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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
ADHD or simething else??
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
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ADHD or simething else??
by mommarty, Nov 19, 2002 12:00AM
My son was diagnosed with ADHD at 5. He went on meds immediatly after that and has been since current age of 10. Meds are always a problem to get doseing right,80mgs ritilin, adderall don't remember dose, now doseing changed to concerta 36mgs (2)(76mgs) in the morning.With all the different doseing i have tried, the meds seem to stop working in 2-4 weeks. 72mgs of concerta daily seems to work but what if there is something else wrong?? What if there is something physical, like brain disorder. He has such problems in sentence comprehension, spelling word,forgetting info almost immediatly,angry feelings, frustration to the point of clenching fists and refusing to participate with the class room. I have worked daily with him, with math, i have told him over and over and over 6+6=12 and he still uses his fingers. I know with ADHD repeating things over and over is usually the key but it's almost as if he really can't retrieve the info in his brain,like something is stopping it. So thats my question, could it NOT be ADHD but something else and what could it be ,if so ,What kinds of Dr. do i see, and also What about all this meds?? Can it someday hurt him, the strongness of mgs?? Prozac, cloudidine, zyprexa,were also added to help him. But none of seems to work. He is so anxious without meds, i have tried to not give him any meds but he is so hyper. pls help!! What should i do?? I want him to do well in school and in life.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Nov 19, 2002 12:00AM
, Nov 19, 2002 12:00AM
It could well be that your son displays a learning disorder in addition to the ADHD and any other emotional condition. I'm assuming that the diagnosis hasn't been confined only to ADHD, since he has also been prescribed medications that are really not employed to treat ADHD. Your son has been on unusually high doses of stimulant medication - both the Concerta dose and the Ritalin dose are unusual for a child so young. You might arrange a second opinion consult re: his pharmacology plan, and it would also be prudent to have him tested (probably through the school system under the provisions of Chapter 766) for possible learning disability.
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I just bought the book "A Mind At A Time", Mel Levine M.D., which really gives a great layman description of the learning process and quirks that may affect it. I found my daughter's issues well stated in chapters 3,4, & 6. He has addition books for the children and parents to find coping strategies for success.
Good luck! I encourage you to keep looking if you are not confident in the ADHD diagnosis. You know your child better than any doctor, educator or other third-party. Your instincts are likely right on! Keep up your great efforts to better assist your son.
Both my boys are on dexamphetamine which has proved to work, although has taken a lot of trial and error with dosage. I would be asking your gp or paedatrition to further investigate. Dont know how much help this has been, but dont take one drs word for things.......