<p>It is not likely that your son has ADD. However, it is probably likely your son could be diagnosed. To be an LD, ADD is not simply being somewhat disorganized and having to call friends for assignments. It is being too disorganized to even remember you had the assignment or to remember to call a friend. It is being so unable to concentrate that you can’t get through a short reading assignment, let along a long one. It is doing the homework and not printing it out, even when mom reminds you. It is doing the homework, printing it out, putting on the table and forgetting it, even though mom reminds you or actually remembering to bring it to school, but not being able to find it in your backpack. A kid that hands in assignments on time is not likely to have ADD.</p>
<p>It is unlikely he could have maintained As and Bs without tutors or mom doing the work for him and have ADD-Inattentive. Many kids find it hard to concentrate on long readings or long tests. </p>
<p>Some doctors will diagnose ADD based on simple questionaires, but should at least look at teachers comments or grades. Comments like “Is not working up to potential” or “Grade is affected by missing work” are typical. </p>
<p>I am not saying that kids can’t be diagnosed with ADD in high school. It just doesn’t seem to me that your son likley has it.</p>
<p>In order to do ADD diagnosis, usually many people (parents, teachers, coaches, counselors, relatives, student themselves) provide inputs, as there is really no clinical test that can be used. In many cases, ADD students are very bright that they are able to breeze through middle school fairly easily and only when they get to HS, does the problems start showing up.</p>
<p>So it is important that the professional that makes a diagnosis has experience in this area. Many PCP’s may not, so it is important to find the right person. I know parents who went to their doctor and doctor prescribed ADD medicine, when there were other options available.</p>
<p>I agree with mom2and and others that it is premature to jump to the conclusion that is ADD. It could be other social issues or that fact the student is just overwhelmed with everything. There could be a medical condition. You will not know unless you talk to your doctor.</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."…</p>
<p>This is what I love about the internet; Seeing how different things are from one location to the next! The above seems so different from where I practice! Here in California we have had parity laws for quite some trimester people seem to understand their convoluted benefits, there we no “behavioral pediatricians” within at least the three counties surrounding mine, the general peds doc’s rarely screen for medical cases prior to referral (to me, at least) and it’s VERY rare for psychologist to do testing, and/or get reimbursed for it.</p>
<p>Wow. As the mom of a D who wasn’t diagnosed until Freshman year of HS with ADHD-Inattentive, I am stunned by some of the comments on this thread. Kids who are identified as gifted at a younger age often mask their LDs until the cognitive work load makes their verbal skills insufficient to compensate for executive function & processing speed deficits. </p>
<p>To the op: here are some things to keep in mind:
ADHD/ADD drugs have a very short half life. If your son takes them & they don’t seem to work, then they will be out of his system within a day or two (per our pediatrician.) Dh was hesitant for D to take drugs (thought she had to learn to work harder/smarter) but felt better when he knew the meds wouldn’t stay with her for long.
Kids who have undiagnosed ADD/ADHD are at very high risk for self medicating (alcohol and/or other drugs.)
