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2002
   
 
New York City
December 2002

Dr. Adler Lectures on ADHD
By M.C. Cohen

In support of the Program for Academic Access For Learning Disabled Students at Marymount Manhattan College, Lenard A. Adler, M.D, spoke to a full lecture hall at the school’s Manhattan campus on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dr. Adler, the Director of the Neurology ADHD Program and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Neurology at New York University, is considered one of the country’s foremost experts on ADHD. Dr. Jacquelyn Bonomo, Learning Specialist for the Access program, arranged for the presentation because of what she said was “the need for more comprehensive, current information on a problem experienced by so many of our students. This knowledge sometimes makes the difference between academic success and failure here at the college.”

In his thoughtful and concise 45-minute lecture, followed by a question and answer session, Dr. Adler covered the historical aspects of ADHD in this country to the new treatments now available. And for those who are skeptical that ADHD is a real disorder, and something not to be taken seriously, Dr. Adler, had a clear message, “I spend a good portion of my day dealing with people who have this disorder,” he said. “It’s real. It’s a neuropsychiatric condition.”

With ADHD affecting 6–9 percent of school-age children and 3–6 percent of adults in this country, these numbers, in fact, may not reveal the true extent to which this condition exists. “ADHD is vastly under-diagnosed and under-treated in children,” said Dr. Adler, “and especially in adults.”

Thus, regardless of a person’s age, ADHD affects virtually every aspect of existence. From unsatisfactory personal relationships to failure in school or the work place and just to an overall chaotic approach to any organizational task, ADHD is indeed debilitating.

“I can’t tell you how often the spouses of an adult with ADHD will come in and say ‘they just don’t listen to me,’” said Dr. Adler, while describing the symptoms of ADHD, ‘“I know they mean to, but they just don’t get what I’m telling them.’” He continued, “those with ADHD have trouble breaking down large projects. Term papers are a big deal. Finishing that little assignment that’s due the next day, successful adults with ADHD know they can knock it out and not leave it around. But a term paper is much bigger and we have to plan for it and keep things in mind.”

While Dr. Alder left no uncertainty to the audience about the serious effects of ADHD for those with the disorder and their family and friends, there was some in the crowd who were not in total agreement with Dr. Adler’s method of treatment.

During the question and answer session, inquiries were made about diet, behavior therapy or coaching as a means of treating ADHD, but Dr. Adler left no room for gray area on the subject: “There is no replacement for medication.”

“I thought it was great,” said Jean Marie Drucker, a parent of two elementary school children. “It was very well presented, articulate, and as a special ed teacher, I thought his physiological analysis was excellent.”#

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