by Lenard Adler, M.D.
Putnam, $24.95
Purchase Scattered Minds
Dr. Lenard Adler, director of the Adult ADHD Program at NYU Medical Center, has written a book about ADHD — symptoms, causes, comorbidities, drug therapy, alternative treatments, behavioral interventions — that is as readable as it is comprehensive. There’s a lot to say about each one of these topics, but Adler keeps chapters from getting too long or being stuffed with too much technical information.
I especially appreciate his imaginative analogies, such as his comparison of the ADHD brain to a construction crew assigned to do a job but given a set of defective blueprints.
In assessing how ADHD affects personal finances, Dr. Adler tells us that the loss of income to an ADHD household ranges from $8,900 to $15,400 per year. He recommends workplace accommodations, such as flexible work schedules, detailed deadlines, color-coding files and other materials, and a white-noise machine.
Dr. Adler moves seamlessly from medical information to suggestions for everyday interventions. Scattered Minds: Hope and Help for Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a good introduction to ADHD for the layman, as well as a valuable resource for seasoned mental health professionals.
