| ADHD is a neurobiological disorder located in the | | | | sounds such as traffic sounds, the birds outside, people |
| prefrontal cortex, and it is also a type of brain wiring | | | | around us, etc. But people with ADD often have |
| different than the general population. It can be | | | | trouble blocking these things out due to their |
| considered a disorder and a gift, and it affects all | | | | hypersensitivity. This is most likely due to the |
| areas of functioning to a degree. But the main area of | | | | under-activity in their prefrontal cortex. |
| life it will affect is your executive function, or the area | | | | Organization is a very common problem for people |
| of the brain that organizes, plans and executes goals. | | | | with ADD, specifically issues with projects involving, |
| What is generally focused on with ADHD is a short | | | | time, space and long-term projects. Disorganization |
| attention span, or the inability to focus for long periods | | | | involving space is what causes the extreme |
| of time. People with ADD have minds that tend to | | | | messiness of ADDers, and why they may have |
| wander, drift and get distracted by other things. What | | | | trouble keeping things neat even after they have |
| is very interesting about ADD is that sufferers can pay | | | | cleaned. It is something that others surrounding people |
| attention very well to things that are new, very | | | | with ADD really have trouble with, and many times |
| stimulating, interesting or upsetting. These events | | | | cannot understand or accept. The problems ADDers |
| provide enough stimulation in and of themselves that | | | | have with keeping things clean extends to their whole |
| they activate the part of the brain that enables | | | | life, especially in the area of long-term planning. Many |
| concentration. This is because people with ADD do not | | | | people with ADD live from crisis to crisis, or from |
| have enough adrenaline and need this in order to | | | | worry to worry. These stimulating events provide the |
| focus. | | | | focus that mundane planning does not. |
| People with ADD have trouble paying attention to daily, | | | | Poor follow through is an extension of the inability to |
| routine activities that do not provide high stimulation | | | | organize, and is also a real burden on an ADDer's life. |
| such as chores, homework, and paperwork. | | | | Many people with ADD have an overabundance of |
| Unfortunately, these activities are everywhere and are | | | | ideas that seem very interesting and stimulating in the |
| needed in order to function in society. | | | | beginning. But it is when the details and preparation |
| Another prevalent aspect of ADHD is distractibility. | | | | come into play that sufferers of ADD have problems. |
| This is often confused with having a short attention | | | | Any interest or passion that requires long-term |
| span, but it is actually a hypersensitivity to the | | | | attention and maintenance will cause the ADDer to |
| environment around you. People with regular brain | | | | lose interest, even if it is something they enjoy. This is |
| wiring do not have trouble blocking out extraneous | | | | where counseling and medication may be of help. |