Adult ADD Roadtrip – Screen Yourself
ByPeople are becoming more aware of the fact that adults often have ADD/ADHD as well as kids. A recent US based study found that 4.4% of American adults have ADD/ADHD, and many aren’t aware of it.
Shire, the company which produces Adderall and Vyvanse, has developed an awareness campaign which will help adults to ‘self screen’ for the disorder. They have called it the ‘RoADHD Trip’, as they will be traveling to different US cities.
This initiative is including volunteers from the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, who will help to answer questions for the estimated 20,000 adults who will complete a screening questionnaire during this campaign – to try to figure out if they have adult ADD/ADHD.
The news release which describes the program states that they will be going to the following cities:
The events will take in Atlanta, GA; Alpharetta, GA; Raleigh, NC;
Simpsonville, SC; Albany, NY; Nashville, TN; York, PA; Boston, MA; Chicago,
IL; Milwaukee, WI; Taylor, MI; Ionia, MI; and Columbus, OH.
I wanted to let you know that I strongly support this initiative. There are so many adults with ADD or ADHD who don’t know they have it, or they suspect that they do and can’t get the resources or help that they need.
As I write this, I am in a hotel room in San Francisco just before a conference begins. When I was clearing US customs (i.e. entering the US from Canada), the customs officer asked me where I was going. When I mentioned a conference, and ADHD, he actually asked me how he could learn more about it – because he thinks he has adult ADHD and he doesn’t know where to find answers. I took a few minutes to talk to him about it (though not too long – people were waiting to clear customs!).
This is one small example – but there are many more out there. I support this initiative – as we need to help to educate and advocate for people out there who have ADD and ADHD. And as people self screen for the disorder, the volunteers from ADDA will help to educate everyone about this disorder.
To find out more about this, you can visit Shire’s site: ADHD Support. And to see the schedule of their program, click here. To find out more about ADHD in adults, visit ADDA.
What if you can’t get to one of the tour’s sites?
If you suspect that you have adult ADD or ADHD, and you want to screen yourself for it, I suggest that you print this adult ADD screening questionnaire.
I suggest that you don’t read the questionnaire instructions, but rather go right to the questions and fill them out as best you can. (there are only 18 questions)
Then, go back and read the instructions on how to score it.
Whether you score highly or not (or even if you don’t even fill out this questionnaire), if you are concerned about adult ADD or ADHD, I strongly encourage you to talk to your primary care doctor about it and see if he or she can give you some help in finding the right local resources.
Please share your thoughts or comments below.
Dr. Kenny
Technorati Tags: ADHD, ADD, Vyvanse, Adderall, Adult ADD, Adult ADHD
I have a daughter that is ADD so I have high interest in your information and your course. After going through your website and all the links what I find disappointing is that nowhere do you ever reference or mention anything about nutrition or dietary recommendations and exercise which I know from 10 years of research are vitally important components in a ADD treatment program. I believe, in my humble opinion, that you are doing a disservice by focusing on medication. I’m not an altruistic “Mr Natural” organic only person, but a concerned and dedicated father.
Yours truly,
Stewart
I am profoundly grateful that I discovered the webcast and for the information presented that has recharged my batteries to be the advocate for my son. I have visited a CHADD meeting and have began to develope a team and a plan for him that will be focused on his strengths. Thank you so very much.
When an adult starts to tell me all my child needs is discipline, I often chat it up to have often found these become sad revelations of what this very adult experienced. I believe that ADD alters the course of ones life. With early intervention and compassionate guidance, these same people can have empowerment. I have been approached by a number of adults who suspect they struggle with ADD. They tell me this is their suspicion but ever greater their fear.
I intend to roar as I walk the maze to find the tools to help my son. I am learning so much. We need to bring ADD out of the shadows of a mis-understood condition. Part of my plan is to actively solicite through a local editorial an adult ADD mentor/sponcer for my son. The expenses are way beyond my reach, but I believe with all my heart that ask and you will recieve.
Thank you for empowering me.
a lioness mother
erin
namaste
Stewart -
Thank you for your comments.
As a medical doctor, I have focused a fair bit on medications – especially since I get asked so many questions about it.
I do have a few articles about alternatives,and you can find them here:
http://www.addadhdblog.com/category/alternatives-for-adhd/
I have worked on more extensive information on diet and omega 3s, but haven’t had the time to pull that all together yet.
I do intend to focus more on the alternatives in the near future.
Erin – Thank you for sharing your story. It warms my heart to know that the material that I’ve shared has helped you and your son.
Keep up the great work! Keep searching, you’ll find the right resources.
Dr. Kenny
I have just listened to your report on “Finding the Genius in ADHD”.
My 14 yr. old daughter is one of the ones who have a lower IQ. (Not completely impaired, but the testing labeled it “Borderline”.) In addition to being diagnosed with ADD, she also has Epilepsy (Petit Mal and Myoclonic), a Severe Processing Disorder, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalcula, and Memory Rention problems. (She has not been diagnosed as retarded.) What is very difficult about this is to see her and talk to her, you would not know that she has any of these problems. A little bit of delayed vocabulary may be the only thing an adult may pick up on. I’ve been trying to find my way thru the maze of her disabilities to see what helps. I’ve given up on trying to find a medical reason of why she has so many differences. She has been tested several times for many different things. Finding your site gives me more info. on one of them, and some of the information is helpful b/c I have not considered it before. I particulary liked your emphasis on the word Deficite vs. Differences. I believe that I have been one of the ones who have been indoctrinated with the word Deficite to the point that it gave me such a negative outlook on my daughters future, that I had given up at times trying to find something that would help. Like Erin’s comment, you have given me a morsel of hope and it has enabled me to begin the fight again. (Especially in the area of school). I want to find the “Genius” in her. We have not been able to find her nitch yet, and again, I was getting depressed about that.
I realize that she has other challenges, but now I am finding new information about the ADD, and again thank you for it. She is one who cannot take meds for it anymore. We had her on meds thru 5th grade and she was extrememly depressed for years (to the point that she wanted to hurt herself) and experienced on and off chest pains all those years (to the point that we saw 2 cardiologists). When I began to experiment with her off the meds, I found that she was not depressed any more and the chest pains went away. I am not against Meds. and know that they help a tremendous amount of people. They truly did help her with the attention (not with the processing or memory), but the cons outweighted the pros in her case. (The Epilepsy meds. throw a whole new wrench into the gears. ) I was glad to read your comments to Stewart about alternative methods of treatments. I am experimenting with Fish Oils and a product called “Blue Green Algae”. (Ever heard of it?) These 2 methods may help with several of her differences. We have just started 2 weeks ago and am hoping for even a little bit of positive result. I look forward to reading more of your reports.
Jckie
Dr. Kenny,
Thank you for posting this information on your blog. As a long time member of ADDA and a certified ADHD coach, I am honored to be a part of this project as one of the staffers of the stop here in Nashville during the CMA Festival. It will be an exciting time to have such valuable information available to the more than 160,000 folks expected to attend the CMA Fest.
Thanks for all you do to keep us up to date on the happenings in the world of ADHD! I’m really look ing forward to seeing you at the ADDA conference in July.
Shalom,
Dee