Characteristics Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Approximately 5-7% (some people think that 15% may be more accurate) of the population have attention difficulties serious enough to cause problems for their life.  One person described ADHD as a "garlic disorder."  That is, everyone seems to notice the problem except the person themselves.

The name itself is misleading. "Attention Variability Disorder" might be a better term. There is a great unevenness in the ability to focus attention.  If something is very interesting, the person can often pay attention.  Video games are a great example of the way that a person with ADHD can pay attention to highly stimulating material for long periods of time.

However, boring material is quite different for the ADHD person  People with ADHD do much worse dealing with boring material than the average person. The following characteristics are typical of ADHD.

It is helpful to think of two types of ATTENTION.

The first type is ATTENTION as Fascination. Fascination is what our attention is quickly and easily drawn toward. It is difficult to not be drawn toward a fire truck racing past with lights and sirens. Or video games. People with Attention Deficit Disorder are actually drawn more quickly to those things that are fascinating or interesting. And sometimes risky.

The second type of ATTENTION has to do with motivation and sustained attention to a task. We use this term to describe such things as "paying attention." A slang word that conveys the idea is "stick-to-itiveness." Sustaining attention on a less than interesting or fascinating task is a severe challenge for a person with ADHD. Unfortunately anything else can draw their attention away from the task at hand to something more interesting or fascinating. Thus for some people it may be helpful to think of Attention Deficit Disorder as Fascination Surplus Disorder.

Officially there are two sets of characteristics of ADHD. One set of characteristics is the hyperactive/impulsive traits.  The other is the inattentive traits. Official checklists deal with these two common set of difficulties. 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) usually has hyperactive/impulsive traits combined with inattentive traits.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD officially known as ADHD primarily inattentive type) does not have hyperactive and impulsive traits, but may be exclusively problems of concentration, focus, attention, recall and memory.  Often people have a great deal of difficulty listening to instructions. Some experts in the field describe this as "sluggish cognitive tempo." ADD is increasingly being seen as a distinct disorder from ADHD. These disorders may have different genetic and biological causes. 

Practical Guide to Some of the Problems of ADHD

The following is a practical guide to some of the problems associated with ADHD and ADD:

1. Difficulty Sustaining Attention
    Can sustain attention, but not for as long
    Can sustain attention if interested, but not able to sustain attention if subject is boring or routine
    May start with great enthusiasm and good intentions but then "poops out" or loses interest.

2. Difficulty Controlling Impulses
    Taking Shortcuts
    Taking too many risks
    Money Management Problems
    Impulsive Thinking
    Difficulty "putting on the brakes"
    Difficulty "holding back" when needs to.

3. A Problem with Too Much Behavior
    Hyperactive, restless, on the go, "as if driven by a motor."
    Hyper responsive

4. Difficulty Following Directions
    Loses track of tasks, easily distracted, difficulty understanding oral directions

5. Difficulty with motivation, hard time getting going

6. Poor sense of time, loses track of time easily

7. Prefers new to routine. Starts many projects, doesn't finish tasks

8. Poorly organized, not able to stay organized

9. Loses things constantly. Not able to remember where items per placed.

10. Poor coordination, clumsy

(See Official Diagnostic Guideline to ADHD)

It Is In Your Brain

Attention Deficit Disorder has multiple causes, but it is all about the brain not working properly.

ADHD is usually genetic.  It is extremely inheritable. The vast majority of ADHD is caused by heredity. There are very few human traits or characteristics that have a higher rate of inheritability.  Thus if your child has it, it is almost certain that other family members will have it as well. One or both of the parents often has many of the traits.

In those few cases where heredity does not appear to be a factor, it may be caused by various forms of trauma to the brain. (Acquired ADHD).  Thus lack of oxygen around the time of birth, or head injuries can create ADHD symptoms. The head injuries do not need to be so severe that there is a loss of consciousness.  Neurologists are concerned about mild head trauma such as "headers" in soccer, let alone skate boarding and bike accidents. The pre-frontal cortex is the part of the brain usually implicated in trauma.

There may be some a few cases related to allergies, and some other diseases may mimic ADHD. Lead poisoning can also cause symptoms like ADHD.

Brain Images

The following link will show some of the brain images that Dr. Daniel Amen has taken of people with ADD/ADHD.  It shows the difference between people at rest, during concentration and  on medication.  One can see the difference in how much activity the brain has in the brain, and how medication helps the brain function more normally.