You did not mention whether your mother has been started on a medication for her ADD. Typically, medications for ADD, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin®), will make noticeable differences in thinking and behavior. However, four months may not be long enough for your mother and her physician to have found the correct medication and dosage. If, after a proper trial of at least three of the well-known medications for ADD, there is no improvement, it could be concluded that her behaviors are not likely due to ADD.

Once proper medication has been found, follow-up psychotherapy or counseling is very important so that old habits can be examined. Looking at old behavior patterns and discovering that changes are possible is a new experience for people with ADD -- many gave up on themselves long ago. With proper follow-up and medication, dramatic changes in the so-called "self-centered style" attributed to people with ADD can take place in less than a year.

Medications that are known to assist with ADD symptoms are methylphenidate (Ritalin ®), atomoxetine (Strattera®), bupropion (Wellbutrin®) and a mixture of amphetamines called Adderall®. They all have very similar effects -- they increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. Evidence from several types of research indicate that people with ADD have lower than normal levels of such neurotransmitters.

Because it used to be thought that ADD was an illness that children grew out of, many children with ADD became adults with untreated ADD. Older adults were never educated about ADD because the disorder did not even have its name until 1980. Common signs of ADD in adults include: (1) Inattention and memory problems -- losing or forgetting things, being absent-minded, not finishing things, misjudging time, trouble getting started (procrastination); (2) Hyperactivity and restlessness; and, (3) Impulsivity and emotional instability -- saying things without thinking first, interrupting others, easily frustrated and angered, unpredictable moods, driving recklessly. ADD seems to be distributed equally between women and men.

Without a diagnosis of ADD, adults with ADD characteristics would likely be thought of as self-centered, erratic, rude, deceitful, manipulative, and undisciplined, among other things. Many of the characteristics of adult ADD also significantly overlap with the signs of narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders.

We might be able to accept or be sympathetic towards a child who displays many difficult ADD symptoms thinking "kids will be kids." However, the same behavior in an adult will not generally be accorded a similar sympathetic reaction. The adult who talks before thinking, acts before pondering, is easily upset and seems to be always angry about something will hurt many people's feelings.

I hope this is helpful. For more information about adult attention deficit disorder, please visit www.AllAboutAdultADD.org. Best wishes, Dr. Ron.

Author Bio:

Ron Sterling, M.D. is a 61 year-old General and Geriatric Psychiatrist with a private practice in Seattle. He invites you to e-mail him at with any questions about mental wellness or emotional, relationship, or aging concerns. He is the only person who reads e-mail sent to Dr. Ron. Please be assured that your questions and identities are completely confidential and protected. For more information about Dr. Ron and for resources related to senior mental health, please go to SeniorMentalHealth.org. The content offered through Mind Matters is for information only and is not intended for medical, psychiatric, or psychological diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this column. Read our Disclaimer. If you wish to understand more about Dr. Sterling's potential biases in health care advocacy, please check his Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Statement

Have a great day!