A Story about AD/HD

A Story about AD/HD

March 26, 2010

You leave English 102, your last class of the day, planning to get a jump on your upcoming projects and assignments. You have a two page English paper on your views of The Lottery, a biology test, a five page art history paper on the symbolic qualities of your favorite 18th century painting, a math 110 lab assignment and a budget draft for economics, all due one week from today.

Friday, April 2.

You get to your apartment but decide to have a snack before getting started. You feel like listening to music will help you focus so you download 50 new songs to your ipod. Then you decide to change your facebook status to “studying,” just so everyone knows you’ll be out of pocket for awhile. You sit down read The Lottery when you remember that you forgot to feed your dog, Brutus. You then call your friend to see how she did on her French test. You start Googling 18th century paintings to figure out which is your favorite when your dog asks to be let outside. On the way back to your computer, you notice the new episode of Jersey Shore coming on MTV and simply can’t resist. You finally sit down to study for your biology test but can’t seem to recall the first note you read; “was it arteries or veins that carry blood to the heart… or capillaries?” You decide to start on your math homework and save the arteries, veins, and capillaries for later. You take a look at the first problem but can’t seem to quit thinking about how great the last Jersey Shore was and how you can’t wait for the next episode.

April 1, 2010

You have a two page English paper on your views of The Lottery, a biology test, a five page art history paper on the symbolic qualities of your favorite 18th century painting, a math 110 lab assignment and a budget draft for economics all due tomorrow and you haven’t so much as chosen your favorite 18th century painting.

While this vignette is a fun and somewhat sarcastic way of describing Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), it is actually strikingly similar to the typical day of an adult with the disorder. If this sounds like a page right out of the story of your life, you may suffer from AD/HD. Individuals with this disorder are often forgetful and easily distracted and have difficulty focusing, organizing tasks or activities, paying attention, listening to instructions, controlling impulsive behavior, sitting still, etc. Because of these difficulties, AD/HD can negatively impact a person’s home and social life as well as academic achievement and job performance.

Although most individuals are somewhat familiar with the existence of AD/HD, many do not realize that the disorder affects not only children, but also adolescents and mature adults. In fact, it is estimated that nearly eight million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with AD/HD (adhd360.com). Undiagnosed, AD/HD in adults can lead to school failure, troubled relationships, and failure to advance in professional settings.

Another thing many people do not realize is that there are several subtypes of this disorder. The type that most people think about, and the one that typically gets noticed, is the Hyperactive – Impulsive Type, as these are the individuals who are overactive, fidgety, talkative, impulsive, and who often exhibit behavioral problems. However, there is also an Inattentive Type of AD/HD that is characterized by difficulty organizing and completing tasks, focusing on details and paying attention to instructions or conversations, etc. Although underlying distractibility and forgetfulness can have a significant impact on daily routines and performance, the absence of behavioral issues frequently causes this subtype of AD/HD to be overlooked. Finally, there is the Combined Type of AD/HD, which presents with a combination of the behavioral and attention deficits from the other two subtypes.

The Neuropsychology Clinic, P.C. in Tuscaloosa, AL. operates a lab that specializes in the diagnosis of AD/HD, learning disabilities and other cognitive difficulties that often affect children, adolescents and mature adults. Using a holistic method of evaluation involving a series of written, verbal and computer-based assessments of cognitive abilities, academic achievement and emotional functioning, as well as information from the medical history and the observations of family members, we can effectively diagnose or rule out the disorders that most commonly affect college-age individuals, including the presence (and subtype) of AD/HD, learning disabilities, and potential underlying emotional problems (e.g. anxiety, depression).

Only with an accurate diagnosis can meaningful and effective interventions be developed. Untreated, AD/HD poses significant difficulties; however, with proper diagnosis, treatment and intervention, the impact of this disorder can be minimized and interventions put in place that will help you realize your full potential.