Attention Deficit Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder is a neurobiological condition that arises in early childhood and may be characterized by core symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and restlessness. It was once considered to be a disorder that only affected children and was outgrown in adulthood. It is now known that ADD is not outgrown as one matures and, in fact, out of the approximate 15 million people currently diagnosed with ADD in the United States today, about two thirds of them are adults. Many of these individuals were not diagnosed until later in life, and as a consequence have suffered a great deal of embarrassment, humiliation, and emotional pain. Many have lost hope and given up on achieving their goals and dreams. ADD is often a hidden disability in adults. For this reason and because many clinicians are unfamiliar with ADD and its persistence across the life span, countless individuals are living with this disorder who have never been diagnosed or treated. There are a lot of successful adults with ADD, but for many others untreated, ADD takes a toll on their lives affecting the quality of their business and personal relationships, often making it difficult to sustain a successful career and family life. In addition, ADD can predispose individuals to various other problems including anxiety and depression, as well as alcohol and drug use.   © Leslie Rouder. All Rights Reserved.