University of Iowa Health Science Relations and
Joseph Barrash, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology
First Published: November 2000
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) is most frequently diagnosed in children, but many adults must also learn how to come to grips with the disorder.

"ADD impacts adults' lives more than is commonly believed," says Dr .Joseph Barrash, research scientist at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and clinical neuropsychologist at the UI Hospitals and Clinics.

ADD is characterized by patterns of inattention, difficulty organizing, careless mistakes, distractions, forgetfulness, excessive talking, impatience, and restlessness. The cause of ADD is still uncertain.

"There is reason to believe that biological causes in the brain lead to this problem," Barrash says. "It's not the case that people with ADD have a 'disease' but their capacity for maintaining focus and concentration, as well as controlling their behavior and activity level, is not as good as most people's."

For adults with ADD there are a variety of treatments that may not be as effective as with children. "It's possible to use verbal approaches with adults, who are more mature and motivated, hopefully, to exercise control over their thought processes and behavior so they can get along better in life," Barrash says.

The best approach for most adults with ADD is learning how to develop strategies that help them compensate for longstanding weaknesses in abilities such as organization, planning, focus. This "problem-solving" approach is critically important for any individual with ADD to function at their highest level--whether or not medications are also helpful in reducing some symptoms.

"A good beginning for a person is to gain insight on the particular problems that ADD causes in their life and determine what they can do to minimize those problems," Barrash says. "Taking responsibility keeps the person from feeling that someone or something else, like medication, is the solution to problems associated with ADD." Friends and family can help an adult with ADD by supporting the individual in developing and sticking to the strategies that will help them deal with the disorder.

Many adults may suspect they have ADD, since its symptoms are so common and identifiable, but Barrash cautions people not to jump to conclusions from media reports of the disorder. "There is no clear dividing line between the 'normal' amount of attention and 'defective' attention," he says. Anxiety, stress, medication, or a nutritional imbalance are all factors that may cause many of the same symptoms seen in children with ADD.

What is important, however, is how to deal with the symptoms. "Diagnosing the problem in itself doesn't really change anything most of the time," Barrash says. "It's what the individual does, whether or not they have ADD, to modify their approach to managing the many demands they have in their life that makes the difference."