From Driven to Distraction by Hallowell & Ratey.
Note: Consider a criterion met only if the behavior is considerably more frequent than that of most people of the same mental age.
a) A chronic disturbance in which at least twelve of the following are present:
- A sense of underachicvement, of not meeting one’s goals (regardless of how much one has actually accomplished).
- Difficulty getting organized.
- Chronic procrastination or trouble getting started.
- Many projects going simultaneously; trouble with follow-through.
- A tendency to say what comes to mind without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark.
- A frequent search for high stimulation.
- An intolerance of boredom.
- Easy distractibility, trouble focusing attention, tendency to tune out or drift away in the middle of a page or a conversation, often coupled with an ability to hyperfocus at times.
- Often creative, intuitive, highly intelligent.
- Trouble in going through established channels, following “proper” procedure.
- Impatient; low tolerance of frustration.
- Impulsive, either verbally or in action, as in impulsive spending of money, changing plans, enacting new schemes or career plans, and the like; hot-tempered.
- A tendency to worry needlessly, endlessly; a tendency to scan the horizon looking for something to worry about, alternating with indention to or disregard for actual dangers.
- A sense of insecurity.
- Mood swings, mood lability, especially when disengaged from a person or project.
- Physical or cognitive restlessness.
- A tendency towards addictive behavior.
- Chronic problems with self-esteem.
- Inaccurate self-oberservation.
- Family history of ADD, manic-depressive illness, depression or substance abuse or other disorders of impulse control or mood.