Where can i get neurological testing for 12 yr old son

[Angela Hunter]

My son was diagnosed with ADHD at th age of 2, although never tested.  He has been on medicatiopn ever since.  He has been seeing the same psychiatrist for 7 years and all he seems to do is prescribe more meds.  He is currently taking Ritalin, Clonidine, Tofranil, and now Depakote and that has been increased to 1000 mg a day.  He is not sleeping at night at all and has been falling asleep in class. His teacher doesn't seem to understand , his Dr. doesn't either I guess. He thinks he is also Bi-Polar but will not run tests.  I need some help in a major way or I am going to have to have him admitted into a hospital.  He is disrupting so many lives and is very violent and aggressive and refuses to listen or do anything i ask!!!
PLEASE HELP ME!!
Mother out of options!!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Ms. Hunter,

It is likely that your son does display more than one condition, given your description of his functioning. If, indeed, he does display ADHD and Bipolar Disorder, he may well require medication. There are not tests, so to speak, for either of these conditions. Diagnosis requires clinical evaluation, including history, family history, delineation of current functioning (at home, in school, and in the community) and, perhaps, psychological testing.

If you are not comfortable with the treatment your son is receiving, obtain a second opinion or, perhaps, change entirely to a new clinician. Do not attempt to adjust his medications without the guidance of a doctor. It may well be that he'll achieve more success with a different treatment plan, but this needs to occur carefully.

[Here's my two cents.]

I am experienced in the medications your son is on.  I feel strongly in my heart that it's the medication making things worse.  The combination of all of these would make a calm person violent.  Please, please find another doctor.  You said all he seems to do is prescribe more drugs - that's a clue it's time to change, and the sooner the better.  One of those drugs, and I won't tell you which, made my child so physically aggressive I was scared to sleep at night.  Not everyone reacts the same to medication, but you have to consider what it's doing to YOUR child.  Don't just stop it suddenly without talking to a doctor.  These particular medications have to be weaned slowly.  He needs a good evaluation with a new doctor and I bet you'll see all the difference in the world if they agree to take him off of some of the medicines.  Therapy can be just as medicinal if used as part of the treatment plan with medication (but not all that he's on!)  Good luck, my heart goes out to you.

[chris]

Dear Angela,
  I do not know a whole lot about your son but I do have an 11 year old who has been put on several different types of meds we have just recently stopped it because he was constantly tired moody and we saw no change in his behavior.  There is a Dr. Brownback who is a psychologist who does brainmapping it is non evasive and they can actually detect if adhd is present they use biofeedback as an alternative to medication.  We recently had the brainmapping done and were told there were signs of a closehead injury.  The practice is Brownback, Mason and associates they are in allentown.   Good luck