Attention Deficit Disorder

WHAT IS ADD? DIAGNOSING ADD WHAT ADD Is NOT WHAT'S IN A NAME? HOW THE ADD MIND WORKS RESULTS OF ANALOG VS. DIGITAL THINKING TYPES OF ADD

DIAGNOSING ADD

Because I am a realist, I know that those of us who are ADD need help to func¬tion effectively and live up to our potential in a culture that doesn't fit us. That's why a determination to see how you are wired is in order, so you can understand why you are experiencing difficulties and learn to make the necessary adjust¬ments. But if you are "diagnosed" with ADD, do not believe that there is some¬thing wrong with you. Simply go through the process of diagnosis and then determine how you can best use your wonderful talents, gifts, and style to advan¬tage in a very linear culture.

Few people as yet know how to determine whether people are ADD in a sim¬ple way. If you believe that you or a family member might be ADD, you need to find someone who has made it his or her business to learn about ADD and keeps up with the developments in the field. You need to find someone who has an open, non judgmental perspective on ADD and won't make you feel like there is something wrong with you-someone who values creative, innovative, and unusual ways of doing things.

Often the best diagnostician is someone who is ADD himself or has a child who is ADD. And that person is likely to be working in the field of mental-health or education, such as an educational diagnostician, counselor, psychotherapist, social worker, psychologist, or physician. Recently, teams of professionals have begun to come together to provide the well-rounded diagnostic services desired by people who are ADD.

An in-depth interview (about one to two hours) is usually adequate to determine whether or not you are ADD. Since ADD is present at birth and is genetically passed down through the family, the interview will cover your child¬hood as well as descriptions of relatives, including your parents and children. The diagnostician will ask about your experiences in school and the workplace, your interpersonal relationships, your behavior concerning everything from why you had certain accidents (was it from walking along the edge of the roof?) to your driving record. A brief physical history, including information about your use of addictive substances or tendency toward addictive behavior, is also impor¬tant in determining whether or not you have an ADD brain-wiring style.

Testing really is not necessary. Some people prefer to use this method, though, and you may wish to be evaluated with psychological and educational tests. But if you are tested, be sure that an accurate history is also taken. Testing is a must, however, when there is evidence of an additional condition, such as a possible seizure disorder or other learning difference that the clinician wants to consider in making recommendations for medication and further intervention.

You may end up with a diagnosis of another condition as well as the determi¬nation that you are basically wired in an ADD way. ADD is not a diagnosis of exclusion. It can co-exist with conditions that are emotional and physical.

From your evaluation be sure to get not only a diagnosis but a written report that you can use to help you obtain reasonable accommodation in school and in your job. Finally, you need to be guided to what's next for you. You will want to find out what kinds of training will help you cope with the negative aspects of your ADD. How can you learn to better use your strengths? Is medication some¬thing that might help you and that you want to try?

Above all, stay in charge of yourself while working in partnership with a pro¬fessional. Once you have discovered you are ADD, it will become clear how your creativity or potential for success may have been compromised. You'll find out how you can use ADD to your advantage, while factoring in the effects of ADD that you want to learn to control.

Let's suppose you were diagnosed as a child so you have known about your ADD for a long time. If you were fortunate you were provided with good guid¬ance that helped you learn how to utilize your ADD positively and how to over¬come any problems that it produced. If this is the case, by now you are probably well on your way to being a successful person, ADD and all.

If you were diagnosed as a child but were not helped to overcome your diffi¬culties, or if you learned to feel badly about being ADD, you would do well to be rediagnosed now. New information and advances in working with ADD in addi¬tion to the guidance of people who are ADD will help you gain control of your life. You don't need to keep suffering because of ADD.

Once a determination of ADD is made, medication becomes an option. I've seen miracles with children and adults who suddenly can settle down, think one thought at a time, begin to act in ways that gain acceptance from those around them, and succeed in reaching goals. Unfortunately, I've also seen people who think medication for ADD means providing the "magic bullet" that will instant¬ly cure every problem they've ever faced in life. They are in for a shock.

Medication provides a first step for many people diagnosed with ADD. But it is only one piece of a complex puzzle. Frequently, it buys time to learn management skills such as how to inhibit impulsivity, curb your temper, organize time and materials in ways that fit you, and find your own way of paying attention. Your job is to find your fit as an ADD-wired person in a culture that requires skills other than those that are natural for you. You will learn, given time, to adjust without losing your own identity. For some people, medication can help buy that time.

But under no conditions is medication to be used without training and edu¬cation. I use the words training and education advisedly rather than counseling, which is not useful for ADD. Counseling is, of course, very helpful in dealing with the emotions and trauma that might result from your ADD issues. But to learn to manage the aspects of your ADD that cause you trouble, you will find training and education of greater benefit.

There are many kinds of help available to you. There are training programs that address specific ADD needs and books and workbooks that can help you learn to manage your ADD. And there are many, many support groups throughout the country to keep you updated on resources and provide camaraderie. On-line com¬puter information is available if you are drawn to spend your time with your com¬puter. You might also consider temporary coaching to assist you with the everyday steps and decisions you face. That kind of help can provide you with the oppor¬tunity to learn new ways of working and communicating, in order to get what you need out of life.