The method of distorted waves Born approximation is shown to be equivalent to the first-order adiabatic method for the calculation of inelastic scattering. The flexibility of the distorted waves method was indicated and tested by numerical calculation for a simplified model. The calculations treated the inelastic scattering of alpha particles from strongly absorbing nuclei and were directly comparable to the adiabatic calculations considered by Blair in Fraunhofor approximation. Good agreement was found at forward angles. Coulomb wave functions were used, and the energy difference between initial and final states was taken into account. Comparison is made to a few representative experiments, and good agreement is found. (auth)