‘What else have I got?’ – Dean Windass, 56, reveals he has ADHD as well as dementia as he opens up on health battle
FORMER Premier League striker Dean Windass has been diagnosed with ADHD.
Windass, 56, revealed earlier this year that he had dementia which was discovered following a brain scan last year.
The former Hull City forward, speaking to the BBC, opened up on his diagnosis after he launched his second autobiography.
Windass, who has had problems with drinking and his mental health post-retirement, could not believe it at first when he was told about his condition.
He said: “I thought, ‘God, what’s going on?’
“I’ve got dementia, now I’ve got ADHD – and what else have I got?”
However, Windass, who also played for Bradford City, Middlesbrough, and Aberdeen, thinks that him having ADHD adds up when looking back to his earlier years.
He added: “Even at school I couldn’t process things.
“I can read and write, but if I read a book and you asked me what that book was about, I wouldn’t know.”
Windass’ dementia diagnosis earlier this year adds to the growing number of former footballers with the syndrome.
Key members of England‘s 1966 World Cup-winning side – Bobby and Jack Charlton, as well as Nobby Stiles – all passed away with dementia.
Jeff Astle, the former England striker, died in 2002 with an inquest into his death calling it “industrial disease” due to repeated heading of the ball.
Windass has since become a big advocate for ex-players to get their heads scanned, revealing that many had reached out to him worried that they could be struggling with the same thing.
Windass said: “I’m trying to get as many footballers [as possible] to go for a scan.”
What is ADHD?
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how individuals focus, regulate their impulses, and manage their energy levels
Symptoms depend on the type; inattention causes challenges with focusing, organisation and time management, hyperactivity causes excessive energy or restlessness, and impulsivity causes a person to act without thinking or struggle to wait their turn.
People can be predominately one type or a mix of the two and symptoms are varied and unique to individuals.
While living with ADHD is challenging, people often find unique strengths within their condition, such as the ability to hyperfocus on something they find interesting, problem-solving skills and creativity.
Windass was the hero in the 2008 Championship play-off final at Wembley, scoring the winner to send his hometown club Hull into the Premier League for the first time in the Tigers’ history.
Windass said of the moment: “It was the most important goal of my career, probably not the best, but the most important.
“It was a special day in my life, in everybody’s lives in Hull.”