In the middle of a long 9-hour shift at work or school, a lot of us may occasionally find our minds drifting off to our next meal, our plans after work, or even to our doorknobs at home – did we forget to lock them or not? Although it is perfectly normal to be thinking about the chicken sandwich you will be having for lunch while you are in the middle of a lecture or meeting, for some people, this “drifting off” or being inattentive often becomes excessive enough to interfere with school or work. These certain people may have what is called attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
ADHD is a disorder that according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, makes it hard for someone to sustain attention and control their restlessness. On the other hand, ADD does not show signs of hyperactivity; instead, people with ADD often struggle more with paying attention rather than keeping still.
ADHD and ADD are often diagnosed in childhood when parents notice that their children are being overly active and have trouble behaving. ADHD and ADD are neurodevelopmental disorders in that a more molecular and genetic defect is at play, ultimately affecting the developing and functioning of the brain. As a result, these children who can’t stick to one game at once, talk too much, or are always running around the room, continue being restless even when they become teenagers and adults.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/ace3_neurodevelopmental.pdf
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