As trainees, we were taught that attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterised by the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity. We were also told that ADHD is a childhood condition. Accordingly, the teaching around ADHD typically occurs within the mandatory child and adolescent rotation. Almost as an afterthought, we learnt that although the symptoms usually appear first in childhood, ADHD is often a lifelong condition with its impact and presentation changing over time (Faraone et al., 2021).