Not so long ago, people thought attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder was a condition that only affected children-- whirling dervishes who careened through life leaving a path of destruction in their wake. We now know, however, that there is a sizeable group of quiet daydreamers whose inability to organize themselves and focus on the task at hand makes it impossible for them to meet the demands of everyday life. And we know that many children with ADHD continue to have symptoms as adults. But this increased knowledge has sometimes contributed more confusion than clarification.

In Daredevils and Daydreamers, Ingersoll--one of the foremost clinicians and researchers in the field--looks at what we've learned in a decade. From obtaining a good diagnosis through the most recent, cutting edge medical and psychological solutions offered, Ingersoll's examples and research have an immediacy missing from the other books in the field. In addition, she tackles a number of peripheral issues other books ignore such as the problem of the ADHD child in adoptive families, divorced families and step-families, and she handles "real-world" issues (like soiling and bed-wetting) that others disregard.

Contents

A Personal Note to the Readers of this Book
Foreword
Chapter 1: What is Attention –Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder
Chapter 2: Is It Only ADHD? Subtypes and Related Learning, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems.
Chapter 3: Does My Child have ADHD? Do I Have It Too?
Chapter 4: What Causes ADHD?
Chapter 5: Medical Treatment of ADHD: What Have We Learned in A Decade?
Chapter 6: What Else Can We Do? Psychotherapy and Training Approaches
Chapter 7: Treating Associated Problems
Chapter 8: Bless This House: Holding It Together on the Home Front
Chapter 9: School Days, School Daze
Chapter 10: The Decade Ahead: What Can We Expect
Appendix A: Developmental and Social History
Appendix B: ADHD Support Services
Notes
Index