NEW YORK, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The 10th annual 'ADHD Experts on Call' program will take place today, Wednesday, September 17, 2008, from 8 a.m. to midnight EDT to provide families and caregivers of patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as adults with ADHD, with the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about ADHD from experts in the field. Celebrity designer Ty Pennington, who was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager, is partnering with Shire, the ADHD Support Company, to host the event and talk about his experience living with the disorder.
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During the program, which takes place during ADHD Awareness Week, experts will answer questions via the toll-free telephone hotline, 1-888-ASK-ADHD, and through live online chats at www.ADHDExpertsOnCall.com. The confidential one-on-one hotline and online chats will provide access to English and Spanish-speaking experts, including physicians, nurses, educators and patient advocates who can help educate the public about ADHD.
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"I am psyched to host this year's 'ADHD Experts on Call' event," said Ty Pennington, host of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition(TM). "As an adult with ADHD, I know how important it is to be able to focus and get work done each day. After I was diagnosed and started treatment for my ADHD symptoms, I was able to hold steady jobs in the construction and graphic design businesses, which ultimately led to me hosting ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
Over the last nine years, the 'ADHD Experts on Call' program has fielded tens of thousands of inquiries, helping people affected by ADHD better understand the disorder. This program also serves as a resource for those affected by ADHD, providing access to an expert to discuss tips and strategies for managing their ADHD and staying organized during today's increasingly busy schedules. It is also an opportunity for people to learn which symptoms are commonly associated with ADHD. Participants are also encouraged to speak with their physician if they believe ADHD is affecting their daily life.
While the experts participating in 'ADHD Experts on Call' cannot provide specific medical advice or recommend a particular course of action, they can provide helpful information about:
"'ADHD Experts on Call' is a terrific resource for people to learn about ADHD and how the disorder impacts people of all ages," said David Goodman, M.D., director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Many people think ADHD is something you outgrow, however, up to 65 percent of children with ADHD may still exhibit the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity into adulthood, although they may present differently in these two age groups. For example, while children with ADHD may seem easily distracted or have difficulty sitting still, adults may have ADHD symptoms that appear as having difficulty finishing tasks or seeming impatient. 'ADHD Experts on Call' aims to increase awareness of this impairing disorder and provide educational support to help people with ADHD succeed both at work or school and at home."
About ADHD
ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Approximately 7.8 percent of all school-aged children, or about 4.4 million U.S. children aged 4 to 17 years, have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disorder is also estimated to affect 4.4 percent of U.S. adults aged 18-44 based on results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a nationally repre
