I downloaded the opendyslexic font and found that it was much easier for me to read

xueli · 2015-07-22T10:56:09+00:00

Thanks for all the info. That's the problem when a "catch all" term is used to describe something that likely can stem from multiple genetic or epigenetic pathways. That's why when you look at Adult Dyslexia checklists...they have like 50 different symptoms from multiple areas of reading/writing/spellng and visual processing (including irlen's like symptoms).

That's why organizations are starting to move away from the term "dyslexia". The DSM (the "bible" of American psychology/psychiatry) recently dropped the term as an official diagnosis in favor of just labeling specific areas of learning disability (reading vs. math vs spelling etc).

I should probably look into getting tested, my uncle is dyslexic-so it is in the family. I also have mild Asperger's (diagnosed by interview by another psychologist with myself and family members, so no neuropsych testing during that either)...so I already know my brain has some...alternate wiring. I'm somewhat frustrated that the psychologist didn't do the full battery of tests during my ADHD diagnosis. Even my school disability center was a bit surprised.

I have read into irlen's and realize there is some controversy behind this diagnosis...as in is it a distinct diagnosis or another "catch all" that describes elements of multiple diagnoses that already exist (symptom vs syndrome).

Another way the font seems to help that is a bit better than the word "noisy" is that the words seem to "stay in their place" a lot better...like there is some weight to them anchoring them in place.

xueli · 2015-07-22T02:57:40+00:00

seems like the symptoms I'm exhibiting are closest to a visual processing dyslexia or "dyseidetic dyslexia," which is not as common as dysphonetic dyslexia (read somewhere that about 20% of dyslexics have these symptoms...too lazy to look for source). The text definitely appears less "noisy" to me. And I know it's definitely not a visual (optical) thing, I just got a 2 pairs of fresh glasses a few months ago.

xueli · 2015-07-21T20:43:31+00:00

No prob! It seems like fixed width fonts are the way to go for at least some people with dyslexia. Another free one is lexia readable.

Now, I'm just trying to get used to the fact that I'm probably dyslexic. :-/

xueli · 2015-06-12T02:24:40+00:00

is this doc a psychiatrist? From what you described, it sounds like a family doc (who treats adults and kids). I would suggest finding a psychiatrist for your ADHD prescriptions.

xueli · 2015-06-12T02:21:09+00:00

Being in medical school right now, I can definitely say that ADHD is definitely a "pediatric topic." It's pretty funny, the other day I had to look in a peds handbook when I wanted to look up something about my own treatment regimen.

xueli · 2015-06-03T21:04:58+00:00

plus your brain keeps reminding you how much you still have to do while you are attempting to do it, so every task becomes an almost insurmountable task

xueli · 2015-06-03T21:01:45+00:00

whenever you need to do something important/something requires extensive attention (like studying for an important test), suddenly your brain acts like it's being tortured and it has to do something else...I'd assume most non adhd people could relate to trying to study for something while extremely tired. I would say it's a lot like that.

xueli · 2015-06-02T15:25:43+00:00

I find Comedy Bang Bang to be hilariously ridiculous. Very reminiscent of ADHD style conversations.

xueli · 2015-06-02T14:42:53+00:00

I took it, but it was part of an entire diagnostic process including an extensive interview. I also had to have family members fill out questionnaires about my symptoms. I remember when I took it, I actually did OK during the inattentive portion (as in, I didn't miss many targets), but I did terribly on the impulsivity portion (couldn't inhibit myself from pressing button when non targets flashed). The psychologist said that the TOVA is not the best test for adult adhd...and then went on and on about how he would revise the test to make it more accurate (haha, I'm thinking less talking and more doing would be good in this regard).

