Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/ADD and carbon tetrachloride

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Expert: Christine D. DeLoatch, MA CCC-SLP - 7/27/2006


Question
Years ago, when I was a teenager (I am now 78 years old) I used carbon tetrachloride to clean the keys of my piano.  I don't remember where I got the idea, but thought it was a good thing.  Could the fumes from this stuff have in any way affected my mental capacity to the point where I have nearly all the symptoms of ADD and have had them for years.  I never realized until recently just how mixed up my mental processes are, although I have managed to be successful in most of my endeavors in spite of it.  

Answer
Dear Nancy Annan,

I don't know how much exposure you had to the chemical you mentioned, and I also don't know your family history. These things would have to be assessed in order to determine how likely your exposure to the chemical was able to cause any challenges.  

It is also possible that you had some other injuries or biological pre-disposition that could have caused ADD-like symptoms.  Without a thorough history, there is no way to answer your question.  

Exposure to some chemicals does cause changes in the brain.  If you are interested in those issues you may want to check out Change your Brain, Change your Life  a book by Dr. Daniel Amen, MD.

Sincerely,

Christine

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

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Christine D. DeLoatch, MA CCC-SLP

Expertise

My expertise is both personal and professional. I am an adult with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, and I am an ASHA certified Speech-language pathologist. I worked in the school system, giving direct theraputic servies to children with both language difficulties and attention deficit disorder. (I am very familiar with the IEP process and the IDEA.)I have consulted on-line, in person and via the telephone with a number of parents of children with ADD.

Experience

My area of expertise lies in my holistic approach to ADD and other similar neurologically-based conditions including Non-verbal learning disorders. I am a researcher of medical treatments, studies regarding concrete documentation of the geographical differences in the "ADD" brain (PET scans, SPECT scans, etc.) herbal treatments, functional organizational strategies for children and adults (stuff that'll get you through the day; sensory techniques for relaxation and stress relief; and organizational tools - from the technological to the home-grown type. I am also a researcher of other conditions that are frequently co-existing with ADD. I have read extensively about women's issues and am an empathetic individal who would like to share strength, hope, experience and education.

Organizations
I hold a Certificate of Clinical Competency issued by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.

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