It Dosen't have to be ADD /ADHD

[dollyn]

      Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can stem from thyroid disorders, liver or pancreatic problems, adrenal gland abnormalities, or insufficient diet.

      Hyper or hypothyroidism is an imbalance in metabolism that occurs from an overproduction or underproduction of thyroid hormones. This imbalance may cause a variety of behaviors and may affect all body functions.

    

      Some mild forms of genetic disorders can go unnoticed in children and display some of the same symptoms of ADHD.  Mild forms of Turner's syndrome, sickle-cell anemia, and Fragile X syndrome are some examples.  Almost any genetic disorder can cause hyperactivity or other behavior problems, even if the disorder isn't normally linked to such problems. Many genetic diseases disrupt brain functions directly, through a variety of paths. A simple blood test can rule out genetic disorders.

    

      A commonly overlooked cause of ADHD behavior is the absence seizure. During an absence seizure, the brain's normal activity shuts down. The child stares blankly, sometimes rotates his eyes upward, and occasionally blinks or jerks repetitively, he drops objects from his hand, and there may be some mild involuntary movements known as automatisms. The attack lasts for a few seconds and then it is over as rapidly as it begins. If these attacks occur dozens of times each day, they can interfere with a child's school performance and be confused by parents and teachers with daydreaming.

    

      Post-traumatic subclinical seizure disorder causes episodic temper explosions. These fits of temper come out of the blue for no reason.  Some of these seizures can be too subtle to detect without a twenty-four-hour electroencephalogram (EEG).

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      Temporal lobe seizures can cause inappropriate behavior. That's why conducting brain scans is a must when trying to figure out behavior problems.

      Head injuries, such as post-concussion syndrome, have symptoms that include irritability, mood swings, memory problems, depression, and sleeping problems.

      Some spinal problems can cause ADHD behavior because, if the spine is not connected to the brain properly, nerves from the spinal cord can give the brain all of signals at once making a child rambunctious and full of energy.

      Some drugs (both prescription and illegal) can cause the brain to atrophy, leading to disturbed cognition and behavior.  If your child routinely takes prescription or over-the-counter medications for asthma, hay fever, allergies, headaches, or any other condition, consider the possibility that the drugs are causing or contributing to behavior problems.

      Intentionally or unintentionally sniffing materials such as modeling glue or other household product.

Other possible causes of ADHD behavior are:

    

      Malnutrition or improper diet
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      B-vitamin deficiency
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      Iron deficiency
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      Lack of exercise
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      Lack of sleep
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      Viral or bacterial infections
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      Early-onset diabetes
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      Heart disease
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      Brain cysts
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      Early-stage brain tumors



Medication Concerns


Although no chemical imbalance has ever been proven, health professionals prescribe psychostimulant medication (such as Ritalin, Strattera, Adderall) as the primary treatment in correcting the 'chemical imbalance'.  In 2000, more than 19 million prescriptions for ADHD drugs were filled, a 72% increase since 1995.



However, with the known side effects of these drugs and without knowledge or evidence of long-term results on growth and development, is medication really the best option?






However, these drugs are not without serious risk.  Between the years of 1990-2000, over 569 children were hospitalized, 38 of them were life-threatening hospitalizations, and 186 died from Ritalin.



It is well known that psychostimulants have abuse potential.  Very high doses of psychostimulants, particularly of amphetamines, may cause central nervous system damage, cardiovascular damage, and hypertension.  In addition, high doses have been associated with compulsive behaviors and, in certain vulnerable individuals, movement disorders.  There is a rare percentage of children and adults treated at high doses who have hallucinogenic responses.  Drugs used for ADHD other than psychostimulants have their own adverse reactions: tricyclic antidepressants may induce cardiac arrhythmias, bupropion at high doses can cause seizures, and pemoline is associated with liver damage. -- Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, National Institute of Health



Many parents do not realize that if their child takes Ritalin or other psychostimulant medication past the age of 12, according to the 1999 Military Recruitment Manual, that child may not join the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or National Guard until after a doctor has signed a paper stating that the person has been off the medication for four years.

Also, if a child uses Ritalin or other psychostimulant medication, the state or federal government cannot hire him or her if the job involves state secrets or national security, because that child is a Class 2 drug user.



If a child uses Ritalin or other psychostimulant medication, some insurance companies will turn down that child for being a Class 2 drug user, and may even turn down the entire family.  Other health insurance companies will raise rates and write in a pre-existing condition clause, excluding some coverage for the ADD/ADHD child.

Psychostimulant medication are drugs that are commonly abused.  Some unprescribed users of Adderall, an amphetamine, and methylphenidate, more widely known as Ritalin, are adults.  But experts say many are young people, as young as 11, who get the drugs from peers being treated for ADD.  Users often crush the pills and snort them to get a cocaine-like rush, as these drugs and cocaine have more similarities than differences.

Students who take ADD/ADHD medication are often asked to sell or trade their drugs, and many know students who have given away or sold their medication.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a study of students in Wisconsin and Minnesota showed 34% of ADHD youth, ages 11-18, report being approached to sell or trade their medicines, such as Ritalin.

