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School-Aged Kids Teens and Pre-Teens Adult ADD ADD Medication More Resources

Binocular Vision Test & ADD

March 2009

Has anyone taken their child to UC Berkeley's School of Optometry for a Binocular Vision Test recently? Planning to take my 6yr old daughter there. Her school had a doctor from UC Berkeley who did the eye exam and had mentioned about Binocular Vision. I've taken her to my regular eye doctor, who said she was fine. She?s not doing academically well in school, so trying to see if there's any relation in vision. I took her to the doctor and was diagnosed with ADD, just by the questionnaire completed by the parent and her 1st grade teacher. That?s it? Just by a questionnaire? Does anyone know what other tests there to test her? I?m not sure what direction I should start looking into. I've written an email to her principal to see if the school psychologist can give her a test. My daughter now freaks out when you tell her to do homework and hates school. She use to love preschool & most of Kindergarten. Sylvia


My son was also referred to have the binocular vision testing done when he was about 6. His teachers at school suggested he be evaluated because he wasn't doing well academically. The binocular vision testing was part of a larger diagnostic work up (he was ultimately diagnosed with ADD).

The binocular vision testing is very thorough and somewhat exhaustive at UCB, and they have a pleasant manner. The multiple tests look for any problems with visual perception. My son tolerated the tests well, as UCB works well with kids. Good luck


I took my daughter to the UCB Binocular Vision Clinic two years ago. I was very impressed with the process and the recommendation they made. My daughter is a good student who's a terrible speller. They found her to be perfectly normal with no vision or attention issues. I also took her to the Linda Moode Belle center in Berkeley. It was probably overkill but I felt like I had dotted the i's and crossed the t's when I had both opinions. Best of luck to you
My son, age 10, just finished testing at UC Binocular Vision. They found all of the same issues his ed therapist had found. We are in the process of getting testing done through the school district. Once we have that report we'll go back to UC to begin therapy. The supervising professor at UC encouraged us to wait so that we wouldn't have to pay for them to do certain tests or initiate therapies that would be done/included by the school. Unfortunately that clinic is incredibly busy... we had to wait more than two months to get in initially, and had basically no choice with regard to day or time. Also, this is the second time we've gone through testing there. The first time was three years ago and the results were ''normal'' however I got the impression from the professor we worked with this time that the screening done on the weekend (when we went) is less thorough than that done on the weekdays. Perhaps some of his issues would have been caught sooner if we'd done screening on a different day, but honestly I think he was too young then for any of the screening to be effective. There is a huge range of what is developmentally normal at 5,6 and 7. It's just really hard to tell if there is a learning disability or if the problem is attention, or if the kid just isn't ready yet, but will be in six months. My son was within normal ranges for almost all of the tests he did, including those with an audiologist and testing done by a private ed psychologist... it wasn't until late in second grade that we were able to get any real diagnosis from any testing.

As for ADD... it is not uncommon for children to be diagnosed using no other measures than a survey. Sometimes if it is done by a school psychologist the child is also observed in class. I've spoken to one who recommends brain scans, though I haven't had a chance to persue how one would get that done. We waited about two years to do anything about our son's diagnosis... it seemed arbitrary at the time, borderline at best. The psychologist who presented the results had no credibility since she couldn't even read the graph to us correctly... So we decided to wait and see. This year it became obvious that the other kids aren't ''just like him''. It was impacting him socially and acadmically and really hurting his self esteem, and since we'd tried addressing evey other issue we decided to start medication... it has made a world of difference already and we aren't even through experimenting wiht dosage to see what is best. Still trying to figure it out


I took my son to the binocular vision clinic, where they found trouble with his horizontal tracking. We worked with a piece of software, and over a period of a few months, his tracking became much better, and his reading improved quite a bit. Shortly thereafter, he began to enjoy to read. I don't know how much of that was him developing, and how much of that was the help with tracking -- but it certainly didn't hurt, and it wasn't that expensive.

With regard to ADD, just a couple of questionnaires seems like an incomplete diagnosis. That would work as a screening test -- saying that your child needed further evaluation, but not as a complete diagnostic tool. It seems like you might want to consult with a developmental pediatrician, developmental psychologist, and/or the school psychology team at your school (you can get an evaluation through your public school by formally requesting it, and I believe it must occur within 60 days of the request). They usually do a very thorough testing of your child, including IQ tests, academic tests, classroom observations, as well as questionnaires.

In terms of your child hating school, some of it may be a mismatch between how she learns and the teacher. You might want to do some talking to other parents who have spent time in the classroom to see if there's been any friction between your child and this teacher. My child had trouble with the teacher in one particular grade, and it was a total nightmare, for him and me. Since then, however, he has done very well, loved school and the teachers, and all has been well. Karen


Parent Advise for ADHD Teen

May 2008

We've just completed the testing on my HS teen, who has been diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive type). We are about to begin the 504 process to get help through the school. However, this disability has affected our home life (and even more so now that we are dealing with a teenager who gets emotional). I really do not have a sense of what I do (as a parent of an ADHD child) to make life easier for all of us at home. My child resents our acting as room monitors but otherwise homework or a project (such as cleaning the bedroom) may not get completed. What should I care about and what should I let go? How do you keep them focused without becoming an ogre? My teen seems to rely on us to fill in the gaps but sometimes, I feel like I am doing too much. Medication may not be an option because my child is currently opposed to it and I feel this has to be a joint decision. On the other hand, it takes so long for anything to get completed that it seems like my teen loses out.

I have read the books but now I am looking for classes or training for how we, as the parents, should deal with everyday experiences. There has got to be something more than just putting a label on a kid or thinking the school will fix everything

Also, I would appreciate any updated recommendations on local occupational therapists. Thanks so much!! anonymous


We have an ADHD (inattentive type) son also. We did several things of the course of a few years (and researched everything!).

The first thing we did was to find a therapist for our son (a child psychiatrist) and a family therapist (Licensed MFC) for us as parents. It was important to us that we learn how to support him so he didn't feel like we were nagging him all the time and for us to be able to filter out what was important (studying, getting to school on time, making good choices with spare time) vs that with which we could live (messy room, messy-looking homework). Besides the formal process of getting and IEP in place, we also worked with his teachers so a) they would understand what certain behavior could be attributed to, and b) so they could develop a feedback system for him so he could participate in the monitoring of his behavior.

We, too, were trepidatious about medication. We didn't initially put him on medication because he didn't want to but made sure he was fully informed about choices and what was being recommended. After a year and a half in therapy and NOT on medication, our son, himself, asked for medication. In just a few days, after adjusting the dose, he could see the difference, as could we. A couple of years later with letters of admission to several universities and colleges, he - and we - are happy as clams.

In summary, the combination of therapy, medication, and total family commitment is helping with a better outcome. Hang in there! Another parent of an ADHD son


I too struggle with this issue with my son. A friend recommended the book, ''Bright Minds, Poor Grades: Understanding and Motivating your Underachieving Child'' by Michael D. Whitley. I just purchased it and I am still reading through it, but already see much potential in its 10 step program. I found the book on Amazon, used. Hope this helps! Donna

Adderall and facial tics

Nov 2007

does anyone have any info on adderal and facial tics? my 17 yr old was put on adderal for a diagnosed adhd, which he took sporadicaly, maybe a total of 10 times. i removed him when i noticed the facial tics. he has not been on any medication for about 4 months, but the tics have gotten worse, with the neck stretching, grimmacing, etc. thank you kat


It sounds like you need to get back to the doctor and report this, as well as the fact that the first trial of dosage and type of medication didn't seem to work out. Those facial tics sound noticeable enough that they might produce some social fallout and embarrassment for your child. There is really great information about AD/HD and co-occuring conditions on the websites of schwablearning.org and the National Resource Center on AD/HD at www.help4adhd.org. In my experience as an educational therapist who treats adolescents and adults with AD/HD, the road to optimal medication can be a long one, and working closely with your doctor is important. Don't give up too soon. These facial tics are probably distressing, and your doctor may want to change medications because of them. You're an important partner in the treatment because you provide the observations in real time. Good luck. linda

Has anyone heard of inattentive ADD disorder?

Jan 2007

I was in my salon the other day and spoke with someone who has a daughter with the same type of problems as my daughter. some were your typical, but some hit right on the mark. She said her daughter was tested and was found to have inattentive ADD disorder. She was givin meds and went from a majority of D's on her report card to A'S. Any input or Recommended physicians who specialize in this hard to detect type of ADD. Ray


