ADD and ADHD
I wondered how that in recent years the phenomenon of ADHD has become more and more prevalent and the age is also getting younger.
Could it be that there's something cultural here? Maybe the clip culture where everything happens fast from moment to moment, the internet culture where we're always overloaded with information and with different links, all of the advertisements that shorten our consciousness and many other factors like these have made our attention span shorter and shorter with time?
I predict that the phenomenon will become worse with time. Do you think there's something in this claim and is the cure to give medication to everyone or maybe we should demand a deeper cultural change?
ADHD is not a cultural disorder but rather a disorder in brain functioning. The many cases that have been diagnosed recently are on the one hand a result of better testing, and on the other hand there are more prematurely born children with low birth weights and additional biological factors that are living.
The proof for such is that the prevalence of the disorder in different countries and different cultures is very similar. The treatment of ADHD is a combined treatment using medication and treatment of environmental influences.
Is ADHD something you're born with or does it develop with time? Can the phenomenon develop all of a sudden as an adult when there weren't signs in childhood? Is there a way to cope besides taking tens of medicines for a long period of time?
In most cases, ADHD is a genetic disorder that the person is born with, which is revealed in childhood. According to the International Diagnostic Book, the disorder must appear before seven years of age.
With the accumulation of knowledge of the disorder in adults, it seems that this clause should be changed, and perhaps the disorder can begin later. There is no need for tens of medications. In general, one medicine helps.
If it's true that there are cases where the disorder begins at a later age, what causes this to happen?
As with other genetic illnesses, diabetes for example, the age in which is begins varies. Perhaps, another gene or genes are influencing this disorder. Research on this topic is accelerating and we should hope that in the near future the cure will be found.
What are the most common and effective treatments for learning disabilities and ADHD, besides Ritalin, for adults?
The best treatment for ADHD, also with adults, is Ritalin. Another effective medication is Concerta. Regarding learning disabilities, the treatment is with remedial instruction, according to the disability.
I'm a 27 year old woman, as long as I remember myself, it was hard for me to learn. Just recently I did the TOVA test and I was found to be borderline ADHD. I tried taking Ritalin at times when I needed to learn for a long time, but Ritalin didn't help me. I even felt more energetic, and still, I have trouble concentrating when learning for more than a couple of minutes. I usually do a lot of other activities at the same time. What should I do?
The TOVA test doesn't diagnose ADHD but rather is a tool for the doctor who is conducting the evaluation. We recommend going to a neurologist or psychiatrist who specializes in this field in order to be evaluated and plan treatment.
I heard that there's a test called the TOVA test that is used to diagnose ADHD. What is this test exactly, whom is it intended for, and how effective is it in diagnosing?
How can I know if I have ADHD? Are there home test methods I can use to know if I'm in need of additional evaluation?
The TOVA test is a computerized exam that checks for a disorder in continuous attention. This test is a tool used by the examiner and sometimes contributes to prescribing the appropriate dosage of medicine.
Today, there are computerized tests that check different types of attention and also management ability, in other words, the ability for learning regulation. These tests give a more comprehensive picture that the TOVA test and their reliability is greater as well. There are not at home tests, the diagnosis in any case is a clinical diagnosis made by a specialist doctor.
My son is 30 years old. He has always had ADHD and he's been diagnosed with tens of tests about this issue. My main question is what do we do when he loses his keys, visa, ID card, and more all of the time? Also, his sleep schedule isn't organized. Currently, he works as a computer programmer, with all the problems. How can we help to solve, at least partially, the problem of losing items? Could coaching help at this age, or something else?
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Coaching is certainly an intervention that could be appropriate and could help also in cases like yours. The Nitzan Association trains coaches who specialize in the areas of learning disabilities and ADHD. It's recommended to look for a personal coach who specializes in these fields close to your area of residence.
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As far as I understand, there are cases of problems with vision and focusing that are incorrectly diagnosed as ADHD. Is this routinely checked in evaluations for ADHD?
When checking a suspicion of the presence of ADHD in the visual field, it's most important to conduct a professional differential diagnosis and to verify that it's not a problem with visual focus or vision. Sometimes there is a combination. In order not to err in the diagnosis, the sections that are connected to attention, it's best if a psychiatrist specializing in the area of learning disabilities checks them. An optometrist should check the areas connected to visual focus. Even if some of the symptoms are similar, there are clear differences.
I have ADHD. One of my biggest problems is impulsivity and a short memory span. I would like to know how I could help myself without medication (Ritalin depresses). I would like to learn techniques for self help in order to control my life. This harms all of my connections in life, if this is with a boyfriend or with my parents and friends.
One of the approaches that are appropriate for dealing with the questions you raise is coaching. You are invited to be in touch with the Nitzan Association, who trains coaches who specialize in the areas of learning disabilities and ADHD.
Even though I'm not an expert, but according to what I see, my wife (23 years old) has severe ADHD in her daily life (with a significant negative influence on her academic studies). Among her problems are: difficulty maintaining a fluent conversation and difficulty concentrating on specific tasks. Where can we turn for professional help at this age? A child-psychologist can't help already.
It's recommended to turn to a specialist in ADHD in adults. At the Nitzan Association, you can make an appointment with a psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD among adults and sleep disorders.