The main area of life that it will affect is your executive function, or the area of the brain that organizes, plans and executes goals.

What is generally focused on with ADHD is a short attention span, or the inability to focus for long periods of time. People suffering from ADD have minds that tend to wander, drift and get easily distracted. The interesting thing is that ADD sufferers are able to pay attention very well to things that are new, very stimulating, interesting or upsetting. These provide enough stimulation in and of themselves that they activate the part of the brain that enables concentration. Since individuals with ADD do not have enough adrenaline, they need this in order to focus.

ADD sufferers have trouble focusing on daily, routine activities that do not provide high stimulation, for example, chores, homework and paperwork. Unfortunately, these activities are everywhere and are needed in order to function in society.

Another prevalent aspect of ADHD is distractibility. This is often confused with having a short attention span, but is actually a hypersensitivity to the environment. Persons with regular brain wiring do not have trouble blocking out extraneous sounds such as traffic sounds, the birds outside, people around us, etc.; however, people with ADD often have trouble blocking these out as a result of their hypersensitivity. The reason for this is most likely the underactivity in their prefrontal cortex.

Organization is a very common problem for people with ADD, specifically issues with projects involving, time, space and long-term projects. Disorganization involving space is what causes the extreme messiness of ADD sufferers, and why they may have trouble keeping things neat even after they have cleaned. It is something that those surrounding individuals with ADD really have a problem with, and often cannot understand or accept. The problems ADD sufferers have with keeping things clean extend to their entire life, especially in the area of long-term planning. Many of them live from crisis to crisis, or from worry to worry. These stimulating events provide the focus that mundane planning does not.

Poor follow through is an extension of the inability to organize, and is also a real burden on an ADD sufferer's life. These individuals have an overabundance of ideas that appear to be very interesting and stimulating at the beginning; however, when the details and preparation come into play that sufferers of ADD have problems. Any interest or passion that requires long-term attention and maintenance will cause them to lose interest, even if it is something they enjoy. This is where counseling and medication may be of help.