Clearwater Counseling and Assessment Services, in Oakland, offers comprehensive psychological ADD evaluations, which include a school observation, for quite reasonable fees. Attention Deficit Disorder is not a medical condition, and it is best assessed by a psychologist rather than a medical doctor, although of course an MD needs to prescribe any recommended medications. Often, symptoms of ADD can be treated behaviorally, with medication added only if there isn't satisfactory progress using behavioral interventions alone. Visit Clearwater's website: www.clearwaterclinic.com or call Dr. Sharon Witkin at 596-8137 for more information. Sally
ADD is a medical disorder that has a higher genetic basis than any of the other psychiatric disorders (including schizophrenia) and is primarily treated with medications. I am a psychiatrist who treats UC Berkeley students with attention deficit disorder. ADD can be with hyperactivity and/or impulsivity but these are not necessary for the diagnosis. The inability to focus must begin before age 7 and interfer with two areas of functioning such as school, home life and social skills. For children the treatment of choice is medications and this is provided by pediatricians and child psychiatrists. Educating the family and teachers how to work with the child and tutoring as needed to keep the child up to grade level are also important. For adolescents and adults treatment choices include medications and cognitive behavior therapy. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder are sometimes co-morbid with ADD so the treatment of people with ADD is usually complex. anon
In the work I do we have a different perspective on ADD. ADD, whether inattentive or hyperactive, stands for ''attention deficit disorder.'' It implies that there is a lack of attention. What if there was actually plenty of attention and it was just being paid to something other than the outward task at hand? We all have priorities, what we pay attention to first, and our neurological system is no different. We will all make sure we are safe and protected before we deal with anything else. If a person's tactile system is particularly sensitive it might be painful to sit in a chair to focus on the lesson in class, therefore they might squirm to stop the pain in order to pay attention to the lesson. Likewise, if auditory or visual systems do not give clear information, a person might ''space out'' in order to attempt to make sense of what is going on.Meanwhile they miss pieces and look like they are not paying attention. Ever have a difficult time understanding a speaker and get stuck trying to figure out what they said and by the time you do the speaker has gone on and you are completely lost? You weren't being inattentive - you weren't able to attend to what they were saying until you could decipher that. It would surely affect your functioning if this happened all the time! Inefficient or disorganized neurological systems work harder to give messages that make sense to the brain. Perhaps a more accurate name for this situation would be APD or ''attention priority disorder.'' Once the neurological system is organized the priorities shift and the person can more readily attend to the outer world. If this perspective intrigues you, please contact me at 925-934-3500 and we can discuss it. You can also learn more about this approach, called the HANDLE perspective at www.learningandgrowth.com. Best of luck as you look into this complex subject. Sindy
I'm a Berkeley psychotherapist working mainly with teens who have learning disorders of one kind or another. Many of my clients have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD comes in two varieties. There is ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type, and there is ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type. Most specialists now consider the Inattentive Type of ADHD to be a different disorder altogether, not just a sub-type. ADHDI (as it's often called) is hard to diagnose, because people with ADHDI don't show outward signs of distractibility; that is, they don't jump up and down, wiggle, tap pencils, interrupt people, talk ceaselessly, and so forth. They may appear to be quite calm, composed, and focused; but inside, their minds may be racing aimlessly from one thought to another. They are highly distractible: so much so, that they often don't seem to hear what is said to them or to be aware of what's happening around them. They find it hard to get started on projects or complete them. They do things quite slowly; overall they are characterized by what some experts call ''sluggish cognitive tempo.'' In moments of stress they may slow down rather than speed up; occasionally people with ADHDI may even fall asleep during important final exams. Obviously this kind of ADHD can produce severe academic problems, though it isn't as likely to produce disciplinary problems as the other type. I hope you'll find this very basic information helpful. Please let me know if you have questions. Caroline
I expected to see tons of answers to this question, so I held off, but so far the only replies have come from therapists; nothing from parents! Yes, I have indeed heard of inattentive ADHD -- we've been living with it for a long time... ADHD comes in 3 flavors: primarily hyperactive-impulsive, primarily inattentive, and combined. Before you settle down with any particular therapist or doctor with any particular approach, you may just want to get some basic information. There are so many good websites, but here are a few that I have found helpful: CHADD.ORG - extensive information about all aspects of ADHD; some very good basic information sheets. MEDLINEPLUS.GOV - National Institutes of Health (I think...); very authoritative and reputabile; just search on ADHD SCHWABLEARNING.ORG - lots of very informative articles on ADHD, as well as on other learning difficulties. I hope this helps. anonymous

Two kids with ADD/ ADHD - need meds?

Nov 2005

Both of my kids, now 7 and 8 (20 months apart) have been little handfuls since birth- very active, very verbal, very intense, very creative and very bright. In fact, they were great babies, and we gave ourselves all the credit for raising them ''right''. Both of us parents were similar as kids and it was not thought to be more than a strong personality. We used to joke about ADD, but imposed as much structure as possible and learned to enjoy the chaos...then they started school. Both have problems there, primarily impulsiveness and emotional reactivity. One is gifted based on testing and off-the-charts active, the other distracted, dramatic and dreamy. After one too many discussions with schools, we started family therapy directed at behavioral modification (1-2-3 Magic, etc.) and have instituted every nonpharmacologic approach to ADD on the books. I am a researcher, but I have even done things that have no proven benefits based on research, such as limiting sugar.

Nothing is working for school and whenever we go out to public events (BD parties, etc get them overexcited) although their behavior is markedly better at home. I have tried to think of their ADD as a personality type that can be adaptive in many ways. I work with alot of successful adults who were hyper kids. I cannot seem them as ''diseased'' or having a brain disorder.

But we now are beginning to understand why people medicate their children like ours- the reaction of teachers and other kids and their parents to them causes us and the kids alot of anguish. People are quick to assign blame. It's assumed we do not discipline our kids (and yes, we don't hit them but there are very clear consequences when they misbehave, but impulsive kids still lose control of themselves at times) or spend enough time with them (both parents work), etc. I am tired of yelling at them and dampening their exhuberence, which I have been advised I must do to get them to be able to behave at school and in public. They never were allowed to run around screaming, but you have to shout to keep them in line and impose consequences daily. I am NOT setting expectations too high- as if!- I'm sure half the parents we come in contact with assume I'm too lax. But they also think it's unseemly that when one of the kids get revved up, I have to speak firmly to them in public.

They have friends because they are creative and funny, but if a kid wants to be mean, they choose one of mine. When my kids get upset, they often cry or ''take a swing'' back- very rewarding to tease with low risk of retribution. They both do well in school, but are felt to be underperforming by teachers- one's messy handwriting is said to be a sign of insufficient pride in work product, the gifted one can't sit still for reading aloud. It's one month into the school year and I have been to 2 ''conferences'' about my problem children. I am in tears and stressed out daily- trying to hold the line on their behavior and bear up under criticism, snide remarks and ''advice''.

Here's the dilemma- do we give them medication? We promised ourselves we'd give the other path a full year to work and if anything, things are worse as one year later. I just can't yell anymore at kids who really are trying their best. I know they will gain self-esteem if their schoolwork begins to show their potential (I myself am less concerned about ''grades'' at this age but they both are very invested in school despite daily negativity there). Our medical advice is that it's time to give it a try. One kids is getting too dispirited from all the criticism and the bouncier one is starting to lose his temper from the same. I know I will likely be judged negatively for medicating the kids too, but I am concerned that they used to be hyper and happy, and now they are hyper and anxious.

I am asking for support in general from parents of kids like mine. If you gave your kids medication, what tipped you over into that decision? Did the ''shame and blame'' from outside the family play a role? Did it just wear you down to deal with their behaviors constantly? Did the meds make them into zombies? Some days, I really just want a quick fix, but my real concern is their happiness and future well-being- and it's starting to seem one or both might be happier on meds. not quite super-mom


There are two things that made me feel better about trying medication on my child: 1. There is nothing irreversible about the decision. If you do not like it you can stop ANY TIME! This is not surgery or switching schools or even making a big financial purchase. This is trying a cheap drug with an extremely short half life that will be out of my child's body in a few hours. It is called a drug trial because you are trying it to see if it works. 2. If my child needed glasses or insulin or other medical care I would provide them. Why is the cultural assumption that drugs are so bad?

Use your skills as a researcher and do a lit. search--look at what works, look at what people do in other countries, look at the risks and side effects of ritalin.

Honestly from your letter I couldn't figure out a reason why you wouln't want to try medication. Because people are going to judge you?

Keep in mind if your kids are zombies from the meds. then it isn't that they shouldn't be on them, it may be that they're taking too much.

Get a good doctor who knows about this and then go for it. What do you have to lose?

Also, your kids sound almost old enough and together enough to have an opinion about it themselves. Ask them whether they like it. Sometimes kids like it and feel so much better on medication and ask for their medicine when it is stopped. extremely thankful my child is on medication


You are most certainly not alone! Every parent of a kid with ADHD goes though all this same agonizing. This is such a huge and difficult issue. And other parents can be quite judgemental about your kids, their behavior and if you choose to go with medication, about all that too. It's hard. Give yourself a lot of credit for understanding your kids are trying their hardest already.

If you have not yet seen this site, visit: http://millermom.proboards23.com/

It is a huge source of support on all these issues and includes a large section on complementary & alternative treatments, which work well fro some kids. There is also a large section on conventional medication.

We did a trial of medication when our daughter was your kids' age and the side effects were just too tough to deal with, due to her metabolism, I guess. A few years later we tried again, and it has been really, really good. The side effects have been tolerable, and most importantly, she feels like it is really helpful. It helps her with attention and also with impulsivity in her social interactions. I'm fairly certain that without the meds, her life would be much more stressful and home life would be much more bitter. She's not zombie-ish at all. It seems the key is a willingness to work through the trial-and-error period to find the right medication and dosage-- and that can be trying.

