One of the foremost ADHD experts tackles adult ADHD in the aging generation, offering a practical, helpful guide for those with and without a diagnosis Kids with ADHD have only recently started getting the treatment they need in schools. But what about the generations before them? Kids in the 50s, 60s, and 70s who were described as "hyper" and "incorrigible," with no real resources or knowledge for parents and educators of how to give them the learning experience they deserved. Other kids were high achievers, but suffered from distraction and lack of focus. Now these kids have grown up; some have received a diagnosis (often propelled when their own child is diagnosed--anywhere from one-third to one-half of parents with ADHD will have a child with the disorder) and some are wondering if their absentmindedness and other hallmarks of ADHD are signs of cognitive decline. Whether they've just received a diagnosis or are just trying to find accessible help for management as they grow older, this is the book for them. ADHD has the same fundamental symptoms in older adults as in younger adults, but in later years, they can be expressed differently. For example, someone who routinely forgot to turn in schoolwork on time as a child may grow into a retiree who misses a bill payment even though they had enough money, for reasons they can’t quite explain. Worse, problems with daily life management, with disorganization and forgetfulness can too easily be dismissed as signs of age-related cognitive decline, or incorrectly attributed to the onset of dementia. Comorbid disorders such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, learning disorders and other psychiatric disorders can complicate and intensify the effects of ADHD. And then there are huge differences in external factors – the level of stress faced each day due to their life circumstances; the presence or lack of support and acceptance from others in their lives; the number of people they are responsible for, even in later years, such as aging parents or adult children who haven't successfully launched into independence. Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, the founder and clinical director of the largest private ADHD specialty clinic in the US, shares expert advice on later-i-life ADHD, tackling everything from finances, parenting, planning for retirement, social life, and work. Still Distracted After All These Years offers clear, straightforward, practical information and advice to help older adults manage their ADHD for calmer, happier, more productive lives. About the Author: Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D. is the founder and clinical director of the largest private ADHD specialty clinic in the US, and she has practiced psychology in the Washington, DC area since the early 1970’s. She is the co-author of Understanding Girls with ADHD and Understanding Women with ADHD and received the CHADD Hall of Fame Award in 1999 for her groundbreaking work on girls and women. Dr. Nadeau has appeared on the Today Show and the Morning Show, has appeared in several documentaries about ADHD, and is frequently interviewed for or quoted in articles on ADHD. |