<p>Jordcin: Although reading assignments were what he mentioned there are several characteristics that are apparant which are really highlighted in my mind by the items listed in post #11. I showed S that list as well and he saw himself in much of that. But you are right, while so much of that is him it is really hard to tell what isn’t normal or at what point “often” becomes pathology. From what I had previously been told, it becomes something to treat when it is perceived as a problem. So now S is telling me he is perceiving a problem so the least I can do is check it out.</p>
<p>If any of you know of any specific names of testing that is done so I could read about it and know enough to ask about it it would be helpful.</p>
<p>Hmmm, my first reaction also was he wants Ritalin. If you are concerned and can afford it, have him tested. I in no way want to “diss” parents of kids with ADHD/ADD however, the DSME info LimaBeans posted applies to probably 90% of boys until they actually mature…get a reputable professional. It’s a drug being discussed that your child is going to ingest not a daily dose of Vitamin C. For kids that need it it’s heaven sent. For others, I personally would think long and hard and want some reputable guidance.</p>
<p>momofthreeboys: Your name does indicate that you have some experience with adolescent boys. I’m just a mom of two boys and both are as different as two boys can be. For younger S all of that really does seem normal. Our first stop is with his physican and I don’t expect to go in asking for a script, I just told S to explain what he is experiencing when he goes in for his physical and we’ll progress from there. S raised the question and I don’t have the expertese to provide the answer, especially since years ago I had the same question about him.</p>
<p>just do not assume it is ADHD…it could very well be something else -
a learning disability
low thyroid
other medical condition</p>
<p>ritalin and adderall are not the be all and end all…make sure you need them before you start taking them</p>
<p>you need a FULL battery of various educational and psychological and IQ tests in order to get the full picture, from a highly qualified and trained professional. they are expensive, but not as expensive as problems that can arise without the proper diagnosis.</p>
<p>I am dumbfounded by some of the responses here. OP gave no indication that her son is a deceitful person, yet several posters knee jerk reactions are that he just wants drugs, either to use or sell. My college sophomore D (who has ADHD and a learning disability) wouldn’t dream of selling or otherwise abusing her meds and would be appalled at the very notion. How insulting to make that kind of assumption about anyone’s child. </p>
<p>I think it’s perfectly reasonable for a bright kid who perceives some difficulties in accomplishing his work to consider the possibility of an ADHD diagnosis when the subject is so much in the news these days. He’s asking for help and the responsible reaction is to get him help. I wouldn’t hesitate to have him tested for ADHD AND learning disabilities–any one of a number of conditions can affect school performance. If the testing reveals no disabling condition, he may just need some expert coaching in how to stay organized and how to approach long assignments. If the testing does reveal a disability, he may need any one of a number of solutions, from coaching to medication. </p>
<p>I’ll also take this opportunity to point out that the “official” names for the various types of ADHD under the DSM-IV are Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive Type; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Hyperactive, Impulsive Type; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined Type; and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. I believe that the term “ADD” is no longer used by professionals.</p>
<p>I agree 100% with the comments made by BayareaCAmom. I will add that your son’s doctor (presumably a pediatrician, but whomever) is generally not equipped to make a diagnosis such as this. Like BACMom said, it could be any one of a number of things, and you don’t need to have your son being used by a psychiatrist as a guinea pig in testing to see if medication helps the problem.</p>
<p>Medication should be a last resort, not a first resort, and all too often I see psychiatrists, including those of some reknown, making rash determinations and prognoses, starting down the long road of ritalin, followed by zoloft when the ritalin make causes depression in a teen, follwed by who knows what. On the other hand, these medications can be wonder drugs to those teens who simply cannot function without medication.</p>
<p>I would certainly see the child’s physician, but do discuss with him or her getting the barage of neuropsychiatric testing, including, as BayareaCAmom said, those educational tests. They are not cheap, and they take some time to complete, to review, and create findings. They will also come in very handy if something is found where your child needs accommodations either in high school, on exams, or in college.</p>
<p>“I think it’s perfectly reasonable for a bright kid who perceives some difficulties in accomplishing his work to consider the possibility of an ADHD diagnosis when the subject is so much in the news these days.”</p>
<p>I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone who HASN’T considered the possibility of ADHD. Joking…a little…</p>
<p>UCLA77: Insurance dictates that the ball start rolling with the primary physician. I’m not sure how it figures into the rest of this. Who would the tester be? From what you are saying not a psychiatrist. Would it be a psychologist, neuropsychologist, or someone else? I was hoping his physician would direct me appropriately to next step.</p>
<p>This might be a dumb question but…do these drugs have an effect on kids even if they don’t have ADD? S2 is a college soph. at a big state u. who says everyone has these drugs. He took one Concerta (given to him by his roommate who has a prescrip) when studying for three exams in one night during finals week. Says it helped him concentrate for hours and that maybe he has ADD.
