 |
|
|
The
Manhattan Adult ADD Support Group |
We Offer Support
& Information To Adults
In NYC
And The Surrounding Communities
With ADD/ADHD
We Are Not
"Lazy, Crazy, Or Stupid" |
| |
| |
ADD In The News |
| |
Chicago Tribune, 11/20/05
ATTENTION!
ADULTS WITH ADD TURN TO NON-DRUG TREATMENTS
TO HELP THEM STAY FOCUSED
by Julie Deardorff
When Charles Ryder was finally diagnosed with adult attention-deficit
disorder at age 25, his doctor immediately started him on the medication
Strattera. For the first time since childhood, Ryder's focus partially
improved .
But Ryder didn't feel like himself when he took the drug. He also hated
putting a chemical into his body, especially one that now comes with
federal warnings about increased suicide risk in younger populations.
In his quest for a holistic alternative, Ryder tapped into the burgeoning
market on the Internet of largely unproven non-drug treatments for ADD,
therapies that range from special diets and supplements to biofeedback and
spending time in nature. Now, every six weeks, the father of two girls
drives seven hours from his home in Traverse City, Mich., to a Dore
Achievement Center in Schaumburg, where he learns simple balance and
coordination exercises designed to stimulate part of his brain.
"I definitely notice a difference," said Ryder, who sees too much of
himself in his easily distracted 4-year-old daughter and will likely start
her on the Dore program. "I used to feel like I was always in my own
world. My mind was always in so many other places. I didn't know if I was
stupid or what the problem was, because I could excel in other things."
Untreated, ADD's hallmark symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and
inattention can have serious consequences. Studies have shown it doubles
the chances of being arrested, divorced and to have held six jobs or more
in any 10-year span. Untreated ADD also has been shown to affect
self-image and hurt on-the-job performance.
Psychostimulant medications, in conjunction with behavioral therapy, are
considered the most effective way to treat ADHD, largely because drug
companies have the money to fund clinical trials. However, not only are
the long-term effects of medication unknown, but the most common one,
methylphenidate (Ritalin), is in the same class as cocaine, morphine and
amphetamines, all drugs that carry the potential for abuse.
But now there's no shortage of complimentary or alternative treatment
methods that can be used either in conjunction with drugs or on their own.
Most alternative ADD therapies offer only anecdotal, rather than
scientific, evidence of success. But experts say a good rule of thumb is
if it's safe, you believe in it and it's good for you anyway, it's worth
exploring.
"Just because it hasn't been in a [rigorously controlled] study doesn't
mean it's worthless," said Edward Hallowell, who discusses alternative
treatments for adults in "Delivered From Distraction" (Ballantine Books,
$25.95). "On the other hand, you have to watch out for inflated claims.
People have turned ADD into a little industry."
Enduring controversies such as the effect of sugar on behavior in
children, the use of electroencephalography (EEG) biofeedback and the
efficacy of eliminating artificial food additives, colors and/or
preservatives have been well studied. But they lack support as effective
sole treatments for ADD, according to a published study by researchers
Neal Rojas and Eugenia Chan at Children's Hospital in Boston.
But the researchers also found that early evidence for therapies such as
essential fatty acid supplementation, yoga, massage, homeopathy and green
outdoor spaces "suggests potential benefits as part of an overall ADHD
treatment plan."
Chicago social worker Laurie Walsh believes the best core treatment is
"individual and group support, diet, exercise, medication and counseling.
If one falls down you have four other areas to hold you up," she said.
Copyright 2005 Chicago Tribune
--------------------------------------
THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE ADD?
Everyone fidgets, lacks concentration and has impulsive outbursts at some
point in life. So how do you know whether you're suffering from a case of
modern life or attention-deficit disorder? There is no definitive test.
But the Adult Self-Report Scale, or ASRS, is a screening tool that was
developed in conjunction with the World Health Organization. Experts have
found that 80 percent of the people who score positive on the ASRS will
have ADD when a full evaluation is done.
These six questions will not tell you whether you have ADD, and beware of
any written test that promises a diagnosis. But if you find yourself
answering "sometimes" or "often" to at least four questions, it's a sign
to consult your health-care provider.
1. How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final detail of a
project, once the challenging parts have been done?
2. How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have
to do a task that requires organization?
3. How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
4. When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you
avoid or delay getting started?
5. How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands and feet when you
have to sit down for a long time?
6. How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, as if
you were driven by a motor?
--------------------------------------
SOME TREATMENT OFFER BENEFITS THAT ARE DOUBTFUL
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the following treatments
for ADD have no proof to support them as viable options:
-- Optometric vision training (asserts that faulty eye movement and
sensitivities cause behavior problems) .
-- Megavitamins and mineral supplements.
-- Anti-motion-sickness medication (to treat the inner ear).
-- Treatment for candida yeast infection.
-- EEG biofeedback (training to increase brain-wave activity).
-- Applied kinesiology (realigning bones in the skull). |
|
Home Page |
Preceding Article > |
Mailing List
|
Contact Us
|
|