ADD/ADHD Articles
Adults and ADHD Treatment
By Jay D. Tarnow, M.D.
Even once an adult ADHD patient has been successfully placed on a dosage of stimulants, the disease will not automatically resolve. Medicine will improve symptoms such as attention, focus, concentration, detailing, organization, and ability to stick to things with tasks; while decreasing hyperactivity, fidgeting, hyper talkativeness and impulsivity. It will also have a secondary improvement in the area of working (short-term) memory because patients can pay attention better. But, all that is not a cure.
Patients have likely developed many habits that are unproductive and inefficient, like rushing through things and making careless mistakes, or waiting until the last minute to do things and then being in a panic. Medicine doesn't, by itself, change bad habits, but it gives the patient the power to change. Here is where the self-management tools can be helpful.
Adult patients will also benefit from exploring alternative interventions. One method being introduced is the new cuttingedge, evidencebased software program, Cogmed QM. Adults with ADHD sometimes struggle at work, home, and socially due to working memory and attention deficits. There is now an intervention that focuses on training the brain. A Swedish company, Cogmed, discovered that individuals are able to train and actually improve their working memory. This training has shown to help improve focus, impulse control, and complex problem solving as well The Cogmed Working Memory Training Program entails 5 weeks of daily software-based memory exercises (25 sessions), along with weekly motivational and progress-oriented coaching sessions. The Cogmed QM program can be done at home and only requires a PC with an Internet connection.
Patients must answer the question for themselves whether medicine (with its potential side effects) is worth it, but they should think about it carefully. People with ADHD have a tendency to be stubborn and oppositional. So again, they should carefully consider the risks of medicine, the potential rewards of medicine, and finally the consequences of doing nothing. Cogmed offers a completely new alternative.