Simply put, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a neuro-biological condition that results from the brain's inability to utilize the neurotransmitters as effectively as the non-AD/HD (ADD) brain.  It is this unique brain wiring that causes various symptoms and traits to surface in varying degrees from one person to the next.  All people have these symptoms and traits; it is the extent to which these characteristics impact one's life that helps determine whether a person does or does not have AD/HD (ADD).

Although the word "Hyperactivity" is used, it does not mean that each person with the condition exhibits "physical" signs of hyperactivity.  Many times the term ADD without the "H" is used.  The official terminology however is AD/HD.

If you recognize having many of the symptoms and traits of AD/HD (ADD) listed below and notice that your job and/or personal life are disrupted in some way or another because of these traits, you may want to pursue a professional diagnosis. This is, of course, a personal choice for each person to make.

There is still much to be learned about AD/HD (ADD) and therefore if you do pursue a diagnosis, it is very important that you seek out a qualified doctor. Find one who is an expert in the field with extensive experience in the diagnostic process to ensure that the diagnosis will be as accurate as possible. Be sure to ask the doctor what proportion of his/her patients are adults with AD/HD (ADD). Also ask how familiar he/she is with the latest books published on adult AD/HD (ADD).

Please note that AD/HD (ADD) manifests differently from person to person. It is also very situational and shows up differently under various conditions. The following is a list of symptoms, traits and behaviors of AD/HD (ADD); however, it is not intended to serve as a comprehensive listing nor does it imply that everyone exhibiting these symptoms has AD/HD (ADD) I repeat, everyone exhibits these traits in some way or another and at some time or another. The diagnostic process for AD/HD (ADD) is a very complex.

Do you notice if you...

• Are not always able to focus on the intended stimuli or maintain focus for long periods.
• Get distracted easily or lose your focus during a conversation, lecture, etc.
• While talking you jump from one topic to another at rapid speed sometimes taking a discussion in a new direction several times in a short period.

Are able to focus to the point of blocking all else out. (Hyper Focus)

• You hyper focus on a topic or activity and go into a state of creative flow.
• Lose track of time and forget other commitments while hyper focusing.
• Do not listen to others or notice surroundings while in this state.

• Find yourself daydreaming or "somewhere else".

• You have many ideas, usually very innovative and creative, yet for some reason you do not take action or don't follow through to completion.
• Make no plans or continue to revise plans.
• Start out very committed to taking an action but then keep putting it off.

• Interrupt conversations-you can't seem to listen and wait your turn or you find it difficult to do so.
• Do not think things through before making decisions or taking action.
• Thrive on taking risks.

• Tend to be chronically late or wait until the last minute.
• Want to take on more than can be realistically accomplished in a specific time frame.

• Show signs of extreme perfectionism.
• Rarely recognize your talents and successes or do so minimally. 
• Regardless of how much you have achieved, you place your focus on what did not get done, what went wrong.

•  Have a tendency to over focus on negative thoughts that spiral downward.
• Seem to be unwilling or unable to shift out of the negativity.
• Can't seem to "let it go".

• Things are either one way or the other way, not much in between.