Best of luck on this journey, Sympathetic Parent


You may wish to read Mary Ann Block's book on what you can do for your children through non-pharmaceutical means. Also, know that many modalities have been able to help gifted children (read THE EDISON GENE by Thom Hartmann) which may include: HANDLE (www.handle.org), sensory assessment and integration (http:// www.toolsforlearning.com/), Jin Shin Jyutsu (www.jinshinjyutsu.com), and neurotransmitter assessment with targeted amino acid therapy (www.neuroscience.com). Since ADD drugs work on neurotransmitters (such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine) amino acids (building blocks for all proteins in our bodies) can address the underlying imbalances, after first measuring what the body is making (via urine). You might call the company to locate a practitioner using this methodology. Nori
Hi there, I am a former special Education teacher and am now the Assistant Director of a learning center (www.learningrx.com) in Pleasanton. Have you read ''Driven to Distraction'' by Ned Hallowell? I just heard him speak and he is an adult with ADHD and a very different perspective on things. Try reading his book (s). i was very impressed. Also, you may want to look into cognitive training, such as at LearningRx, or other treatments that involve brain science. Keep your great attitude! Cynthia
You seem to be very thoughtful, ''on top of it'' parents who have done all of the right things to deal with your childrens' difficult behaviors but obviously the treatments and strategies you have tried have not been optimally effective. I would DEFINITELY give medication a try. I don't have children with ADHD children myself, but I am a child psychologist who knows the ADHD treatment literature very well. In the majority of cases children with ADHD respond positively to medication and their lives (as well as the lives of those around them) improve, sometimes dramatically. Of course there can be side effects and the effects of long-term medication use are not well understood. However, if I had a child with ADHD I would definitely give medication a try. If your kids are prescribed a stimulant medication (which is most likely), you will know very quickly whether the meds are having a positive effect. If they aren't or if you are concerned about side effects you can simply stop the meds. It is worth a try. Liz O.
I have a child who somewhat fits the same description as yours. We held off on medication for 10 years, determined to work with our child. We tried EVERYTHING. The differences in raising a child who has ''issues'' really became apparent to us when we had other children and began realizing that ''normal'' children do not behave/react the way our oldest child does. This may seem obvious but if you don't have anything to compare it to it is not. We finally relented with the medication for many reasons, all of which you touched on in your email. Primarily though was finally getting to a point where I felt my child was enduring failure after failure no matter how hard he tried and that it was starting to shape his character and who he believed he was. As a parent I also had had enough of being judged and my child being judged. Because we had other children who were absolutely delightful we had a bit more faith that there was nothing wrong with our parenting but rather a roll of the genetic dice. But anyone who thinks that having a difficult child doesn't wreck havoc on your family, personal life, marriage, self-esteem etc. is fooling themselves. Likewise, I've come to the conclusion that to plod along in the hopes that things will improve for your child is naive at best and can be extremely damaging to the child who is experiencing all the frustration that impulsiveness and other strong behavior creates.

Medication is not a miracle although we saw a difference in our child within the first few weeks of starting. What it has done for our child is help him focus and control his behavior just enough that he can engage and learn in his school environment and start experiencing some of the success that is rightfully due to him because he is smart and bright and can be a pleasant guy. We use the lowest dosage that we are comfortable with and that appears to make a difference. We use his more balanced personality as teaching opportunities to empower him to take responsibility for himself. Now, I'm convinced we did the right thing and could kick myself that we waited 10 years before getting help for our child. Because he has had some real success, I hope that as he grows older and his maturity and physiological system catches up OR he learns about better behavior and can more control his actions he may be able to eventually be med free. But I would also support him staying on the med as long as he benefitted from it. We'll just have to see what the future holds. Happy to have a happy kid


You sound like a great mom! It's very difficult, I know, and I give you a lot of credit for trying so hard and thinking this through so thoroughly. My son, who is now 11 and in 6th grade, was diagnosed with ADD at the beginning of 5th grade. Trust me, I was very opposed to the idea of meds, but I was also really tired from years of dealing with various behaviors that you described very well. More importantly, I was concerned about his growing frustration and discouragement as he got older and more self-aware and as the expectations at school increased. The thing that helped me most was that I have a tremendous amount of trust in his doctor, Brad Berman. I trusted the diagnosis, because it was certainly not something that Brad rushed into. Nevertheless, I felt very sad about it because I felt terrible that my son was going to have to deal with all this (meaning the ADD label, taking meds, etc). When Brad pointed out that my son was already dealing with it (meaning ADD itself), I realized that perhaps my resistance to meds was not helping my son. I was also terrified that my kid would be dramatically different and somehow not-himself if he took medication.

I wanted to write to tell you that trying meds was the best thing we could have done. My kid is still his same wonderful smart weird energetic (and occasionally very trying) self, but it is just much easier for him to focus and control his impulsivity. He handled what could have been a very difficult transition to middle school this fall beautifully. He likes school and is doing very well there, both academically and in terms of behavior. He would tell you himself that it helps him to take the medication. One initial issue was getting the right drug. He started on Concerta, which kept him up all night, but after switching to Ritalin, that was much better. The other, ongoing, issue is that he doesn't have much appetite in the middle of the day - we've had to be pretty vigilant about making sure he eats.

I would encourage you to get a second medical opinion if that would help, and then just to give it a trial of a month or two. You can always take them off medication if you feel the harm outweighs the benefits. I still cannot necessarily say I'm thrilled at the idea of medication, and I just have to tune out those who want to be judgmental about it, but our experience has been very positive. Good luck with your choice. Been there, doing that


This is a very hard issue -- I know just what you are going through because we have faced this situation and are still grappling with it. Our son is now 12 and still struggling with ADHD/ADD symptoms, as well as some other symptoms that unfortunately also have left him without friends. We started trying medications because of very intense pressure from his school. We resisted for a very long time and also tried many different kinds of alternative therapies, none of which had much impact. We finally gave in because of the pressure as well as our feeling that we needed to do something to allow him to have as much of a ''normal'' childhood as possible -- which he clearly was not having. So we tried many different kinds of medicines, most of which had very little impact and some of which had horrendous side effects. About a year ago, we started him on Adderal time-release, which has had some impact. He still has problems when he gets frustrated and anxious, but in general has a much easier time focusing in school and maintaining a least a little more even temperment in school. However, night-time, when the medication wears off, is more difficult at home.

It is all a very painful process -- for both your children and for you. It never ceases to amaze me how other people make such negative assumptions about your parenting skills when your children ''act out.'' In our case, we had to battle not only other parents, but the school, where the principal was very unsupportive and, despite a public pronouncement of ''community,'' took a hands-off approach to creating a community for our son. We, like you, have clear rules and clear consequences and discipline at home, but suffer others' assumptions and implicit criticism when our child acts in a way that is contrary to their expectations.

Good luck in your decision. anonymous


I don't have advice, mostly because I'm right about the same place you are. But I sure do sympathize. I have a bright, extremely active, emotional, and impulsive 6-year old first grade daughter. During her troubled K year we sent her to a psychologist for play therapy and it seemed to help somewhat with the outbursts and periodic non-cooperation at school. This year started poorly and we are now getting a behavioral pediatrician to evaluate her. Maybe you've done something like that? It's a dozen sessions total with the doc plus he does numerous phone interviews with the people she interacts with. We will see what's on the other side of that, and although I will exhaust all avenues before medication, the downside of her behavior is so damaging to her sense of self I cannot let it go on indefinitely. Our options are 1)find a less structured school, or move to the outback and homeschool 2) commit to long term therapy to see if the psychological support helps 3) meds. Obviously keeping a solid routine at home -- guarding their sleep and eating habits -- helps quite a bit, but it sounds like you have that covered. My kid does no extra-curricular stuff outside of school since she's exhausted and fragile at the end of the day, and much more apt to lose control. Are your kids at public or private school? And did you find the Magic 1-2-3 program helpful at all? I'm not familiar with it. signed, sarah, a sympathetic mom
I wish I could give you a hug! I too have been down the road of the judgement of others youre too permissive, but you shouldnt yell, your child is too loud, too active, calls out the answers, reacts bigger to teasing and such.

Do you know that your kids have ADD/ADHD? Have they been diagnosed? If they havent, you need to do that. If they have you need a really supportive doctor. I use Brad Berman who is WONDERFUL. He really likes my kid! He really cares. Hes told my son to call him anytime. They have one-to-one talks. Brad tells my son how terrific he is and is frank about the issues hes dealing with. My son too is gifted, cares about school, has friends. But the ability to control himself is not all there yet. We decided to put him on meds when he expressed his concern about how things were at school. He is very clear that having meds helps him focus on school and on his homework. It has helped with his cooperation as well. He was already a very self aware person not that he sat down and talked a lot about it, but at times he certainly does. It has made life much easier for everyone and school is much better. We also decided in middle school to put him in a private school with whole-child approach - that is they care about his mental and emotional state as well as his academic performance.

By the way, I got the recommendation for Dr. Berman a few years ago from this list. His office is in Walnut Creek and his phone number is 925-279-3480. There was a waiting list for new patients when we signed up. But I left a very frank message about how hard things were and they got me in earlier.

Good luck! Don't be afraid of meds.
a mom who has been there


Phew! You have your hands full. A household full of ADHD is an exciting and demanding place to be a parent. I have three perspectives to offer you. I got a diagnosis of ADD Inattentive for my 7th grade daughter many years ago and followed the suggestion of the doctor to give ritalin. I was really shocked when she commented, ''Now I can follow the conversation at the dinner table mom!'' She was not really the shy, uninterested in people, more interested in TV kid that I thought I knew. She had a great, dry sense of humor and enjoyed eighth grade more than she had ever enjoyed school because she discovered that her ''exposed'' personality made her POPULAR. The key to getting this is to see that she was always there, but her distractibility (among other things I won't get into here) made it so hard for her to keep up with the action that she just gave up. She later went off meds in high school, the sense of humor and popularity stayed, the things she had learned while available on meds continued to help her stay organized and recognize when her ADD was getting in the way. The story is longer, and not everything is so lovely, so in other words, she is really a normal kid. That's my personal, indirect, experience.

I am also a volunteer facilitator for an adult support group and a certified parent trainer for CHADD. I hear a lot there from people who have experienced AD/HD from both sides, medicated and non-medicated. chadd.org has a national clearinghouse and it is a place to get information about medication and support groups for parents. Schwab Foundation has a parent message board.

In my private educational therapy practice I see people who have had both good and poor results with medication. It's not for everyone and it's a very personal choice. Medication works best with education - of kids, teachers, parents, family, friends.

