Help needed ... how do I tell if it's ADD?

[Jenifer]

Can those of you who have an ADD diagnosis for your child please tell me what the signs are?

We are struggling so much with Joy's behavior, sleep patterns, and just general attention span difficulties. How do you know if it's just kid behavior vs. a real medical problem?

She was doing great in school, but now her teachers are saying that her behavior and attentiveness have gone downhill since December. She's not sleeping ... despite being on Clonidine and Melatonin. She doesn't listen. She's crabby. She's just not pleasant to be around.

How do I know if this is just a phase, or if it's time to intervene?

Thanks for letting me whine.

Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy

[momofrussell]

Jenifer...first let me post the DSM IV criteria for ADHD which is used to DX ADHD. This is from CDC's website.

www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/symptom.htm

Ok.. beyond that...when was the last time you truly had a good ole check up for Joy? Does she have OSA or anything else that could be the reason for her behaviors and lack of sleep? I would go to your ped and explain what is going on and ask for a physical to rule out ANYTHING that could be a contributing factor. Our kids are notorious for behaviors being communication for possible underlining health issues, so this should be checked as best as possible first. If this means trips to the ENT, etc first... so be it. THEN.. I'd ask for a good behavioral psych that knows ADD/ADHD and that knows the spec needs community (so you can be on the same page) to help you decipher if it's some natural behavioral phase or true ADHD.

I think if the onset is sudden and all other possible health reasons are ruled out, then the next step would be to address if it truly IS a phase or ADD. I could be off base but if Joy has ADD/ADHD she would have "presented" prior to just now but what do I know. I do have a child that has been medically DX'd with ADD by two different devel psychiatrists and although she doesn't have DS, it just doesn't happen one day... she has always been like this and we finally "saw the signs"... if that makes sense?

Good luck!!!!

A.

[sandi]

I remember when my son was diagnosed with ADD... we went to see a ped. and he gave me a list of things to check off. I checked off almost every one of them. When it was time for my son to see the dr with me, all Shawn could do was squirm in the chair the whole time and not sit still. He could never sit and watch a movie like the other kids. He was always put in the corner in Junior Kindy because he wouldnt sit through circle time, story time. In grade school, he used to sit and tap his pencil and make these weird noises. He never slept through the night ever. All through school he always had problems sitting through a class. He couldnt focus on things for a long length of time. He was on Ritalin, but that didnt work, then they put him on dextramphetimine which worked. He just wouldnt listen at all to anyone. It was rough. Hes 18 now, and probably wont go back to school because he has never liked school. Those are just some things I remember about him being ADD.

[Renee']

Lauren has ADD but at this time we do not medicate her.
I feel your pain. Lauren isn't sleeping still on Melatonin and Clonidine
Your ped should have a list you can check off along with the school. Then you go from there.

[Chris]

My older daughter has ADHD but she had symptoms from birth on. She didn't suddenly develop ADHD.

My daughter was diagnosed just before her 7th birthday. She was impulsive, forgetful, unable to sit still, unable to learn. She didn't sleep through the night until she was in kindergarten and NEVER slept more than 8 hours. She was also very thin. What really disturbed me is that she felt so bad about herself. She thought she was stupid. She wasn't able to make friends and was very immature for her age.

Chris

[Emilysmom]

Wow.........Chris's reply could have been written by me 14 years ago about our son. He was even an overactive baby! As he got older, he became impulsive, had no fear of danger, and honestly did not seem like he COULD control himself. Of course, he was diagnosed with ADHD.....not ADD. And the difference when he was finally put on medication was amazing!
Check out the link A provided. I think it's probably the same checklist we filled out for the doctor for Justin.

Susan

[Jodi]

Geeze Chris!! It's like you lived in my house (cue the Twilight Zone music) - same age, same issues, just a boy instead of a girl!!!

Jodi