A Critical Need Ignored: Inadequate Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD After Age 60

9 Comments: A Critical Need Ignored: Inadequate Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD After Age 60

1. Self-diagnosed last August at age 70, then it took a few months to get an evaluation and start medication. I understand why I wasn’t diagnosed when I was young, but since the mid-80s I’ve been seeing therapists, psychologists, and even a psychiatrist, trying to figure out why I was depressed and couldn’t get things done. All I got was SSRIs and sympathetic listening. None of them ever considered ADHD as the problem.

   I’m a freelance web developer and have always found it difficult to keep my attention focused on client projects. Last summer I was finally so exhausted struggling to manage my own brain and shaming myself for not getting things done that I was ready to give up. Then YouTube’s algorithm offered me “Should You Be Assessed for ADHD?” from Harley Therapy and I found the speaker telling the story of my life. Funny how YouTube showed more insight than the mental health pros. I’ve cried more than once thinking about all those years of trying, failing, and blaming myself for not trying hard enough.

   The good news is that with just a starter dose of Adderal I’ve gotten further with my projects in the past month than in the previous year. I shudder to think where I’d be if I hadn’t discovered the problem or if the psychiatrist had told me that since I was over 65 there was no point in treating me. I may never be able to afford to retire because I’ve been so inefficient where money is concerned. I have fewer days left than the youngsters and I want to make the most of them!

2. Reading these articles, I get the definite notion that they are not written by someone who “is add.” I hate when they say “has add” as it makes it sound like a disease. It is not something wrong with you., in my strong opinion. It is a type of brain. For as many types of people born there are just as many types of brain. Well…of course, it is inherited! Just like every other trait in our bodies and personalities- we get variations from either/ or both parents …ancestors on back! Not surprising to me! Yes… in my opinion people can also have learning differences…we are all different. Trouble comes up when we “Don’t” what somebody somewhere decided what “normal is!” I am glad I have an add bra9n. it’s a good brain. I would lay odds that a great number of individuals who”have” are creative, empathetic people….and on top of that their beautiful brains , because they are sensitive, colorful brains with lots of thoughts, they no doubt felt more trauma from things that happen to themselves and to others near them because that’s what us thought”ful”, expressive people do….. we just have to be in the right groove for us to flourish. Sadly- many many many have been forced or shamed into school situations, church situations, job situations which ridiculed them for being how they naturally are. I take a small amount of adderral and it clears my mind like magic. I have to wonder had I not learned how to try to shrink my thoughts and my emotions and my opinions because they annoyed someone else would I have needed a stimulant now? I believe trying to conform to “normal” , boring, constricted thought and procedures in our society it caused me to learn to not focus or to daydream or zone out because my brain had more to give than some teacher or arrogant man, at the time, so yes…they say girls, women, get diagnosed later if at all because we were taught to be lady like? Polite? Quiet? On the outside but our minds were still busy. My pop was a genius and he was convinced he was add and he was snap as a tack and still practicing dentistry tI almost 91! I believe elderly adders are misdiagnosed and then shut in nursing homes with nothing to do and no way to do things and with people in the medical field who just want to drug them down to not be bothered. I am 58 and if I was stuck alone somewhere and not able to go when I wanted I would get depressed and nervous and have nightmares too! It doesn’t mean I have 1dementia! So this article says 3% of adults and 8-9% of children “have” add—- but they also said it’s hereditary- so when kids 8-9% grow up they will still be add and be old…right? I believe half the population is probably add to some degree. Some have just grown up being understood and helped to find job, life, friends, activities, interests etc. which are suited for them. Inventive, thought”ful”….we are. So …my mom is 93.8 year old mom has forced out of the life she knew – but someone in our family who is not add and now she is having depression, severe memory issues etc, no doubt she is elderly and had some memory issues gradually ..but this is from trauma on a sensitive , anxious little woman after her husband of 67 years died and now she sits, due to arthritis, and worries around and around. I a have her genes…it is not outlandish that she has a similar brain to mine, correct? It’s inherited. I inherited a busy, artistic, smart, emotional brain from both my parents. The doctors won’t listen or even try adderral ( and by the way if it is right for your brain it won’t necessarily make your heart race or those other symptoms..at least in my experience- it calms my mind down, I have a better appetite because I am able to plan and do things and work up an appetite and it does not raise my blood pressure🤷‍♀️ Try to find a therapist and psychiatrist who has an add brain. IThey are hard to come by as most I have seen were just “normal” boring brained people who know what they know from a text book.

