If you are an adult who is wondering if you have attention deficit disorder---ADD---you are not alone. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 4.1 percent of all U.S. adults between the ages of 18 to 44 have ADD, better known as ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
History
ADHD was discovered by a British doctor, Sir Alexander Crichton, in 1798. He identified patients who had a "disease of attention" and exhibited "an unnatural degree of mental restlessness." For the next 200 years, physicians speculated about the causes of ADHD, wondering if it was caused by poor parenting, moral weakness or physical brain damage.
ADHD Definition
A consensus about ADHD emerged, as explained in "Driven to Distraction," a 1995 book by Drs. Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey. ADHD was recognized as a condition in which the brain's neural wiring is different from that of a normal brain. The condition frequently runs in families. The first symptoms manifest in childhood and usually appear in three areas: impulsivity, inattention and hyperactivity. While some children outgrow ADHD, other ADHD children grow up to become ADHD adults.
ADHD Workplace Symptoms
ADHD coach Lynn Weiss' book, "A.D.D. on the Job: Making Your A.D.D. Work for You," describes ADHD workers' trials at the office. If you are a predominantly inattentive ADHD adult, you're lost in a continuous daydream at your job. Hours pass and little work gets done. You have a lot of trouble meeting deadlines, and your boss has learned that you don't really hear verbal instructions---it's safer to send them to you by email.
If you are a predominantly hyperactive, impulsive ADHD adult, you are probably everyone's most restless co-worker, pacing the halls, continuously ducking into the snack room and constantly in trouble because you blurt out exactly what you think. Your office looks like Hurricane Katrina just stopped by. You've been fired from several jobs.
ADHD Home Symptoms
Sari Solden's 2005 book, "Women with Attention Deficit Disorder," describes ADHD home life. If you're an inattentive ADHD adult, you bring work home, because it never gets done at your job. You realize that you forgot to stop at a store and buy the groceries for tonight's dinner. Stern notices in your mailbox remind you that last month's bills weren't paid.
If you are predominantly hyperactive and impulsive, you have collected another speeding ticket on the way home. Your garage and the house are full of interesting, half-completed projects that you have never finished. You're bored with your current relationship, but you're reluctant to go through another divorce.
Coping and Thriving
If you decide to get help for your ADHD symptoms, a good place to start is the 2006 book "You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!" by ADHD coaches Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo. Another helpful resource for people wondering if they have ADHD is the website of Children and Adults With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or CHAAD, which has many links for adults seeking information and support.
References
- "You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!: The Classic Self-Help Book for Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder"; Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo; 2006
- Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood"; Drs. Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey; 1995
- Scribd: The Oldest Known History of ADHD from 1798 by Alexander Crichton
- "A.D.D. on the Job: Making Your A.D.D. Work for You"; Lynn Weiss; 1996
- "Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life"; Sari Solden; 2005
