What is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)?

AD/HD is a neurobiological disorder that likely affects activity in the parts of the brain which regulate impulse control and attention. According to the National Attention Deficit Disorder Association, approximately 4% to 6% of the general population have AD/HD. People with AD/HD may have difficulty with attention or excessive or excessive activity, including impulsivity. They also may have a combination of symptoms from both categories as listed below:

Individuals with AD/HD, primarily inattentive type, may have difficulty with the following:

Paying attention to details
Sustaining attention
Following instructions
Memory
Individuals with AD/HD, primarily hyperactive/impulsive type, may have difficulty with the following:

Remaining seated without fidgeting
Taking turns in conversations (not talking excessively or interrupting)
Controlling excessive energy
What strategies can help?

Many people with AD/HD who have trouble keeping organized can benefit from external structure. For some, reminder software (such as a task list that sends due date prompts) can be helpful. It can also be useful to have folders, containers, and locations for items. It may also be useful to write things down on post-it notes. Many items for organization can be found in office supply or home improvement stores. For younger children, parents can help them get in the habit of organization by providing containers for specific toys. The toys that belong within a specific container can be identified by pasting a photograph, drawing, or some sort of graphic on the outside of the storage unit.
Use color to help in organizing information. Students with AD/HD can use color folders, binders, etc. for different class subjects. Also, color can be used to organize information during note taking. Colored highlighters and pens can be used to categorize information.
Individuals with this disorder should create a work or study space away from distractions. Set up the area so that everything needed (dictionaries, pens, etc.) is close at hand.
People with AD/HD should plan the night before and organize the things they need for the next day. In addition, they can create a list of the things they need in their backpacks on a daily basis as well as for any scheduled activities (e.g. gym clothes for gym class). For example, students can make sure that they have all that they need already in their bookbag.
For students with AD/HD who forget to hand in assignments, a folder or section within their class binder for work to be turned in can serve as a daily reminder.
Some people with AD/HD find it helpful to create and use checklists for the tasks they need to do and the steps involved in completing those tasks. For instance, an adult with attention difficulties might create a checklists of all of the financial matters that need to be handled each month (such as paying the phone bill and transferring money into a savings account) and then check them off every month as the tasks are completed.
Many individuals with AD/HD have difficulty with social skills and knowing when their behavior is inappropriate. It may help to set up a signal (such as clearing the throat or using a hand gesture) with someone they trust to cue them when they are acting inappropriately or speaking excessively.