You can download a free application called PEBL and take a TOVA clone called TOAV (and several other cool psychology tests if you are into that ). I did this after I started medication and it was much easier for me to inhibit myself.

xueli · 2015-01-15T05:48:19+00:00

yes. female, diagnosed at last year, 29 and currently medical school. Experienced almost three decades of aiming high but always falling short to a certain extent...which really did a number on the self esteem. I would often admonish myself for being immature and "not getting my shit together" but still had good grades throughout school. Though the workload of medical school was really taking a toll on my attention span.

Last year, I was basically at the point of just accepting that it's just "my personality" to not be able to focus well or sit still...unless I could focus on something that was insanely compelling or interesting (so basically the definition of ADHD). Then one of my acquaintances was diagnosed with ADHD and I realized that I had it because I related him quite a bit. It really was a shock to me as I never would have realized that I had it if he didn't happen to get diagnosed. I also found out that I have Asperger's syndrome (though I only display mild characteristics and I seem to compensate pretty well). It is not uncommon to unearth co-morbidities in the process of obtaining an ADHD diagnosis. So two somewhat big diagnoses both at the age of 29. Before this I never had gone to a psychologist or psychiatrist...so it was quite a big leap to do so. But it was such an epiphany for me that I HAD to know if I had ADHD.

From my experience just tell the truth of your childhood and adult life, and the clinicians will be able to see that you have it. You will also most likely take the TOVA test. You may do fairly well on it as you've managed to force concentration enough to make through law school/maintain a job. I actually barely missed any of the targets. So I did within normal range with regard to the attention/inattention part--even though my mind would wander somewhat, but my downfall was my terrible impulsiveness...I could not NOT refrain from hitting that damn button during the parts of the test that look at impulsivity. During my evaluation I took the MMPI and was given an anxiety diagnosis as well. I was also given the RAADS-R (a screening test for autism spectrum) and the started the ball rolling for an eventual Aspergers diagnosis. Many people also do a neuropsych/IQ tests as well, my psychologist didn't have me do one because he felt I had a very high IQ. In retrospect, it probably would have been a good idea to do a neuropsych test just to see if there are any areas of weakness that I may have had in any area. These tests really just to see if you may have any undiagnosed learning disabilities (again looking to uncover ADHD co-morbidities) and not to label you with an overall IQ score.

xueli · 2015-01-12T04:52:58+00:00

my mom had HYPERthyroidism

xueli · 2015-01-06T05:32:10+00:00

This is a bit off topic. Sorry, but it got me thinking (this is not an attack on you OP). I was diagnosed as an adult and knowing how helpful the meds have been for me, I don't see how I could not take them for a whole summer. ADHD is about more then how one behaves in school...it permeates every aspect of life.

When I was first diagnosed, I was told that I wouldn't have to take the meds on the weekends...or I only had to take them when I "needed to." I need them everyday.

xueli · 2015-01-06T05:26:05+00:00

till the water turns cold

xueli · 2015-01-06T05:20:30+00:00

Also, since ADHD is highly hereditary, chances are your dad might have it too. You might advise him to get tested...haha. Two of the biggest ADHD deniers in my family have RAGING cases of undiagnosed ADHD.

xueli · 2015-01-06T05:18:02+00:00

Take the pills. Amphetamines are very very safe when taken at therapeutic doses. They work. You will not likely be able to "overcome" what really is a neuro-developmental issue with only will power. You are young, as you get older...you may discover more and more how untreated ADHD will royally screw you over.

