ADHD: Don't wait to ask for help

Personal coaching expert and author Nancy Ratey has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dyslexia. She wants students with ADHD to follow her example and create strategies to live full, successful lives.

Researchers estimate 8 million American adults deal with the effects of ADHD, which is said to cause yearly household income losses of $77 billion nationally. Medical experts say that 30 percent to 70 percent of those with ADHD in childhood will have it in adulthood. Many who suffer with it claim the disorder undermines their mental health and erodes their self-confidence.

“I ran the Boston Marathon once,” said Ratey, “and a couple of days afterwards I encountered a challenge and failed at something. I repeated a pattern and became extremely depressed,” she said, describing a common pitfall.

“My husband came in and I said, ‘I haven’t accomplished anything in life. Am I ever going to change?’ He looked at me and said, ‘My God! You just ran the Boston Marathon!’ ”

Administering a reality check brought her back into the game. Also helpful -- Ratey’s husband, Dr. John Ratey, is a nationally known psychiatrist and ADHD author. His latest book, Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most Out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder, was co-authored by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and released in January 2005.

Ratey’s story and temporary lack of confidence illustrate that many successful people struggle with their ADHD traits and still reach their goals.

Dr. Joseph Biederman, pharmacology researcher and professor of psychiatry at Harvard University, found a decreased quality of life in people with ADHD.

“They had higher divorce rates. Substance abuse was more common than in the control group,” Biederman said. He added, “They reported a much lower level of satisfaction with all aspects of their lives. They were less likely to have a positive self-image or to be optimistic.”

According to NIMH, the National Institute of Mental Health, disorders that may accompany ADHD include learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, Tourette syndrome, oppositional defiant disorder and bipolar disorder. ADHD without hyperactivity is known simply as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD.

ADHD is not a new phenomenon. German physician Heinrich Hoffman first wrote about it in 1845. One of his books, The Story of Fidgety Philip, is said to have featured an impulsive boy with ADHD traits.

Today, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by mental health professionals lists abnormal levels of “inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity” as key components of an ADHD diagnosis.

Herbs and special diets have been researched but are still referred to as alternative therapies. NIMH reports that 70 percent of people with ADHD improve when they take controlled prescription medicines such as Adderall and Ritalin. In 2002, drug maker Eli Lilly released Strattera, the first noncontrolled, nonstimulant drug approved to treat ADHD.

Biederman found it striking that only 36 percent of adults in his study said they were taking prescription medication to treat their ADHD. This raises questions about the prevalence of alternative therapies, and about individuals who prefer to self-medicate with narcotics or alcohol.

At an Irving pharmacy, a 30-day supply of time-release Adderall (30mg) costs $118.59. Regardless of medication choices, those in the ADHD treatment field say that a regimen of balanced nutrition, good sleep habits, physical exercise and traditional therapy helps those with ADHD. Personal coaching is another tool used by college students and other adults to design realistic strategies, accept unchangeable traits and leverage ADHD for success.

“The biggest thing is not to wait until you fail. Don’t wait to ask for help,” said Ratey, author of Coaching College Students with ADHD and Tales from the Workplace.

Students with ADHD often start a new session of classes with a lot of enthusiasm, Ratey said. She cautions students to pace themselves, evaluate themselves in week four of the school term and not become what she calls a “three week wonder.”

At North Lake, getting a professional diagnosis and visiting the Disability Services Office is the first step toward getting help.

“No two people are ever the same,” said DSO’s Special Populations Advisor Shelly Foster. “That’s why we do an assessment.”

Accommodations afforded to students under the Americans with Disabilities Act vary. Extra time on tests, use of a private testing room, and use of tape recorders in the classroom are available, Foster said.

North Lake students who suspect they may have ADHD or ADD can visit the Disability Services Office (A-413) or call 972-273-3165 for information. Those concerned can also consult their personal physician or a mental health professional. Students, faculty and staff can find online help through The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (www.add.org).

Ratey urges students with ADHD to take extra steps to ensure their success. “Really knowing yourself and not being afraid to self-advocate are extremely important,” she said.