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Intro to ADD      Understanding ADD        Adult ADD      ADD in Children

ADD Test       Organizations & Treatments     Coping Skills     Coping Tips

Related Disorders          Other ADD Resources           Latest ADD News


symptoms to deal with, their own copying skill sets and their own treatment options that work best for them in their environments.

To begin, here are some of the popular components used in ADD treatment strategies. They are listed in no particular order of importance:

• Information and education about ADD

• Testing and consultations with health care professionals

• Support network, groups, counseling, coaching  

• Medication

• Behavioral, Educational and career coping skills development

• Dedication, persistence and elbow grease

• Available educational or workplace assistance

In all, a combination long-term program of many of the above is highly recommended for optimal treatment strategy. Here is a look in detail at each of the treatments above. In all, a combination long-term program of many of the above is highly recommended for optimal treatment strategy. Here is a look in detail at each of the treatments above.

Information and Education About ADD

First and foremost, gather all the information you can about ADD and file it in one place; one drawer or cabinet. Ask your local librarian for books, videos, cassettes, magazine articles, local meetings and anything else that can help you learn more about ADD. Conduct online searches for helpful websites with ADD ebooks, ezines, organizations, forums, message boards, workshops and more. Bookmark them, sign up for their ezine or online newsletters and check back for updates, news, informative articles, and other treatment tips. Network with your friends, healthcare providers, and others to share information and learn from each other, also.

Testing and Consultations with Healthcare Professionals

Often upon learning and finding out more about the ADD diagnosis, many are better able to tackle treatment plans. It’s getting over that “scary” not knowing part first. So check with your own local healthcare network and educational advisers for help finding professionals to test for ADD. For other places to turn, check out the Yellow Pages under listings for: neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists. You can also check with local clinics, recommendations from family and ADD friends’ physicians, children’s pediatricians, your local branch of the Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CH.A.D.D.) group, physician and psychologist referral services, local colleges or universities with medical departments and your favorite online search engine – key in "ADHD (large city in your area)" and "ADHD (your state)" for starters. For additional help, the National ADHD Directory lists over 600 professionals and is available online via this group:

Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
223 Tacoma Ave S #100
Tacoma, WA 98402

Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m–2:30 p.m.

Phone 253.759.5085
E-Mail office@addresources.org

At this time, basic listings are free for all. Expanded listings carry annual fee rates.

QUESTIONS:

Here are some basic questions to ask when you are trying to learn more about ADD. Keep a journal and take notes about each place you call for information so that you’ll have good records to refer back to when making choices.

1. Can you test for ADHD? If “yes”, what portion is covered with my health insurance and/or do you have sliding scale fees (these are generally based upon income)? If “no”, ask for recommendations/ referrals that may be covered or call your insurance company for referrals.

2. Is ADD is large part of your practice? And how experienced is the person I would be working with in successful ADD treatment? (Key is to look for someone with successful experience).

3. Briefly describe your testing procedures.

4. Briefly share some of your recent history of your current treatments that are working successfully with ADHD - in adults (or “in children” depending upon your need).

5. What type of treatments do you have available? (Key is to make sure there are options to personalize what works for your lifestyle, and not a one-size-fits-all approach.) And can you mail out some information about them?

A. Check timing and costs (especially medications) to make sure their options fit into your schedule and budget

B. If medications are involved, make sure someone has authority to prescribe, as psychologists don’t and may send you to a psychiatrist whom they work under or elsewhere – meaning more expense, another consultation, etc. - so check your insurance again for coverage, timing and costs for scheduling and budgeting.

Support Networks, Groups, Counseling and Coaching

Many adults with ADD have benefited from working under the direction of an ADD coach. A good coach can help them learn behavioral and coping management skills and put them into practice to improve their daily functions, like improving organizational skills and productivity.

Some key areas of concentration for improvement could be learning to use organizer and filing systems. Step-by-step instructions on how to choose systems, set them up and use them effectively, monitoring for revisions/updates to tailor an individual workable solution long-term is recommended. They can then be adjusted and even taught or coached by professionals in the industry, like from companies who sell organizer products such as Filofax, Franklin Covey and Day-Timer, or even by a friend, colleague, neighbor or relative who uses a successful system already and has time to help coach. (You can contact companies like Franklin Covey and Day-Timer for workshops online, in your area or available as tutorial videos, books, etc.) Basic program goals would generally focus on: planners (either print or computer-generated format) and to-do lists for scheduling and tracking regular activities, daily classes, meetings, projects, appointments, etc.; alarm systems to help direct activities and other planned items; easy and quick filing and management systems for both hard copy and computer-generated documents and “things” with an assortment of tools to fit your lifestyle; and overall organizational management strategy.

Medication

Medications are often prescribed by physicians to help stabilize brain activity or make it more “normal” functioning. They are the same for adults and children. Common stimulant medications that have shown the most effective ADD results are Adderall, Ritalin and Dexedrine. Cylert and Desoxyn are two other popular prescriptions.

Ritalin, the most popular medicine prescribed for ADHD, has been prescribed for over 40 years and is reported by some healthcare professionals as being “safer than aspirin.” Research with ADHD children has shown that Ritalin, when taken in the correct dosage helps most or some 70 percent, largely decrease their ADHD behaviors.

The exact role that all of these stimulants play is still being uncovered; however, research definitely shows that they help most ADHD recipients lead better lives with major improvements.

There is a downside, though. The medical community and the FDA say that these stimulants are safe in their respective prescribed doses. However, the downside is that: there is extra paper work for the healthcare professionals; short-term (one-month supply) prescription regulations; and FDA and licensing issues with regards to people seeking these just to get controlled substances for other (unethical) reasons.

Notable is that in general, people with ADHD report feeling “calm” when taking these medications instead of feeling "high" (like an addict trying to gain a prescription would desire). And adults with ADD who have history of substance abuse often report an end in their desire for abusive substances when they are medicated for ADHD.

Research shows that some antidepressants may be helpful for the management of several ADD symptoms (also for persons suffering co-existing mood disorder and anxiety symptoms) if the stimulant medications are not effective. Popular antidepressants are Desipramine, Effexor, Imipramine, Nortriptyline and Wellbutrin. If none of these are effective, others may be tried or combinations of the above treatments at different dosages, depending upon the individual case. Negative side effects to watch out for include: getting the “jitters,” headaches or stomachaches (Pepto-Bismal or Zantac is often recommended for stomachaches).