Inattentive ADHD, the Stealth Diagnosis. People with Inattentive ADHD tend to fly under the radar for years, decades even, women and girls more often (inadvertently) than men and boys. They are labeled as disorganized, always late, space case, overwhelmed and over-committed, the kid with no friends, the school dropout. After High School (almost half the kids with not treated for their ADHD drop out) life is even more of a struggle. How can these folks be identified earlier, so they can have the chance to climb up to the level of function of neurotypicals? Later-in-life diagnosis, in 30s, 40s, even 50s and beyond, results in lost opportunities and more mental health problems along the way, primarily anxiety disorders and depression.
My guest today is Cynthia Hammer MSW, founder of two non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of ADHDers everywhere, author of the recently published book Living with Inattentive ADHD: Climbing the Circular Staircase of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and a good friend of many years. Cynthia recently started the Inattentive ADHD Coalition (www.iadhd.org ) to advocate for universal screening of children for ADHD, to identify and enable treatment of children with ADHD so they do not have lifelong struggles with ADHD, at least not so many and so severe as those diagnosed later in life. Join us to enjoy a wide-ranging discussion about Inattentive ADHD, including debates on certain points. Which points? Listen and find out!
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