LISA CLARK: Now is it possible to develop ADHD later in life as the result of any exposures to chemicals, or accidents, or anything like that? Or is this a condition that has always existed from childhood?
DR. PETER JENSEN: Well we do know that some people do develop secondary ADHD, for example, to head trauma. We do know that lead, at least in children, can precipitate ADHD symptoms and the syndrome, per se. So we have to be open to that possibility. Certainly head trauma, auto accidents, are one clear cause. But we don't think of it usually as an adult onset or an adolescent onset disorder. We usually look for it starting in the early childhood years.
LISA CLARK: How do you diagnose ADHD in adults? What are you looking for?
DR. PATRICIA QUINN: Well it's a historical diagnosis, just as in children. So we do need to ask the adults about symptoms of the disorder: inattentiveness, difficulty getting work done, procrastination, or organization problems. But we also need to ask their spouses or significant others those questions, as well as their parents, if they're available. When I diagnose adults with ADD, I also ask for any report cards they might have from when they were a child so I can look at their report cards and the notes that the teachers write on the report card. We also look for job evaluations, if the person will share them with us. Their supervisors may have talked about the fact that they can't get anything handed in on time. Or they may have performance difficulties as an adult.
