Tuesday, April 06, 2010
We have received a few questions on the Q & A section in the past few weeks from parents (and teens) who aren't sure what to do, but think they, or their children, may have ADHD. Although seeing a doctor is the first step, do you have any other advice?
What Advice Would You Give Someone ...
My advise for those who think they or their child might have ADHD would first be to educate your self on the subject. When I first suspected my child might have ADHD, I researched all I could find on the subject. It was helpful to know what to look for and the right questions to ask before seeing a professional. Prior to doing research, I found that the pediatrician, teacher's, family and friends would either explain away the symptoms as immaturity, lack of structure or poor discipline on my part. By educating myself I was able to approach the doctor with concrete questions and justifications for my concerns. I also was able to understand why my child acted they way he did. I learned strategies to use to better manage the symptoms and help my child copy. I also spoke with his teacher's and discussed my son's behavior in class as well as at home. We were able to work together on strategies to help him cope and achieve his full potential. By working all together, we were able to monitor and manage his behavior by using various learning strategies without medication for a few years. He was able to manage until the fifth grade before we needed to readdress the concerns with his pediatrician. At that time, the pediatrician agreed it was time to see a Psychiatrist that specialized it children with ADHD. My son's school psychologist recommended a highly respected child psychiatrist in the city. It was helpful to be able to discuss with the specialist everything that had been utilized up until the that point and it made the diagnosis much easier. At that point, the specialist and I decided on medication options and he was able to give me the necessary documentation to get the necessary accommodations the school would need to help my son reach his full academic potential.
Wow, thanks so much for sharing this information with us. I agree with you about everything, especially educating yourself, that is so important. I can't tell you how many people told me "he is just immature for his age, don't worry, he'll grow out of it..." As I learned more about ADHD, I was able to help him so much more.
Thanks again.
Eileen