,' but these are real conditions that impact people's lives all of the time. They're not a little bit any of these things. They're full on these things all of the time."
People with ADHD may have trouble with things like concentration, and organisation. They may also have signs of hyperactivity such as feeling restless, having high energy levels, being more talkative or making impulsive decisions.
"ADHD can greatly impact individuals lives," Tom Howcroft, from the ADHD Foundation explains. "Understanding its impacts and implementing effective management strategies can greatly enhance daily functioning and overall wellbeing.
"Receiving an ADHD diagnosis offers valuable insights into personal behaviours and challenges. By recognising the multifaceted impact of ADHD and implementing personalised management strategies, individuals can enhance their daily functioning and quality of life."
Howcroft says ADHD can lead to difficulties with concentration, organisation and completing tasks, which can impact your school or workplace performance.
The best practice for coping with times where you feel easily distracted is to break tasks down into more manageable chunks, advises Howcroft, so focus is only needed for a short period of time.
Techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes working followed by a five-minute break) can be helpful.
ADHD can make forming and sustaining friendships difficult, Howcroft says, due to a lack of impulse control and hyperactivity. It can be useful to find support groups or a community of likeminded people who understand and perhaps even live with ADHD themselves.
Howcroft also recommends counselling and coaching that can provide tailored strategies to help deal with the process of coming to terms with a diagnosis and how to work with your neurodivergent brain.
Stress is an inevitable part of all our lives, but ADHD can lead to a heightened sense of low mood or anxiety. "Persistent stress can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, leading to heightened anxiety and potential depressive symptoms," Howcroft explains.
In these circumstances, try to take regular breaks to ground yourself and alleviate these feelings by going for a walk, doing exercise, spending time outside or with loved ones.
ADHD can also lead to "repeated challenges and misunderstandings, such as perceived failures due to impulsiveness or disorganisation which can impact self-confidence and self-worth," says Howcroft.
If you have ADHD, it's important to practice self-compassion and focus on leaning into how your brain works to reframe ADHD-related struggles.
ADHD has also been known to lead to "struggles with planning, prioritising and completing tasks, which can affect personal and professional responsibilities," Howcroft says.
It can often help to lean on productivity tools such as planners, reminders or apps such as Notion or Monday to organise your tasks and track responsibilities and upcoming deadlines. All of this preparation can help to reduce feelings of overwhelming or feeling flustered with juggling your workload or life admin.
"Individuals may experience 'time blindness' leading to difficulties in perceiving and managing time effectively," Howcroft continues. "Creating consistent daily schedules can provide structure and reduce uncertainty, aiding in task completion and time management."
Read more about ADHD:
Psychiatrist explains why we've seen surge in ADHD and depression (Wales online, 4-min read)
Living with undiagnosed ADHD felt like I was always chasing my tail (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read)
Nadia Sawalha tearful as she reveals ADHD diagnosis on Loose Women (Yahoo Entertainment, 2-min read)
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