3. Missed the best part and that is forgiving oneself for all our pecadillos especially the messy apt. Discovered real cooking and the value of being selective about the food I eat. Not having to drink 15 to 20 cups of coffee a day is a real time, not to mention money saver.

4. Diagnosed Raging Combined at 70 10 years after retiring due to anger issues (verbal) 2 years after being hospitalized for a major depression. Prescribed Ven la Faxine for depression (similar to Straterra) my recovery was a steady improvement over months particularly the memory part. Joined a third chorus and coincidentally discovered the great dopamine effect of singing in groups. Oldest sister passed on and left me a complete set of my grade school report cards that told the typical tale. I have a son and adult grandson who are both ADHd .Concerta added to mix but dropped again as parts of the aggressiveness returned. Last year had a valve replaced on my heart that was responsile for my extremely low blood pressure. Retirement was a catastrophe until the Venlafaxine. Memory returned in spades, and was able to organize some but not all routines . Now sing in 3 choirs Some modern , some pop, but mostly classical. Memorize 110 pieces of music between 4 and 20 pages long after 3 rehearsals…only practice the Requiems we sing in the summer and do some work from home 100 pages long in Latin, Greek,(mozart) German(brahms)
   Regular blood pressure has helped as well. Now 73 and having a fantastic time 3 ex wives. Volunteer, sing, Golf, Snooker, regular church attendee (united Methodist) and hoping to catch up to my oldest remaining siblings who are in their 90s and still active..

   1. donsense, Was it depression and Adhd? Or do you have a full blown case of “The Methodist Blues.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT-weLjGtEs

      1. Definitely the Blues….and …third wife was disappearing with the keys.

5. Relax! I’ve survived two minor TIA strokes and a “big one” that knocked me for a loop on Christmas weekend last year. And I mean Survived. What can knock your memory for a loop more than a stroke, right, or was it left, up n’ down. Have to be careful. Writing like this could give me or you, a reader, a case of “literary vertigo.” I’m 66, retired now on “regular social security” and medicare. When I look at what I have to wrangle through in terms of bills to appeal and what I have to settle on paying (ugh), plus keeping tabs on the various doctors’ appt’s and helping my wife (who got me to give her the keys some 15 years ago, a bigger “ugh” for my ego) so she doesn’t lose track, and all that could mean to her work schedule) . . . but don’t worry about life’s complications. They’ll be with us forever. Face that fact as we grow older, crankier, etc., and be pleasantly surprised over time at how much easier life becomes as we with ADHD make it through our daily lives. There’s no other “real key” to getting through this other than taking a more resigned, negative, and even worse, despairing attitude that’ll control a person’s mind for a long time ahead. Remember, ADHD is not uncontrollable and so long as we keep this in mind, do what we’re supposed to do (take the right meds at the right time, etec.) we’ll be the ones in control of our circumstances and if we remember that we can control our circumstances, we can control the rest, or at least mitigate their consequences on us and those we love, work for and enjoy as friends.
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6. Great path to pursue. I have just recently been diagnosed at the age of 65. Post retirement, I was a wreck. I was never outwardly “hyperactive” so that part of the equation was missed. I survived the earlier problems of ADHD in my life due to a high intellect, my mother being my “executive secretary”, and falling into a vocation that fit well with my symptoms, especially hyper focus; Mechanical Design Engineering. The loss of structure and challenge of my vocation let the can of worms explode into reality and here I am. I had to ask to be diagnosed. I had to show “probable cause” to my psychiatrist who did listen and prescribed a full blown Neuro-Psych Eval. After 5 hours of evaluation and testing, I was diagnosed with ADHD of the “inattentive” variety but with a bit of “combined” thrown in there. I see the referring psychiatrist next week to see where we go from here.
   Yes, there are those who have struggled with it all of their lives, but though struggling, have made it through most of life successfully. Yes, but I definitely need help…possibly medication even at this advanced age.

7. Good article. I was diagnosed at age 51. I take adderall. My memory is awful, remember names? Forget that. It’s crazy making. I do the best I can. I’m now 57. I hate to think about my decline, with age. Scares me.