The practical considerations you mention are the reality of life with ADHD in this time and place. It's not easy, but it doesn't have to be awful! Good luck to you. linda lawton


Two words about your situation: Brad Berman. He is fabulous, thoughtful, and knows his stuff. Other postings have mentioned him as well. Our child is 100% better all the way around after starting on meds. Why have your child(ren) struggle and fail academically and socially if they can't help themselves because their brain chemistry is off? If your kid was diabetic and needed meds, you'd use them. It's the same deal with ADHD. If your child doesn't improve with meds, you can always stop them with no adverse affects. And forgive people who judge you and your children: they are clueless, thoughtless, and obviously need all the help they can get in order to be kinder and gentler in the world. It can get better
Another perspective on meds for ADHD: I'm always wary of comparisons of ADHD with medical conditions such as Diabetes (as in advice like ''If your child had diabetes you wouldn't withhold insulin, would you?''), which are illnesses that involve the body failing to produce a needed chemical/hormone/whatever that it naturally produces--like insulin, or thyroid hormone for people with thyroid conditions or even seratonin for depressed people. Ritalin and many ADHD medications do not replace missing chemicals in the body--they introduce new ones, often stimulants, and the long-term results of medicating children like this are still being studied. The jury is by no means in, as far as I understand it, on those effects. For instance, I gather it is now proven that prolonged use of ADHD medication can permanently stunt a child's growth. Also, anecdotally, I know more than one child who has tried the spectrum of medications offered for ADHD and who may be doing better with attention, but whose appetite has not returned despite prolonged use and the promise that it will, and whose sleep patterns seem to be permanently disruptive. By no means do I think that medication should NEVER be tried, but I DO think that the argument that medication is THE answer to ADHD needs to be greeted with some sceptcism, especially when advocated by an organization (CHADD) that, while appearing to have sprung up from a grass-roots parent support group, is actually deeply funded by Ciba Geigy, the very drug company that makes Ritalin. (see this PBS report for more detail: http://www.pbs.org/merrow/tv/add/chadd.html). I say, don't rule out medication, but try everything short of it first! Susan

Helping child with ADHD, not on medication

Oct 2005

My son has mild ADHD, and has never had medication. He does well at school, except for homework, which often is incomplete. Also, his spelling is very non-standard, so to speak. I wanted to talk with other parents of kids with ADD/ADHD that do not medicate their child (I am not interested in any advise that is pro-medication) and ask how they deal with homework, the intensity of anger with parents and siblings, the distractability, etc. How are you able to help channel your child's strengths in a productive way?


It is very important to keep in mind that just because your child has ADD, it does not mean he does not have any other problems. I say this with regards to his spelling. Many different things can cause spelling trouble, and many with ADD have no trouble with spelling. I am not saying ADD is not the problem, I am just saying that there may be other problems.

With regards to controlling ADD, and channeling the energy, deciding not to medicate often means deciding to allow your son to live a slightly different life than traditional children live. Students with ADD/ADHD tend to have higher energy, and they therefore require a high energy lifestyle. He will require more activity, more attractions/distractions, more behavior management, especially with regards to conflict and boredom. PaulTheTutor


I'm sure you'll get lots of advice on this. As a teacher of kids w/ ADD/ADHD I will give you my single best suggestion for homework... predictable routine. I would try to work with your child's teacher and ask him or her to reduce the amount of homework (only for a while) and see if she/he can allow for predictable assignments (i.e. a mathwork sheet each night in math, the same part of a spelling unit every Tuesday, etc.) That way, you child will know exactly what needs to be done. If your child can start getting into the habit of doing a little homework, and realize that it is something he/she can do and complete, a routine will get established. You can gradually add more and include different types of assignments. It will take some communication with the teacher, but it is worth a try. Best of luck. I think you will be able to do it w/o meds. -a teacher
Have you tried books on food allergies and how diet affects children with ADHD? There are several out there. I have a friend whose son was diagnosed with ADHD, and wasn't convinced his medication was the right thing for him. She spent countless hours researching foods on the internet, and found which foods to avoid -- many contained high levels of sugar and sodium. Her child's behavior changed dramatically as a result of his new diet. Hope this helps. anonymous
Sometimes people who are trying to avoid or reduce medication try The Listening Center in Walnut Creek. It is very expensive and very time consuming. They do Tomatis based therapy for auditory processing disorders. This may help your child if he also has auditory processing disorders in addition to ADHD. If it is 'just' a question of 'pure' ADHD which is a neurochemical imbalance then I doubt this method would help him. They do an evaluation($375)for auditory processing disorders. A LOT of intensive excercise may also help with the neurochemical imbalance in the same way that regualar cardiovascular excercise has been shown to be as effective as an antidepressant in some studies. My daughter does better sleeping and being calm when she gets LOTS of excercise. good luck

Rages in 13 y/o on Concerta/Ritalin

Nov 2006

I am interested in what other families have done if the Ritalin or concerta for ADHD seems to be causing rages in a teenage girl but no other medications works well enough to get her through a day at school. This has happened with my daughter. The rages were so bad that she almost had to be hospitalized. We have Kaiser Insurance and I am frustrated with the lack of coordination between the pediatric department and psychiatry (the only discipline who can prescribe something other than stimulants)

There is a similar question in the archives but I would like to know if any other family is currently dealing or has dealt with this issue and how they handled it.

My daughter has tried adderal and a high blood pressure medicine without success. Any advise appreciated
worried mom


Have you considered getting your child off of the meds and in a school that has a different sort of structure that may be more conducive to her personality? While ADHD certainly has a basis in the individual, it is also a social construct. Meaning, in a different sort of situation, a different sort of schooling atmosphere, the ''problems'' of ADHD - the lack of focused attention, hyperactivity, etc - would not be the level of problem that it is in a traditionally structured school. Perhaps a smaller, more collaborative, more physical type of environment would suit her personality and allow her to succeed without the potentially scary side effects of the meds, like the rages or whatever else. Just a thought. Anon
As I have stated before, I do not accept the designation of ADHD as a ''disease'', and feel that the use of stimulants to ''treat'' this condition is misguided in almost all cases. I am not a psychiatrist, but, as a neuroscience professional, I am very concerned about the effects of stimulants on the developing brain. In my experience, many kids with the diagnosis of ADHD are, in reality, bored and/or underchallenged in their school situation, or are sufficiently ''different'' that they disturb the status quo; and, as is common in our culture, need to be ''medicated'' so that they ''fit in''. Often, changing the school situation, and use of physical activities can go a long way to deal with ''hyperactivity'' and other ''learning disorders''. Get another opinion from a good psychiatrist, preferably of academic standing . Robert A. Fink, M. D.
My son had and has trouble with anger and rage. For him it isn't caused by meds but I think some meds are better than others. We are using strattera now and things are not perfect but we're managing. We followed the advice on this list and went to Dr. Berman. He has been terrific. I hope someone with Kaiser can help you. Best of luck to you. This is so hard! still working on it
I have to ask some hard questions here: what is this child's diet? how much sugar? wheat? dairy? meat? and what kinds of sugar, wheat, dairy and meat are being imbibed? what excercise is this child getting? as in how many HOURS a day? how much television is this child watching? what kind of television? how much time playing or watching video games? what kind? how much time on a computer? is this time on the computer supervised. what attention 1-on-1 is this child getting? how much of the time each day, of this child, is supervised by the parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and caring adults in the childs life? it sounds like you are solely ''working'' with allopathic dr's and, frankly, you are getting the results you are... it is no wonder. i do not believe in medicating our children. i believe that there are better answers than poisoning our up-and-coming generations. hopefully, you will see the answers not hidden within the questions that i have asked above. finally, i dont know if you meditate (and i am speaking of non-christian eastern type meditation) however, if you do not, it is time to learn how to and then teach this child. there are MANY MANY forms of ''skilled relaxation'' meditation, guided meditation, all sorts of tapes/recordings, self hypnosis (my favorite) and so much more. do not be brainwashed by the allopaths. they are NOT the sole answer, and frequently, they are no answer at all, as you are experiencing. this, of course is only my opinion, however, if you look at my questions and find some non=allopathic pysicians with whom you can work, you will be amazed at the speedy recovery of your child.
cw
How long has your daughter had these rages? My son (12) had a terrible time at school last year because his teachers ignored his special ADHD needs (he just got angrier and angrier) but now that he is in a new school with teachers who know his issues and how to work with him he is much happier. If these rages have been going on for some time you need more help than you are getting from Kaiser. Ere you familiar with Dr. Daniel Amen and his clinic in Fairfield? He has worked with many types of ADHD kids (and adults) and uses different types of anti-depressants and/or stimulants to help his patients. His web-site is brainplace.com. He could also suggest someone closer to you that could help. I often have to go outside of our healthcare plan to work with specialists but it's worth it because I can't afford to waste time by not using the best. a concerned mom too
I don't recall your original question but I'd like to add my 2cents based on the other responses I've read. (As an aside, for what it's worth, here's a baby boomer who's horrified at the medicating of so many children, prompted by doctors, ''supported'' by pharmaceutical companies and completely agree with Dr. Fink and the respondant with the ''hard questions''). But I have another question. Have you paid attention to the timing of these rages? Is she menstruating? If so, are the rages in conjunction with her period? As someone who suffered from PMDD (a horribly exaggerated form of PMS), until recently when my periods finally ended, I would say a good 2.5 to 3 weeks of every month were given over to the hormones around my period, including deep sadness and rages. It wasn't until a couple of years ago (after 40+ years of suffering from this monthly and when it was basically too late to do anything significant about it) that I finally realized what was going on - in the meantime it impacted my entire life in many negative ways. Please check her out for severe PMS (or even PMDD symptoms) so that if this is what's affecting her, she doesn't have to suffer as well, though it may be difficult to distinguish if she's being negatively affected by her meds. Good luck Joan
I missed the original post, but read the responses with interest. My son (now grown) was diagnosed with ADHD when he was about ten. We had him on Ritalin for perhaps 2 weeks. The ''rebound'' effect when he got home from school was absolutely frightening. He was so angry and violent. We took him off the meds, went further with diagnosis, and eventually tried him on a variety of other things. The school was annoyed with us for ''giving up'' on Ritalin so quickly, but I told them we and he shouldn't have to pay the price we were paying for a calmer school day. Eventually what worked best for him was a boarding school for alternate learners (NAWA academy--he didn't get there until mid-year of 11th grade). He was still on some meds (but not stimulants) when he was there, but once he graduated, he chose to go off the meds, and as an adult is managing well without them at a college that accomodates alternative learning styles (Antioch). He is NOT bipolar, despite his huge mood swings on ritalin. He is intelligent, enthusiastic, and highly empathetic after all he has been through. The bottom line--whatever you decide about medication, if the current med is causing huge rages at home, you don't need it and she doesn't need it. There has to be a better way, with or without meds Hang in there--it's worth it

