'I can't tell you how many times I've been approached by parents who complain that medication 'hasn't helped our child,' or that it 'helps, but my child is still struggling in school.' In most cases, the problem isn't the medication.'
I worry about the casual way in which many doctors pronounce an ADHD diagnosis. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder iseasy to diagnose, and doctors who diagnose ADHD too hastily only perpetuate the problems that lead patients to consult them in the first place.
Clearly, Fred’s symptoms were neither chronic nor pervasive — so the problem couldn’t be ADHD. The pediatrician had jumped from description to treatment without making sure that Fred met the diagnostic criteria. Two years passed. Despite steady use of the medication, Marie continued to have problems in school and with her peers. At this point, with middle school looming, Alicia called me.I looked over the psychologist’s report. It included several rating scales, completed by Alicia and the psychologist, that seemed “significant” in indicating ADHD. It also included a computerized test that was “suggestive” of ADHD.
This helped convince me that Marie’s problems stemmed from a mood disorder and a sense of helplessness she felt about her family situation. I recommended that Marie go off medication and start psychotherapy.. Her problems were not chronic; they began only after her parents’ marriage began to break up.
But that wasn’t the end of my diagnostic workup. When someone has ADHD, there’s a greater than 50 percent chance that he or she will also have a learning disability, anxiety, mood disorder, OCD, or some other neurological disorder. Given this high probability of coexisting conditions, it’s essential to consider additional diagnoses.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hoarding Help and Clutter Shame: ADHD Organization TipsWe see potential in everything, so we tend to hold on to things “just in case.” We struggle with systems and getting things done, so it’s easy to wind up with stacks and piles. Use these 13 helpful tips to learn how to live a more organized life.
Read more »
How ADHD Triggers Intense Emotions In Your BrainSometimes the working memory impairments of ADHD allow a momentary emotion to become too strong, flooding the brain with one intense emotion. At other times, the person with ADHD seems insensitive or unaware of the emotions of others.
Read more »
Stop ADHD Procrastination: Getting Things DoneDoes your ADHD make you prone to procrastination? Learn why avoiding negative talk, taking things one step at a time, and simply beginning can put an end to the cycle.
Read more »
The Insecurities of Mothering with ADHD: A DiaryI'm going to be a Mom! Would I be good enough? Could I balance it all? Persisting in parenthood, despite my ADHD, is the best gift I could give my daughter.
Read more »
The FDA is considering approving a prescription video game for ADHDAkili Interactive Labs is in talks with regulators from the FDA over approval for its prescription video game designed to treat children with ADHD.
Read more »
How to Declutter Your Home Fast: ADHD Organizing TipsHow to organize your life once and for all? Eliminate the stuff and make some new rules, so the clutter doesn’t pile up again throughout the year. Here are 10 kinds of clutter just begging for new rules. See how many you can make disappear — permanently.
Read more »