Resources

Adult ADHD Self-Reporting Scale

If the aforementioned signs and symptoms of ADHD sound familiar or representative of issues you’ve experienced, you may consider checking them against the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom Checklist.

The World Health Organization and the Workgroup on Adult ADHD developed the list, which physicians often use in dialog with patients seeking help for ADHD symptoms. At least six symptoms, in specific degrees of severity, must be verified for an ADHD diagnosis.

The following are a sample of questions from the checklist. Choose one of these five responses for each: Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, or Very Often.

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• “How often do you have difficulty keeping your attention when you are doing boring or repetitive work?”
• “How often do you have difficulty waiting your turn in situations when turn-taking is required?”
• “How often are you distracted by activity or noise around you?”
• “How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?”
• “How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?”
• “How often do you interrupt others when they are busy?”

If you answered “Often” or “Very Often” for several of these questions, consider making an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation.

Adult Attention Span Questionnaire

Although not used for clinical diagnoses, Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, director of the Chesapeake ADHD Center in Maryland, developed a sample Attention Span Test for adults with ADHD.

Rate the following sample statements from Dr. Nadeau’s questionnaire on a scale from 0 (not at all like me) to 3 (just like me):

• “It is hard for me to listen for long periods of time at meetings.”
• “I jump from topic to topic in conversation.”
• “My home and office are cluttered and messy.”
• “I often start reading books but rarely finish them.”
• “I pick up and drop hobbies and interests.”
• “Meal planning is challenging for me.”

A high score on a majority of the questions, combined with experiences of marked difficulty with focus and concentration, may suggest adult ADHD. Make an appointment with your doctor or psychiatrist for a professional diagnosis.

Here are some great places to visit! Many have links to even more places to explore.  Some have free booklets and newsletters you can sign up for with great information.

RI ADDults & RI ADDult Support Group:

http://www.riaddults.org/RIADDults/Welcome.html

Dr. Ned Hallowell: Live A better Life www.drhallowell.com

Dr. Halowell’s Blog  www.drhallowell.com/blog

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (for adults)(ADDA) www.add.org

Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) www.chadd.org

Parent Support Network www.psnri.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Resources  www.addresources.org

ADD Consults www.addconsults.com

ADDvisor www.addvisor.com

ADD Warehouse (800) 233-9273   www.addwarehouse.com

ADDitude Magazine www.ADDitudemag.com

JAN Job Accommodation Network www.askjan.org  (800) 526-7234

Challenges in Diagnosing women with adhd

 

Until recently, adult ADHD was a silent disorder in women that was routinely ignored or misdiagnosed by the educational and medical community. To address the millions of girls and women suffering in silence, the National Center for Girls and Women with AD/HD was founded in 1997 to promote awareness and research on ADHD in women.

Unfortunately, according to the organization, current diagnostic criteria continue to emphasize traits common to boys and leave the majority of girls and women out of the equation. Even when a woman believes she has adult ADHD, very few clinicians are equipped or have the experience or background to diagnose and treat her.

Because there are no specific criteria for treating women, most medical experts continue to rely on standard psychotherapeutic approaches that may provide women with helpful insights into their emotional and personal issues, but often fail to give them the tools and strategies they need to manage the condition on a daily basis and lead a more productive life.

Because so few studies have been conducted on women and ADHD, and women have only recently begun to be diagnosed and treated, most of what we know is based on the clinical experience of mental health professionals who have specialized in treating women. While research on women with adult ADHD still lags behind that of adult males, medical experts are beginning to discover some major differences in their coexisting conditions and symptoms.

Coexisting Conditions and Symptoms of Women

Depression, anxiety, low self-image, compulsive eating, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, and chronic sleep deprivation are just a few of many comorbid conditions that may be present in women with ADHD. While women with ADHD experience the same rates of depression and anxiety disorders as men with ADHD, studies show women also tend to have a higher degree of psychological distress and a lower self-image than men with ADHD.