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ADULT ADD

Back in the 1960's when I first started working with ADHD and ADD, and continuing on into the 1970's, I used to tell parents that if they would just be patient, their child would outgrow ADD or ADHD by puberty. That was what all the experts were teaching at that time. The thinking was that there didn't seem to be as many hyperactive adults as there were kids. Therefore, the kids must be "outgrowing" it.

It turns out that was far from the truth. It was a true observation there were not as many hyperactive adults. It turns out that because hyperactivity is not socially acceptable, many adults learned to control the outward signs of hyperactivity. Rather than squirming and fidgiting, an adult might feel an inner restlessness. He or she might feel like everything inside is moving too fast. Many adults with ADD find it very difficult to sit still without doing something.

Most of the studies show that about 40 % of kids with ADD/ADHD get a lot better or lose their symptoms of ADD/ADHD by the time they become adults. That means 60% still have significant symptoms into adult life. As mentioned earlier, the outward hyperactivity often goes away, but the inattention and impulsivity persist.

Some newer studies show the following:

• 38% of kids with ADHD will continue with all of their symptoms at age 19.
• 72% will continue with one-third of their symptoms into adulthood
• 90% of the adults who had ADHD as a child continue to have significant impairment

What are the results of not treating these adults?

How do adults come to be diagnosed?

Most adults suspect that they have ADD after their child is diagnosed. They start looking at all the symptoms they are checking off for their child. Then it hits them. They exclaim "Those are the exact same symptoms I have. I must have ADD also. Maybe that explains why I struggled so much in school--and why I can't keep a job very long."

Some other adults are going along fine in their regular job. Then the company decides they need to go for further training(to school). It's impossible for them to do well in the training or school, so they seek help.

Still others see a TV program or read something on the Internet or in the paper. From this they suspect that they have ADD.

Can adults be treated and helped?

Most definitely! They first require an evaluation by a physician. This includes filling out forms--very similar to those filled out for kids. It is helpful if the adults spouse or significant other, parents, boss, and close friend/s also fill out a rating scale.

TESTING FOR ADULT ADD

Adult ADD is really the same as ADD/ADHD in kids and teens. As a matter of fact, in order to be diagnosed with Adult ADD, the patient must have also had ADD/ADHD as a child. In many cases, this was not diagnosed in childhood, but if you go back and take a careful history from the patient and their family, you will find that the symptoms and signs are all there.

The actual testing for ADD in Adults is rather new--only widespread in the last few years. All of the "official" criteria, as set forth in the DSM-IV are worded for children. They must be interpreted for adults.

Testing in adults is further complicated by the following:

• As is true in kids, there is no single physical, laboratory, xray, or MRI finding which is diagnostic of ADD in Adults
• There are a number of "comorbid" (co-existing) conditions which complicate Adult ADD and often overlap with it.

Adult Symptoms vs. Childhood Symptoms

As a Child grows into adulthood, the childhood symptoms merge into new, but related adult symptoms. The change in depicted in the following table(Adapted from L. Adler and J. Cohen):

Click Below for Adult Behavior Rating Scales:

If you have any comments of ideas of things that would really help you, email me at:

DrJerry@ADHDStrategies.com

I want to help you "be the best person you can be"

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Jerry Rodgers, M.D.