Adult Attention Deficit

Adults with attention deficit may look “successful but struggling”, smart and capable, yet constantly behind, overwhelmed, or disorganized. If you have adult ADD/ADHD, you may recognize many of these symptoms.

Inattention Symptoms in Adults

You may:

• Have difficulty paying attention in meetings, conversations, or while reading.
• Get easily distracted by noises, thoughts, or incoming messages.
• Struggle to pay close attention to details and make careless mistakes.
• Have trouble organizing tasks, projects, and paperwork.
• Fail to finish what you start, jumping from one task to another.
• Lose or misplace keys, phones, documents, or other important items.
• Avoid or delay tasks that require sustained mental effort (reports, forms, planning).
• Forget appointments, deadlines, or things you intended to do.
• Seems not to listen when others speak, or “tune out” mid‑conversation.

Hyperactivity / Impulsivity in Adults

Hyperactivity often feels more internal than external in adults, but you may notice you:

• Fidget, tap, or feel restless.
• Have trouble remaining seated during long meetings, classes, or events.
• Feel “on the go,” as if driven by a motor.
• Talk excessively or interrupt others.
• Blurt out answers or comments before others finish speaking.
• Have difficulty waiting your turn (in lines, in conversation, in traffic).
• Intrude on other people’s activities or conversations.
• Feel chronically restless or “amped up” inside.

These symptoms can seriously affect your life:

• Work difficulties:
  • Trouble finishing projects.
  • Poor or uneven performance reviews.
  • Difficulty keeping jobs or advancing.
  • Problems with teamwork, follow‑through, and deadlines.
• Family and daily life difficulties:
  • Misplaced bills and missed payments.
  • Careless driving or speeding tickets.
  • Household tasks started but were not finished.
• Social and relationship difficulties:
  • Forgetting plans or important dates.
  • Interrupting or talking over others.
  • Difficulty maintaining friendships or intimate relationships.

If this sounds familiar, adult ADD/ADHD may be the underlying cause, and it is treatable.

Not every adult who is distracted or overwhelmed has primary attention deficit. At the Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute, we carefully look for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, including:

• Sleep apnea: Repeated breathing pauses at night can cause daytime inattention, fatigue, and memory problems.
• Other sleep disorders: Insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, restless legs syndrome, and periodic limb movements can all lead to daytime attention problems.
• Mood disorders: Depression and anxiety can cause concentration problems, low motivation, and forgetfulness.
• Seizure disorders: Especially generalized non‑convulsive (petit mal) seizures, which may look like “spacing out.”
• Head injuries: Past concussions or head trauma can affect attention and impulse control.

Sleep problems, learning difficulties, mood disorders, and seizure disorders can all cause or worsen attention symptoms. If something other than ADD/ADHD is driving your struggles, we will work to identify it and suggest appropriate treatment or referral, rather than simply prescribing stimulants.

Because we are also a sleep clinic, we are uniquely equipped to recognize when sleep disorders are contributing to adult attention problems, something many other clinics may overlook.

Accurate diagnosis is critical before starting any medication. At the Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute in Sterling Heights, Michigan, we use both a thorough clinical evaluation and EEG‑based attention testing to diagnose adult ADD/ADHD.

Clinical Evaluation

Your assessment may include:

• A detailed interview about current symptoms and how they affect work, home, and relationships.
• Review of childhood history, school performance, and family history to confirm symptoms began in childhood.
• ADHD rating scales and symptom questionnaires to clarify your pattern of inattention and impulsivity.

This helps us determine whether your difficulties meet criteria for adult ADD/ADHD and whether additional testing is needed.

EEG‑Based Attention Testing and Brain Mapping

The FDA has approved a brain‑wave (EEG‑based) test to help confirm attention deficit. At our clinic:

• The EEG is painless; sensors are placed on your scalp, but do not penetrate the skin.
• The entire testing process typically takes less than two hours.
• During attention tasks, we measure brain waves related to attention (faster beta‑1 waves) and drowsiness (slower theta waves), and we generate EEG brain maps.
• We also measure a special brain response (P300 wave) that appears after rare or important sounds or letters.

Our published research shows that beta‑1 waves over the speech area and P300 brain maps can help confirm attention deficit and predict which medication is most likely to work best for each patient.

The EEG, especially during deep breathing and rapid breathing, also helps us look for certain seizure patterns that can mimic ADD/ADHD symptoms.

After combining the clinical evaluation with EEG‑based testing, we can:

• Confirm whether you truly have adult attention deficit (ADD/ADHD).
• Identify other medical or neurologic causes of attention problems.
• Predict which medicine is most likely to help you, reducing trial‑and‑error.

Once adult ADD/ADHD is confirmed, it must be properly treated, because untreated attention deficit can make it very hard to function at work, at home, and in relationships.

Many doctors are hesitant to treat adult attention deficit because not all medicines work well for every patient, and some can be habit‑forming. At the Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute, we take a different approach:

• We aim for at least a 50% improvement in ADHD rating scores, which usually brings attention into the normal range.
• We use EEG‑based brain mapping to help choose the right medicine and dose, not a one‑size‑fits‑all prescription.
• We offer both stimulant and non‑stimulant options and monitor you closely.

Stimulant Medications

Stimulants such as methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin®, Concerta®) and amphetamine‑based medicines (e.g., Adderall®) work on dopamine and norepinephrine, the brain chemicals most involved in attention and impulse control. However:

• On average, many stimulant or non‑stimulant medicines produce only about a 25% improvement in ADHD ratings in roughly two‑thirds of patients, and they may not work at all in others.
• Short‑acting amphetamine‑based stimulants can be habit‑forming and may be misused if not carefully supervised.

For these reasons, we do not simply give everyone the same stimulant. Instead, we use EEG‑based testing to guide choice and dose of medication and then track your response carefully over time.

Non‑Stimulant Medications

There are also effective non‑stimulant medications for adult ADD/ADHD, including:

• Atomoxetine (Strattera®)
• Certain antidepressants (such as imipramine or bupropion, used off‑label)
• Other agents that affect attention‑related brain systems

Both stimulants and non‑stimulants can be very helpful when matched properly to the right patient. Our goal is to find the right medicine at the right dose to normalize your attention as much as possible, not just partially reduce symptoms.

Comprehensive Support

Medication is often the most effective treatment for adult ADHD, but many adults also benefit from:

• Coaching or therapy to build organization, planning, and time‑management skills
• Strategies for managing paperwork, digital overload, and procrastination
• Support with workplace or academic accommodations when appropriate.

We work with you and, when needed, your other healthcare providers to create a treatment plan that fits your life.

The Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute is uniquely positioned as both a sleep clinic and an attention disorders clinic, giving us a niche advantage in Michigan that large health systems do not currently match. Adults choose our clinic because:

• We provide a comprehensive, EEG‑informed assessment of adult attention deficit.
• We can identify when sleep disorders or other medical issues are causing or worsening attention problems.
• We use brain mapping to help select the most effective medication for each patient, not a trial‑and‑error approach.
• We have more than 30 years of experience helping patients across Macomb and Oakland counties improve attention, work performance, driving safety, and relationships.

Our facility is warm and inviting, and we treat every adult with respect, understanding, and confidentiality.