Kids who have ADD/ADHD are at higher risk for car accidents (and my D did total the car one day when she left before her meds kicked in…)
It’s very easy to keep control of the meds. They are a “black box” drug and the doctor will only give us an Rx for one month. I physically have to pick up and take the Rx to the pharmacy (no calling in or faxing.) If one pharmacy is out of the drug, I have to pick up the paper Rx & drive it to another branch. The meds are in our kitchen cabinet; D takes one before school. We’ve never run short. Ever. </p>
<p>D’s improvement was unbelievable. She never had any side effects (sleep or eating issues) and said she didn’t feel any different when she started taking them. But from 1st marking period to 2nd marking period, every grade went up…Biology by 18 points. This was a kid who got all A’s until 7th grade when she started taking high school classes. She just graduated HS; we all know now when it’s a “non-meds day” (which is often since she doesn’t take them on non school days.) </p>
<p>good luck & feel free to PM me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>RobD – your D’s story rings very true. As long as kids aren’t creating a behavior problem in the classroom, a lot of other problems are easy to miss, particularly in the case of a very bright kid.</p>
<p>Wow! I need to take a little bit to absorb all of this information. I really want to thank all of you who have been so generous with your own stories and information. I do feel like I have gotten the crash course in ADD/ADHD 101. Thank you all for that!</p>
<p>It doesn’t surprise me that there are so many differing perspectives and it does help to hear all of them and to gain an understanding of the process involved in diagnosis as well as the use of drug alternatives. I am curious about the fish oil/primrose combo. In the article it seemed to refer to hyperactivity more than distractablility and disorganization. Has it been thought to be effective for these issues as well? </p>
<p>I will tell you that with or without the label all of his life H and I have worked with S on organizational issues, staying on task with HW remembering to bring in assignments etc. With some of these things we have been successful with others not so much. We have swooped into school more than once with a rescue delivery. Happily as he has gotten older these are fewer and farther between. I don’t know how he doesn’t miss assignments because sometimes the most random of conversations will remind him he has forgotten something, but still the grades that come up on the computer don’t lie and this year there has not been one zero for missed work. (Although there was one complete project that he did but lost 20 points on it because it wasn’t brought in on time.) If he is diagnosed with ADHD or another LD I am confident that we have been working on compensatory strategies already but I’m sure that with a label we can find resources beyond our own intuition. Even if he doesn’t fall into this category work on some of these issues has been a way of life, all of his life. And the need for us to work with him has deminished tremendously over time. </p>
<p>Again I don’t know what is normal and what isn’t but from what I have witness if I put S’s performance on a sliding scale between “Normal” and “Pathology” whichever side of the scale he landed on I expect he is somewhere near the threshold. As far as other LD’s besides ADHD I don’t know enough about them to even guess if he falls into any of those categories. </p>
<p>The thing that we don’t really know how to deal with is the frustration he has when he has a really long reading assignment and not much time to get it done. It isn’t that he hasn’t put in the time, but if he has a weekend to do a lot of reading he can spend many unproductive hours on this single assignment. Fortunately thus far he hasn’t had too many of those but seeing this happen along with him telling me he can’t concentrate presents a relm of difficulty that I have no solution for. That’s the reason I’m seeking help. </p>
<p>As I said I have only 2 kids and the older one didn’t face any of these issues. I guess I’m trying to explain that this isn’t just as simple as one day S said he’s having difficulty with reading assignments and long tests. I don’t mean to say I know he has a learning disability, I guess what I am saying is that on some level I know he has a problem that he needs a strategy to work on or I expect college will be extremely difficult. In spite of the fact that he has a great work ethic and is a very capable student.</p>
<p>Once again, thank you so much! I expect I’ll be back with more questions once I have taken all of this in.</p>
<p>DS asked for help at Christmas break and suggested ADD because he believed his symptoms to be similar to a friend who was so diagnosed. He promised to see counselors at school but did not follow through. By the end of the school year, he was an emotional wreck and his grades were in the toilet. We are using a children’s institute that use psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers in combination to diagnose and treat. ADD is a possibility at this point but so is depression, anxiety and godknowswhatelse. Son told treating physician he has had suicidal thoughts. </p>
<p>If I were the original poster, I would not get too caught up in son’s ulterior motives or possibility of drug dealing. Trust your child. Trust your gut. And find good professionals who can help you and your child sort things out. Transition to adulthood is difficult on so many levels.</p>
<p>BTW, I am self-paying for now (gulp). DS and I decided that we did not want records of psych treatment in the insurance companies’ databases.</p>
