Question: What causes attention deficit disorder, and what effect does it have on a person's ability in day-to-day life?

Emily McDougal answered on 19 Nov 2021:

There is still a lot of research to be done about causes of ADHD, but it is thought that there are lots of different factors that can contribute, such as genetics (e.g. someone is more likely to have ADHD if a family member also has it), differences in the brain, being born very early (premature birth) or being very underweight when born (low birth weight).

ADHD affects people differently, but the main differences between someone with ADHD and someone without ADHD are in: attention differences, and increased levels of hyperactivity or impulsivity. Attention differences might mean that people with ADHD struggle to stay focused on one thing, particularly something that they are not interested in. People with ADHD can also experience “hyperfocus”, allowing them to focus intensely on something that is really interesting for them. This can be great as it can lead to increased productivity but can also be challenging if they are meant to be engaging with something else, for example, their school work or their job.

Other effects might include difficulty sleeping due to hyperactivity, forgetting to do things, difficulties with being organised, or losing track of time. These can all have an impact on school, work, or relationships. More research needs to be done to improve wider understanding and acceptance of ADHD. For example, it might mean that an employer can adapt the work environment to make it more accessible for someone with ADHD.