Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

[SunnyOne]

Before there was a name for it, I've had attention deficit disorder - going back to childhood.
It's been a mild case, no hyperactivity, just challenges with focusing/concentration, etc. It never hampered my life, it was just something to deal with.

Now as an adult, it is manifesting in something new - difficulty with book reading. This is interesting. I can read articles without any issues although I do tend to scroll - my comprehension level is usually sufficient to high.

I went to a specialist - no issues found. He tells me this challenge with staying focused long enough to read a book or other activities requiring concentration is showing up more and more in adults - now that more information is gleaned from tech devices -something to do with the barrage of data and sound bites.

He offered to write a script, I decided against filling it. I want to see if I can work on it through techniques or maybe supplements like amino acids or whatever (still researching).

So far now, I am reading a chapter or two, putting the book down, then coming back to it later. I tend to read non-fiction, informational type books.

If anyone else has this issue, would love to know what works for you. Peace.

 

[Katsmeow]

I do not personally have the problem with reading. I do have an adult child with longstanding ADHD. So I will make a couple of suggestions.

For some people with ADHD it is easier to focus on something like reading if there is something else also going on. Some like to have music or TV on while reading. Another option is to do something else while reading. An example is riding on an exercise bike, etc.

Finally for the type of reading you mostly do you might try audio books. Personally, I do not care for them as they are too slow (I read very quickly). Oh - that is another thing. If you haven't looked into increasing reading speed that might help. (I am not implying your reading speed is inadequate but there are speed type reading techniques that can make reading faster even for very good readers).

 

[Car-Guy]

I'm not sure what disorder(s) I have but I'm sure I have several to varying degrees. I struggled in school but excelled in business. (Go figure) These days, if I'm reading a hard copy book, I'll fall asleep in less than a chapter unless it something I'm really interested in. If it's something I'm really interested in, I can often read a book cover to cover.

 

[MRG]

There's a really good book "Driven to Distraction" about ADHD/ADD in children and adults. The authors do a good job in characterizing the disorder in both. It used to be thought it went away in adults, not true, but sometimes it changes.

Caffeine, nicotine, and sativa tend to allow me to focus although I abstain from nicotine this century. Like someone else said some distraction can be helpful.

 

[kgtest]

Before there was a name for it, I've had attention deficit disorder - going back to childhood.

It's been a mild case, no hyperactivity, just challenges with focusing/concentration, etc. It never hampered my life, it was just something to deal with.



Now as an adult, it is manifesting in something new - difficulty with book reading. This is interesting. I can read articles without any issues although I do tend to scroll - my comprehension level is usually sufficient to high.



I went to a specialist - no issues found. He tells me this challenge with staying focused long enough to read a book or other activities requiring concentration is showing up more and more in adults - now that more information is gleaned from tech devices -something to do with the barrage of data and sound bites.



He offered to write a script, I decided against filling it. I want to see if I can work on it through techniques or maybe supplements like amino acids or whatever (still researching).



So far now, I am reading a chapter or two, putting the book down, then coming back to it later. I tend to read non-fiction, informational type books.



If anyone else has this issue, would love to know what works for you. Peace.

I also have this issue. My DW dogs on me for buying books she knows I won't finish. Right now I have about 10 books going. Recently in the past year or so I've made it a goal to finish some books. We have discussed if its possible I just haven't found s genre I'm interested in. I do like some of the books but would never read them cover to cover. This was a problem for me as a boy especially when I had whole book reading assignments as homework. It bothered me that many kids could plow right through the books where I got stuck or disinterested after a few chapters. I can finish 100 to 200 page books but it still takes me a while. Initially I set a goal that I wouldn't put the book down until I got to at least 50 pages in a row. That seemed to help train me as I've been able to get through a few 50 pagers now without a lot of effort...unless the book is a little boring or not well written which I realize means something different to each reader. I've finished quite a few 200 pagers this past year and am well through a few 300 to 400 pagers. I picked up an 800 page book and the pages were so thin and words so small its giving me anxiety. Like you, I can read articles for days. Not sure if its a thing or just me but interesting to know others have the same concerns.

