The unwritten rules for life require that we be on time, have a plan, and live in a world with little room for confusion (on our part). People with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) live lives on a constant collision course with those unwritten rules, frequently lacking the organization, skills and ability needed to be successful. This stems from the fact that an AD/HD sufferer's thought patterns often run counter to the thought patterns needed for organization. Those with AD/HD suffer impairment of the executive functions of the brain, such as attentive memory, organization, and self esteem. .
Educational and career success requires attentiveness, the ability to focus over a brief period of time in order to accomplish a given task. AD/HD's major trait, distractibility, hampers the ability of a person to focus. I know. I have AD/HD. A personal example of distractibility is when I attempt to clean off my table. I hear it say to me over and over "get this pile of mail off me". So I begin to open the mail, attempting to sort each piece and put it where it belongs. The credit card offer seems too important for me to ignore. I compare it to my bank card interest rate. Before I know it I have decided to throw away my ancient bank statements, which I no longer need. The trip to the trash can takes me into the kitchen where I see a dirty countertop. So, I look under the sink in search for a clean sponge, but then notice that my cleaning products need to be organized. It turns out to be a dirty job, and by the time I finish I need a shower. Then, on my way to the bathroom I pass the table and remember that my original, but now unmet, goal was to clean off the table. This lack of attentive memory greatly complicates even life's simple tasks.
To be successful in completing an assignment, you must have or acquire organizational skills. People suffering from AD/HD can find it very frustrating and disappointing when trying to organize thoughts to accomplish a goal.
