I highly recommend the site below if you aren't sure if ADHD is the right dx. or if there is more. The moms there are very knowledgeable and have been thru it all. It covers all childhood disorders and most of the moms are aware of the mimickers. ADHD is also covered--lots of kids with that, and parents who are struggling. THis is just a good all around site for any child with behavior issues for any reason. Many from this board have checked it out. I highly recommend at least looking at it. There is a board for kids under five too! Here we go:
OlderMom38777.2747800926
WOW. OLDTIMERPASTMEMBER HAS AN ALTER EGO.. BUMP
FESS UP. YOUR ALL RELATED, BEGONE,,, SHOO
I believe that the evidence that people ARE concerned with "more than ADHD" is in the number of hits this post has gotten. I really believe most people with ADHD kids are not concerned enough to find a board to post on as their kids are manageable and most folks here are dealing with a lot more than ADHD. Many have dx. of bipolar and high functiioning autism. I will continue to post as always. If nobody had read this post, I would have figured there is no need for me here, but I think the post shows that there are. Many readers here don't post (obviously). They need to know where else to look if they don't feel "right" about their ADHD dx. The fact is, it is often misdiagnosed. Some parents are frightened by that, but I believe most want to know that there could be mimickers. You can probably tell that I can't be scared off a board. Your option is to skip my posts or use a ignore function if we have one. But too many kids are being labeled ADHd when they are over-the-top and far beyond the description of ADHD behaviors. Good parents want to know what's really going on. I merely provide links for them to explore. Unfortunately, a few parents are scared of the idea that their child may have "more" but I can't help that. If my kid had stuck with his ADHD dx., he may still be raging, biting me, biting others, swearing, etc. because he would still be totally frustrated and on bad meds. Bugs, you do tend to get very angry when you don't agree with somebody. Perhaps you should think about why. If I don't agree with somebody, for the most part, I either refute the post with facts or ignore them. Been thru too much with my kid (and seen others go thru it too) not to try to help out (and whether or not you see it that way, that's what I try to do). Many people have started posting on Conduct Disorders from this board. It offers a more balanced look at what may be wrong with a miserable, sad, raging child. If your child is violent, your child doesn't have ADHD. Period. You are fooling yourself and short-changing your child. Violence is not a symptom of ADHD. I wonder how many hits this post will generate in all. So far it's up there and has more hits than any other post on the board. Is this because parents aren't worried about "more?" The facts are screaming at you. Think about it. Have a good day too.
OlderMom38780.4655208333I do agree with Oldermom. Always trust your intution. Who knows better than the mom!! I knew something was wrong with my son at 18 mo. But I waited until 3y before getting eval'd. ADHD wasn't even a concern then. Sometimes it takes a alot of dx to get the correct one. The dx we have had since 3yo:
Mixed developmental disorder
Expressive/receptive langauge disorder
Anxiety
Disruptive behavioral disorder
Bipolar
Aspergers/HFA
At age 6y--right now he is dx with:
Bipolar with ADHD symptoms(I don't think he's ADHD--he doesn't have those symptoms at home)
Anxiety
Expressive langauge disorder
High Functioning Autism
Next year---it may be something added or taken away.
bumpWhen ADHD stands alone----what is it like?
My dh is undiagnosed ADD and diagnosed depression---which I hear is very common in ADD/ADHD.
My 9y dd is dx dyslexia and processing issues. She has the ADD symptoms---but we are thinking that her inattention is do to unable to process info.
Come to find out last week---my 11y dd is having panick attacks. She's had 2 in the past year. And she's the last person on earth that you would think have them. She is the laid-back, easy going one of the family.
Now we all need to ask----WHY is our generation getting so much of these disorders?????
