Attention Deficit Disorder

Essay by wes1406College, Undergraduate March 2005

download word file, 10 pages 4.3 3 reviews

What is Attention Deficit Disorder? Commonly referred to as ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder is not easily defined. ADD is a condition affecting the brain that makes it difficult for some people to control their behavior. ADD has been medically defined as a neurological disorder. There are many symptoms, and not all people with attention deficit disorder share every symptom. The first signs of ADD often, but not always, show up in early childhood. ADD may also be accompanied by a learning disability. ADD also affects behavior in specific, yet very different ways. Some people with ADD tend to lose their patience quickly, or they get bored extremely fast. They may feel antsy or fidgety a lot and have trouble sitting still for a long time. People with ADD can get very impatient and might hate waiting in lines. Many people with ADD have a hard time paying attention to just one thing, or keeping their mind on one thing at a time.

Some people with ADD might also be impulsive, and can have a habit of interrupting people. People with ADD might sometimes shout out answers to questions before the question is completed, or they say the first thing that pops into their mind, whether it's right or wrong. Organization is also a problem with this disorder. Many people with ADD tend to forget or lose things like homework, books, or supplies and often make careless mistakes in the things they do. Yet even with all these obstacles, people can still function, and even prosper. In fact, there are many famous people, and even presidents, with attention deficit disorder. Some of these include Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Jules Verne, Prince Charles, and even Woodrow Wilson.

Attention Deficit Disorder is not a new disease, despite the common belief that ADD was...