All About ADHD : Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

[Greenflowers]

hi ycted,


Thanks for sharing your experience. DS1 has been diagnosed as borderline ADHD by CGC, but I hesitate to start medication as I’ve read that Ritalin has potential side effects that can be serious. Would you be able to share how you came to decide to start medication? How does one weigh the risk of side effects vs the benefits of calming the kid down enough to do his schoolwork?

Sigh.

[fifiyeo]

Check this out.

http://www.roc-n-ash.com
They have an ADHD home programme for kids.

[Cathy Wu]

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is difficult to diagnose because it often shares or mimics the symptoms of other disorders.


Here are some characteristics:


difficulty sustaining attention
is easily distracted
often does not seem to listen
often does not complete activities
loses things
often interrupts or intrudes on others
has difficulty awaiting turn in groups
often blurts out answers to questions
often engages in physically dangerous activities
without considering the consequences
Talks excessively
has difficulty playing quietly
has difficulty remaining seated
often fidgets or squirms in seat
difficulty following instructions.

[stayhome]

Greenflowers:

hi ycted,


Thanks for sharing your experience. DS1 has been diagnosed as borderline ADHD by CGC, but I hesitate to start medication as I've read that Ritalin has potential side effects that can be serious. Would you be able to share how you came to decide to start medication? How does one weigh the risk of side effects vs the benefits of calming the kid down enough to do his schoolwork?

Sigh.

My ds also diagnosed with mild ADHD, I never use the Ritalin as he still able to do well in school. in-fact he is in the top class. So if your ds can follow your guidance and no problem with school work. I personally think don't use the medicine. But if the other way, then you may have to consider using the medicine. As I saw other kids with more serious condition the medicine help in school work.

[piggydwarfs]

Hi hometutor,can pm me ur contact. Urgently looking for a home tutor my P2 gal.

[little patrick]

Dear parents


My ds has just diagnosed with ADHD, should I let him know about his condition?

[baobei]

pingsped:

jedamum:

my ds2 (4.5yo) has been visiting NUH-CDC for the past 1 yr (on 3monthly and halfyearly appointment). the specialist had not totally rule out adhd (ie we are still 'under observation list') but on his personal opinion felt that ds2 may not be adhd. ds2's teachers/principal commented that he may be a mild case. I personally do not know how adhd (or mild adhd) children behave but the following summarizes ds2's traits:-
1) intense - laugh heartily, get upset easily when rules are not followed but easily consoled if he accepts the explanation given.

2) impulsive - once i witnessed him punching his bro for no reason; they were happily reading (and laughing) over a comic book on the sofa and just before ds2 left his bro (ie stand up from his sitting position), he punched his bro. when his bro burst out in tears, ds2 stood there with a shocked face. when i questioned him on why did he punch his bro, he said,'I don't know' and started crying. such was not a one-off incident.

3) 'poor' social skills (???) - seems to have problems playing with older children. speaks about issues that may be irrelevant or of no-interest to his playmates. readily strikes conversation with stranger/children and may not notice that stranger/children shows no interest (then he gets upset that he is being ignored.)

5) he is sensitive to loud noises or bright lights.

we are due for next checkup next month. anything i can check with the specialist?

many thanks in advance.

It does sound a bit like sensory integration/processing disorder (SID/SPD) which to most laypersons, look like ADHD or even mild autism.

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder. ... klist.html

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder. ... chart.html

If you find that your child has difficulties in more than 30% of 2 or more subdomains, print out the checklist and complete it. Show it to your PD and have him refer your child to an Occupational Therapist (OT) in hospital.

The two private OTCs that I work with are Hand in Hand & Kaleidoscope. Some kids with SID/SPD may have social skills difficulties.

Hi pingsped,

Do you know of any good psychologist that we could go to for the assessment?

[jedamum]

little patrick:

Dear parents


My ds has just diagnosed with ADHD, should I let him know about his condition?

Hi little patrick,
does he need to know of his condition?
Is he frustrated with the way things turn out that is beyond his control?
Or is he blissfully ignorant?
Does he know what assessment he went to that day for his diagnosis?
My take is, if he ask, then u shouldn't hide unless u feel otherwise.

I took my ds2 for his yearly followup assessment 2 weeks back. He asked me what it is about, but I told him it was a regular checkup. Cos ds2 is blissfully unaware of what it is about n sch has been smooth n not much cause for concern now - he has a very experienced teacher this year who views his high energy level as a potential n she knows how to handle him.

Therapist wanted to discharge him but we request to be kept in queue for next year's appointment where final conclusive diagnosis can be made when ds2 goes to p1. Don't want another case of teachers requesting us to seek second opinion after a change in environment n expectations from kindergarten to pri sch.

[little patrick]

Hi jedamum


Psy has advise not to tell my ds has diagonsed with ADHD. He went to psy since P1, he knew went there because of his behaviour. He dont really ask about his condition but I believe he knew somthing. I have told him, he is a normal boy, smart boy, nothing wrong with him, he just need to know how to control himself, how to make friends.

[shawnlim88]

Dear all,


just found out that there are 6 types of ADHD
(http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/types-of-adhd)

Based on these symptoms, and the use of brain scans to measure blood flow (SPECT), to highlight activity in the parts of the brain related to attention, short-term memory, and forethought, Amen described these six types of ADHD:

Type 1 -- Classic ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD, plus hyperactivity and impulsivity; responds well to stimulant medications
Type 2 -- Inattentive ADHD. Features of ADHD, but instead of hyperactivity, there is low energy; responds well to stimulant medications
Type 3 -- Overfocused ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD and negative thoughts and behaviors, such as opposition and arguing; tends to respond better to an antidepressant (such as Prozac) combined with a stimulant
Type 4 -- Temporal Lobe ADHD. The hallmark features of ADHD, plus irritability, aggressiveness, and memory and learning problems; responds better to antiseizure medications (like Neurontin) than to stimulants
Type 5 -- Limbic ADHD. Combines ADHD with depression and low energy and decreased motivation; responds better to stimulating antidepressants than to stimulants
Type 6 -- The Ring of Fire. Cross between ADHD and bipolar disorder; characterized by moodiness, aggressiveness, and anger; Anticonvulsants or newer antipsychotic medications tend to work better than stimulants