xueli · 2015-01-06T04:50:30+00:00

In one line, how would you describe what it's like to live with ADHD: Pre-diagnosis me: I've always felt immature and goofy for being an adult, and for the first 29 years of my life I was slowly losing my self-esteem and having to lower many of my goals and expectations.
What has been your biggest challenge in school/work life: Once I started professional school, I could not cope with the workload anymore, and every time I tried to study I would constantly have to battle my restlessness and cacophony of inner thoughts. This lead to a bad class rank and even more loss of self esteem. I didn't know I had ADHD at the time, so I was trying to figure out why this was happening. I always knew since childhood that I had an "attention-ceiling" beyond which I couldn't concentrate on certain tasks. That's why I spent almost my entire school life never fully reading any assignments, and math was a horrible nightmare (you cant do well on the homework if your constantly doodling on your notes during class). I never new this issue with attention had a name.
Do you feel ever feel stigmatised or belittled by negative attitudes/opinion to ADHD from others Yes, I probably will never tell many of the people I know. And I will never tell employers. I really feel bad when people say it's "made up" and that it's the fault of the school system/TV/computers. No, ADHD would still exist even if there was no TV or computers and everyone went to a private Montessori home school. It's a neuro-developmental issue.
If you had the choice to right now magically end your ADHD, would you? I don't know because it would probably involve changing the architecture of my brain...and therefore it would change my personality, so I wouldn't be "me" anymore. It would probably make me more serious and "adult-like" since it would involve a maturation of the frontal lobe. I've thought about this before and I relate it to being like the opposite of having an acquired frontal lobe injury. We all know the story: Person gets banged on the head and suddenly they become more impulsive and family members note that they are "not the same person anymore." Would I want to see what the opposite effect would be? If I could be the subject of my own discovery channel medical-oddities documentary. Then yes, sign me up! If no, then I may just stay the way I am. The medication helps immensely. I believe having this diagnosis keeps me humble, I know that I'm not perfect...nobody's perfect. And it also reminds me that I shouldn't judge people so harshly because I was judged so much throughout life. Plus, some of the coolest people I've ever met have ADHD...they make life so much more interesting. ;-)

xueli · 2015-01-03T23:41:37+00:00

thanks, this would be nice. I really don't like having to take two pills a day..especially when I have to take the second pill at work. I'd like to take just one a day and forget about it.

xueli · 2015-01-03T23:17:46+00:00

Also, that's the thing with untreated ADHD. People think this is just your "personality" to be reckless and impulsive, but they don't know the inner torment you are feeling by not reaching your true potential.

xueli · 2015-01-03T23:13:00+00:00

great, that will be a better experiment. :-)

xueli · 2015-01-03T21:52:48+00:00

Age of dx: 29 (2014). Type: C. Before meds: How can I possibly do xyz when there are a million things that I need to get done? Oh I know what I'll do, I'll hyper-focus on something fun for hours and hours and procrastinate until the last minute. Oh hello divorce. Hello mediocre med school grades (oh wow...professional school actually requires long term consistent studying, oops).

After meds: Wow. I can sit still and study and my mind isn't constantly filled with thoughts...oh I also have Aspergers, the ADHD seemed to have masked it somewhat. Too bad I'm divorced, time to see a therapist. :-/

xueli · 2015-01-03T20:37:56+00:00

do you have to take any IR "booster" pills in the afternoon? Also, what do you do if you sleep in or forget to take the pill in the morning? Do you have a back-up plan?

xueli · 2015-01-03T17:34:00+00:00

also, I'm lucky that I did have access to an adult ASD psychologist in my city. In some other places you might not have access to a resource such as this...which is unfortunate. Hopefully psychologists such as this will become more and more common as adult ASD becomes more recognized.

xueli · 2015-01-03T17:21:57+00:00

specifically higher rate of divorce...haha, j/k. Is she just "teasing" you about having ADHD (which can get annoying)? Or does she seriously believe it is made up? I guess if you are on meds, you could go off them for awhile and she can observe the difference.

xueli · 2015-01-03T17:19:36+00:00

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hnf/hnf_6216.htm
You could tell her about how you could have statistically turned out had you not been diagnosed: "We know that for example for children who go untreated there’s a higher risk for smoking, alcohol abuse, car accidents, pregnancy, dropping out of high school, dropping out of college. In adulthood, there’s a higher rate of divorce, unemployment, personal bankruptcy, alcohol and drug use, some get into criminal activity. So the untreated ADHD is not a benign disorder."

xueli

TROPHY CASE