To help patients, families and caregivers better understand Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc., will host the eighth annual ADHD Experts on Call today, September 20, 2006, from 8 A.M. to midnight EDT. Celebrity designer Ty Pennington, who was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager, is back for the third year in a row to talk about his experience managing the disorder. Some of the nation's top ADHD experts will answer questions at the toll-free telephone hotline, 1-888-ASK-ADHD.
The hotline will provide live access to English- and Spanish-speaking experts including health care professionals, educators and advocates who can answer questions regarding the disorder. In addition, a confidential, one-on-one on-line forum will be available at http://www.adhdexpertsoncall.com/ throughout the day.
Today is also national ADHD Awareness Day. In honor of ADHD Awareness Day, Ty Pennington will join Dr. Robert Findling, Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University, for an hour-long webcast to educate the community about this real and treatable disorder. The free webcast will take place live from ADHD Experts on Call from noon to 1 P.M. EDT on September 20, and it will be hosted on http://www.adhdexpertsoncall.com/. Those joining the webcast will be able to ask Ty Pennington and Dr. Findling questions about ADHD and its treatment.
"I know what's it's like to grow up with ADHD and how important it is for parents, caregivers and patients to have access to accurate information," said Ty Pennington, host of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition(TM). "I loved being part of ADHD Experts on Call last year, and I am excited about the many people we will impact this year. I hope that by working with all of these great people and sharing how support and treatment have made a difference in my life, I'll help other kids and families understand that there are people out there ready to help them and that it's possible to live a productive life with ADHD."
Over the last seven years, the ADHD Experts on Call have fielded tens of thousands of inquiries and have helped many people better understand the condition and how to manage it.
With school back in swing, parents and teachers may suspect that their child or student has ADHD. ADHD Experts on Call provides a valuable resource to both parents and teachers who may not be familiar with ADHD, and the many treatment options available. In addition, many adults still deal with the symptoms and long-term effects of ADHD, and may want to call and learn about ways to manage their symptoms of ADHD. While the experts participating in ADHD Experts on Call cannot provide specific medical advice for patients or parents or recommend a particular course of action, they will provide helpful information on topics such as:
* How teachers may approach parents if they suspect a student has ADHD;
* How parents can approach teachers about their child's ADHD-related
needs;
* How to manage ADHD as an all-day disorder: before, during and after
school;
* How to recognize ADHD symptoms in adolescents and adults;
* How to manage ADHD in the workplace;
* The need for proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment of ADHD in children and adults; and
* Common myths and misconceptions about ADHD.
"While this program doesn't replace a physician visit, parents and adult patients can learn valuable information about ADHD symptoms, diagnosis, support groups and treatment options that can help them better understand the disorder," said Dr. Findling.
