As an adult with Attention Deficit Disorder, you can get the help you need by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Lisa Alloju at (817) 283-4300.

Adult ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) Help
Just 10 – 15 years ago, it was thought that most people outgrew ADHD; therefore, it was (and is) rarely diagnosed in adults. Even now, many mental health professionals do not understand Adult ADD/ADHD, and often diagnose these patients with anxiety, depression, bipolar/manic-depressive, and even personality disorders. More recent research has demonstrated that less than 1/3 of childhood ADHD resolves by adulthood; on the other hand, more than 2/3 of children with ADHD will have symptoms as adults.

Most adults with untreated ADHD have had symptoms when they were young, but many were able to compensate for them by engaging in tutoring or by working harder than their classmates for equal or lower grades. Often, by high school or college, the work level has increased beyond what the patient’s compensatory mechanisms can override, and the patient drops out or fails out of school. This and other problems associated with untreated or undertreated ADHD can permanently damage a child’s self-esteem.

Although many physicians still believe that Adult ADD/ADHD does not exist, treating Adult ADD/ADHD is a specialty of Dr. Alloju, who treats the condition of Adult Attention Deficit Disorder very seriously.

How is Adult ADD/ADHD evaluated?
Dr. Alloju will ask you a series of questions relating to the most common presentations of Adult ADD/ADHD, as well as your symptomatology during childhood. She will also be asking about your level of functioning at home and at work. In addition, you will be evaluated for for medical or psychiatric illnesses that may mimic or exacerbate ADD/ADHD.

Symptoms of ADD/ADHD range from inattention to hyperactivity and impulsivity; however, these symptoms often present differently in adults than in children, and this may partially explain why many doctors do not believe in or treat Adult ADHD.

Many physicians do not have experience in or believe in treating Adult ADD/ADHD, despite the fact that 1 in 20 adults suffer from this disabling diagnosis.
Dr. Alloju is an expert at thoroughly reviewing your symptoms and examining the possible etiologies of the ADD/ADHD by ruling out medical or psychiatric illnesses that may mimic or exacerbate the condition. Based on her evaluation, Dr. Alloju will formulate an individualized, comprehensive, effective treatment plan for your illness. Neuropsychological testing to confirm the diagnosis is rarely necessary, as Diagnosis of ADHD is based on DSM-IV criteria and rests on the clinical interview to assess symptoms, impairments, course of the illness, and family psychiatric history.

Common symptoms of Adult ADD/ADHD:

Easily distracted, can’t focus on one thing without being distracted by extraneous stimuli

Failure to pay attention to details, leading to careless mistakes

Failure to finish work (start multiple projects, but have trouble wrapping up the final details)

Fidgety, unable to remain seated in meetings

Difficulty organizing

Frequently losing or misplacing items

Time management problems (chronically late and/or difficulty remembering appointments)

Procrastination

Feeling restless or impatient

Talking excessively or frequent interrupting

How does Dr. Alloju treat Adult ADD/ADHD?

The gold standard for the treatment of ADD/ADHD is stimulant medication (Adderall, Ritalin, and several derivatives of each). Two-thirds of patients will respond robustly to the first stimulant prescribed; for those who do not do as well, 2/3 of that population will respond to a second stimulant medication. Thus, 90% of adult patients with ADD/ADHD respond extremely well to stimulant medications. For the remaining 10%, there are many other treatment options.

Conditions that Commonly Occur with ADD/ADHD

Condition	Adults with ADD/ADHD who also have this Condition
Anxiety Disorders	48%
Social Phobia	32%
Major Depressive Disorder	31%
Alcohol Abuse or Alcohol Dependence	26%
Drug Abuse or Drug Dependence	19%
Antisocial Personality Disorder	12%

The above disorders may mimic ADD/ADHD; more commonly, these disorders exacerbate ADD/ADHD and vice versa. In ADD/ADHD patients with a mood or anxiety disorder, treatment of the mood or anxiety disorder often results in a decrease in ADD/ADHD symptoms.

In the same population of patients (ADD/ADHD and co-occurring mood or anxiety disorder), treatment of the ADD/ADHD often results in significant improvement in co-occurring conditions. Many patients with ADD/ADHD must work extremely hard just to get through their day without any significant problems (they must make lists, check and re-check things to catch careless mistakes, they spend a lot of time looking for misplaced items, they struggle to keep up with coworkers or with keeping the house in order). Because of this, patients often become overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious; many self-medicate with alcohol and/or drugs.

If you have been living with your symptoms for a long time, you might feel that you don’t need to treat them. You have learned to cope. But with treatment, you could function even better at work, at home, and with your relationships. Remember, our goal is to help you attain 100% functionality.

Why is it Important to Treat Adult ADD/ADHD?

Teens with ADD/ADHD are more likely to be involved in car accidents, to break the law, to become sexually active at an earlier age, to become pregnant, and to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Adults with ADD/ADHD are twice as likely to get a divorce, are more likely to get fired, change jobs more often, and they tend to have more sexual partners and less fulfilling relationships than others.

Get help by scheduling a confidential appointment with Dr. Lisa Alloju at (817) 457-4646.

“Our goal is to provide you with personalized, thorough, effective treatment in an environment that is professional, welcoming and private.”
~ Dr. Alloju D.O.