Carole Jacobs - The Everything Health Guide to Adult ADD/ADHD: Expert advice to find the right diagnosis, evaluation and treatment

THE
EVERYTHING
HEALTH GUIDE TO
ADULT ADD/ADHD

Dear Reader,

Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects the lives of millions of adults. We hope you will find this book a helpful and informative resource, whether you are an ADHD adult yourself, know someone who is, or are curious to learn more about the disorder.

Although no one knows exactly what causes adult ADHD and there is currently no cure, rapid advances in technology are leading to more effective diagnostic and treatment modalities.

Unfortunately, only a small percentage of adults with ADHD are ever diagnosed and treated because diagnostic criteria for adults are based on childhood ADHD symptoms. Because of this, many untreated adults believe their adult ADHD symptoms are personal flaws. Fortunately, researchers are currently pushing for the creation of adult ADHD criteria that would greatly facilitate the diagnosis of adult ADHD.

Today, most ADHD adults who receive appropriate treatment lead happy, productive lives. In fact, many ADHD adults have achieved great fame and fortune and made lasting contributions to society.

Hopefully, this guide will inform and inspire ADHD adults and their loved ones about a wide range of issues regarding the disorder and affect their lives in a positive way.

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THE
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THE
EVERYTHING
HEALTH GUIDE TO
ADULT
ADD/ADHD

Expert advice to find the right
diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment

Carole Jacobs and Isadore Wendel, PhD, MSCP
Foreword by Theresa Cerulli, MD

Copyright 2010 by F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

An Everything Series Book. Everything and everything.com are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.

Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
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ISBN 10: 1-60550-999-X
ISBN 13: 978-1-60550-999-0
eISBN: 978-1-4405-0000-8
Printed in the United States of America.

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is available from the publisher.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

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Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

The EverythingHealth Guide to Adult ADD/ADHD is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. In light of the complex, individual, and specific nature of health problems, this book is not intended to replace professional medical advice. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions in this book are intended to supplement, not replace, the advice of a trained medical professional. Consult your physician before adopting the suggestions in this book, as well as about any condition that may require diagnosis or medical attention. The author and publisher disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this book.

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.

All the examples and dialogues used in this book are fictional, and have been created by the author to illustrate medical situations.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Katrina Schroeder at Adams Media, Robert G. DiForio at D4E0 Literary Agency, and attorney Tim Whisman for his expertise on Social Security Disability Insurance for ADHD adults. Thanks also to psychologist Harold Burke, PhD, MSCP, for his expertise on neurofeedback.

Contents

Foreword

There are more than 8 million adults in the United States who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but only 10 to 15 percent of them have been diagnosed and treated. Despite media accounts to the contrary, ADHD is still significantly underdiagnosed in both children and adults. The heartbreaking result of this neglect is that we are missing the opportunity to help millions of people suffering from this very treatable condition.

The EverythingHealth Guide to Adult ADD/ADHD provides something for everyone. You may have a friend or family member who has been diagnosed with ADHD, you may have ADHD yourself, or you may be questioning whether the symptoms you struggle with daily are due to undiagnosed ADHD. You may simply be drawn to this fascinating glimpse of how the brain works to focus, pay attention, organize, file, and store information.

I feel privileged to work in neuropsychiatry, a field that is growing rapidly as science uncovers the mysteries of the mind. I have been specializing in ADHD for more than ten years, and continue to be amazed at how much new information has surfaced in this relatively short span of time. As you read this book, Carole Jacobs and Isadore Wendel will take you on a remarkable journey to understanding ADHDwhere we began, the state of todays science, and where we are going.

What is ADHD? The name of this condition has changed over the years, and so has the way we define it. ADHD is the most common neurobiological childhood condition. It affects 7 percent of school-age children worldwide and 4 percent of adults. It is strongly geneticmore easily inherited than breast cancer, asthma, and even schizophrenia. The heritability factor for ADHD is .77, which means if you have been diagnosed with ADHD there is a 77 percent chance you have the condition simply because you inherited it. The days of blaming bad parenting for a medical condition are hopefully numbered.