<p>I am trying fish oil supplements right now without much effect. From my mom’s research it was supposed to be very successful but for me it wasn’t. I can feel the “normal” level of distractability improve, in that my self discipline is better in situations where I COULD be more focused if I tried hard enough, but in situations where it is really not a matter of trying and it is just ADD it’s not helping-- and for me that’s the bulk of my problems. My mom is on fish oil supplements and thinks it’s almost as good as her prescription, though. It’s worth a shot. </p>
<p>It sounds to me like you are going about this with the right attitude. Good for you. Your son will thank you for it someday regardless of the outcome of any testing he may have.</p>
<p>spectrum2 said: The thing that we don’t really know how to deal with is the frustration he has when he has a really long reading assignment and not much time to get it done.</p>
<p>–Aside from the issue of whether or not your son has ADHD or another learning disability, he may be able to learn some reading/comprehension techniques that would help him with long reading assignments. If you google reading comprehension techniques, there is a lot of info out there.</p>
<p>inspriedbymusic: That is an interesting thought and probably these techniques would be useful to anyone even if compounded by other issues. The question that I guess testing could help clear up is if he is reading and not comprehending what he reads or reading and not learning because he his not even thinking about what he is reading when he is “reading” it. Then it could be some of both.</p>
<p>Emaheevul07: Thank you for articulating your experience. Fish oil is about as easy as it gets and we even already have it in the house. Even if it made a small difference its easy and healthy so why not. It there any amount that you take, is it combined with anything else? Also, thanks for the encouragement!</p>
<p>Sewnsew: I am so not worried about alterior motives. I understand that the folks writing that sort of thing don’t know what I know about my kid. I also understand it is the kind of thing that could happen and I do appreciate the warning that if he had the meds he could be encouraged to “share.” </p>
<p>When people say, he is saying this because he wants the meds, that may be true. If I am ill I also want the meds that will make me better. If he perceives this as something that will fix his problem, of course he wants it. I don’t see anything wrong with that. To be clear though he never told me to get him meds, he just asked why he had never been tested and that he thought he had difficulty staying focused. I’m sure lots of people who are “normal” sometimes think they have a LD and don’t. The reason I started this thread was because I was myself questioning how seriously to take this. What I have learned in talking this out with all of you is that it would be a mistake to ignor his question even if the answer turns out to be that he just needs to learn to work harder and smarter.</p>
<p>spectrum2 - You’re right, finding answers, no matter what they are, is definitely the right direction. After we had our son tested I felt really good about all his strengths and happy to have strategies in place to help improve his weaknesses. Knowledge is always good.</p>
<p>I would very simply start taking the steps for a diagnosis. Maybe he will be diagnosed with ADD. Maybe not. Maybe he has other issues that can be addressed. Or he might be slightly ADD, have characteristics of someone who has ADD, but is not a full blown case of it. All of us have attributes that are at its extremes psychotic, and certainly neurotic. There are many of us who have ups and downs but taking lithium which truly bipolar folks need is like using a sledgehammer to get that flea on our heads. Who doesn’t get depressed? Many of us have sleeping problems, get nervous, get agitated, get angry. But many of us also don’t cross that line that takes us into the area of full blown neurosis or psychosis. But we may come awfully close at times. Your son might well be coming into that darker gray area, even if he is not truly in ADD territory. Maybe the meds will help him even if he is not truly ADD but those active hormones, stress, pressures are pushing him closer to that line. Does he qualify for the meds? Will they cause more harm than good to take them? Or more good than harm? Only a professional can make that decision or at least give you more information that maybe s/he’ll have you make that decision.</p>
<p>But definitely have it checked out by the proper medical folks.</p>
<p>I have been following this thread as we’re going through the initial process with my youngest now. He’s a junior, bright kid, very charismatic, but has not done well in middle or HS, despite being tagged for the gifted program in elementary school (he dropped out as the workload was too much for him and he had difficulty understanding the teacher). Went from straight A’s with minimal effort to nearly all C’s, starts out on honor roll then fails a few marking periods but manages to get it together to pass in the end…no consistent effort in anything but PE! Behavior issues started in 7th grade (not paying attention, being disruptive, class clown type stuff escalating recently to a verbal altercation with a teacher he perceived as being physically hostile toward him when he was told to return to his seat). Many issues at home and in school with poor memory, impulsiveness, lack of concentration/focus, not completing work on time, poor organizational skills, etc. but teachers generally like him a lot, as do the administrators, so he “skates” on his good looks and personality. I do not ever excuse or bail him out - forgotten assignments/equipment, bad behavior, and the like are not okay with me and, while I don’t go overboard on additional discipline even though I think the school is often too lenient and suggest they “throw the book at him” (ie. give him the same punishment they would give another kid), he readily admits and takes responsibility for his mistakes and pays the price. What bothers me is that he doesn’t seem to really learn from them and claims that he just “can’t help it”!</p>
