You are most certainly not alone!  People with ADD are often distracted during sex.  Don't start to doubt your own attractiveness just because he's distracted (the distraction isn't personal - it's in his brain wiring).  As you are together longer, you may find he is somewhat generally distracted from you, as well.  Again, don't take it personally - ADD and distraction go hand in hand - but do work on figuring out how to get around the distraction.  You do want to work out a system whereby when you feel he is getting distracted you can signal him that you need/want him to refocus...

As for the sex...Try changing the duration of your sexual encounters - for example, "rush" through things once in a while, or make it so that you are only paying attention to him, not him to you.  Perhaps this will allow you to get the pleasure of his orgasm sometimes, and when he doesn't come during longer sessions you won't be as concerned.

Does music help him focus?  Or mirrors?  The former helps many kids focus more clearly while studying...the latter might remind him what he's doing when he gets distracted (looks up, sees the two of you, which refocuses him...)

Also, try new things when you can.  Newness has a way of focusing the mind...perhaps some toys or videos, different types of foreplay, locations, clothing, watching each other masturbate...????  Talk with him about his fantasies, tell him yours...

If you want to be really clinical about it, perhaps you can take note of whether there are patterns to when he loses focus - certain things that take too long, or perhaps after a certain amount of time from initiation (i.e. he has an attention span of 35 minutes or something, then needs to wander...)

Perhaps others have some ideas?

Melissa Orlov

I too have a husband that I believe has ADD. Although he has not been diagnosed, I am certain that he is. I've read almost all of the comments in this blog and he's done exactly everything you women are experiencing. He makes promises to pay more attention, even during sex but he still gets distracted. I'm not big on taking meds so I wouldn't dare ask him to medicate himself, so, I came up with some strategies that helps us and maybe it can help you. First, as you already know, communication is the essential key of it all and the willingness on his part to comply. Sticky notes work wonders (E-mails too). I place sticky notes in places where I know he will read them, etc. I found that it even helps me as well. I don't make his things-to-do list strenuous because I know I will just find him sitting around doing nothing and he will tell me a quick lie in a minute just to get me out of his face (Nagging) but I don't. I had to learn patience with him but be firm. I don't beg anymore I demand. These men are not children and if they can hyper focus on the things they love they can hyper focus on working on their issues. Now how can this be done? What are the things that interest your husband the most but causes hi to get caught up in the moment when nothing else matters? Set a limit on it! Collecting old movies over the internet is what wires my husband and he can do this for hours on end. So, we both agreed that he can search the internet on Fridays for his movie collecting hobby and the rest of the week is for simple stuff like checking email, weather, sports highlights. I also try to involve myself in the things that interest him and I partake in it so that he doesn't feel that he has to totally disregard them. We make sure we plan and write down what we expect from eachother on the weekends since he's off on those days. I leave sticky notes on what I need him to do for that day and I make sure he does those things before he engages in anything else (because PROCRASTNATER should have been his birth name)! As far as the low desire for intimacy, I found out that he is really into "dirty talk" while in the act so I make sure I do lots of it and Oh Boy does that help!...So, if "dirty talk" is what turns him on I make sure I "talk dirty" all night long!! LOL! He's also into role play, so I go out and buy sexy outfits (I encourage him to do this as well, so that he can get to choose what he wants to see me in). I also have found a way for him to initiate sex since I was the one who always initiated it which can get very frustrating at times. So, I sat him down and explained to him how often I would like to have sex. For example, I'm a woman with needs at least every 4 to 5 days so I tell him to keep track of the last time we were intimate. If we have sex Monday, he knows around Friday or Saturday I'm ready again!!! If I want it sooner, we've come up with ways to give him ques. For example, when he comes home from work, I'll be wearing nothing but stiletto heels and my birthday suit or when we're in bed I'll begin to start without him right in front of him...( if you know what I mean) he really gets the point then, for some reason men love it! I personally don't care for it but as long as it's not degrading or sacrificing my dignity I do what it takes to keep it funky in the bedroom. My point is ladies, there is hope if you combine it with a lot of communication, creativity, and of course PRAYER!!! How will you ever figure it out if you don't pray and ask GOD to teach you what needs to be done concerning your marriage. He knows what you're going thru and He put you their with your husband for a reason. GOD knew it would take a strong woman to deal with a man of such caliber and only a strong woman can conquer this challenge and what a CHALLENGE it is!!! Get on those knees ladies and PUSH...Pray Until Something Happens!!! God Bless, StrongWomanInControl

I am a sexuality educator who also has ADHD, so I am painfully familiar with this issue! I recently wrote a blog entry which lists 12 Tips for Staying Focused during sex. It is directed toward the AD/HD person, and many of the tips won't work for everyone, but perhaps you or your husband might find something useful? http://embodiedsexuality.blogspot.com/2008/08/staying-focused-during-sex... (I hope it is ok to give a link to another blog in a comment--if not, feel free to delete!)

THIS IS ME!!!!!!

My husband thought I didn't love him anymore.  I wanted sex.....but it wasn't fun because my mind was inundated with CRAP that meant nothing.  So, I avoided it.

I had no idea it was ADD.  Got diagnosed, got meds............now, we keep it novel.  Never the same thing twice in a row.  Different room, different position, different mood, sensual, dirty talking, text msgs, you name it.  And it is awesomely better for us both.  I don't feel so frustrated that he's aroused and I'm not even starting to heat up yet.  I hated that!  Or there was a noise, the dog moved, etc. etc. etc. that would simply render me so distracted that I was done.

Granted, it's much easier when we have daytime opportunity cuz the meds help a LOT!  But being able to stick to my diet and loosing 10lbs in the last 5 weeks has helped my view of myself greatly.  It's hard to think that someone wants you or thinks you are sexy when all you focus on is the things you don't like.  Working on some other self esteem issues has helped as well.

It's not a cure.  I'm not perfect -- and never will be.  But, I can say this -- our sex life is important and we weren't treating it that way and it suffered even more drastically because of my ADD.  It is more important than dirty dishes or watching tv......and when we treat it that way, it really is a good thing. 

Hope this helps someone :)  It helped me!