Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults is often a hidden and overlooked disorder even among the most skilled clinicians. While professionals believed that children and adolescents would outgrow their symptoms of ADHD by puberty, recent research has shown that as many as 67% of children with ADHD continue to have symptoms as an adult that significantly interfere with education, careers, and relationships. Despite increasing awareness and education, many adults with ADHD remain unidentified and untreated.  The prevailing symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity and emotional ability are often obscured by difficulties with relationships, organization, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, employment, learning disabilities or other comorbid psychological problems.  Although ADHD is a complex disorder to differentially diagnose, it is possible when given a more thorough understanding of the etiology, prevalence, and neurochemistry of ADHD.  An accurate diagnosis is necessary for effective treatment. While there is no cure for ADHD, many adults learn to manage it quite successfully.  For those who struggle with their symptoms, a multimodal approach to treatment is most helpful.  Education is an important first step as self-knowledge is necessary in order to learn coping skills and develop mastery.  Cognitive behavioral interventions often incorporate building a personal structure that is different from previous efforts.  Time management and planning are essential skills that must incorporate a daily planner and task lists.  Taking consistent and reliable actions are day-to-day strategies that not only improve the practical but also heal the grief of broken promises. Many collaborative interventions are also available when therapy calls for additional strategies like Fidget to Focus. Interventions include working memory training, neurofeedback, coaching, meditation, support/training groups, career counseling, and medication.  While adults with ADHD cannot be cured, they can remove the curse of broken promises. Their new lives can be built around the gifts of ADHD, like inspiration, intensity and immediacy.

Click this link to see the powerpoint slides of the talk. ADHD in Adults, Hidden Disorder

1/20/10

The powerpoint presentation Dr. Rotz used at the Education Minnesota Teachers Conference, explaining how activity in our sensory system impacts ADHD and executive functions, is available in the previous post.  The presentation blended with the unveiling of the AlphaBetter Desk or “stand up desk” with the swinging footrest.  The desk, which was originated by Abby Brown, is an outstanding alternative for ADHD children, teens and adults  to allow them to be ADHD invisible in the classroom!  To learn more about the desk, you can contact Dr. Rotz, or go online at www.safco.com or www.standupforlearning.com.

The Education Minnesota Professional Conference is Minnesota’s largest professional development event for educators. This year, Dr. Rotz was the keynote speaker. His presentation was well received by the hundreds of educators there, and at the bookstore Fidget to Focus sold out! For those who are interested, here’s the PowerPoint from his presentation: Fidget to Focus-Sensory System Impact on ADHD Minnesota

Well, the original J. Peterman Company didn’t make it, but it has since been resurrected at JPeterman.com. And the creative entrepenure(s) behind it are still thriving. You can check out the online store or enjoy the same writing, sensibility, and wide-ranging interests at Peterman’s Eye: A Community of Curious Travelers.

If you check out Peterman’s Eye, you will find a wonderful article about the virtues of fidgeting! You can read all about fidget historians, presidential doodles, and new research in the post called Give Fidgeting a Hand. Check it out! And be sure to read all the fidget stories in the comments. They’re great.

In her article from May 25, 2009, Linda writes:

If you’ve got a kid with ADHD, you’ve probably spent countless hours pleading with him to sit still.

Well, stop it.

Fidgeting, as it turns out, helps kids with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder focus. So just like grown-ups need a cup of coffee before tackling a problem, kids with ADHD may tap their feet, swivel in their chairs or bounce in their seats while their brains are busily figuring out that math test.

That’s the conclusion of a groundbreaking study conducted by a team at the University of Central Florida, led by Dr. Mark Rapport.

You can read the rest of the article HERE.

(Thanks, Linda!)

Douglas Cootey (find him here: thesplinteredmind.blogspot.com and here: twitter.com/SplinteredMind) brought it to my attention. He mentioned he used simplynoise.com for focus and serenity. I checked it out and it’s great. Such a cool, simple idea. Try it the next time all the little sounds around you are driving you nuts and distracting you from concentrating. It just kind of erases all those little sounds right off your radar so you’re good to stay on track.

Let us know how it works for you!

The same information was published on 2/25/09 in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/us/25desks.html?emc=eta1

Let us know your thoughts!

The program is live, runs for 1/2 hour and discusses many aspects of Adults with ADHD and Fidget to Focus in particular.  It runs from 9:30 am to 10:00 am EST tomorrow, Wednesday morning Oct. 1.  Listen in if you get a chance.

http://www.med.nyu.edu/psych/assets/adhdscreen18.pdf