Surprising habit while walking around house could indicate ADHD in adults

01 March 2024 , 14:19

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There is one sign that adults may do around the house that could be a trait of ADHD (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

A doctor has revealed one habit that some adults do around the house that could actually indicate ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects the way people behave. The hyperactivity and impulsivity of behaviours will interfere with day-to-day functioning and/or development, and can present itself in a number of different ways. It affects an estimated of 2.6million people in the UK, according to ADHD UK.

Dr Sermed Mezher (@drsermedmezher) took to TikTok to share some of the traits of ADHD found in adults - and one is a common walk around the house. The London-based doctor explained people may do the 'ADHD' swaying walk - and what it could mean.

As he shared the 12 questions he'd ask to see if someone had ADHD, he also highlighted another tell-tale sign that isn't as well known. "A 2015 study by Hove and colleagues tried to answer that very question," Dr Mezher said. "They took 32 patients with ADHD and then 28 who didn't have it and got them to balance on a Wii balance board.

"They also imaged the coordination part of the patients' brains to see if there were any differences between the two and what they found was quite interesting. They found that the ADHD group had increased difficulty balancing on the board."

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Because of the difficulty in balancing, it is easier to spot in adults as they have adapted their lives to make it easier and accommodate this struggle. The doctor further explained: "They also found the area of their brain that controls coordination, which is this cerebellum, had some changes in ADHD from the right posterior area. That explains why people with ADHD throughout their childhood were more likely to bump into things, get caught in things, and just generally be a bit more clumsy.

"The evidence shows that these changes are still there into adulthood, so patients with this have learned to compensate for it by swaying against objects to avoid an impact." Leaving viewers stunned, it seemed as if these points resonated with some of his followers who realised they also did this.

One TikToker chimed: "OMG, I had no idea I did this because of ADHD. I thought everyone did this," as another added: "Yep, but still misjudge the distance and hit whatever object anyway."

"Mystery leg and hip bruises club! I don't even recognise impacts as an event worth remembering anymore," a third commented and a fourth said: "Still do it to this day been doing it for years my family used to ask me why I do it and it's cause exactly that I was avoiding hitting things."

For more information about ADHD or support you can visit ADHD UK or visit Mind UK for more advice.

Niamh Kirk