There are so many concerns surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of ADD/ADHD that parents must be knowledgeable and cautious.  It is usually the school that approaches parents to have an assessment for ADD/ADHD and parents often feel pressured in having the traditional ************** to 'correct' their child's behavior.

What should parents do if the school identifies a child with potentially having ADD/ADHD?


      Have the school put their concerns and directions in writing.  Hold them accountable.

      If the school tells you that your child needs medication to control his or her behavior, remind them that medical help does not necessarily mean taking medication.
  
      If you are told to sign a release for your child's medical records, ask to see that law in writing.
    

  

[specialmom]

Sandman, I think this is really great information.  People are often so confused by the way their child presents and I think this is really helpful.

[Sandman2]

   Some really good points in the videos.  One of the videos stated that the seizures in children could start from age 6 to 12.   That's typically the time that ADD or ADHD begins to be treated.  So yes, it would be important to know that  a child was not prone to seizures before starting treatment if you choose to go the medication route.
   I can understand where a seizure might be confused with ADD.  I think it would be very difficult to confuse ADHD with a seizure.  

   One of the things I like about the guidelines quoted below is that the behaviors must continue for 6 months and must appear before age 7.
The American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) considers it necessary that the following be present before attaching the label of ADHD to a child:

    * The behaviors must appear before age 7.
    * They must continue for at least six months.
    * The symptoms must also create a real handicap in at least two of the following areas of the child’s life:
          o in the classroom,
          o on the playground,
          o at home,
          o in the community, or
          o in social settings.[30]

If a child seems too active on the playground but not elsewhere, the problem might not be ADHD. It might also not be ADHD if the behaviors occur in the classroom but nowhere else. A child who shows some symptoms would not be diagnosed with ADHD if his or her schoolwork or friendships are not impaired by the behaviors.[30]

Even if a child’s behavior seems like ADHD, it might not actually be ADHD; careful attention to the process of differential diagnosis is mandatory. Many other conditions and situations can trigger behavior that resembles ADHD. For example, a child might show ADHD symptoms when experiencing:

    * A death or divorce in the family, a parent’s job loss, or other sudden change
    * Undetected seizures
    * An ear infection that causes temporary hearing problems
    * Problems with schoolwork caused by a learning disability
    * Anxiety or depression[30]
    * Insufficient or poor quality sleep
    * Child abuse

[dollyn]

I would hate to think that anybody could mistake a seizure for ADD or ADHD.  There is a world of difference.

You might think that but not everyone knows what a Seizure looks like.I myself didn't know about  all different Seizures until my son started having them.And if you watched the Video where the Teacher thou the child was just daydreaming you can see where a Teacher doesn't no,it was the child next to the girl who told the Teacher that she just had a Seizure.   My son Teacher's didn't know my son was having them ,it was a School Nurse who told me she thou my son was having them.And I myself didn't know my son was having them and the Neurologist yelled at me for not knowing he was having them. And not all of my Son Seizures can be seen by just looking at him.

People don't understand that some Seizures can't be seen ,and some people have night time Seizures and thou's are hard to see .Because it just looks like they are sleeping . If you where to watch my son he would have a lot of Seizures that you would miss seeing because he just keeps doing what ever he was doing  .

When I have talk to the Epilepsy Foundation they have told me that a lot of time's ADD and ADHD  is what a lot of what parents thou there child had and there child was on drugs for it.Because ADD and ADHD can look like Seizures and the drugs can also cause Seizures.So unless a person is checked for Seizures first that it could be misdiagnosed.

This month the Doctor's watch to do a blood test on my son to see if the Seizures are inherited Seizure.They have to send them to Boston so it will take a while for them to come back,and the blood work is being done only in Neurologist office on March 25th .  

[Sandman2]

   Really good videos!  
I worked for several years with children in a special ed class who would have both absence seizures and convulsive seizures.  I wished we could of had videos like these to show other kids in the school, so they would have understood what was going on.  The one on convulsive seizures is really good.  Its quite scary when a child has a seizure like that!
  I would hate to think that anybody could mistake a seizure for ADD or ADHD.  There is a world of difference!  But I guess that's one reason why they let Doctors make the decision and not teachers or parents.

[dollyn]

I am very glad you your son was not of the children who have been misdiagnosed and that you have not put him on any drugs. He will be better because of it .And yes it is nice if you can find a good Teacher .there seems to be very little of them out there.
As I have have said I have only seen a few good Teachers. The rest I don't know why they ever went into Teaching in the first place.

[specialmom]

I feel really terrible for those that have had such bad experiences.  But that just doesn't speak to everyone.  

I do not believe in a one size fits all approach to children. Those that say that a child falls outside of normal must  have add/adhd. Let's medicate them all.

OR those who say no child has add/adhd and to medicate them would be evil.  

Extremes are always hard for me to go with.  That is my honest opinion.

I am beyond grateful to the teacher that identified my child as having a developmental delay.  She changed the course of my child's life.  He is happy and well adjusted and I believe in my heart of hearts would not be had I turned my back on his needs.