Does it have this effect on eveyone? Is that why there is such a big market for these drugs on college campuses?</p>
<p>^Yes they do work on everyone. This is one of the big reasons that people argue that ADD/ADHD are fake and that these drugs should either be legal or illegal for everyone.</p>
<p>spectrum2, you should definitely seek a referral from your son’s primary care physician. Not only is that the route specified by most insurance plans but he/she also should be knowledgeable of mental health professionals who specialize or have much experience with adolescents. The ideal situation would be that you could be referred to a group or set of providers that includes both psychiatrists and psychologists. The prerequisite testing is done by psychologists, and the results would be shared with you (and ideally, with the collaborating psychiatrist in the case of a situation that may possibly involve medication, such as an attention disorder). In addition to the testing, your son should also undergo at least one clinical interview, most likey by a psychologist(s) as well as the psychiatrist. A course of action would be recommended based on the findings from the clinical interviews as well as the psychological testing. </p>
<p>I would not be surprised if any young person, be it a high school or college student, thought that seeking medication might be a solution to helping with academic difficulties, given the prevalence of use/abuse of prescription drugs in this population. Prescription drugs may be viewed as safer or more accepted ways to deal with such problems, whether acquired legally or illegally. Again, this is why seeing a mental health care provider with insight and experience with this particular population is important, because they can help frame both the problem and the solution appropriately.</p>
<p>You may need to do some calling around to find the appropriate person to do a full battery of tests. Start with your physician and your high school guidance/counseling office to get the names of some professionals. Also, ask any friends who kids may have ADHD and/or learning disabilities if their kids were tested and by whom. There are people who specialize in this. The person we used says “Pyschoeducational Assessment and Diagnostics” on the business card, and I got the name from our high school. I talked to several people extensively over the phone, and then made an appointment with one, and moved forward with that person, also, they have a PhD.</p>
<p>As far as the ADHD drugs - ritalin, adderall and such - these have become huge drugs on college campuses and even in the young adult crowd. If you are NOT ADHD, they act as a stimulant, and help you stay awake and alert to study, or stay up late at night to party. Young professionals often use them also, to “get more done” and be more “focused”. They are like steroids for you mind, from what I hear, and that is why the younger kids are using them. The drugs are often crushed and snorted, to get a quicker response than swallowing them. However, this is extremely dangerous/hard on your nasal passages and lungs - these drugs are manufactured/processed with a coating and filler to be slowly dissolved and digested through the stomach - not inhaled. In addition, they are as addictive as cocaine and meth. But, for the kids, they are easily and readily available, and have the desired “effect”.</p>
<p>"I would not be surprised if any young person, be it a high school or college student, thought that seeking medication might be a solution to helping with academic difficulties, given the prevalence of use/abuse of prescription drugs in this population. Prescription drugs may be viewed as safer or more accepted ways to deal with such problems, whether acquired legally or illegally. Again, this is why seeing a mental health care provider with insight and experience with this particular population is important, because they can help frame both the problem and the solution appropriately. "</p>
<p>I’m not trying to suggest that Ritalin or the other brands out there are great things that the OPs son should take but…</p>
<p>" In addition, they are as addictive as cocaine and meth."</p>
<p>…Not quite true. I’ve known people who’ve done meth. I know people who take Adderall. I can assure you, they’re not equally addictive. Regardless of whatever study you got this from, it’s not true.</p>
<p>Definitely get your son tested and carefully evaluate the options - it seems to me that diagnoses of ADHD are exploding these days - everyone has it.<br>
At my d’s college campus everyone takes Adderall - it’s frustrating to have to compete with super-charged, super-efficient students. Many of her friends have gotten “diagnosed” and have prescriptions to use as they see fit - many who dont seem to have any ADHD issues.<br>
On the other hand, a close friend had her son diagnosed between his freshman and soph year of college and for the first time in his life he is actually able to concentrate on school work - he probably needed it in high school as well but they resisted medication because he was a top athlete.<br>
Just be very discerning!</p>
<p>Edited to add that I’m not stupid and I realize that my d probably has also taken Adderall…</p>
<p>When S2 made the comment that it helped him studying for exams and maybe he is ADD, I told him he would have to go through a battery of tests/exams to determine such a diagnosis. His reply was “My roommate said he just went to his regular Dr. and told him he was having trouble concentrating in school and the Dr. wrote him a prescrip for Concerta.”</p>
<p>Testing makes sense if you can afford it. But it doesn’t sound like your student is having serious problems at this point.
