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Determining the Likelihood of Having ADD

By Bonnie Mincu, reprinted with permission

Only a diagnostic specialist can ultimately determine if a person has Attention Deficit Disorder, and is able to prescribe medication or treatment for it. However, before taking this step, this informal questionnaire can help you to determine if you have a significant number of typical ADD traits.

Also see Strategies for Getting Things Done With ADD

Typical ADD Traits

The traits listed below are typical of ADD. To strongly suspect ADD, a person should have at least 10 of these traits, and the traits should be:

Persistent

The trait is present more often than not, from an early age.

Pervasive

The trait is present in many different areas of a person's life.

Prohibiting quality of life

The trait interferes with several areas of life, including work success, relationships, and/or self-esteem.

Possible traits:

Constantly distracted by thoughts or stimuli that interrupt actions or conversations.

Needing to change physical positions often, getting out of chair, moving; history of childhood hyperactivity.

Spacey or daydreaming, trouble concentrating.

Many thoughts and ideas, seemingly all at once.

Multi-tasking, often doing several things at once (such as TV, e-mail, talking on phone, reading.)

Focusing so avidly on an interest that everything else is forgotten.

Tactless, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Missing social cues, behaving or speaking inappropriately.

Needing to write or doodle in order to pay attention in meetings.

Inability to concentrate or sustain focus on reading (not necessarily dyslexia.)

Poor short-term memory.

Chronic lateness, poor time judgment.

Inability to work within the rules of a corporate or bureaucratic structure.

Inability to work effectively without imposed structure.

Chronic clutter and disorganization.

Inability to prioritize.

Inability to get started on tasks such as bill-paying, laundry, mundane paperwork.

Procrastination.

Perfectionism.

Poor follow-through on completing projects, leaving "loose ends."

Inappropriate anger responses, defensiveness, placing blame on self or others.

History of fractured relationships, misunderstandings.

Thinking in black / white terms; things or people seem either all good or all bad.

Often taking on more than can realistically be accomplished.

Thrill-seeking behavior, or enjoyment of risk.

Intolerance of boredom, changing jobs or hobbies often.

— © Copyright, Bonnie Mincu, reprinted with permission.

Bonnie Mincu is a business and personal coach specializing in adult Attention Deficit Disorder. She has an MBA and MA in Organization Development, with advanced training in coaching ADD adults through ADD Coach Academy. Featured in Newsday and the New York Post newspapers, she writes a regular column for The AD/HD Challenge newsletter. Bonnie coaches clients country-wide by phone, and conducts telephone classes as part of her 5-session course, "Thrive with ADD." She gives presentations and workshops on ADD to private and professional groups. Visit her website to subscribe to her free ADD newsletter and find out more about adult ADD. You can contact Bonnie at bonnie@bonniemincu.com.