ADDHelpline is your ADD Information Source
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ADHD Health Library Updated videos and information on ADD/ADHD brought to you by Healthology.
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From About.com
Dr. Amen has done a great deal of research on ADD and has documented his research using brain scans to show different levels of activity. He also has identified 6 subtypes of ADD. Find out about each and the treatment he recommends for each subtype.
PARENT TO PARENT
I'd like to get some suggestions to help my 15 year old daughter who has
great difficulty getting to sleep. This is not a new problem. We have used
guided imagery, changes in schedules, dietary interventions all to no avail. She just cannot get to sleep until 1 a.m. most nights and the older she gets
the more frustrating it is for her, and for us. The most obvious or common suggestions just do not seem to work. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks, Elaine
Special Section: Mini EBook for Day Care Providers and Preschool Teachers on ADHD in Preschool
A word about Underdiagnosed/Overdiagnosed
Is ADHD Over diagnosed?
The media would have everyone believe that children are lining up outside
of doctor’s offices, holding their parents hands and waiting for a slip of
paper that says “ADHD.” The
media would also have everyone believe that children are being drugged for the
sake of compliance.
Although it may be true that some children are misdiagnosed
and do not have ADHD, most doctors are extremely careful in diagnosing a child
with ADHD. Guidelines on the
process have helped, as has better understanding.
Most experts agree that approximately 5% of school-aged children have
ADHD. Some figures go as high as
12% while others are as low as 3%. At
the current time, there is no “physical” test that will provide an accurate
diagnosis, and therefore the diagnosis is subjective and based on the opinion of
the person providing the evaluation.
A well-trained psychologist, psychiatrist or family doctor
receives information from teachers, parents and observation before making a
diagnosis. In addition, physical
disorders such as thyroid, vision or hearing problems will be tested before a
diagnosis is made.
Medication is normally considered as a last resort for
young children. Behavior
modification and parent training are especially important, especially for
pre-school age children. Teaching
ways to manage behavior may be all that is needed for some children. However,
medication is used because it works. Medication
is not given in order to manage behavior, but to manage symptoms of ADHD.
Medication can help in controlling impulses, increasing attention span
and increasing the ability to follow through.
The American Psychiatric Association has concluded the most effective
treatment for children with ADD/ADHD is a combination of medication and behavior
modification.
The continual updating of guidelines for diagnosis and
treatment of ADHD have helped to create a better understanding of ADHD and
therefore, has helped doctor’s to recognize symptoms of ADHD in order to more
accurately diagnose.
ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, Inattentive, without Hyperactivity is more often under diagnosed. Although many girls will have ADD, while many boys will have ADHD, it is not entirely gender specific. The general public, and many doctors, see ADHD as the child that is bouncing off walls, always moving, always running, and always in trouble. ADD, however, can cause the same symptoms of inattention, distractibility, disorganization, and impulsiveness, but without the hyperactivity. This can cause just as many problems in school and at home, but many times are not diagnosed until a child is older.
ADDHelpline,
Inc. is an online resource center and support group for all
individuals dealing with ADD/ADHD.