Rages in daughter who's been on Ritalin for 4 years

May 2005

Has anyone used or known anyone who has used a childs individual neurotransmitter and amino acid tests to manage ADHD. My child has been on ritalin and concerta for 4 years. For the past 8 weeks there have been progressively more intense angry rages and outbursts. She is 12 years old. I have lowered her dose and would like to wean her off the ritalin and concerta. I would like to begin to use an alternative approach. A reference to the use of neurotransmitters and amino acids was made in an ADHD parent support group web site. Any experience or information from any parent or guardian in this group would be greatly appreciated. I am also looking for a homeopath with experience with ADHD and children in Oakland or Berkeley. Thanks much Desperate and Anon


Randall Neustaedter, OMD CCH specializes in children and ADHD. He is a doctor of Oriental medicine and a classical homeopath. He is in Redwood City at the Classical Medicine Center and probably worth the drive. You may also find a homeopath or other practitioner who specializes in children and ADHD by searching the directory of the Holistic Pediatric Association at www.hpakids.org. Jane
I wonder if your daughter is getting more moody because she has began menstruating recently. Depression doubles in girls at the onset of menstruation, around age 12. Also, age 12 is a tough age for adolescents and girls at this age can get into clicks and become difficult to communicate with. I speak from experience remembering what a hard year my daughter had at age 12, and also as a psychiatrist I often find in women with depression that their first memory of feeling sad began about age 12. anon
I wanted to suggest to you that the rages you are seeing are as likely to be in response to reducing the Ritalin as they are a side-effect of taking it. I take Ritalin on a daily basis I can tell you that attempts to under medicate, or medicating only every 4 hours (unless that happens to be your metabolic rate) can lead to moments of rage and despair (as well as fuzzy thinking) as the meds wear off.

If your child was accurately diagnosed, and medication previously has helped, it may be that what's needed is more of what she's taken in the past, or a different medication. Only an expert you trust can tell you whether reducing her meds, or changing her regimen is a good thing to do -- or even safe. Please, tell me that the changes you are proposing are being made under the care of an ADHD expert. Heather


ADHD and IEP?

Sept 2004

Is an IEP appropriate for a 7 year old child just diagnoised with AD/HD? Should I request an IEP from the school? We have not yet tried drugs, but I want to get more information before we try them. I wonder if the school/teacher would give him more attention if he has an IEP in place, or if this would lable him. ANy help is really appreciated. Thanks. Mom


As a parent of a teenager who also was told in Kindergarden that he needed an IEP, I would say to hold off as long as possible. Schools often try to insist on an IEP to put your child in Special Educ. classes, which he probably doesn't need, and where, unless he is extremely slow, he won't learn much. The reason they do this is because they get much additional funding for everyone they put into Special Educ. Putting my son, at the teacher's recommendation, into a special educ. class, even though it was only for a semester, was the worst thing I ever did to him, and put him behind. He is now a h.s. sophomore and doing fine with the regular curriculum because I worked with him at home every evening (he has ADD & is dyslexic, etc.) and kept him out of special educ. They are still requesting an IEP for him, but at this point, I think it would do more harm than good. Don't do it! a former teacher
How is your child doing in school? Is the ADHD adversly affecting his academics, behavior, or social emotional well being? Ask the teacher how he is doing. Ask her/him if you can have a Student Study Team regarding this current diagnosis. A Student Study Team (SST) is (hopefully) made up of a school psychologist, the principal, the Resource Specialist, the classroom teacher, the parents, and possibly others. Here is where you talk about the childs strengths, get/give some information, discuss the concerns, what are some modifications/ accommodations, and make a plan. It may come up that he is showing some significant learning issues that may warrent further testing for an IEP. If not, and you still think you want something more that lists accommodations given in the classroom you can then request a 504 Plan.This is an Accommodation Plan for all students having (usually) health issues that are interfering with their learning. It is not special education but under the Office of Civil Rights. Let me know if you have any problems or more questions. Liz
ADHD itself is not a sufficient reason for an IEP. It is generally not considered to be a qualifier for special education unless it is impacting your child's learning significantly. Generally this is defined as being at least two years below grade level in one or more subject areas. Also, there has to be a discrepancy between ability and performance i.e. if the child is demonstrating an average or above average IQ and has standardized test scores significantly lower than what they should be then he or she might qualify for special education.  You can request testing for an IEP but be aware that you are requesting testing for your child to be placed in special education and that you may not want to do that unless your child really has a learning disability. However, if you feel that your child does have a learning disability along with the ADHD and is not getting the necessary help in class then looking into testing would be the thing to do. Many schools will hesitate to test a child who is in first grade or below, but if the parent requests testing they have to comply. However, you can't request that your child have an IEP- only that he be tested for the school to determine whether or not he will qualify for one. Hope this helps and good luck!
A diagnosis of ADHD does not make your child eligible for an IEP. Only students with one (or more) of the 13 disabilities recognized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may receive special education services. So, unless your child has another disability (such as a learning disability, which often occurs concomitantly with ADHD), an IEP is out of the question.

He is, however, eligible for services under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (which is a Civil Rights act that deals with access). Called a 504 Plan, this plan is a program of instructional services to assists students with special needs (who don’t qualify for special education) in the regular education classroom. The plan should detail strategies for helping you child be more successful in his classroom setting. It may include things like: quiet room for testing, seating close to the teacher or away from distractions, assignment modification, etc. Since anyone can begin the referral process for a 504 Plan, I suggest you make a request in writing to the school district/school asking for a 504 Plan referral. In your request, mention the ADHD diagnosis and include a written record from the physician, neurologist, psychologist or other expert who made the diagnosis. Hopefully, the school will comply and ask you to be a part of the process. At the 504 Plan meting, you would offer your suggestions for what would help your child be more successful. Here’s a link with some more information about 504 Plans. http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=777

Medication should ALWAYS be a last resort – something you try when you’ve tried everything else and your child is still not meeting with success. Many teachers and administrators will suggest medication because it’s easier than trying to implement behavior plans and educational plans and doesn’t cost the school district anything. As a special educator, I know how important and therapeutic meds are for some kids. But it’s important to explore all other options.

Finally, I understand your concern about labels. Our culture is very quick to identify someone with a label. Some labels are good, though. Your reaction to your child’s ADHD will have the most impact on how it is perceived. It is important to get your child the help he needs so that he can be a success – that’s the label you want for him. Be honest, open and loving about his ADHD and help him understand how it makes him unique. Begin to teach him now how to advocate for himself. And by all means, don’t let a thing like a label prevent you from getting him what he needs. You’re his voice until he’s able to have one himself. Good luck! shari


I would like to comment on previous responses to this request for advice. They all had useful information and good advice, but there were also things that weren’t quite right or partly right. I’m not disputing anyone’s personal experience, but adding clarification about the law.

''Schools often try to insist on an IEP to put your child in Special Educ. classes, which he probably doesn't need, and where, unless he is extremely slow, he won't learn much. The reason they do this is because they get much additional funding for everyone they put into Special Educ.''

It is true that districts receive money for each special education student, however, the grants for special education don’t begin to approach the costs; districts and general ed parents complain that special education ''encroaches'' (the word makes me cringe) on the general fund.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA] requires that students be educated in the ''least restrictive environment,'' which is the general ed classroom for the large majority. The school is not likely to place a student in a ''special day class'' unless he or she really belongs there. A kid of average intelligence with ADHD, with or without learning disabilities, would not be placed in SDC without some severe behavioral problems, for example.

''Only students with one (or more) of the 13 disabilities recognized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may receive special education services. So, unless your child has another disability (such as a learning disability, which often occurs concomitantly with ADHD), an IEP is out of the question.''

ADHD is expressly considered a qualifying condition, usually as Other Health Impaired without other problems. It was added to IDEA in 1999 because a lot of IEP teams didn't realize that it could fit the definition of OHI without being named. A couple of people noted that ADHD has to adversely affect the student’s educational performance (which is more than grades) to be a qualifying condition for special education, and that is exactly true. All the other eligibility categories require the same criterion, that to benefit from school, the condition has to adversely affect the child’s performance *and* the child needs special education to address the problem. OHI students do not have to demonstrate a discrepancy, though students with learning disabilities must, but California does not require a student be two years behind, as someone suggested. Absent needing special education remediation and support, 504 accommodations may cover what the student needs, and either family or school may request evaluation for special ed or 504.

Regarding medication, one person wrote that “Medication should ALWAYS be a last resort - something you try when you've tried everything else and your child is still not meeting with success.”

That’s one opinion. I have seen many, many families grapple with the difficult issue of medication. Another view might say that parents may not want their child to have met failure in everything they’ve tried before trying medication, which after all, is not an irrevocable decision. That’s between the doctor and the family. The school can never demand that a child be medicated, though in my opinion it’s not out of line for a caring teacher to say something like, “Have you thought of consulting your doctor about medication? Other people might say that a teacher should never mention medication because they aren't professionally qualified to diagnose and treat, and that they’d be seen to be doing it for their own ends, in order to have a compliant student.