<p>S has been telling me for about 3 years that he knows he has ADD. His pediatrician has been telling me he might have some slight brain damage due to repeated minor concussions from sports over the last 8 years (none resulted in loss of consciousness or required extended recovery though I would not allow him to return to play immediately) and went the “let’s observe this for awhile” route. Finally ordered and got an MRI, which came back clear, and they still want him to go see a neurologist but haven’t made the referral yet. Meanwhile, I had requested in both 10th and 11th grade that the GC and vice-principal set him up with the school psych, or at least a faculty mentor/coach, that could help him stay on track emotionally in school but, although they agreed, nothing came of it. I brought up the possibility of ADD yesterday at the doctor’s as the DSM-IV criteria describe S to a tee. The PA said they could request info from his teachers but may not get anything back as there’s only a few weeks left in the school year. I then asked for a referral to a psych eval/testing group that deals with ADD/ADHD and other issues and seems (from their website) to work with kids to develop coping techniques. She’s going to “think about it” but wants to talk with a neurologist anyway and says he can do the ADD diagnosis. I don’t know if it’s important that he’s diagnosed or not as it’s likely too late for school intervention, I don’t think meds are appropriate for him, and we’re more interested in helping him learn effective strategies so he can function better for the rest of HS, college, and beyond. But I also don’t know if he’s correct in his self-diagnosis, even though it does seem to fit the criteria…he seems to have fallen through the cracks and the “professionals” seem very slow to take any steps to help me pull him back out! </p>
<p>I’m at a loss where to turn and who to press for help…school psych? neurologist? private testing? self-research and trial and error? He’ll be 18 in the fall and in his mind he’s already an adult but I don’t think he’ll be able to function well in college due to his extreme forgetfulness and disorganization…he’s in a tech/trades program now and our plan was to have him start at a CC and live at home but, to his delight and my chagrin, he’s being recruited by 4 year schools where he would now be in the lower quartile academically:( Any thoughts on how I can best help this kid get to the point where he can manage academically and in “real life”?</p>
<p>I do agree with everyone who is suggesting consultation with your doctor. Although it could be ADD, it may be something else. </p>
<p>If you want to try fish oil, make sure you get a decent dose. My H takes 4 per day…with 650 mg EPA and 250 mg DHA (heart benefits). It’s triple strength…from GNC. Purified…no fish burps. There’s lots of weak fish oil out there…and some of it is not purified. Do some research online.</p>
<p>Is everyone aware that there is also a “Learning Differences and Challenges” forum here on College Confidential? You may be able to find some useful information and support there.</p>
<p>BUandBC82, well said!
It can be extremely confusing and overwhelming trying to sort through the issues when your child runs into learning challenges, but all you can do is start the journey of working to figure it out and help your child reach their potential.</p>
<p>sk8rmom, I don’t have much advice, except that I would ask the doctor to send the forms to your son’s teachers ASAP. I think those forms are pretty quick and easy to fill out, and if the teachers could get them done (as they’re doing their end-of-the-year packing up), I think it would be really helpful to have this step in the process completed and be able to figure out how to proceed next over the summer. I think it is important to get a diagnosis. When you know what the diagnosis is, you will better know how to best help your son function at his best.</p>
<p>inspiredbymusic: I had not notice the “Learning Differences…” forum, I guess that would have been a good place to start this thread, I’ll check it out. Although I’ve gotten some really helpful answers right here.</p>
<p>In posts 55 and 41, Colorado_mMm and Mom2and, both describe what I would expect are classic examples of ADHD or ADD but from what I hear from others this, like most conditions it has a range of severity. My S is definitely not Classic or severely involved the question is, is there a range? Is it possible to be a little ADD or is it more like being pregnant, (no such thing as a little bit)? </p>
<p>Toneranger: Thanks for explaining about the GNC Fish Oil, I missed that the first time you mentioned it.</p>
<p>SK8: I’m clearly no expert but from all my thinking it seems it is time for you to get an answer however you can. That is the conclusion I’ve come to as well.</p>
<p>A couple of notes - while your son is under your supervision, and if he’s diagnosed, you can do a trial of ADD and/or depression meds. He’ll have your support and feedback, and even if he doesn’t use them long term, he’ll have the understanding and experience with them for future reference. In my experience w/D, side effects are related to dosage. Don’t be afraid to experiment w/dosage to optimize the amount needed for your kid.</p>
<p>I now have no doubt that I did school and work w/o ADD meds even though I almost certainly needed them. You can compensate to a point, learn good work and study habits, etc. but there is a limit.</p>