ADHD/ADD

· ADD has been described for over 100 yr
· Stimulants have been used for ADD since 1937
· Ritalin was introduced in 1951
· ADD is increasing in the population

· Parents, teachers, partners and friends provide the strongest support system to assist those struggling w/ ADHD/ADD symptoms to become successful in life.

· Estimated 6-10% ADHD or ADD
· Only 2-3% being treated
· ADD remains vastly underdiagnosed, especially, ADD w/o Hyperactivity and in females

· Need effective treatment
· Learn compensation strategies

· Use twice as many medical services
· 35% never finish high school
· 43% undiagnosed ADHD boys arrested
· Up to 50% of prison population have ADD or LD
· 52% of ADD adults abuse substances
· 75% have interpersonal problems

· At least 50% of children w/ ADD have symptoms into adulthood
· Many have never been diagnosed
· For many, ADD leads to serious problems and misdiagnoses

· Colicky baby
· Hyperactive/sensitive
· Often unrecognized in girls
· Symptoms include: short attention span, distractibility, poor handwriting, poor organization, interrupts frequently, underachievement
· Sleep problems/bedwetting

· Job failure/frequent changes
· Multiple relationships
· Multiple moves
· Impulse control problems
· Driving issues
· Excitement seeking
· Sleep problems

· Often unrecognized, hyperness outgrown
· Presents w/ impulse problems: substance abuse, teen pregnancy, runaway, legal problems, wrong crowd, driving problems
· Symptoms include: short attention span, distractibility, poor handwriting, poor organization, interrupts frequently, underachievement
· Sleep problems
· School failure (often leads to depression)

· Genetics
· Brain trauma, especially left frontal lobe
· Prenatal toxic exposure
· Oxygen deprivation
· Brain infections