Sorry this was so long, and I hope it made some things clearer. Dana Lear, DrPH Negotiating the Maze Special Education Advocacy, Research, Support www.negotiatingthemaze.org


Alternatives to Ritalin for 8-year-old

Sept 2004

I am trying to help a family member cope with her wonderful yet ''souped up'' 8 year old daughter, who is taking Ridalin to help her focus in school. She does not have the classic symptoms of ADHD, and the psychiatrist wonders if she could be manic. She took Ridalin for four months, and her reading improved 3 grade levels. Impressive, but she hates taking it (she cries every morning) and has no appetite. She literally did not gain one pound last year. While the drug does help her focus, her personality seems to be pulled back to the point where she doesn't quite have her usual spark. (In fact, she asked her class whether they liked her better with or without medication. The kids voted for without, while the teachers clearly saw better learning outcomes since she could concentrate.) Are there better alternatives? Someone mentioned the drug Straterra... Are there effective alternatives to drugs? I believe in a holistic approach but do not want to send the parents through a path of snake oils. I welcome your advice, which I will pass on. THANK YOU! Help Needed


I have seen great results in treating issues like these (bipolar disorder, ADHD, ADD, etc.) with nutrient therapy. See www.hriptc.org for an approach. This clinic, although located in the midwest, does outreach clinics around the country and will be in the Bay Area next month. Feel free to contact me for more details. Robin
I was diagnosed with adult ADHD and began taking Straterra about 8 months ago...it has been an incredible help to me. The advantage over Ritalin is that it is not a stimulant, and therefore not a controlled substance. The disadvantage is that it is patent-protected and therefore much more expensive. For me! the cost is very worth it. A holistic approach would include therapy but I don't have the time or patience. :-) Michael
Hi There is a great organization called Feingold (http://www.feingold.org/home.html) that every parent should know about. My son was displaying behaviour problems often associated with ADD. He also had problems concentrating and sitting still at school. On the other hand, he was able to sit still for a very long time at certain times. The Feingold organization has done ''numerous studies that show that certain synthetic food additives can have serious learning, behavior, and/or health effects for sensitive people.'' My son has become a different person with the help of this organization. It is well worth the effort. happy without medicine
Spending time in a leafy environment can reduce ADHD symptoms. http://cms.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto- 20040406-000015 Do you really have a proper diagnosis? Is it really ADHD? http://adhdparentssupportgroup.homestead.com/50conditionsmimicing ADHD.html Neurotoxins could be the problem: http://www.childenvironment.org/factsheets/neurotoxins.htm sunsol
If you are dealing with ADHD the best first treatment is with either a stimulant med or a non-stimulant med (Strattera). Improving diet and lifestyle are definitely helpful, too. (I liked the comment you got from Michael Bahn about not being patient enough for therapy -- ADHD humor, ha ha). If you are dealing with something ''like'' ADHD then Feingold or a nutritional approach may be all you need. A child who is sensitive to additives could appear to be ADHD, and benefit from intervention -- but whether that child has ADHD is a different question.

ADHD is not a nutritional failing or a character flaw, its a genetic neurochemical disorder for which there is a known successful treatment. If you trust your diagnosis and the doctor who recommends Ritalin, try it If you aren't sure -- find another doctor and get a second opinion. Just because Ritalin is over-prescribed in general doesn't mean your child's life can't be transformed by appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Heather


7 yo with ADHD & learning disbilities

Sept 2004

My son is far behind others in reading, spelling and comprehension as he enters second grade (good oakland public school). We have had various tests done, and while he is quite bright, he displays some processing disabilities and mild adhd behaviors. We are wading through all issues, including IEP, behavior counseling, Ann Martin tutoring, Lindamood Bell, further more specific tests on learning. Can anyone offer advice based on their experience? I am looking for experienced professionals who can help us with behavior training (us and him!) and tutoring at our home. We feel by starting early we can get a handle on this, but we would really benefit from some expert advice. Concerned mom


I would be happy to discuss this with you. I'm an Oakland parent with an almost 9-year old who has been receiving services from the district for 5 years. He initially presented with a language delay - still the crux of his problem - but he currently has the most trouble with learning behaviors if in a standard classroom. We tried having him in his local school, but after only 2 months it became a nightmare for him. He's now in a non-public placement with a very small class size and a functional behavior based model, and he's doing incredibly well - testing right at grade level, actually finished 2nd grade in less than a school year. But put him in a class with 20 kids and he dissolves. I think the list of ideas for you to try would be too long to burden this email list. If you want to email me we can discuss offline. Regards Nancy

Do you tell friends & family your child is on meds?

Dec 2003

My child was recently diagnosed with ADHD and is now on medication (whoopee, it is really helping!) 1st question: do others of you tell family and friends your child is on a stimulant? Do you get unsolicited anti- med advice? How do you handle it?

2nd question: I have been diagnosed with ADHD too (no surprise) and have been prescribed a med. The psychiatrist I saw charges $15/month to process the triplicate. Is this typical? thanks!!


It has been my experience that people have some strong feelings about ADHD meds and are not hesitant to communicate their personal biases if you give them an opportunity. I would advise giving yourself time to assess your own response to medication before inviting confusion into your decision. Your child's teacher should know that your child is medicated because that relationship is impacted and the teacher can offer valuable feedback. Teachers are required to maintain the confidentiality of that information. I am a teacher and an ADHD coach, so I have heard a lot about this! Linda Lawton
My 8-year-old daughter was also diagnosed with ADHD (finally!). She is on Adderall, and is doing immensely better.

Yes, I tell family and friends, and if I got anti-meds flak from them (which I haven't so far), I woudl offer to let them watch my daughter for a week or 2 without meds. People who haven't been in the situation and know nothing about it shouldn't be judgemental!

As far as your psychiatrist charging you to fill out the triplicate forms - mine doesn't, but I don't feel that it is unreasonable - since the meds are a controlled substance, there is probably a certain amount of extra paperwork/processing involved dealing with the triplicate forms and whatever regulations are involved.

feel free to contact me if you want a sympathetic ear! nkf


In reference to the question about meds for your child, my child is diagnosed with another disorder and has been on meds for almost a year to control his aggression. I do not tell everyone, only select family members that will need to know for his care. There are some people, including family and parents, that have never accepted his disability from the beginning so they definately wouldn't understand the fact that he has to be on meds. I am very careful about who knows and it's not discussed very often. Anonymous
Though I don't have enough experience to really answer your question, there is a great parent bulletin board/forum with a ton of parents who have dealt with this at www.schwablearning.org. Good luck! Anon.
Initially I was pretty circumspect about telling people that my child had ADHD and was on meds. Then I decided that I was role modelling that it was something to cover up. So I started treating it like I did my other child having an allergy. Yes, people do sometimes offer unsolicited advice. But if you present the information with a tone of confidence (this is how it is) rather than inquiry (what do you think?) they are much less likely to say anything. If they do, you can say something like, thanks for your concern, we're doing fine. BTW, I realized from the tests that I have mild ADD and have developed coping mechanisms over the years. So you and I can attempt to explain what it ''feels like'' but the truth is they may never understand. anon mom
The question isn't who to tell, but what to do with unsolicited advice? In this case I think I'd develop a stock and fairly harsh response for most people, along the lines of ''Thank you. I appreciate your insight, but of course you really know nothing about my child or our circumstances''.

Unsolicited advice is one of the more annoying by-products of life in Berkeley. PLEASE don't suffer it in silence...

But, if in fact the advice is from family who know and love you and your child --- I'd request that they withold judgement for six months and see how things are going. ...And, there's always the ''Stimulants for ADHD are like glasses for myopia'' argument. (Its not kind to withold them unless they aren't really needed).

p.s. My doctor charges $10 for writing the prescription. Heather


Diet, Sugar, and ADHD

March 1999

I have a 10 year son who has recently been diagnose with ADD. He is not on any medication(ridilin). His Doctors recommend the Feingold diet before starting the medication.


I would strongly suggest some research and a visit with a behavioral pediatrician. There are many useful techniques for dealing with ADHD that don't involve the use of medications. The Feingold diet is not one of them.

The Feingold diet removes foods containing additives and preservatives on the theory that these substances cause ADHD. This claim has not stood up under scientific testing.

Russell Barkley, Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is a leading ADHD researcher. In his book "Taking Charge of ADHD" he addressed Benjamin Feingold's claim:

"Most of the substantial research done over the next decade [after Feingold announced his theory] was simply unable to substantiate Feingold's claim. In fact, only a very small number (5% or less) of mainly preschoolers showed a slight increase in activity or inattentiveness when consuming these substances. No evidence has ever been provided that normal children develop ADHD or that ADHD children are made considerably worse by eating them."
Barkley also addresses another myth about diet--that sugar causes ADHD.
"Not a single scientific study has been provided by proponents to support these claims. Since 1987 a number of scientific studies of sugar have been conducted, and these have generally proven negative."
There are number of people who promote low-sugar diets for treatment of ADHD. The diets with the best self-reported success rates tend to be extremely structured. Researchers believe that the success of those diets comes not from lower sugar levels, but from the increased structure in the child's life and changed parental expectations.

A healthy diet can only help any child, but none of the diet-based theories about the cause of ADHD have panned out. Research has established that ADHD is linked strongly to heredity, and current research points to inherent chemical imbalances in the brain. In light of these findings, it seems unrealistic for parents to pin their hopes on diet as a solution to the problems associated with ADHD. Ken


With regard to info of interest re ADD, John Taylor, PhD has written several books on the subject and also speaks nationally about nutrition and ADHD. He also includes why nutritional blue green algae shows benefits in many cases across the country. MaryAnn

ADHD and T.V.?

