Eatontown Learning Center
Empowered Learning Transformation Centers
Adult ADD/ ADHD
Empowered Learning Transformation Centers in Eatontown, New Jersey is dedicated to helping adult professionals and students get rapid relief of their ADD/ADHD symptoms with targeted and efficient, powerful psychopharmacologic intervention.
What is adult attention deficit disorder?
Many adults have ADD/ADHD and don’t know they have it. ADD/ADHD is the second most common psychiatric illness of biological origin and affects approximately 4-5% of the population worldwide (as per WHO). Frequently, adults with ADD/ADHD experience challenges at work or school but compensate for them with quick, outside of the box thinking and the ability to hyper-focus for a short period of time.
Common signs and symptoms of adult ADHD include:
Procrastination
Frequent lateness
Poor concentration with tedious tasks
Inability to refocus quickly when interrupted
Frequent fender-bender auto-accidents
Difficulty sitting in on job related meetings
Disorganization
Forgetfulness
Frequent loss of phones, keys, and wallets
Difficulty starting and/or finishing projects
Moving from one task to another, being involved in too many projects simultaneously
Time-management issues, over-estimating available time or time it takes to finish the task
Making impulsive decisions, poor planning, impulsive spending
Tendency to interrupt others
Not every person with ADD/ADHD has every symptom, nor do they experience symptoms to the same degree. Adult ADD/ADHD must be diagnosed by a Board Certified Psychiatrist. If you have struggle at work and/or school with procrastination, lateness, completing routine boring tasks, and/or time management, call us to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive evaluation. With proper diagnosis and treatment, adult ADD/ADHD does not have to negatively impact an individual’s life.
Please take our screening test if you feel you suffer from any of the symptoms above:
Screening Test
How is it different to childhood ADHD?
Many adults with ADD/ADHD exhibited some symptoms of ADD/ADHD in childhood, which went undiagnosed due to parental resistance and/or adequate school performance.
Symptoms of ADD/ADHD change with age. Hyperactivity and impulsivity can improve with age, while procrastination and time management issues may become more visible due to increased responsibility. Adults with ADD/ADHD are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs, and in some cases, engage in risky sexual behaviors. A diagnosis of ADHD is frequently very liberating to a person who struggled all of their life with symptoms that they could not define or understand.
Life Long Progression of ADD/ADHD
A common misconception is that ADHD affects only children. In fact, 60% of children with ADHD may continue to have symptoms as adults. The average age of an Adult ADD/ADHD patient in treatment is 35. ADD/ADHD is the most under-diagnosed and under-treated mental health problem (only 5% of diagnosed patients get proper treatment). It is not surprising that Adults with ADD/ADHD need the most help in their 20’s and 30’s: it is the time of life that is more professionally challenging. Most young professionals do not have a choice which task they must perform themselves and which can be delegated. Moreover, most young professionals do not control their work environment. Professionals can frequently ameliorate ADHD symptoms later in their career by adjusting their work environment, delegating tasks and getting assistants.
ADHD Medications
Most ADHD symptoms improve safely, quickly and effectively with medications. When patients experience the positive effect of medication for the first time, they feel profound relief. The effect is so sudden and dramatic; it is frequently compared to the effect of putting on glasses and seeing clearly for the first time. Stimulants are believed to enhance the availability of the brain’s chemical messengers Dopamine and Norepinephrine.
The stimulants include medications like Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Adderall XR, Vyvanse, Focalin, Straterra, and others. As long as stimulant medications are used as prescribed, they can alleviate symptoms safely. Some patients with family history of heart disease or history of cardiac anomalies may require a cardiogram (a routine part of initial evaluation). Our practice has a policy of prescribing stimulants only to patients who need stimulants to improve their productivity and to use longer-acting stimulants first, whenever possible. Other, non-FDA approved, but frequently used medications are Desipramine, Effexor, and Bupropion. Some patients may benefit from stimulant antidepressant medications and/or prescription vitamins.
Call us now and start your journey to better yourself today!
Or Visit Empowered Learning Transformation Centers for Adult ADD/ ADHD Treatment.