These Are the Most Useful Gifts for Adults With ADHD, According to ADHD Experts

Gifts with purpose.

When I was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at 22, I finally made sense of my unique behaviors and thought patterns. For years, I had struggled with remembering simple tasks, rejection sensitivity, and maintaining focus without knowing they were symptoms of something bigger. While having an official diagnosis has helped explain some of my unique quirks, actually managing the symptoms of ADHD has been a battle of its own.

That battle is shared among the nearly 16 million adults in the United States who have ADHD. Some of the most common hurdles for adults with ADHD include “anything that involves multi-step directions or anything that involves not having structure or guidelines,” says ADHD psychotherapist Stephanie Sarkis, PhD. “Executive functions in the frontal lobe of the brain are impaired, and that includes organization, planning, forward thought mood regulation.”

If you have a loved one in your life that has ADHD, you may find yourself trying to brainstorm gift ideas for them as the holidays approach. Thankfully, there are loads of genius products on the market that can make life easier for those of us with ADHD. Read on to check out our favorite gift ideas they’ll love well beyond the holiday season.

Best gifts for ADHD adults, at a glance:

Salton Mug Warmer with LED Light, $20
HoMedics PerfectSteam Deluxe Clothing Steamer, $45
Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker, $28
Bearaby Cotton Napper Weighted Blanket, $199
West Elm The McGarvey Workshop Coat Hooks Mail Holder, $85
Easyplant Self-Watering Plant, $49

Things to consider when buying a gift for someone with ADHD

If you’re looking to find a gift for someone with ADHD that they’ll want to use again and again, quality and function should be at the forefront. Many adults with ADHD (myself included) struggle with disorganization and clutter. When picking out a gift, look for items that add value to your loved one’s space.

Something else to keep in mind is that many adults with ADHD deal with hypersensitivity, anxiety, and rejection-sensitive dysphoria (an extreme emotional sensitivity that can trigger intense feelings of rejection). Psychotherapist, author, and nationally recognized ADHD expert Terry Matlen, LMSW, says that while certain practical gifts (like hiring a cleaning service) may seem thoughtful to you, they may come off as an attack or criticism to someone with ADHD.

For years now, Matlen has chronicled her personal journey as a mom with ADHD for ADDitude, an online media network that educates its readers about the disorder. “You have to be really careful not to give someone a gift that is actually criticizing and undermining their ADHD,” says Matlen. “Be particularly sensitive about what areas the person that you’re buying for might feel hurt. A big piece of ADHD, especially in women, is shame. You don’t want to get them something that will make them feel even more shame.”

Keeping these things in mind, it is possible to give fabulous, practical gifts to loved ones with ADHD. Matlen says to stay focused on useful gifts that inspire hope, and deliver them from a place of love, not condescension.“Look for what appeals to their strengths and their interests and their curiosity and their hope for help, where they’re not going to feel criticized,” says Matlen.

If you’re still stumped on what your loved one with ADHD might like, consider asking them outright, or listing their interests and passions. It’s important to remember that people with ADHD are more than their diagnosis.

“I think it’s important to ask somebody with ADHD what they would like as a gift,” adds Sarkis, “because ADHD is just part of who they are. Not all of who they are.”

Shop 22 useful gifts for adults with ADHD

These Are the Most Useful Gifts for Adults With ADHD, According to ADHD Experts

Salton Coffee Mug Warmer — $20.00

As someone who works from home, I’m embarrassed to admit the amount of times I’ve had to run to and from my microwave just to heat up a cup of coffee I forgot about. Thanks to a coffee mug warmer, your loved one can slowly sip a hot cup all day.

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