Lawyers with ADHD
By Lynn Phillips

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD), often called attention deficit disorder (ADD), begins in childhood and can persist in adulthood. ADHD manifests as a chronic pattern of behavior that includes difficulty focusing and maintaining attention, chronic disorganization, impulsivity, and difficulty perceiving time. Hyperactivity may or may not be a part of the pattern.

ADHD affects the executive functions of the brain, such as prioritizing, planning, executing and completing, and paying attention to detail. Although ADHD often runs in families, it is highly treatable, usually with a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and adaptive skills that "work around" its symptoms.

The National Institute of Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov) estimates that 3 percent to 5 percent of all children have ADHD. Nearly 25 percent of those related to a child diagnosed with ADHD also have ADHD (compared with roughly 5 percent of the general public), which adds up to nearly 8 million people. Of these, 80 percent to 90 percent are undiagnosed and may be unaware that they have the condition.The ABA's most current estimate (summer 2006) is that there are 1.1 million lawyers in the United States; thus, roughly 44,000 lawyers may have ADHD, the majority undiagnosed.

In lawyers, one of the most obvious manifestations of the condition is their ongoing attempts to "get organized"-which always end in only short-term success, if any. They report falling behind in their work or being fearful they missed something important, and frequently they feel that they are not living up to their potential. By this point in their lives, many lawyers have learned to work around the manifestations of their ADHD symptoms. They struggle to stay focused on boring tasks, have trouble managing their time, and often start projects enthusiastically but quickly lose their excitement and, with it, the desire to finish the project.

They are usually aware of being facile and quickly grasping and building on concepts, but planning for the eventual goal is a problem. They often have low self-esteem because of their inability to be consistent, stay focused, and curb impulses, and frequently they struggle with relationships-partly because they miss or misunderstand the social cues people give one another. They question why things that seem easy for others can be such problems for them.

Unfortunately, once out in the professional world, they tend to continue these coping mechanisms-procrastinating, working in fits and starts. Lawyers with ADHD typically are well acquainted with regret, although they may have established firm defenses against recognizing it. They develop reputations for being chronically late, having messy offices, or performing excellently some of the time and abysmally at others. Like the general population with ADHD, these lawyers usually do not realize they have a defined problem until they seek treatment for a different condition or, often, for their children's attention problems. Nearly half the people with undiagnosed ADHD have a coexisting condition-such as depression or substance abuse.

Undiagnosed, and sometimes even when treated, ADHD is not easy to live with; rarely does a person with ADHD make it through life unmarked.

What's Wrong with Me?
A diagnosis of attention deficit disorder often comes as an enormous relief-at last, the inconsistencies and spotty perform-ances have an explanation. Years of self-referential questions now have answers: How can I be so bright and not be able to do this simple task? Why am I always late when I try so hard to be on time? Why is my (office, car, desk, calendar) so disorganized? Where are my keys?

With diagnosis it seems the riddle is solved and all is well. Unfortunately, diagnosis is only the beginning of treatment. Appropriate medications may help by reducing some impulsive behaviors and concentration issues, but they most often simply quiet the background noise enough to allow the person to contemplate further changes.

If the above descriptions sound familiar and you think you or someone you care about may have ADHD, the following suggestions may help you or others manage it:

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