ADHD in Adults

" I'm Lisa Clark welcome and thanks for joining us for this webcast. It's a common notion that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Is a problem which mostly affects children. But increasingly the syndrome is being recognized and treated in adults as well. A for the next few minutes for going to take a look at how to recognize ADHD and adults. And discuss treatment options that can greatly improve the quality of life for adult patients. Joining us for the discussion to experts in ADHD. We have doctor Patricia Quinn -- developmental pediatrician in private practice in Washington DC welcome. And also doctor Peter Jensen who is a professor of child psychiatry at Columbia university in New York. Common is ADHD in the adult population. Well although no very good epidemiological studies have been done. We know that it probably that they about two to 4% of adults and we know that about. 50%. Of children diagnosed with a disorder grow up to be adults who still have symptoms of the disorder. So it's still pretty common in the adult population -- was it possible to develop ADHD later in life as the result of any. Exposures to chemicals or accidents or anything like that -- it's acidic at condition that has always existed from childhood."

" What we do know that some people do develop secondary aviation chief for example to head trauma room. We do know that led at least in children can precipitate 88 she symptoms and and the syndrome pursuing. So we have to be open that possibility home. Certainly. Head trauma auto accidents are one clear cause we don't think they usually as an adult onset or an adolescent onset disorder we usually look forward starting. In the early childhood years."

" How do you diagnosed ADHD and adults what do you look for looking for well it's a historical diagnosis justice in children. So we do need to ask the adult symptoms of the disorder in attentiveness. Difficulty. Getting worked on procrastination and organization problems. But we also need to ask their spouses or significant others those questions as well as their parents if they're available. When I diagnosed adults that they DD I also asked forty report card than my calf when your child so I can document to look at their report card than those notes that teachers write a report card we also look for job evaluations of the person -- share them with us. This supervises may have talked about the fact that they can't get anything he ended in on time when they may have performance difficulties as an adult. So there are lots of clues we don't just take the adults word for it and there are lots of clues that we can look for. In the environment of the person that leads us to believe that they do have problems. In the spheres of attention an organization in distract ability and hyperactivity that are affecting their functioning as an adult and who talked to Johnson wanna ask. Is -- resistance factor in adults to being classified with ADHD because it may be perceived as a childhood disorder. But I have."

" I've noted that crusade until tomorrow resistant to it that there's more resistance in the medical community actually really -- frequently do word hasn't gotten out. That this syndrome can and does indeed for many children persist into adulthood -- and so the old notion that was bandied about twenty years ago that's what we used to teach and that it -- Basically you got over it. Well it wasn't just that and one and one necessarily so I'd say. So adult however wofford's authenticate they'll learn about it no wonder -- come in and asked that question could this be applicable to me."

" If you do have a diagnosis of adult ADHD what is the treatment options. The treatment options are very much the same as in children medication is very effective in adults with ADD as well. I'm used to be thought that you outgrew the medication at a certain age we now know that it's about. I'm 75. -- percent effective in adults -- about 90% effective in children still lots of treatment options. Health education. Doctor Jensen was saying is very important reading about the disorder. The other piece we find an adults -- was also some Psycho social changes that they can make. And interventions. I'm really getting counseling along certain areas career counseling is very important and really creating for yourself as an adult and ADD friendly environments. Choose only friends who are willing to accept your ADD -- working with your spouse working with employers getting accommodations choosing the right career there are lots of things adults can do and I actually find adult. I'm more hopeful when they get the diagnosis because now they know there's something they can do about this problem that they've been experiencing for a long time now some of the medications are the same are there. Additional medications that adults might be given in this case."

" Well we I -- he is well -- for example one of the medications commonly used on adults but in actual fact it also works well and children okay there's no Madison actually that we haven't tested in children that we have and also president also works at this point. -- reasonably well. So there's no that we can point to and say it works here but it doesn't repair could point you need."

" stimulus is still the treatment of choice and adults a lot of people have that misconception aha but they are still the preferred treatment for adult ADHD because they tried to the brain chemistry absolutely in the way that they're very affected. Sometimes with adults you find that they have."

" Other problems that -- kind of added on to win an aviation may have led to problems with anxiety or depression even substance use. And so it's about getting those things into account in the news other medicines as well. In addition to -- in aviation that sometimes might create the illusion that -- don't ADHD has a different treatment it doesn't but it has other problems that sometimes come along."

" Ask your question if you're a parent it's one thing to be making a medical decision for your child and and seeking treatment for your child but if your spouse. Significant other or sibling of an adult and you suspect they had ADHD and they're not too sure they wanna go there -- advice for people in that situation."

" Well I think patients -- May be planning a -- planning a book in the right place and I've bringing other people might be trusted parties into the maybe kind of provide information -- discussion. Self disclosure on the part of other people who might be a friend who might actually have similar problems didn't think there is fear about stigma been identified and certainly no one wants to have something pushed at them into I think probably the first -- but think of -- is patient."

" Its -- any final thoughts on how adults should go about seeking treatment for themselves. A lot of adult there just aren't very -- well versed in this disorder in treating the disorder in adults so. I usually recommend that a lot of adult seek out child psychiatrist like doctor Jensen who were willing to treat adolescents and adults and young adults because. They are better educated on the ADHD field. And the treatments and so that I usually recommend they seek out someone who's experienced. -- in this area and that's usually a child psychiatrist on an adult psychiatrist women with ADHD tend to often be misdiagnosed. By adult therapist is having bipolar disorder rather than -- that's a very interesting point and something that our audience should be aware of well thank you both for all the information it's very helpful to us and to you we hope thank you for joining us I'm Lisa Clark."