Frequently asked Questions
About ADD/ADHD
Jean Beck RN; ACNP
Today there are concerns that children have been overly diagnosed and treated for ADD. While these concerns are significant, there are many
factors to weigh in today’s society to appropriately evaluate the question of over-diagnosing.
Some frequently asked questions by parents are as follows:
1.Why is ADD/ADHD being diagnosed now when it wasn’t before?
ADD was not diagnosed as accurately years ago as there was less research and knowledge of the effects.
Today adults are being diagnosed who spent a lifetime of
compensating to overcome ADD. Many adults have devised techniques to remember, organize and
struggle to complete tasks that often requires two to three times the effort others have to put forth.
Most of these adults have average to above average intelligence.
2. Is ADD/ADHD genetic?
Often one or the other parent has a history of being ADD as a child. Often parents feel if I managed
to get through it so can you. Mothers at times will be more cognizant of the child’s ADD behavior
than the father due to varying work schedules and time spent with
the child, making it difficult for fathers to accept if they have experienced the behavior less. It
is important on any evaluation to have both parents present so they equally are aware of the concerns
and each can have their questions answered.
3.“Why can’t my child have special attention and help?”
Schools should
adapt to the child!
Society is now more fast paced, with advanced technology children are often asked to fit in but
usually not at the expense of a child’s special needs. Children do need to adapt to the classroom
and peer relationships within reason. Schools do provide special behavior modification programs,
resource room help and testing for learning disabilities, BUT there is a point when a child is
seriously unable to pay attention enough to learn that an evaluation for ADD may be helpful.
4. I DON’T WANT MY CHILD ON MEDICATIONS !!!!!
As a parent this is your right! No parent should give a child medication unless they are
comfortable with the decision. On the other hand, don’t blatantly rule out medications at
all cost if it might help your child. Avenues to try before considering the possible need for
medication would be reward plans, behavior modification, reducing external stimuli,
structuring the environment and resource room help. FOR MANY, MEDICATION HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF THE CHILD AND FAMILY
IN A POSITIVE MANNER. When medicating one wants to use the least amount of medication to
bring out the best of the child. Any ADD medication should be prescribed only by a Child/Adolescent
Psychiatrist, Pediatrician or Family Physician that is comfortable and knowledgeable about regulating
ADD medications for children. * Listen to the effects ADD may be having on your child before you
rule out no medications.
5. What medications are available? I have heard bad things about
Ritalin, it scares me!
Ritalin is a safe medication that has been prescribed successfully for years. The regulation of
this medication is adjusted by the Doctor with feedback from the child, family and teacher, about the
changes noted. The adjustment for each child is individualized according to their specific
needs. Some children may only take medication on school days but not on
weekends, holidays or the summer. Others may require more consistent dosing. It is important
to remember that learning does not only occur at school but in fun relationships with peers
and family. Some children on Ritalin may experience a decrease in appetite. Most parents adjust
medication after the meals, provide nutritious snacks and observe food intake.
For some children on high doses at a young age there have been concerns it may slow down growth.
Research has found the child’s growth returns to normal over time.
For many parents, Ritalin has been a miracle that allowed them to discover their talented child.
Adderall is a new safe medication that originally was very effective for ADD
and is now found to have a positive response for ADHD also, with minimal side
effects. Other medications used may be Cylert, Dexedrine, Wellbutrin,
Effexor, Depakote.
THE KEY WHEN MEDICATING A CHILD IS TO BRING OUT THE BEST OF THE CHILD’S CAPABILITIES
WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MEDICATION.
6. Why can my child pay attention to video games or computers but not at
school?
ADD children seem able to focus on fast moving action such as a video game or
computer. There is some belief that the rapid action matches their rapid
thinking which helps to retain focus.
7. My child seems to have low self-esteem and I am worried, what should
I do?
MOST CHILDREN WANT TO DO WELL and ADD children try hard to please and are
often puzzled when try as they might they still get in trouble. Often the child is blamed,
scolded, given time-outs for his behavior or lack of homework completion.
They may be held in from recess then become teased by peers, labeled and begin to isolate from
normal peer fun relationships. Eventually the child blames himself, feels he is stupid,
becomes discouraged and gives up.
8. I am frustrated as a parent and don’t know what else I can do!
There is usually a family cycle of frustration. The parent wants their
child to succeed and when the child doesn’t parents feel they need to do a better job of
parenting. “I know he has the ability to do this, he is just lazy or unmotivated”.
Parents feel they have failed and need to try harder so they stress more intensely the expectations to concentrate,
listen, do the work that is not within their ability to do. They often have the intellectual ability
but not the concentrating ability. The child feels more pressure, is unable to meet
the expectations, often becomes frustrated then anger escalates out of control and the whole
family becomes discouraged. The child again feels bad because they have not pleased
mom or dad. Often the child is brighter than the average student but unable to produce
evidence of their abilities without medication.
9. What is going on in my child’s mind?
Often their thoughts are racing, many different thoughts are occurring at one time which prevents
the ability to listen and learn. Some children daydream, are easily distracted, unable to sit still
enough to absorb information. If you don’t absorb information how can you use it?
The child needs help to absorb and retain information so they can
productively use it.
10. Are there screening tests for ADD?
Yes, most schools have access to the Conners Inventory for Parent, Teacher and Youth Self Report.
Most Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists and Pediatricians have access to these screens.
CHADD is an online website for ADHD with helpful information.
11. What should I look for in a good assessment for ADD?
It is important that numerous areas are evaluated to rule out the possibility of other concerns that may
be affecting the child with or without ADD. Areas to evaluate are family history and issues,
developmental history, medical history, school performance, stressors current and past, drug and
alcohol use, past treatment, and characteristics of ADD. It is important to receive information from
numerous sources as parents, teachers, and others in the child’s life.
When numerous sources provide input one can look for recurring patterns and themes of
behavior that support a fully evaluated diagnosis of ADD.
12. How is ADD diagnosed? What does
ADD/ADHD mean? Is it all the same?
ADD means Attention Deficit Disorder. ADHD means Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. To
diagnose this there are specific criteria established in the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders).
There are three diagnostic categories:
ADHD- Inattentive Type – A child has difficulty concentrating, paying attention, is
distracted easily, daydreams, forgets a lot, something is always missing as is hard to
organize every expectation of the whole in comparison to his peers.
ADHD- Hyperactive/Impulsive Type – A child has difficulty
sitting still, talks excessively, is disruptive, fidgety, impulsive, has non-stop
energy, is difficult to manage.
ADHD- Combined Type – These children experience both ADD
and the hyper characteristics.
13. If you believe your child needs an evaluation, here are some
resources.
A. Read about ADHD for more
information to evaluate what you are observing.
If you are concerned check with your school or Pediatrician for resources to assess your
child.
B. If you have further questions please ask our
experts.
Jean
Beck is an Advanced Clinical Nurse Practitioner with expertise in
working with psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.
[ Up ] [ adhd ] [ responding to child sexual abuse ] [ self injury ] [ sex education ] [ threats ]
|
