Attention Deficit Disorder

RBI staff diagnoses and treats conditions such as attention-deficit disorder, ADD/ADHD.

Children: The basic categories of symptoms in children are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, often referred to as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Does your child have ADHD? Download the latest child behavioral tools via this UTHSC link.

ADULTS & ADOLESCENTS: Scroll down and use the helpful tool at the bottom of this page that is more designed for you.

People are increasingly referring to the adult form of the disorder as ADD, because symptoms of hyperactivity (the "H" in ADHD) tend to diminish with age, often taking the form of restlessness or irritability, fidgetiness and difficulty engaging in quiet activities. However, ADHD and ADD can apply to both children and adults, and many variants of the disorder exists requiring an experienced professional's assessment and treatment inclusive of counseling and medication.

Until the 1970s, it was believed that ADHD was strictly a childhood disorder, and that children outgrew it in adolescence. Only gradually was it realized that while the hyperactivity component may diminish, the attention and impulsive aspects can persist into adulthood.

Symptoms commonly associated with Adult ADD include: lack of focus, disorganization, restlessness, difficulty finishing projects, losing things.

These symptoms interfere with success at work and get in the way at home or with friends. Many adults do not realize that they have Adult ADD until their own child is diagnosed with the disorder.

Only then do they recognize the pattern of problems they have faced since childhood. They are relieved that there is a name for the frustration they have felt all their lives, and there are therapies and treatments designed to help.

Recognizing Adult ADD

Fidgeting, interrupting conversations, losing things, forgetting the reason for a trip to the grocery store - everyone acts this way once in a while; however, a long and persistent history of restless, impulsive, or inattentive behavior may be a sign of Adult ADD. This is especially true if these behaviors have existed since childhood and result in problems at work, home or in social situations.

If you think you may have Adult ADD, here are several questions you may want to ask yourself.

Ask yourself these questions and think about how long you have experienced these symptoms and how often they occur. If these symptoms are interfering with your success at home, work or with friends, you may want a clinical evaluation and treatment.

• Do you have difficulty concentrating or focusing your attention on one thing?
• Do you often start multiple projects at the same time, but rarely finish them?
• Do you have trouble with organization?
• Do you procrastinate on projects that take a lot of attention to detail?
• Do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
• Do you have trouble staying seated during meetings or other activities?
• Are you restless or fidgety?
• Do you often lose or misplace things?

Current Adult ADD treatment practices focus on management of symptoms through a combination of treatment methods: behavior modification (including coaching and therapy); medication; and combination therapy (medication and behavior therapy).

Treatment should be individualized for each patient and has three basic stages:

• Baseline evaluation: As part of the diagnostic evaluation, your Psychiatric ARNP determines the target symptoms and the baseline degree of impairment.
• Treatment strategy: The Psychiatric ARNP forms a treatment strategy by prioritizing the target symptoms and determining which methods are best suited to reduce them.
• Symptom monitoring and strategy adjustment:A key part of Adult ADD treatment is monitoring of symptoms in various areas (such as learning, academics, family interactions, and peer relationships) and settings (such as home, workplace, social context).

Recognizing Adult ADD