Howie Mandel "came out of the closet" about having ADHD today!
Howie teamed up with ADDA, CHADD, ACO, and Shire to create TV and radio Public Service Announcements, along with an informative website, AdultADHDisReal.com.
To see the PSA on TV, tune into the following national TV shows (check your local listings):
- Friday, October 17: "Live with Regis and Kelly," "Access Hollywood," OK! Magazine, and "ABC News Now"
- Monday, October 27: "Extra"
- Wednesday, October 29: "Bonnie Hunt Show"
- Tuesday, February 12, 2009: "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"
And here's some more info from the official press release:
NEW YORK, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Howie Mandel, host of Deal or No Deal and 2008 Emmy Nominee, is raising awareness about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults through the national multimedia public service announcement campaign Adult ADHD Is Real. This campaign and its Web site, AdultADHDIsReal.com, have been developed by a coalition of groups dedicated to ADHD education and awareness and made possible by Shire. As an adult living with ADHD, Howie will spread the word that ADHD is a real and treatable medical disorder and encourage adults who think they may have ADHD to seek diagnosis and evaluation.
“When I was in high school, my impulsivity led me to all kinds of acts and pranks. I had trouble sitting still and could hardly focus or pay attention in class. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I was diagnosed with ADHD,” said Howie. “I’m involved in the Adult ADHD Is Real campaign because I want adults to know that it’s never too late to seek help for ADHD. I hope that sharing my story encourages people to seek help. I didn’t let ADHD prevent me from achieving my goals and neither should anyone else.”
Many people may think of ADHD as a childhood disorder, but up to 65 percent of children with the disorder may still exhibit symptoms into adulthood. In US adults aged 18 – 44 the disorder affects approximately 4.4 percent of this population based on results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a nationally representative household survey, which used a lay-administered diagnostic interview to access a wide range of DSM-IV disorders. When this percentage is extrapolated to the full US adult population, the disorder is estimated to affect approximately 10 million adults throughout the country.
“The symptoms of ADHD impact millions of adults at work, at home, and in relationships. The Adult ADHD Is Real campaign provides a much needed platform to educate people about the disorder,” said Lenard A. Adler, MD, Director of the Adult ADHD Program at NYU Langone Medical Center, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, and author of Scattered Minds: Hope and Help for Adults with ADHD (G. P. Putnam’s Sons 2006). “Although there is no cure for ADHD, there are treatment plans available that may help successfully manage ADHD symptoms. It’s important to speak with a doctor if you think you may have the disorder.”
The multimedia campaign features Howie in television, radio, and print public service announcements. Howie will also share more of his personal story about living with ADHD through the campaign’s Web site, AdultADHDIsReal.com. The Web site provides additional information and resources for adults with ADHD, and encourages those who think they may have the disorder to take the adult ADHD self-screener and speak with their doctor.
AdultADHDIsReal.com also offers:
· Information about the symptoms of ADHD in adults and how they manifest differently in adults than in children
· Resources to help people choose a health care professional
· Links to view and listen to the public service announcements
· Links to coalition patient support groups for additional information and assistance in managing ADHD in adults.
The Adult ADHD Is Real campaign is supported by a group of organizations to raise awareness of ADHD in adults and encourage people who think they may have the disorder to take an ADHD self-screener and speak with their doctor. These patient advocacy groups include the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO), Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), and Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Shire also supports the campaign.
The leaders of the following organizations, ACO, ADDA, and CHADD, have joined together in making the following statement: “It is imperative for the public to be aware that ADHD is a real disorder for those with ADHD, with potential consequences for adults with ADHD and everyone around them. We commend Howie for sharing his story and hope that it empowers other adults who think they may have the disorder to seek out more information on ADHD by visiting AdultADHDIsReal.com.”
About The Coalition
The coalition for the Adult ADHD Is Real campaign consists of patient advocacy groups including ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO), Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), and Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). The coalition is dedicated to raising awareness about ADHD in adults as a real and treatable medical disorder. Shire also supports the campaign.
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