 

[Bamaman]

I too am an adult ADD, and my wife's been putting up with me 41 years. Note: I'm not ADHD, however.

Mine manifests itself in taking on too many projects, and starting another project before the last one was finished. I've gone as far as built a house, and thankfully the three carpenters kept me on task. But if I'd built it alone, it'd take me 10 years to complete it. It would be one heck of a house because I've never found any task I cannot complete--especially with YouTube videos.

As far as reading, I start a book and cannot put it down until it's finished. I finally limited myself to reading on the internet and quit reading books all together. I found out this week I've got to have cataract surgery in the near future, so I'll see better to read. But I think I'll just limit any book reading to the Good Book.

 

[Ready]

Reading through this thread I’m left wondering if any of these things are really problems. If you begin reading a book but don’t find it interesting why do you feel the need to finish it? If it really interests you I’m guessing you will get through it. And if it doesn’t, why waste time reading it all the way to the end?

I have a hard time sitting through movies. I want to do something active and watching a movie feels too passive for me. I get frustrated and begin thinking about all the things I want to do the rest of the day. But it doesn’t concern me. I just don’t bother going to movies any more. And if I watch them at home, I’m comfortable hitting pause when I feel like taking a break and doing something else.

 

[ERD50]

I've pretty much been this way my whole life. I rarely want to read a whole book (especially difficult to keep track of names - one I tried to read recently kept shifting how they addressed the same person, by first name, nick name, formal name - I lost track), but I read a *lot* of articles, I take in a *lot* of information. I have no problem with books where each chapter is a subject more less standalone. Or, if the book really holds my interest.

If I'm focused on a problem that I'm interested in, or (back in corporate days) just had to be done by a deadline, I can stay focused for hours at end. But not so much voluntarily, unless I'm really into it.

I haven't really looked at it as a problem, just a different approach with its own strengths and weaknesses. I'd also be very hesitant to try to 'fix' it with meds - side effects being one issue, and also really wondering if I want to be different from who I am?

You are reading what you want. Is that really a problem? No one is forcing you to read books you don't care to, are they?

edit - I see Ready posted something very similar, and I am the same way with movies as well.


-ERD50

 

[SunnyOne]

If you begin reading a book but don’t find it interesting why do you feel the need to finish it?

That is the problem. I AM interested in finishing the books I read - I am just challenged with being able to focus enough to continue page after page.

 

[ERD50]

I too am an adult ADD, and my wife's been putting up with me 41 years. Note: I'm not ADHD, however.

Mine manifests itself in taking on too many projects, and starting another project before the last one was finished. ....

I actually enjoy having several projects going in parallel. If I get a little bored with one, I switch over. Or maybe I'm waiting on a part, or the weather, or whatever - just switch to one of the other projects. Sometimes a break makes me re-evaluate the approach, and I come up with a better way to do it.

It's a feature!

-ERD50

 

[ERD50]

If you begin reading a book but don’t find it interesting why do you feel the need to finish it?

That is the problem. I AM interested in finishing the books I read - I am just challenged with being able to focus enough to continue page after page.

OK, that's a little different I guess.

You didn't mention your age, but you said specialists found no problems, so maybe this is just some normal aging. It affects different people different ways. An athlete isn't expected to maintain the same level as they age, and it's normal. So some aspects of our mental acuity may shift, not really a problem, just a change.

But just like the physical changes, you may just need to find ways to adjust?

-ERD50

 

[donheff]

ADD clearly expresses itself differently in different people. I have had it my entire life (when I was a kid it disrupted my school performance but no one was diagnosing or treating it back then). At work, I was finally able to compensate for my distractions and buckle down and thrive but it was hard. Fun anecdote: About 5 years before I retired we took our teenage daughter to a psychiatrist to evaluate potential ADD at the suggestion of a school counselor. After talking with the whole family, the doc remarked "I'm not entirely sure about your daughter but YOU (pointing at me) 100%!" She prescribed me Ritalin which made a huge difference in tolerating various tedious management meetings. But I stopped taking it as soon as I quit work. Unlike SunnyOne, I can focus on books I like for hours on end. If I don't like a book I drop it.