Feb 2002

Have any of you ever heard the idea that too much T.V. can be linked to development of AD/HD? I'm particularly wondering if any of you have read anything by T. Berry Brazelton or Matthew Dumont that supports this idea. Also, does anyone know, have any independent, verifiable, double-blind (i.e. scientific method) studies shown any link between AD/HD and T.V.? Colleen


I am a research psychologist at UC Berkeley specializing in the study of behavior disorders in children and I've worked extensively on 2 studies of ADHD in children. I know of no evidence linking TV viewing to ADHD. There is no theoretical reason to believe there would be a link, and certainly no conclusive evidence that this is the case. ''Proving'' that ADHD is caused by TV viewing would require randomly assigning children to either watch TV or to not watch TV for long periods of time. No one could implement a study like this, and no parent I can think of would agree to have their kids watch TV to see if ADHD develops. I am certainly not advocating a lot of TV watching, but there is no reason I know of to believe it causes or is even linked to ADHD. Note however, that there is ample evidence linking the viewing of violent content on TV or in films to aggressive behavior.

Does my 18-year-old have ADD? (negligent driver)

May 2003

My recently-turned-18 y.o. son has a problem which I don't really understand. He's had his driver's license for 2 y ears now. Early on in his driving career he put a few dents in my car, one of which resulted in a point being added to our car insurance (at an additional $2,000 premium). Then he bought his own car (with his own money) with the stipulation being that he would pay for his own car insurance. Over the last year or so he has gotten numerous parking tickets (all of which he paid), had a moving violation for which he did traffic school, and recently another moving violation. He was going to go to court to ask the judge whether he could go to traffic school again, but he thought it was today instead of yesterday so missed the court date. I wasn't even aware that the date was yesterday or I would have reminded him (is that possibly the problem, that he should be remembering these things by himself, instead of being reminded?).

Well, today I'm taking him off our policy, which will mean he can't drive. He doesn't seem to have a problem with this (he sold his car after he realized that it was more hassle than cool), since he'll be occupied with stuff over the summer that won't really require driving and then off to college.

I don't understand what's going on. We lecture him ad infinitum, he dutifully takes care of the associated bills, but the consequences of his actions don't seem to sink in on some level - that he's throwing money away and shooting himself in the foot. In most areas he's a very responsible individual.

If this is an indication of how he's going to deal with issues when he goes out in the world on his own, I' m worried for him. Questions - anyone have any idea what might be happening here? Do I just sit back and let this one play itself out and let him handle it completely, or should I try to guide him through it? One factor in my questions is his age. Supposedly he's an ''adult''. At what point do we abandon them to their unwise choices?

Naturally I blame myself. I've had pretty severe depression most of my life and only recently with drugs has the heavy blanket of fog lifted so that I can see what's going on around me. I certainly wish I hadn't resisted anti-depressants for so long; it certainly would have made me a much better parent. How do I help my ''adult'' child when I know that the parenting he received was far from optimal? Or do I just say that these are the cards he was dealt and he'll have to find a way to play them?

His father (we're not together) was recently diagnosed with ADD; as with many diagnoses, it seems that eveyrone has this these days. But I don't want to completely discount it. Is this a possibility? With the necessarily limited information I've given and the numerous questions, does anyone have any ideas/suggestions?


It seems to me as if things are working perfectly! He is 18 and is learning how to deal with issues for when he goes out in the world on his own.

Example: He bought a car, had numerous problems dealing with it and sold it. That is a great lesson for him to have learned! Next time, he'll buy the car knowing what's involved and he'll then be ready to deal with the responsibilities. Example: He's accepting the consequences of not having insurance by not driving. And is going on with his life. This is a very valid choice.

My advice for you is to celebrate his successes: ''dutifully takes care of the associated bills'', ''In most areas he's a very responsible individual. ''

As far as the problem of ''throwing money away and shooting himself in the foot,'' from your description, I would ''just sit back and let this one play itself out and let him handle it completely.'' This is the learning process. I wouldn't completely ''abandon them to their unwise choices'' yet . . . I'd give advice (knowing that it might not be taken.)

Congratulations on coming out of your fog. As far as helping your ''adult'' child when you know that the parenting he received was far from optimal, I think that talking with him about it openly would be beneficial. Acknowledge that you know you weren't always ''there'' for him, express your sorrow for that and tell him that you are so thrilled by how he's growing up, what a good person he is, how responsible he is becoming [I believe in seeding self-fulfilling prophecies ;-)], and how well he did without optimal parenting, etc.

Are you seeing a therapist as well as the person who is prescribing the antidepressants? It might help you keep things in perspective.

My 19-year-old has been going through very similar things, but he's very good (too good?) at telling me that this is his life, he needs to make a few mistakes, he won't be sleeping in a box under the bridge, he'll make more money if he wastes some, going to college a year after high school is a valid option, etc etc.! And, you know, he's right! This year he's in college and is turning in his assignments on time, reminding me to pay his tuition, living within his budget, riding his bike to school . . . And it sounds as if your kid will be fine too.

Another Mom still in training


All of the behaviors you described sound typical of ADD, plus it does tend to run in families (along with depression). Considering how dramatically an ADD diagnosis and treatment seem to have improved many people's lives, I think it's worth looking into.

I think I know how you feel, though. I keep struggling with my own skepticism and confusion, because for my family and me nothing is ever so simple as the latest popular diagnosis or solution. Neither antidepressants and therapy nor self-help books, exercise, thyroid pills, Omega fatty acids, workshops, church, etc. etc. have made my depression go away completely. One of my sons, who was diagnosed with ADD four years ago and medicated for school days and homework ever since, still has lots of times when he can't focus enough to accomplish anything. My older son seemed to get his act together academically without medication, but he has gotten in serious trouble several times and is currently way behind on a big research project.

Anyway, it can’t hurt to learn about ADD and consider having him evaluated for it. There are lots of books available, including a few focusing on teens and adults, and lots of resources at http://add.about.com and http://add.org.

Good luck, and don't blame yourself or think about what you should have done differently; just go from here to help your son learn how to help himself.

I think we need a Berkeley support group for parents of ADHD teens! Anyone else interested? anonymous mom


It sounds to me like your son is learning from experience. Lots of people screw up on dates and paperwork. And it does get expensive.

Whether or not he has a learning disability, it appears to me that he is dealing with the car insurance in a logical and realistic manner to me. Is he ranting about the fact that he can't drive? If not, I'd count my blessings and move on to the next opportunity for growth. ~Anita


ADD diagnosis: How are you managing with Ritalin?

May 2002

My son has recently been diagnosed with ADD. In many ways it explains some of the difficulties he has been having in school.He does not have the emotional or behavioral difficulties that often complicate this condition but has great difficulty with focus, concentration, impulsive behavior etc... He is repeating 2nd grade and not doing much better than before. As I look back it makes sense to me that his father (we are now divorced) also likely shares this condition although it was never diagnosed or treated. It is also likely that his father ''self medicated'' (ie: drug use) to deal with the challenges this condition brings. The doctor has suggested Ritalin and I have many questions. Will it turn my son into a zombie? What are the long term effects? I would like to hear from parents who have had to make this difficult decision. I would like to know about the good, the bad and the ugly. I want what is best for my son. I want him to have a chance to be successful.I have been doing some reading but I would love to hear from other parents about how you and your child are managing. Thanks. a mom


There is a great book that I used for the Cody's Parenting book group called ''Smart Moves: Why Learning is Not All in your Head.'' The author, Carla Hannaford, offers a less typical approach for dealing with ADD that you may find helpful. She advocates for something called 'brain gym' which she believes has helped children with all different types of learning difficulties. Good luck! Ilona
My now 14-year-old daughter had problems with organization and attention starting in 2nd grade. I felt that she might have ADD, but none of her care providers or teachers would acknowledge that ADD existed. I had her evaluated for all sorts of learning problems, put her in counseling, etc. Four years later, when she was ending 6th, I still was reading the same comments on the report card since 2nd grade: ''Talks too much in class, can't finish assignments--too distracted. Trouble paying attention.'' My daughter also felt like her impulsivity was irritating to her friends sometimes. Her self-esteem started really suffering. So I finally found a specialist who instantly agreed she had ADD. She has been on Concerta (timed-release ritalin) for almost 2 years. She is much happier. Her grades have improved significantly (Now As and Bs). I feel our family relationship is much better because there is less stress. Nightly homework used to be a nightmare. The main problem now is that some core academic skills (reading, spelling, vocabulary) were not instilled during elementary school and, now, in middle school, she has some problems in those areas. My suggestion is to try the ritalin and see what you think! It's not a lifetime commitment. You'll know pretty quickly if it works or if it doesn't. Hope this is helpful for you and good luck. PS--don't be surprised if you run into very strong anti-medication opinions. Read the studies in the clinical journals. Ritalin is one of the most tested drugs available. Anonymous
My son also had trouble with focusing and getting things done and he had some really hellish years in school. No teacher ever suggested that I have him tested, they said he was smart and needed to pay better attention. He told me at age 10 that he wished he had ADD so people wouldn't blame him when he couldn't focus. He was VERY ARTICULATE. I talked to his pediatrician who talked to my son. They decided to have a diagnosis. The doctor found that he has ADD and we started on Concerta (later switched to Metadate because he didn't sleep well with the Concerta) but there were results right away. It was easier for him to complete a task from homework to chores. If you don't see a benefit right away then you can just stop the medication. It has really helped my son's confident. It hasn't changed his personality -- as he says ''I wish it made me want to do homework.'' But now he knows he can do it and he gets a lot of positive feedback in the classroom instead of constant reprimands to sit down, stop talking and not call out the answers. He feels like he's more under his own control. I really angsted about giving my child a drug for his brain but he is so much happier. I do keep reading about it and I subscribe to an e-mail newsletter about the lastest research findings. You can sign up to receive the newsletter at http://www.attention.com. Good luck I know it's a really hard decision and you know your child best. anon
I've learned a lot about AD/HD lately as I recently made a career change and became a teacher -- a teacher of special needs kids with AD/HD and other Learning Differences. I also found out that I have AD/HD myself!

It is important to know that there are three potential causes for AD/HD in the brain, and that the medication that can work for your son must be targeted to the specific cause. What this means is that your pediatrician needs to try different medications, carefully monitoring the effects, and see which one works the best. Don't get discouraged if Ritalin doesn't seem to do the trick. You may just need to keep trying. Make sure that your doctor is willing to take this approach and doesn't just write you a prescription and not follow up.

