What are some
signs
of ADHD?
Q.
We have the
medical history of our adopted three-year-old son,
but we don't know much about his birth mother's
history except that she was labeled as ADHD. Are
there signs to look for in our boy?
—lauried2
A.
Although ADHD tends to run in families or has a
degree of inheritability, there is not a one-to-one
correlation to having the disorder. So the chance
that your son could develop symptoms consistent with
ADHD is greater than that of a child without a
family history, but it is not 100 percent. Young
children with ADHD will be more physically active;
unable to sit still for extended periods or at story
time; and they may move more quickly between
activities than children who do not have the
disorder. Cardinal symptoms of inattention,
difficulty focusing for extended time periods, and
becoming easily distracted may not be readily
apparent at this age based on the demands or
expectations of a three year old. If you become more
concerned with his behavior in the future, be sure
to seek a professional evaluation.
Should I get a
second opinion?
Q.
My seven-year-old daughter goes to a speech
therapist and has a hard time focusing,
following directions, understanding, and so much
more. She's a great kid but we are not sure if
we are missing something greater. I've asked her
pediatrician if she has ADHD and he said no, but
her teacher seems to think so.
—Michigan_mom
A.
There are three cardinal areas of
symptoms: inattention (daydreaming, easily
distracted, not following instructions or
directions, often losing things, making many
careless errors, unable to maintain focus for
extended periods of time), impulsivity (calling
out, interrupting, difficulty waiting their
turn), and hyperactivity (squirmy, fidgety,
often on the go, restless, excessive talking).
ADHD is a clinical diagnosis focused on symptoms
that exist in more than one setting and have
persisted for at least six months. There is no
blood test.
A child with significant
speech delays can look like an ADHD child
because of poor communication skills and
frustration, or may indeed have the ADHD
disorder. To make a diagnosis, consult with a
child psychologist or psychiatrist; the doctor
will want information from your child's teachers
about her performance in school, and her peer
relationships.
Do schools deal
with ADHD children differently?
Q. My daughter's first-grade teacher brought up
the possibility of ADHD. Is there a class
type that suits this type of child?
—joanneok
A.
A classroom with a smaller
teacher-to-pupil ratio is best in order to
have more individual time and instruction.
Many teachers have experience with children
with ADHD and make some adjustments, like
putting them in the front of the classroom,
or seating them away from a window to
minimize distractions. But first, in order
to establish the diagnosis, you should
complete parent and teacher Conner's forms
and submit them to a psychologist or
psychiatrist; the doctor will perform a
clinical interview to find out if the
diagnosis is in order. Girls with the
inattentive ADHD subtype are often missed
and diagnosed later—their behavior doesn't
attract an adult's attention until they
start to fall behind academically. Patricia
Quinn wrote an excellent book
Understanding Girls with AHDH which you
may find useful.
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Are ADHD and
watching too much television linked?
Q.
I have seen reports lately
that there could be a link between ADHD/ADD
and the amount of television a young |
 |
child watches. Is there any
validity to these reports, or are the
disorders purely biological? —mommytosophie
A. Studies that
link TV and ADHD are very preliminary and do
not account for numerous variables. Genetics
plays a big role with the disorders, as do
other influences. If you think your child |
watches too much television,
daily active play will help her develop
motor and language skills.
|
How young is too
young for medication?
Q.
My six-year-old son started
taking the drug Concerta when he was three.
I'm confused and scared about his starting
medication so young, because I know that
ADHD is fairly new and there is very little
known about it. —glorielsa
A.
Fear not about your child's
care! Some developmental pediatricians as
well as general pediatricians treat rather
routine cases of ADHD when there are no
other psychiatric illnesses involved.
Continue your son's meds. Also, he should
see a psychiatrist for evaluation; the
psychiatrist should then confer with your
pediatrician to decide together how often
your son needs this kind of extra care.
Therapy can help you to access other methods
to assist you with your son's development,
and it can eliminate some of his unwanted
behaviors. Let the therapist know your
concerns if you begin.
Can gifted children
have ADHD?
Q.
My twins' IQs are both above
132, and my son is currently on Zoloft. I
know that some characteristics of gifted and
ADHD children seem to be parallel, and
recently my son has been displaying
disruptive behavior in kindergarten. We are
moving soon, and he will be in a new school.
What can I do? —kathleenl
A.
You can have ADHD and be
gifted. Find a school that has a small
teacher-to-student ratio and one that can
academically challenge and stimulate your
child. Zoloft is for anxiety and depression,
not attention—unless you and the physician
believe that your child's inattention is due
to anxiety or mood.
How do I handle my
child's meltdown between doses of
medication?
Q.
My five-and-a-half-year-old
son is on five milligrams of Ritalin twice a
day. It is working wonderfully. However,
about once a week or so, he has a
meltdown—he is very emotional and will get
very upset at minor things. Is this normal?
Should we consider another medication?
—cdstevens
A.
This reaction does occur with
some children as the meds wear off (and
sometimes it is an effect seen when they
first start the |
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medication) and for some
children, the behavior goes away over time.
Since you say the medication works well, you
may try giving your son an extended release
Ritalin that will last longer instead of
dosing twice a day. By the time that wears
off, it may be a smoother transition for
him. Having a routine at the end of the day
also helps, where your son knows what is |
 |
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expected from him—like after
dinner, we brush teeth, have story time,
then bedtime. |
How do I
explain ADHD to my child?
Q.
My six-year-old
daughter has ADHD. How do I explain this to
her? —jennns
A.
You can list her
behaviors in a child-friendly manner such
as, "Remember when you did this behavior
(name it for her)? It was not the correct
thing to do. We (mommy, daddy, and the
doctor) are going to help you to stop doing
this behavior." You can explain that is the
reason you go as a family to see the
treating doctor, to help change the
behaviors which are incorrect or bad.
Emphasize that she is not a bad child.
Do all ADHD drugs
cause tics in children?
Q. My seven-year old son
developed coughing and sniffing tics when on
Dexedrine. Now we're trying Metadate, to see
if that does the same thing. But if all
these drugs are basically the same, won't
they all cause tics?
—newshound
A.
Children may
exhibit a tic on one stimulant and not another even
though they are in the same medication class. Before
switching to a different class of medicines like a
non-stimulant, often physicians will decrease the
dose of the medication that the child is on, or stop
it and try another stimulant if your child was
responding well to the first. |
