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CNN Live At Daybreak

ADHD in Adults

Aired January 27, 2004 - 06:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We think of ADHD as a childhood disorder, right? Well, it's more common among adults than you might think.
CNN's Christy Feig profiles one woman who learned of her condition through her son.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Deborah -- who asked that we not use her last name -- says she remembers even at age 7 she had a harder time than her friends paying attention. But it wasn't until she started managing her own son's ADHD that she connected her own symptoms with the disorder. Now, she also takes medicine for ADHD.

DEBORAH, ADULT WITH ADHD: I find my ability to focus and stay tuned in as opposed to zoning out, has increased tremendously.

FEIG: Experts say Deborah isn't as unusual as some would believe.

ANDREA CHRONIS, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: Three to 5 percent of children have ADHD, and about 40 to 60 percent of those children will continue to have ADHD in adulthood.

FEIG: Andrea Chronis, an ADHD researcher at the University of Maryland, studied 214 preschool-aged children with and without ADHD and their parents. She says for an adult to truly have ADHD, these symptoms need to have been persistent most of their life.

CHRONIS: Being very disorganized, not being able to concentrate, responding impulsively, blurting out things without thinking, not really having an internal filter.

FEIG: The diagnosis of ADHD is controversial. Some believe we all have problems focusing at times, and doctors give medicine too quickly. But experts in the field say watch these people in social settings and you'll see it's something more.

In Washington, I'm Christy Feig.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired January 27, 2004 - 06:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We think of ADHD as a childhood disorder, right? Well, it's more common among adults than you might think.
CNN's Christy Feig profiles one woman who learned of her condition through her son.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Deborah -- who asked that we not use her last name -- says she remembers even at age 7 she had a harder time than her friends paying attention. But it wasn't until she started managing her own son's ADHD that she connected her own symptoms with the disorder. Now, she also takes medicine for ADHD.

DEBORAH, ADULT WITH ADHD: I find my ability to focus and stay tuned in as opposed to zoning out, has increased tremendously.

FEIG: Experts say Deborah isn't as unusual as some would believe.

ANDREA CHRONIS, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: Three to 5 percent of children have ADHD, and about 40 to 60 percent of those children will continue to have ADHD in adulthood.

FEIG: Andrea Chronis, an ADHD researcher at the University of Maryland, studied 214 preschool-aged children with and without ADHD and their parents. She says for an adult to truly have ADHD, these symptoms need to have been persistent most of their life.

CHRONIS: Being very disorganized, not being able to concentrate, responding impulsively, blurting out things without thinking, not really having an internal filter.

FEIG: The diagnosis of ADHD is controversial. Some believe we all have problems focusing at times, and doctors give medicine too quickly. But experts in the field say watch these people in social settings and you'll see it's something more.

In Washington, I'm Christy Feig.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.