Meanwhile, there are many things you can do to help. One of the most important is making sure that your son gets LOTS of vigorous aerobic excercise, every day! This has been clinically shown to have a therapeutic effect for people with AD/HD.

There are lots of other, simple ways that you and your teachers can help him cope. More information is available at a great educational outreach organization in Campbell (San Jose) called Bright Solutions. Their Web site is www.dys-add.com. The head of the company, Susan Barton, conducts workshops on dyslexia and AD/HD on a regular basis, and she puts aside a chair or two for parents, for FREE, at each seminar. Please contact her -- she is a great source of help and inspiration.

Finally, you should be aware that AD/HD, for all it's difficulties, is a gift. It is strongly associated with higher IQs and brilliantly creative minds. Tap into that, and your son will find that he has an incredible asset in his ''different'' ways of thinking. Colleen


I don't know a lot about Ritalin or ADD, but I listened to an interview on NPR on the subject a week or so ago. A book was recommended which advocates against being too quick to label a child with ADD, when any of a number of attention deficits may be to blame for their behaviors. The author believes that many children are diagnosed with ADD who don't actually have it, and while Ritalin may be helpful in making their behaviors more manageable, it's not the best thing for them, because it's a drug ... for life ... which doesn't actually address their true problem. If you're interested, the name of the book is A Mind at a Time, by Mel Levine (sp?). Susan
I just noticed postings about ADHD so I thought I would let people know about the free 4 week ADHD series for parents or teachers. On Thursday June 13th at 6:30Pm till 8:30Pm Dr. Mel Burman and I will discuss medication issues. We'll cover the pro's and con's of using medication. The classes are interactive with a focus on answering parents questions. Anyone is welcome to attend...no pre-registration is necessary and no childcare is provided. This will be class #2 . Weeks 3 and 4 will cover parenting and school issues. The classes are at Kaiser Permanente, Richmond Medical Center, 901 Nevin Ave in Richmond (off of Harbor Way) You take elevator ''C'' to the 3rd floor. Rona Renner

Had any luck with alternative treatments?

March 2002

My seven year old son has been diagnosed with ADHD. It's pretty obvious, and I know he needs help. Although stimulants are recommended I am curious to know if there are parents who have had luck with any alternative treatments: homeopathy, behavioral mod. etc. I would also be interested in any success stories from anyone using the medications. I'm just concerned about long term medication on a still delveloping brain. Are my fears unfounded? Worried Mom


I tried everything possible to avoid medication. We waited till he was almost 7 yrs. I tried the OPC-3, a health food drink with documented improvement with many kids with ADHD. I tried for about 4 months, with a teenie bit of relief. With school progressing, and his situation getting more demanding, we finally conceded to Ritalin. The result is remarkable. He is now on a time released all day medication.. It has made an amazing change in his life, and the rest of our family. Getting him to eat is the only , but large problem. That is my constant challenge to get him to eat, let alone foods that are high in calories, but healthy. I choose not to share this with the school. He still is a wonderful, but very tough child. anonymous
I can completely relate to your concerns regarding longterm affects of medicine on a growing body. And I think they are valid concerns. When my (then) 5 year old was diagnosed 2 weeks before the start of Kindergarten, I resisted medication for the same reason. I spent a year and a half trying alternatives including several different homeopathists, and a food allergy theory that basically eliminated wheat, sugar and milk products (this was really hard!). Although I believe we gave all approaches a fair amount of time, sadly, they did absolutely nothing for our daughter. As a result, she had a miserable Kindergarten experience, and only a somewhat better First Grade experience (mostly because of a great teacher who was willing to go way out her way to help her). Mid-way through First Grade, I caved and decided to try traditional medicine. As much as I hate to say it, I now believe this is the right road and only wish I had done it sooner. My daughter, now in second grade, can actually sit and listen and take turns and cultivate friendships, etc. The key, I think, is to have a doctor that is well-versed in the condition as well as the available meds and their possible side-effects - a doctor that has the sense to start small and is willing to closely moniter your child's health. For instance, the medicine my daughter is on has been known to cause heart problems in a very small number of cases. Some doctors' approach is to say just that and assume your child statistically will fall in the category of no harm done. Instead, my daughter's doctor requests regular EKG's at Children's where an expert can look for the slightest anomaly. These are powerful drugs and it is very scary to put your child on them. But I think if it's done with care and intelligence, it's worth it. You have to weigh that against the emotional damage and lowered self-esteem that occurs when they are constantly getting into trouble at school and when noone wants to be your child's friend. Best of luck to you as you make this difficult decision. Anonymous

Tics brought on by Ritalin?

March 2002

My 7-year old son developed a vocal tic while on Ritalin. Has anyone had a similar experience? Does anyone know the prognosis for remission of the tic? Does anyone know any effective treatments to make the tic go away? e.g. acupunture, osteopathy, homeopathy treatments?


Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has been known to occur in my family. Consequently, I know that sometimes vocal tics are related to OCD. Doing a quick search of the web for this, I found a fascinating link to an article about strep infections sometimes causing tics: http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1200/10_158/65913260/p1/article.jhtml Any chance his tic could have been associated with strep rather than the Ritalin? Either way, it sounds like further investigation into OCD and related things might be in order. Here's a link to start with: http://www.anxieties.com/5OCD/OCD_summary1.htm There are various treatments for OCD and related disorders, some of them ''allopathic western medicine'' approaches, and some of them more holistic. Not all treatments will be listed on all pages (some of the pages, for instance, are actually sponsored by the company that makes the drug they recommend--so be aware of any potential bias in this regard). I hope you are able to find a treatment regimen that works for your family. Good luck!

Girls with ADD

June 2002

I am looking for a support group for my teenage daughter who has ADD. We are seeing a counselor, and she agrees that my daughter would greatly benefit from a group of other girls her age with her same challenges. Things are pretty dicely right now between us, and I think we both need support. The counselor is directing me to a group in SF, but my daughter still needs one. Any leads? Teen Mom


My daughter is twelve, going into eighth grade next Fall. She is a mild ADD child, with very few noticed behavior problems at school. At home, she is a high-maintenance child. She needs help with organizing her time, her assignments, her belongings, and so on. I am very organized and can offer her all sorts of help in managing her life. However, I get exhausted from monitoring and shaping her behavior. I could use some help from a peer support group. Are there any support groups for ADD teen girls in the Berkeley/Albany area? Please reply to the newsletter. Thank you.
Replies received: Ability Resource Center

10-year-old may have ADD

Nov 1998

My 10 year old son will be going through testing at school to see if he has any learning disabilities. They have suggested that he be tested for ADD by a pediatrician because ADD is a medical diagnosis. Our entire family sees a "General Physician" and my boys don't have a pediatrician. I will be asking for a referral to a pediatrician through PacifiCare and am wondering if anyone has any reccommendations for a pediatrician who may have experience with ADD diagnosis and is located in Martinez, Pleasant Hill, etc. area (Hill Physicians Medical Group).


Kaiser offers a small group screening for ADHD every six weeks which is pretty thorough. The cost is minimal.
Galen
I have LOTS of info about ADHD. There's a lot of misinformation out there about ADHD and treatments. This "disorder" hasn't been termed "hyperactivity" for years and years. I would be very suspicious of an evaluator who called it that and then gave you the information that since she "attends" to what interests her, she is not "hyperactive." This is THE classic definition of ADHD. Have your daughter evaluated professionally by someone who knows what they are doing. NO teacher or parent can help your child develop normally if her brain synapses aren't firing correctly. Believe me I know what I'm talking about.

There's a ton of information about this very real disability on the Net. Also, your daughter may not have ADHD. There are many other conditions that cause children to appear "hyper" and unfocused, from emotional trauma and life changes (a divorce for instance) all the way to brain tumors. She needs a complete battery of tests before you decide on an intervention. The results of a looong study on children are just coming out. You may have read about it. The gist of it is that therapy, behavior mod, counseling, beneficial classroom environment, parental training, etc. are all good and important, but NONE are very effective without medicine. And fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, EVEN MEDS ALONE ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ANY OF THE OTHER INTERVENTIONS COMBINED. It's a hard decision to put your child on medicine, but I see it much the way I would feel if she needed glasses to see with.

I am not pro-meds, by the way. Nor do I think every "hyper" kid needs treatment, far from it. Kids exist along a spectrum from very quiet to very wild and it can all be within the range of normal. My 8-yr-old daughter's behavior wasn't within that range, and I knew WAY before she was officially diagnosed at the end of second grade. She was not a behavior problem, just very "spirited." But it would take her 3 hours of intense struggle, watching her every moment, to do 15 minutes of 2nd grade homework and she couldn't learn to read at all, no matter how hard she tried. Now in third grade, she reads all the time and is doing very well in school, almost caught up and in some cases, ahead of her class.

Parents, run screaming from anyone who presumes to "know" your child is ADHD without a professional evaluation. This is a serious condition. People with untreated ADHD have much lower social and economic success in later life. They are frequently ostracised and many have few if any friends. They often end up "self-medicating" with illegal drugs. They take impulsive risks. ADHD is potentially life-threatening. It is a diagnosis, not a term to thrown at any kid who is spirited.


Online Resources

From: Trish (June 1999)

  • www.chadd.org
  • www.add.org
  • www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm
  • www.oneaddplace.com
  • www.addvantages.com

    An outstanding site for both consumer and professional information on Learning Disabilities and ADHD is at www.ldonline.org. Subscribe to their free monthly newsletter. It is chock full of information and is non-commercial.
    OTHER RESOURCES:
    The ADD Warehouse Catalogue (800-233-9273)
    CHADD Chapters are available in every county. (415) 441-6329 510 581 9941


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