How about trying fish oils? Can’t hurt. If you do, try the kind that doesn’t give fish burps. GNC sells a good triple strength brand. Good for warding off depression too.
[Fish</a> Oil for ADHD?](<a href=“http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400011]Fish”>http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400011)</p>
<p>I’m confident that spectrum2 is aware of what her/his insurance dictates regarding referrals to mental health professionals, this isn’t dictated by any state laws, it’s dictated by individual insurance companies per individual plans - which can vary widely under the same company based on what an employer wants to provide.</p>
<p>Testing step one, usually the primary physician will look for medical issues, like allergies and thyroid function and provide the checklists for student, parents and teachers. If the results of the medical testing come back negative and the checklists come back indicative of an issue a referral takes place.</p>
<p>Testing step two. Finding a psychologist (this is who generally conducts the battery of cognitive testing) that knows how to get the testing paid for by insurance can be very helpful, they are out there and will use diagnosis and procedure codes that will get the most payment by your insurance. This has to do with using medical codes versus mental health codes, though this should be easier than it was a year ago because of the Wellstone Parity Act. While screening for a professional, be sure to ask questions about this.</p>
<p>Tests:
Stanford Binet V or WISC IV - IQ/Aptitude
Woodcock Johnson Cognitive and Achievement Tests - Achievement
Wechsler Achievement Tests
TOVA or IVA - Attention/Distractability
VMI - Visual Motor Integration
WRAML - measure memory and learning
Purdue Grooved Pegboard Test
Children’s Trailmaking Test
Gray Oral Reading Test
Test of Language Development
Auditory Processing Tests
Occupational Therapy Evaluations</p>
<p>This list isn’t meant to be completely comprehensive, some of these may or may not apply since we are talking about a child in high school and not elementary school - but remember, you want to not only rule in/out AD/HD, you want to identify whether there may be some other learning disability. Generally speaking, scatter in subtest scores in the IQ testing can be indicative of issues especially low processing speed (very common in AD/HD).</p>
<p>Bright kids with AD/HD and or learning disabilities will compensate for a very long time before they hit a wall - but once they hit the wall, you have to figure it out or they can develop frustration and anger and eventually depression. The biggest issues in my opinion when it comes to AD/HD are troubles with executive function (organization) and short term memory - which causes problems with test taking.</p>
<p>I’m pretty appalled that the go-to answer is that the child is drug seeking. I understand that there is a “market” for these medications on the street, and that they can enhance anybody’s study ability - but they are just as likely to render a child unable to study because they will simply be too jittery, more than likely, street use is as a party drug.</p>
<p>Omega3 can be a good supplement, but from my experience there is not enough oomph if a child has moderate to severe AD/HD. The best tool is a planner, either paper or electronic, but my experience is that paper is better, because if you use something like a Franklin properly, you are reinforcing where you are everyday by moving tasks/items from one day to the next.</p>
<p>
If properly prescribed and taken as prescribed, the doses are way below anything that would create an addiction.</p>
<p>Some of this is going to be a repetition from some of the other posts but here is some “straight talk advice”</p>
<p>1) Talk to your primary care physician (preferably a pediatrician). There are specific questionnaires that need to be filled out by the parents, child, and teachers/counselors. The answers to these questions will provide the doctor with some indication of what is going on.</p>
<p>2) On your own, observe some of his behaviors especially his ability to concentrate or do some tasks. You will notice a lot if you pay attention. Talk to his teachers, his friends. What do you notice that will tell you that he has ADD. Ask him what he thinks is issue. It may be ADD, it could be something else.</p>
<p>3) Idea is to help him, not dose him up with medicine if it can be helped. Also there is more to ADD/ADHD treatment the medicine. There is reinforcement, structuring of work, etc., changes that everyone needs to make. You could get accommodation in school through say a 504 plan.</p>
<p>4) Rather than a Psychiatrist, I would suggest you should contact a developmental pediatrician. This is a specialization within Pediatrics that deals with these types of issues. They usually have more experience with ADD/ADHD treatment. Your PCP will able to refer you to one of them in your local area.</p>
<p>5) Search the web, there is a lot of good advice on how to deal with this situation. Also there are consultants and coaches, who can help with specific behavior traits (e.g. organization) but most of them are over priced and provide little value. But some can help, so choose wisely.</p>
<p>6) Remember, ADD treatment is a family responsibility, not just that of the child. The idea is to create an environment where the child can get over the problem, not provide band aids. There are places where you need to put your foot down and refuse to allow the ADD to be a crutch. In other places you need to accommodate him. It is going to be balancing act. He needs to have confidence that you are looking out for him, but he also needs to know that he has to also step up to the plate.</p>