Doctor warns common driving habit could be major sign you have ADHD

A doctor has said there's a very common driving habit which could indicate whether or not you have ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong neurological condition which impacts how a person concentrates in their day-to-day life.

The disorder, which often causes difficulties with a person's ability to concentrate, is traditionally diagnosed in childhood. However there has been an uptick in adults seeking a diagnosis over recent years.

Statistics from ADHD UK estimate that around 2.6 million people in the UK are living with the condition.

As our understanding of ADHD develops, people with the condition are beginning to notice more and more about how their brain chemistry plays a role in daily tasks — with one doctor revealing a common link he's noticed between the disorder and driving.

Psychiatrist and TikTok creator Dr Steven Storage has built a large following by sharing his knowledge on a number of health-related topics, which includes ADHD.

So how can the ADHD impact our driving habits? Well, if you were to ask Dr Storage, he would look at how often you use navigational devices in the car.

"Here is one of my favourite subtle signs of ADHD," he began. "If you have driven to the same place 50 times and had navigation on every time, you may have ADHD."

Now this may sound a little bizarre at first, but Dr Storage went on to explain that it's less to do with how your brain remembers directions and more about the brain needing a 'cue' for things such as changing lanes and exiting a road.

"Otherwise, they might get trapped in their head," he added.

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Dr Storage isn't alone in his observation either, with several users in the ADHD subreddit agreeing that using a navigational system helps them focus on driving, which in turn allows them to feel safer behind the wheel.

Several commenters were also in agreement, with one person commenting: "I do it to my mother's even though I know how to get there.

"Navigation ALL the time, otherwise I'll end up at home and totally miss where I was supposed to go," a second added.

However, it's important to note that this experience won't be universal for everyone with suspected or diagnosed ADHD and doesn't take into account that some people may just prefer driving with a satnav as a preference.

"I do it to be notified of traffic delays & so I can report speed traps," a third viewer wrote, while another added that they like to see what their expected arrival time at a destination is.