Do I have Adult ADD?

[warwick43]

I’m a senior and a terrible procrastinator. I was a consultant in the software industry before I retired.

Since then I have been building websites for a number of volunteer organizations involved with climate change action. I’m having problems describing why I think I may have HDD but listening to Rick on The Agenda last night made me think I may.

For example my mind wanders when I am talking to people … even about important matters. I thought that this was just a matter of being self centred, but now I am not so sure.

I was quite successful in my career because I am good at problem solving and can spend hours working on solutions. But I find myself avoiding committing to chairing meetings, or volunteering to  take notes in meetings because I worry about missing things when my attention wanders.

Now I am at an age when dementia sets in, so it is hard to sort out these anxieties.

Should I explore the possibility of ADD or is this just my anxiety “du jour”?

 

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[Patte Rosebank]

@Warwick43, welcome!

That was a great show, wasn’t it?

It takes several hours of testing by a specialist, to get a proper diagnosis.  This involves a combination of written & task-based tests, and a thorough examination of your history and your family’s history, going right back to your childhood.  This is because ADHD is almost 100% inherited—except for a very small percentage of cases which develop suddenly after a brain injury.

The Virtual Doctor test, at http://totallyadd.com/tools , is a great place to start, and there are some other self-assessment tests there, too.  If you score high on them, you can print them out (including your Virtual Doctor results) and take them with you, so you’ll have an answer when your doctor says, “So, what makes you think you have ADHD?”

It may be difficult for you to find a specialist in Adult ADHD, because there are so few of them.  If you’re in the Toronto area, you could try the Springboard Clinic, which is where I go for my ADHD treatment.

In the meantime, you’ll find plenty of reliable, up-to-date information (and some much-needed laughter) at http://totallyadd.com/video .

As for your concern about possibly developing senile dementia, there’s an archived webinar about that very topic, in the Webinar Archives:  http://totallyadd.com/webinar-archives .  There’s also a 3-part series of “Start Now” webinars, to help you with your procrastination.  They sure helped me with mine!

 

 

 

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