New Page 1

The Journal News, 10/12/04

ADULT ADHD: KIDS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES

by Joy Victory

If attorney Robert Tudisco tries to do paperwork without taking his medication, chaos ensues. "When I'm sitting there behind that desk, it's like drinking 50 cups of coffee before doing a report," says Tudisco, an Eastchester resident who has attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder.

Tudisco represents the lesser-known group with ADHD: adults.

For years, mental health experts were not sure if the disorder continued into adulthood. But the steadily increasing flow of adults seeking help for ADHD-like symptoms is strong evidence that it can be a lifelong condition for some people, says Rafael Klorman, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Rochester.

In children, ADHD makes it difficult to concentrate. They may feel perpetually restless, talk excessively or fail to finish tasks like homework. Although adults don't struggle with grades or sitting still in their school desk, they do have a different set of more grown-up problems to deal with, such as reckless or distracted driving, paying bills on time or forgetting important meetings or events.

In some ways, ADHD is more dangerous for teenagers and adults. Several studies have shown an increased likelihood of driving mishaps, criminal behavior and unintended pregnancies. They also are less likely to attend college.

"Research has demonstrated consistently that children diagnosed with ADHD have fewer years of education than their peers," Klorman says. "As perhaps a consequence, the kinds of jobs they end up getting are of lower prestige and earning potential."

Of course, not every child with ADHD grows up to have these problems. Many people, like Tudisco, develop coping strategies or find a way to make their ADHD work for them. Tudisco says he became a lawyer because he is a fast-thinker, making him a skilled at debates.

Tudisco, who is 39, was diagnosed five years ago. He was able to cope with his symptoms until a few years after law school, when he began his private practice after working for a hectic district attorney's office.

"It was like hitting a brick wall," he says. But he was relieved to have a name for his problem.

"As a kid, I struggled through school. The nuns said I was 'smart but careless, fidgety, lazy.' I knew there was a lot more going on behind my eyes that I got credit for," he says.

Many adults aren't diagnosed until they become parents of children with ADHD, says Barbara Flye, associate professor of psychology in the clinical psychiatry department at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in White Plains.

"The mother or father will say, 'You know, I was like that as a kid,' " Flye says.

For children with ADHD, doctors may recommend behavioral and/or pharmaceutical treatment. The most commonly prescribed ADHD drugs have strong stimulant properties, like Ritalin, while others have antidepressant effects.

Psychiatrist David Goodman says the stimulant drugs seem to be most effective for adults, although it may take a combination of drugs -- many ADHD sufferers also have severe depression or anxiety.

For parents with ADHD, treatment is especially crucial, says Goodman, director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland.

"It's really difficult to treat a child when one of the parents has it," he says, noting that a parent with ADHD who isn't treated may be too distracted to properly care for his or her child.

Tudisco, who credits long-distance running for helping him relieve stress and stay mentally alert, now writes regular columns for Attention, the magazine of the organization CHADD, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

His frequent message?

"The trick is to understand your strengths and weaknesses, and then to learn to dance around your weaknesses."

Copyright 2003 The Journal News

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADHD's effects in adults and children:

-- Difficulty listening or being constantly distracted.

-- Struggling to follow through on instructions.

-- Difficulty with organization.

-- Avoiding tasks requiring sustained mental effort.

-- Losing things.

-- Excessive fidgeting or squirming.

-- Running or climbing excessively.

-- Talking excessively.

-- Interrupting or intruding upon others.

In adults ADHD can cause:

-- Inconsistent performance in jobs or careers; losing or quitting jobs frequently.

-- A history of academic or career underachievement.

-- Poor ability to manage day-to-day responsibilities.

-- Relationship problems due to not completing tasks, forgetting important things or getting upset easily over minor things.

-- Chronic stress and worry due to failure to accomplish goals and meet responsibilities.

-- Chronic and intense feelings of frustration, guilt or blame.

Source: CHADD's National Resource Center on ADHD

Community Events | Q & A Board | Contact Us | Glossary | Medications