Staying focused in a world of distractions can be incredibly challenging. But for people living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (a neurodevelopmental disorder often characterized by difficulty maintaining attention, disorganization, hyperactivity, and impulsivity) it can be even more difficult. Adults are diagnosed less frequently than children, but ADHD can still create problems at work and at work. friendships and romantic relationships.
Books can be “the gateway to understanding whether you should consider getting an ADHD diagnosis and evaluation,” said Melissa Orlov, founder of ADHD and Marriage, a website and consulting company that provides resources for couples who They live with this condition.
Sharon Saline, author of “What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life,” says the right book can combat misinformation. It can also help those close to someone with ADHD by giving them a “toolbox to interact with them, support them and love them,” she said.
To demystify the topic, we asked experts—psychiatrists, counselors, and researchers—to recommend adult-focused books on ADHD.
This book, first published in 2010, is packed with information and practical tools from Dr. Barkley, “one of the leading, if not he “The world’s leading ADHD expert,” said Dr. Saline. It’s a “combination of workbook and information book, which is great for people to get a better idea of who they are,” he said.
“No one knows more about ADHD or does a better job of integrating all the research on it,” said Ari Tuckman, a psychologist in West Chester, Pennsylvania, who specializes in ADHD.
If you want a book that’s both current and personal, this 2021 title might be the way to go. Dr. Rosier is “in touch with modern ADHD,” said Margaret H. Sibley, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington.
Dr. Rosier and some members of her family have ADHD, and she shares her story with “a lot of warmth and a lot of humor,” Dr. Saline said.
It also offers a “really positive” perspective and provides tips for people with ADHD to evaluate and organize information, Ms. Orlov explained, “which is a big part of being a successful adult.”
“ADHD manifests differently in women,” Dr. Saline said, “and young women often go undiagnosed or are diagnosed later.” This is because symptoms such as “dreaming, low self-esteem or anxiety” are often misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression, she said.
This 2019 workbook addresses those questions, addressing the specific ways women experience ADHD and the ways they can learn to live with the condition.
“It’s a very relatable, practical guide,” Dr. Tuckman said.
ADHD can pose unique obstacles for couples. For example, a partner may misinterpret distracted behavior as inattention. This 2014 title, which Dr. Saline calls “a classic,” was written by Ms. Orlov and Ms. Kohlenberger, a licensed marriage and family therapist. (Ms. Orlov was one of the sources for this article, but several experts also said hers is the best book for couples.)
Includes useful information to help partners understand the signs and symptoms of ADHD and how to work together to resolve problems as they arise. Dr. Tuckman, who works with couples, said his clients “found it revealing.”
“ADHD can have a huge impact on the relationship and can leave both partners unhappy and feeling helpless,” she said. “This book explains that impact and normalizes the struggles couples fall into and the common dynamics that result.”
5. ADHD 2.0by Dr. Edward M. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey
This 2021 title is a follow-up to “Driven to Distraction,” by the same authors, published in 1992. It offers “important updates on recent ADHD research,” Dr. Saline said, along with tips people with ADHD can use. “alter their environments to better serve them and reduce negativity.”
Ms. Orlov noted that this book illustrates “how a person with ADHD can really focus a lot on things like a phone or a video game or even their job, and not be able to focus on things that are less interesting.”
This 2017 title “hits the sweet spot,” Dr. Tuckman said. “It’s definitely research-driven and sophisticated, but accessible. “It helps illustrate what ADHD looks like at different stages of development, which can be helpful to people with ADHD, family members of people with the condition, and educators.”
“Brown’s focus on ADHD and executive functioning is very helpful,” Dr. Saline said. She likes “Outside the Box” because, unlike other workbooks, it offers “an informative narrative” without exercises. “It has a lot of research,” she said, “but this is also a book you can just sit down and read.”
