# Getting Diagnosed Adult ADD **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436 "2005-08-17T14:21:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436/1 "2005-08-17T14:21:33Z")
I’m nearly positive I’ve got Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. Upon reading some recent threads of folks kind of “discovering” the same things about themselves it’s like I just read a story of my life. For years the same issues have hindered my professional life - the inability to complete simple tasks, “forgetting” little details that had been reiterated several times, lagging on deadlines, having a hard time getting things started. Now the situation is causing me severe problems at work and may cost me my job. It’s come to my realization that it’s not an issue of laziness, lack of ability (my test scores in school were off the charts), or motivation but there is something very serious going on with me in a mental capacity and I can look back and see how the pattern emerged as I grew older. Now that I’ve faced and accepted this, who do I see to go about getting treatment? Would my regular practicioner be able to work with me for this or should I see a counselor? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436/2 "2005-08-17T14:52:26Z")
At the very least _start_ with you normal doctor, and odds are, they will refer you to someone who might be better trained to diagnose, and treat, adult ADD. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436/3 "2005-08-17T14:56:37Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > At the very least _start_ with you normal doctor, and odds are, they will refer you to someone who might be better trained to diagnose, and treat, adult ADD. Yep. Ultimately you want to see a psychiatrist (not psychologist) who specializes in ADD. She should put you through series of tests, and offer you a few drug-free methods of coping. If she simply prescribes ritalin without even testing you, run, don’t walk, away from her. She’s a quack. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436/4 "2005-08-17T14:56:52Z")
Your general practitioner should be able to guide you and refer you. However, it will generally be a psychiatrist that has some experience with adult ADD who will work with you and prescibe medication for it. They may also recommend that you see a psychologist or counselor to work on behavioral strategies not related to medication. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436/5 "2005-08-17T15:03:54Z")
If you have not already picked it up, get a copy of Driven to Distraction. They wrote it all about me and my ADD. (I think they were watching me through the TV set.) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436/6 "2005-08-17T18:41:11Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > They wrote it all about me and my ADD. ( **I think they were watching me through the TV set.** ) I believe that is actually a different (and more serious) psychologic problem ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436/7 "2005-08-17T19:19:56Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I believe that is actually a different (and more serious) psychologic problem Fortunately the cure is very inexpensive as aluminum foil is widely available. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-diagnosed-adult-add/317436/8 "2005-08-18T13:11:40Z")
None the less, the description of ADD is DtD is a remarkable description of my life back in the Bad Old Days.