ABSTRACT
The manifestations of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including distractibility, motor restlessness, hyperactivity, impulsivity, difficulty sustaining attention, and difficulty with task completion, are also found in a variety of other neurological conditions. It is essential for the professional involved in the assessment of an adult with attentional difficulties to understand the parameters of differential diagnosis between the lifelong condition of ADHD and acquired attention deficit syndrome, which may result from toxicity, anoxia, lesions, head trauma, stroke, tumors, or degenerative diseases. It is also important for the mental health professional to be aware of neurological conditions that may be comorbid with ADHD in adults, and to be knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms that indicate the need for a neurological consultation as a part of the diagnostic process (Shaywitz & Shaywitz, 1988).
