Re: I frikken give up! Is it ADD?
Robert Gentel wrote:boomerang wrote:If life takes me in this direction what do I need to know?
That the diagnosis is simply not possible based on objective physical factors, so your description of his symptoms will be the largest factor in diagnosing him.
Describe it with an emphasis on the social impairment and he'll probably get the diagnosis. Don't and he won't.
So if you want a conservative diagnosis, conservatively describe the negative aspects of his hyperactivity.
Kinda sucks, because if you are already having a problem with a complex decision, the fact that it's a very subjective medical decision as well doesn't provide much help.
PET scans are apparently showing differences in forebrain activity of people "diagnosed" with ADD/ADHD vs "normal" people.
However, whether these differences in brain activity represent a cause of behaviour, or reflect other experiences (such as trauma, that cause brain differences) that have affected the brain (experience shapes brain structure) or are a result of the brain's response to some other underlying cause is not clear.
It's all a risk/benefit thing.
If Mo is properly and cautiously evaluated, with an eye to his history, and IF medication is suggested it is properly trialled (preferably double blind placebo and active medication trials with evaluations of any difference in behaviour by people around him who have no idea whether he is on active meds or not) and IF it is decided to trial medication he is carefully monitored for adverse effects, it's likely a reasonable thing to try.
This also depends on Mo's attitude.....some kids feel really positive about meds which make life a bit easier for them for a while, some feel like it means they are crazy or have bad brains.
As Robert said, it's all clinical judgment, there ain't no test for it.
An indicator can be scoring low on attention scales in, eg, the WISC....however, of course, this is something that can also be caused by trauma.
Thing is Boomer, it's your decision. You can only be guided by professional opinion, and it's your call.
There is huge disagreement about ADD/ADHD by professionals.....I know psychiatrists who think it a load of bunkum, for example.
It's not surprising you are confused.
IF you do decide to trial meds, it's not a decision you cannot undo.