Soquel resident shares understanding of adult AHHD

Company looks to create courses to help health care professionals diagnose, treat disorder

By Terri Morgan - Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 16, 2014

         A Soquel man who is helping to educate doctors around the world about Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder in adults will be sharing his insights on the condition with the public later this month.
         Jonathan Marx, senior vice president of Inquill Medical Communications, will be a guest speaker at the Aug. 27 Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay Branch meeting of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, which is better known as CHADD. The medical education and communications company is participating in a national education project to create courses to train health care professionals to better diagnose and treat adults with the disorder.
         While many people are familiar with ADHD, as the disorder is commonly known as, in children, most don't realize the condition also affects adults. The lack of information about adult ADHD has prevented many from seeking help in coping with the condition.
         "There are approximately 10 million adults in the United States with ADHD," said Marx. "And of those 10 million, only 10 percent have been diagnosed and treated."
         Many people mistakenly think that children who have ADHD outgrow the disorder. However, Marx noted that the disorder continues through adulthood in almost 70 percent of all cases.
         In many of those cases, the impact can be significant, said La Selva Beach's Judy Brenis, an ADHD coach who facilitates the twice-a-month CHADD support group. Common symptoms include inattention, disorganization, procrastination, poor impulse control, hyperactivity and problems with social functioning. It can also negatively impact a person's academic or job performances.
         "It affects all areas of people's life, from school to work to relationships," said Brenis, adding the disorder often contributes to high divorce rates, job losses, accidents, drug and alcohol abuse and lower levels of achievement and income. Despite impacting an estimated 4 percent of adults in America, many people don't realize they have a treatable condition.

         "There are a lot of undiagnosed adults floundering and wondering why their life is so difficult," Brenis said.
         The chronic condition can make it challenging for people to organize their lives and daily tasks. Often adults with ADHD over think situations so intensely that they fail to see obvious solutions to simple problems or situations.
         "Over thinking is a huge aspect of it," Brenis said. "That's due to the way their brain is wired. They don't stop to think 'what can I do.'"
         While decisions as to when to wash their dishes or prepare school lunches for their children can be difficult, many people with ADHD are highly intelligent and can focus intently on things they're passionate about, such as painting or playing a musical instrument.
         "Many people with ADHD are very creative," Brenis said. "Lots of musicians and artists" have this disorder.
         Marx's company is in partnership with three national organizations to research ways to improve the treatment of adult ADHD.
         "We have got the participation of the best ADHD clinicians and researchers in the country, who are taking part in this campaign, called the "Adult ADHD Research Dissemination Partnership Initiative," Marx said.
         The three-year project is being funded by a federal grant. InQuill's primary role is online educational materials to teach health care professionals to better diagnose and treat the disorder, as well as produce websites, webinars and videos on the condition that can be viewed by an international audience.
         Marx said he is looking forward to talking at the local meeting and sharing information about the disorder with the community.
         "It's a great opportunity to let people know that these resources exist," Marx said.