Expert: Christine D. DeLoatch, MA CCC-SLP - 4/7/2006

Question
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Followup To
Question -
My name is Megan Milbrandt and I am a senior at Osage High School in Osage, IA and I was wondering if you would have the time to answer 20 questions on ADD.  I am writing a research paper and your expertice would be much appreciated.  If you could get back to me as soon as possible that would be great!
Thanks,
Megan Milbrandt
Answer -
Dear Megan,

I would love to be interviewed and answer your questions to the best of my ability.  

Sincerely,

Christine DeLoatch, MA  CCC-SLPQuestions

1)   What are some symptoms that you found you had after learning about ADD?


2)   What age were you when you were diagnosed?


3)   What was the symptom that made the doctors know that you had ADD?


4)   What made your parents want to take you to the doctor?


5)   Who diagnosed you?


6)   What are some of the treatments that you got for it?


7)   Did your treatments change as you got older?


8)   What has changed since you have been on treatment?


9)   Do you know why you got diagnosed with ADD?


10)   Did you find it hard to concentrate on any one thing?


11)   Did you have to take special classes in school because you had attention deficit disorder?


12)   How often do you have to take your medication?


13)   Do you feel you can relate to your students because you have Attention Deficit Disorder?


14)   Explain some struggles that you went through on a daily basis.


15)   Do people treat you differently now after you got on your medication than before you got on it?


16)   How long have you had Attention Deficit Disorder?


17)   What can you tell me about your disorder and how it has changed since you have gotten help?


18)   Did you have any struggles or misshapenness from you disorder?  If so, please explain.  


19)   What was one of the low points of having Attention Deficit Disorder?


20)   How has having ADD affected you as a person?

Thank you so much!
Megan  

Answer
Dear Megan,

Here are the answers to your questions.  I tried to answer them to the best of my ability, but there were some I didn't understand or weren't quiet applicable to my situation so I answered the questions giving you the infomation I thought you would want to know.  

Let me know if I can be of any more help.  Good luck.  Please send me a copy of your final paper or presentation for my records.  Thanks.  christine.deloatch@nhhn.org

Christine

1) What are some symptoms that you found you had after learning about ADD?

Well, I had trouble shifting my attention, (hyperfocusing), I was very distracted by sounds in the environment, I am forgetful and hyper-emotional - and have mood swings.

2) What age were you when you were diagnosed?

26 or 27

3) What was the symptom that made the doctors know that you had ADD?

Not one symptom. The diagnosis of ADD requires that you have to have many symptoms like forgetfulness, distractibility, impulsivity, fidgetiness, feeling like you are driven by a motor, etc. for a period of about 6 months or more and demostrate that it affects functioning in more than one setting like home & work.  I met the criteria for the diagnosis.  


4) What made your parents want to take you to the doctor?

My parents did not take me to the doctor - I wasn't diagnosed until I was an adult.  Girls, when I was younger were often not as hyper and sometimes were missed as having the condition.  My brother on the other hand was diagnosed at age 7.  He had problems learning in school and he was hyper and had some behavior problems.

5) Who diagnosed you?

Actually you could say I was diagnosed by a friend & colleague from work.  She's a school psychologist and she knew the signs.  I was joking around about not knowing enough information about ADD and she said what do you want to know.  I said, "like, I'd never know if I had it" - meaning that I didn't know anything - but she replied that I had it. She told me about it - read me a description from a book and that was the beginning (Sorry... I love telling that story).

6) What are some of the treatments that you got for it?

I currently take medication for the mood swings and anxiety related to the ADD - it is an antidepessant.  I have taken Ritalin before, but since I am trying to get pregnant I can't take it now.  I also have taken St. John's Wort  (an herbal medication) - before I was give the prescription antidepressant.  I have tried Gingko Biloba off and on (a mild herbal stimulant).  

7) Did your treatments change as you got older?

Since I didn't take medicaion as a child, I don't really think that question applies to me.  My medication has changed one time from one anti-depressant to another - because I seemed to be having more anxiety and the newer medication seemed to work better for anxiety and still work on the mood swings because they were both in the same family of medications.


8) What has changed since you have been on treatment?

I am more aware of my functioning on and off of medication.  I know that I get silly after I have gone more than 18 hours without my medication and I ask silly questions and then when I get into day 2 without my medication - I get irritable & weepy.  

9) Do you know why you got diagnosed with ADD?

I'm not sure what you are asking here.  I had the condition, that is why I got diagnosed.  If you are asking what make me look into it, I can tell you that I went to seek treatment because I was having emotional problems -feeling sad much too often and feeling out of control despite improving some of my skills and organization.

10) Did you find it hard to concentrate on any one thing?

It's still hard to concentrate on lots of things.  High interest things are easier to focus on  and low interest things are hard to focus on - but sometimes you'll find something that you usually like a lot may still be hard to focus on if you are tired or irritable for other reasons. Will power doesn't really seem to work.  

11) Did you have to take special classes in school because you had attention deficit disorder?

Since no one really figured it out and I was a pretty smart kid - mostly they would just try to keep me busy with helping other kids when I would finish my work early.  Not all kids with ADD need special classes, just those with learning disabilites or more severe problems.  


12) How often do you have to take your medication?

I am supposed to take my medication daily - just 1 time everyday for the mood swings and anxiety - but I am sometimes late taking it.

13) Do you feel you can relate to your students because you have Attention Deficit Disorder?

Yep.  It gives me a lot of insight and empathy.  

14) Explain some struggles that you went through on a daily basis.

I still have problems with forgetting things.  I sometimes have to come back into the house 1-2 times to get something.  I am sometimes late to work and late with meeting deadlines with paperwork.  I am more sensitive than others and see my weaknesses.  I forget to take my medication and avoid chores.  I hate housework.  I also have problems waking up and getting off to work.  Anything that requires organization is hard for me.


15) Do people treat you differently now after you got on your medication than before you got on it?

I really can't tell.  Few people ask questions, but there are some people that listen well and show compassion.  

16) How long have you had Attention Deficit Disorder?

Most likely since childhood.  Most people display the signs since then (a few get ADD after a head injury or stroke).  I remember most report cards I got  said needs improvement in "Uses time wisely" and got I in trouble a lot for being too social & talking too much.

17) What can you tell me about your disorder and how it has changed since you have gotten help?

I guess you are asking asking me about my particular symptoms.
Well,I guess I manage the symptoms better since I know what helps.  I also know where to look for more help.  The symptoms are about the same really - the medications help - but just the awareness helps with the stress management of it all.  I have learned to forgive myself more - usually.

18) Did you have any struggles or misshapenness from you disorder? If so, please explain.

I'm not sure I understand this question either.  I still struggle.  Everyday.  Even my marriage has unique challenges due to my ADD.  I am impulsive and forgetful. It's not like a fully recovered or in remission kind of condition.  Some days are good - some days are not so good.  


19) What was one of the low points of having Attention Deficit Disorder?

Beign hyper-emotional and feeling out of control.  Also  dealing with people who look at you like you shouldn't have any problems because you have all 10 fingers and all 10 toes.  They don't see anything wrong - so they can't understand why it is so hard for you.  Invisible disabilities are hard for people to keep in mind and accommodate.

20) How has having ADD affected you as a person?

I really don't seperate it out from being who I am.  It jst colors my world, just like being a woman does and being african-american.  It is just you.  You do the best with what you are given, try to learn more skills and behave like the rest of the ducks (those with invisible disabilites) - seemm like you are floating on top - but paddle like crazy underneath.