I’ve had students asking me, “Do I have ADD or ADHD?”

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are beginning to be recognized as problems for adults, not just for children.

ADHD is a neurological, physically-based disorder that involves excessive distractibility, difficulty in concentrating or focusing, disorganization, physical or mental restlessness, excessive activity and impulsivity.

ADD consists of all of the above symptoms but without the physical overactivity and sometimes without impulsivity.

People with ADHD often have problems regulating their moods as well, and may be more prone to irritability or anger outbursts.

Diagnosing gets complicated because the symptoms overlap with many other problems. The normal traits of a child or a teenager may be misinterpreted. For example, someone might think a five-year-old has ADHD because he can’t sit still in kindergarten for three hours. Other psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder may include symptoms very similar to ADHD.

Some experts think that children who have been diagnosed actually have bipolar disorder, which is a mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings. In addition, college students often have poor sleeping habits or substance abuse problems that can cause difficulties with attention or concentration.

A simple lack of mental self-discipline may cause some college students to conclude that they have ADD because it is hard for them to concentrate in class or while doing homework in subjects they don’t find fascinating.

ADD or ADHD do not suddenly develop in adults; it is brought with them when they are born. However, bright people or people who are not hyperactive may not be diagnosed until their college years. It is important to get a good, thorough history of behavior and school performance to determine if this has been a lifelong problem. Professionals used to think that children “grew out of” ADHD, but we now know that while the physical hyperactivity often lessens with age, many adults still have the attention problems that plagued them as children.

If a student does have ADD or ADHD, it can make it difficult for him or her to do well in school. Folks with ADHD are described as “underachievers,” bright but with poor academic performance. Many people with ADHD have specific learning disabilities, but, with or without learning disabilities, it is important for those with ADHD to get help and coaching in order to do well. An excellent description of ADD is “Driven to Distraction,” by Harvard psychiatrists Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D., who have ADHD themselves.

Another resource is a new book from the American Psychological Association, “ADD and the College Student,” edited by Patricia O. Quinn.

On campus, students can get help from the PACE. Office in Gooch Hall. To be eligible for PACE services, which include taking tests in a distraction-free environment and being allowed extended test-taking times, students must meet certain strict eligibility requirements, including a recent formal psychological evaluation. While the staff at the Counseling Center does not provide these evaluations for PACE., we can work with students on strategies for personal and academic success. Some students find that a consultation with a psychiatrist to discuss the possibility of medications is useful.

If you or someone you care about has ADHD or ADD, read the books recommended in this column. For adults who were not diagnosed in childhood, it is often a relief to be able to put a name and a reason to the obstacles they have faced, and to get some information about how to live with this condition.