I wish I had suggestions for how you could re-engage. Being unable to read things that interest you has to be frustrating. If it happened to me I would try going back on ritalin to see if it helped.

 

[Chuckanut]

If you begin reading a book but don’t find it interesting why do you feel the need to finish it?

That is the problem. I AM interested in finishing the books I read - I am just challenged with being able to focus enough to continue page after page.

I use audio books these days. I find I can follow them as long as I am doing relatively mindless tasks such as peeling potatoes, driving a well known route, dusting, touch-up painting etc. Anything that requires concentration does not work well with audio books - reading these replies for example.

 

[MRG]

One of the "superpowers" folks with ADD/ADHD have is hyperfocus. The building could have burned down and I wouldn't have noticed if I was in a focused state. I'm not sure how to control this but when it occurs I can't put a book or a problem down.

I remember being sent to SLC for a client issue during the winter. I was there for several days before I noticed the mountains. Folks I was with had been admiring the view the entire time.

 

[ElizabethT]

Before there was a name for it, I've had attention deficit disorder - going back to childhood.
It's been a mild case, no hyperactivity, just challenges with focusing/concentration, etc. It never hampered my life, it was just something to deal with.

Now as an adult, it is manifesting in something new - difficulty with book reading. This is interesting. I can read articles without any issues although I do tend to scroll - my comprehension level is usually sufficient to high.

I went to a specialist - no issues found. He tells me this challenge with staying focused long enough to read a book or other activities requiring concentration is showing up more and more in adults - now that more information is gleaned from tech devices -something to do with the barrage of data and sound bites.

He offered to write a script, I decided against filling it. I want to see if I can work on it through techniques or maybe supplements like amino acids or whatever (still researching).

So far now, I am reading a chapter or two, putting the book down, then coming back to it later. I tend to read non-fiction, informational type books.

If anyone else has this issue, would love to know what works for you. Peace.

I absolutely have this issue, and experience it as being 100% correlated to tech device usage. I have returned to paper books only, and now limit significantly my usage of technology. After just a few days of concentrated effort, I have been able to start losing time reading, in that good way, and it has been great.

Try going on a tech diet for a few days. The first day or so can be rough, but it quickly improves. The payoff is the great feeling a good book leaves you with, my experience at least.

 

[Walt34]

One of the "superpowers" folks with ADD/ADHD have is hyperfocus. The building could have burned down and I wouldn't have noticed if I was in a focused state.

I've been known to do that on more than one occasion. The first time I was really aware of it was in fifth grade I was reading a book during class, and ignoring the teacher. When I looked up, the classroom was empty - everyone had gone out to recess. As you say, the building could have burned down and I wouldn't have noticed.

 

[Dash man]

This isn’t my wife or her sisters, but they all see themselves in this hilarious video:

https://youtu.be/6oHBG3ABUJU

 

[audreyh1]

I read recently that ADHD in adults is associated with sleep disorders.

 

[travelover]

I diagnosed my DW with ADD and we came to realize that her mom and sister have it, too, but much worse. Apparently, it is genetic. I also realized that my own mother had it and it explains a lot of the problems she had in life. There are number of books that provide coping mechanisms but the first step is recognizing and accepting it, of course.

An excellent book on the topic is You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?

 

[travelover]

I read recently that ADHD in adults is associated with sleep disorders.

I think it is kind of chicken and egg. My DW is a basket case if she doesn't get enough sleep and periodic down time.

 

[pacergal]

My brother has classic ADHD, can't sit still for 30 minutes. He had learning difficulties, but finished college.
DD has ADD, struggled in school but has done fine, learned to manage as best she can.
Her spouse, DSIL, also with ADD. The two of them together are great procrastinators! But, they make a wonderful team. We just adjust our expectations on arrival times with them .
It's all good.
Many ADD/ADHD kids learn how to manage their symptoms by the time they are adults, and the medical profession is getting better about recognizing that you don't "outgrow it".