ADHD, any experts out there?

My 61/2 year old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD just before she turned 5. Her mother had behavior problems with her. No one else has any problems with her and her mom and I are divorced for the last 4.5 years. Recently she was off ritalin for about 3 weeks (she has been on 10mg metadate since she was 5years and 2 months old) and her 1st grade teacher was asked to fill out the vanderbilt survey for ADHD. She received all 0's and about 5 1's and either average or above average on all the rest. This evaluation was given to the psychiatrist which indicates a very normal student and possibly better and she doubled the dose to 20mg of metodate (this is the name for time release ritalin). Her mom was complaining about behavior problems at home. What is your take on this?

I won't say that your daughter does or does not have ADHD but I will give you my input. First I believe that doctors diagnois people with something that they really don't have. Why is this? Money. My Psychology Professor told us that they will put a "wrong label" on a person to make sure that the ins. pays. This is scary! I have a friend who has had her childern diagnosed with A.D.H.D and these childern are currently on medication. I knew these childern before meds and during meds. It is not the childern in this case, it is their Mother. She is constently screaming at them and then wonders why they never listen. Her kid was running around the house with my son. NO problem, their playing. Her kid fell backward on accident. She then put him in the corner for it. How obscured, I thought. It was so sad. He kept saying, I will be a good boy. She is never consistent with them. They may get away with throwing the ball in the house but the next day they are punised severly. How is a kid supposed to know how to act when one min. it is ok and the next it is not ok.

I do believe that this disorder exists and some people need the medicine but not all people. I would think if your child is mis- behaving only with mom then Mom must have the problem. Before a child is diagnoised the therapist should be looking at the parents too. Sometimes the child is mis-behaving because the parents don't have good parenting skills nor do they know how to cope. A parent must be consistnet with a child. If I say you can not throw a ball in the house and you do it anyways and I say "now now don't do that again" I have not been consistent. I had already said don't throw the ball in the house. If the child throws the ball then it is time to displine the child.

Here is some info. on A.D.H.D.

This disorder involves inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity.

Inattentiveness is characterized by such behaviors as, carelesness,
forgetfullness in daily activities, and other attentional problems.
Inattentive childeren lose their belongings, are easlily distracted, cannot follow through on instructions, and difficulty organizing tasks. BUT, before jumping the gun and saying this child as A.D.H.D remember that very young childern act in this manner becasue that it normal.

Hyperactive-impulsive componet is further divided into the subtypes of hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Hyperactivity is characterized by fidgeting, restlessness, running about inappropriately, difficulty in playing quietly, and talking excessively. Again this would be normal for a young child. We as adults can sit still for hours but we shouldn't expect a small child to do the same.

Impulsivity is evident in individulas who blurt out answers, cannot wait their turn, and interrupt or intrude on others. I can remember being like this as a child and over time I learned to wait or say excuse me, (My parents taught me how to behave.)

Childern who have A.D.H.D with the inattentive type develop serious academic deficts and school related problems. The ones with hyperactive impulsive have more peer rejection and accidental injuries.

Prior to school age, childern with A.D.H.D are usually regarded as "difficult" by their parents, relatives, and friends, whos are responding to the child's impulsivity and hyperactivity. My question here is why is Mom the only one complaining.

Although you are divorced you have a right to your childs medical attention. I would go get a second opinion. I would also stress your concerns that Mom is the only one complaining of the behavior. Mom is going to be upset with you because nobody likes to admit that they are the one in need of help.

Also ask the doctor does this medicince change the chemicals in the brain and how safe is it for a child who doesn't need the meds. What are side effects? What are the long term side effects? Bad dreams, no dreams, sexual dysfuntion? These are all questions I would be asking. I know your child is young and sexual dysfunction is not a concern right now, but when she becomes a woman you know (40 something) we wouldn't want her to have complications. I am not sure if this is a side effect for this kind of med, but I do know anti-depressents have this side
effect.

Also it is bad to take meds stop go back on them go off of them. Repeating this cycle is not good. One if the child really needs the medicine in time the meds will not work and a higher dose will be prescribed. If the child doesn't need the med and this cycle is going on it may screw up the brain chemical even more so. (I think, ask a doctor.)

Good luck to you

my six year old son has ADHD and a mood disorder, we been struggleing with him since he was real little, Ritalin had a bad effect on him. He is on Concerta and Risperadol right now. For the test he had to take to become diagnosed well lets just say he passed that test with flying colors! ADHD kids tend to be real smart but dont feel like they have the time to do their work. My husband is in iraq so i see more of the behavioral problems then he does but that one time he walked into our sons room and saw that our kid had taken our babies diaper off and wiped poop all over the baby and the walls my husband definitly saw there is a problem.

Her mom is around her the majority of the time. She probably just doesn't listen to her mom. Her mom thinks it is because of a mental condition and doesn't realize that her child doesn't listen because of a personality clash. The mom doesn't know how to get her to listen. She should seek counseling.

i have add and I am 53 years old. my son has adhd and he is 17. what i know is that i believe girls/woman grow out of the condition at a faster rate then men. i would give all of her teachers a form for her behaviors in class for one week, then sit down with your daughters therapist and physciatrist to determine if the medication is the right dose. it may be she is acting out at home for a reason you are not aware of.

I would highly question why the psychiatrist put your child on that much medicine since her behavior tests were normal. I would definitely ask for a second opinion. Too many doctor's feel medicating the child is the only way :-((
good luck.

Honestly it sounds like it is not ADHD at all it could either be something else or the mom could have a mental issue of her own. Such has Munchousen by Proxy

If she's ONLY having problems with her Mom...then I'd say there's a strong possibility that the issue is MORE with her mom.
ADHD is hereditary...it's possible mom has it but hasn't been diagnosed yet. I was diagnosed with ADD FINALLY at age 39! Sure do wish they had the medication for it when I was growing up...my quality of life would have been a LOT better.
But personally, I think this sounds like its MOM that's the issue.

I am doing research on narcolepsy and have found that many adults and children are misdiagnosed with ADHD and other disorders. Narcolepsy does not always present as a child who always falls asleep. Narcolepsy is much more common than previously thought. 0% of Pediatricians diagnosed these children correctly. In short, make sure ADHD is what is wrong. If she is being treated for the wrong disorder she will only get worse. If a child truly has a problem it usually visibly to more than just one person. I think that you need to reevaluate, maybe get a second opinion, and consider that maybe her mom is part of the problem. This is her only childhood, don't give up.

Generally you want to see the behaviors in more than one setting. However the beginning of the year isn't a good time to assess a students behavior. You should wait until the teacher has a better relationship or ask her K teacher to do the assessment.

Peanut has got the right idea on this one. This crap is way over diagnosed, because the drug companies make billions of $$$$ on it. Dont fall for it. The reason most kids act ADHDish is because of poor diet, and unstable parenting. Change the program at home. No more sugar, junk food, TV. Just cut it out.
Then try some serious exercise for the kids. You'll see a big difference.

Ritalin seems to solve some of the ADHD symptoms which makes the teacher's job easier. However, it causes a lot of distress later in life when the person gets into adult challenges. This often leads to great depression, falling into drug use and suicidal tendencies in teen age and young adult years.
The use of Ritalin has become highly controversial because of this. Get another opinion.
You'll want to read the book "The Edison Gene---ADHD--the gift of the Hunter Child" by Thom Hartmann. Get it on Amazon as a used book and pay very little.