CENTER TREATS ATTENTION DISORDERS.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

Deborah Abrams spent almost seven years seeking help for her son Glenn, a child who was inexplicably fidgety, easily frustrated and unable to concentrate.

Abrams' search began when Glenn was 15 months old. After years of visits to different doctors, psychoanalysts and psychologists, Glenn was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder at age 8.

``As parents, we didn't know how to deal with this until we knew what he had,'' Abrams said. ``We weren't leading a normal life.''

Now the development director for the Center for Attention Disorders in Simi Valley, Abrams hopes to increase awareness of ADD and teach other parents how to cope with the illness.

``It's important for parents to realize they're really not alone,'' Abrams said. ``There are people out there who can teach parents how to work with the symptoms and learn how to deal with it.''

The center, located in the Aspen Outpatient Center at Simi Valley Hospital, opened its doors to the public in April. The center will host a private open house today, bringing together therapists and physicians interested in helping those with ADD.

Founded by Dr. James Kehr, the nonprofit center helps bring together children and parents, professionals and educators with one common purpose - to identify as early as possible the disorder and begin treatment.

``Our ultimate goal is to provide comprehensive treatment,'' said Kehr, who has worked with attention disorders for the past 10 years.

ADD is a neurological disability that affects up to 5 percent of all children in the United States, according to the Center for Attention Disorders.

In Simi Valley and the Conejo Valley, it is not uncommon to find 10 percent of students per classroom with ADD, Kehr said.

ADD is identified by three main factors - developmentally inappropriate attention skills; poor ability to delay impulsive thoughts, feelings and actions; and poor ability to control activity level.

Studies show that characteristics usually arise in early childhood and are marked by chronic behaviors that frequently continue into adulthood.

Without early identification and management, ADD can have serious consequences, including school failure and dropout, depression, conduct disorders, failed relationships and substance abuse.

However, because ADD is not a life-threatening illness, it doesn't get the attention it needs nor the funding for research or treatment, Kehr said.

Often, children go through many years of frustration, isolation and desperation before they are properly diagnosed and a course of treatment can begin.

The center provides services on an outpatient basis for children and adults, and provides tutoring, education and group programs, said Muriel Robinson, the center's educational coordinator.

``There's a lot of people with this problem who don't understand what's wrong,'' Robinson said. ``We're here to help.''

The center is located at the Aspen Outpatient Center at Simi Valley Hospital, 2750 Sycamore Drive, Suite 201. For more information, call the center at 527-9414.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: (color in SIMI) Dr. James Kehr, founder of the Cente r for Attention Disorders in Simi Valley, plans to host an informational, private open house today.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News