Attention Deficit Disorder can follow a child into adulthood. But it can be managed.

Paediatric psychologist Guy Fowle revealed this during a speech to Hamilton Rotary Club.

"Although significant attention difficulties and hyperactivity are usually associated with children in school, the syndrome does not go away,'' Dr. Fowle said. "It may change its presentation and/or individuals can better learn to manage it, but it continues into adulthood and can significantly affect adults functioning, both in their personal lives as well as in their job performance.'' Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, is a disorder where people suffer from severe and chronic attention and/or overactivity impulsivity problems. It affects people regardless of economic, social, cultural and intellectual background or age.

"People who suffer from chronic problems with inattention have Attention Deficit Disorder and those who have chronic problems with hyperactivity and impulsivity have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD,'' Dr. Fowle said. "They are actually quite different problems. But the terms ADD and ADHD are often used interchangeably as they often occur together.'' Because ADD was becoming known as the "diagnosis of the 90s'', he said: "I am somewhat concerned that this may trivialise the disorder and that it will pass out of vogue when something new comes along. In actual fact, ADD has been around for a long time but with different names. Previously, it had been called Minimal Brain Damage, Hyperkinetic Syndrome and Hyperactivity.'' Dr. Fowle explained that in the workplace those with ADD "drift off in the middle of conversations or in the middle of reading a page''.

"They have a very hard time getting their work finished,'' he said. "They are very forgetful and are known as procrastinators.'' Some symptoms of ADD are: difficulty in sustaining attention to tasks; not listening when spoken to directly; forgetful in daily activities; easily distracted by external stimuli; and significant problems organising tasks and activities.

Dr. Fowle said: "ADHD individuals often cannot concentrate unless they are moving. Their impulsivity can result in them butting into conversations, getting easily irritated when they have to wait. They will get up to get something and then forget what it was they were getting.'' Recent research has suggested that up to 30 percent of those in prison in Bermuda may have ADD, Dr. Fowle said.

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