I know kids who have just ADHD, but they dont' put holes in the wall, swear, kick their dogs, have speech delays, cover their ears when the noise is loud, etc. They are normal kids who have trouble focusing, have homework issues, need extra attention in school, are generally too bubbly and may annoy other kids, but they aren't off the wall violent. Nowhere is that part of a description of ADHD. ADHD/ODD is really often just two codewords for bipolar. ODD that doesn't respond to behavioral modificiation should be checked for bipolar, especially if mood disorders, substance abuse and/or suicide attempts are on the family tree. ADHD is usually co-morbid with bipolar (this does not mean vice versa). At least 90% of all bipolar kids also meet the criteria for ADHD. Ditto for high functioning autism, if not higher. There are people who WANT to read about co-morbids and mimickers of ADHD. THe number of hits on this post are proof of that. I'll post a few other links---one for early onset bipolar and one for neurological disorders, including high functioning autism. If you suspect it, please click on PDD/autism, then click again on "different types of autism" and find PDD-NOS and Aspergers. No child here has low functioning/classic autism.
OlderMom38778.2948842593
We were lucky to find one after our first. Living here in WA state---our tdoc told me that they are teaching them that it doesn't exist until kids are older. Our first pdoc was 1 year out of school and I asked him the first appt about childhood bp, he told me he said it was something they made up. He did his schooling at our Children's hospital in Seattle. Our tdoc also told me that the Drs on the east coast are the ones who really believe in it. Luckily---I found a great pdoc here. I believe it about the east coast though. You can not find any research trials going on on the west coast for very young bp. All of them are in Mass. or somewhere over there.
I don't think ADHD ever stands alone--does it? My dh's nephew has it----and anxiety. Just like bipolar-it not alone.
.IMac38946.4976736111Bump, since lotsa folks are reading it.Holly, not all pdocs deny that childhood bipolar exists. We go to 2 pdocs that are pretty certain my son and daughter have BP and are treating them as such. I think you have to locate pdocs who have experience treating kids with mood disorders. They are out there.
Well, if I can spare one mom what we went thru with our misdiagnosed child, I don't care what the few who are bothered by it think. ADHD is normally a first dx. Often it isn't the last. I know ADHD kids and they don't kick thier mothers, spit at people, or choke the dog. THose are the posts I respond to as there is more going on if a child is doing that. Also, speech delays, sensory issues and OCD (especially together), along with social delays are very charactoristic of high functioning autism. These are facts. Not all the moms who post here are sure their child has stand alone ADHD and many never heard of the other disorders. They must like the info because, as I said, I get a lot of PM's thanking me. I wish someone had told me. Yes, I know ADHD exists, but nowhere is ADHD defined as out of control raging, inability to sleep, swearing inappropriately, hypersexuality, speech delays, lack of ability to socialize, etc. The Conduct Disorders board is great for those with kids who have stand alone ADHD or other issues. In fact, ADHD rarely does stand alone. Rarely do any disorders stand alone. Knowledge is power. Ignorance is not always bliss. Your child can't improve if he or she isn't being treated for ALL of what's wrong or if he or she has the wrong diagnosis. I know. I've been there/done that and I'm not alone. I'm no longer responding to those who make broad statements about what I do or don't believe. Most people know why I'm here and why I want others to know the ADHD mimickers and co-morbids. My son went thru it. I wish EVERYONE'S child well. I'm on the side of the kids, not parents afraid of certain labels. I just want the kids to live rich, full lives...and they need a correct dx. for that. Psychiatrists and NeuroPsychs diagnose the best.OlderMom38777.861087963
Actually--I've read that a large % of ADHD kids are actually bipolar and not dx until teens or 20's.
I'm tired of pdocs denying that childhood bipolar exists.
When ADHD stands alone----what is it like?
My sons Adhd stands alone. He gets anxiety and gets depressed but it doesn't interfere with his quality of life. He is very functional in society and copes well with all the ups and downs in life, especially those encountered by Adhd'ers. I think that's a vast distinction but I only speak from my own personal experience and my opinions and experience do not necessarily reflect the opinions of others.
As far as why our generation is diagnosed with so many disorders, I don't think there is one single explanation but I believe that many of these disorders going back many years in time did exist but weren't identified as being such. Many people were labeled in a generalized way being referred to as "just a bad seed" Medical science has made great strides in research through the years which is has brought all of this to the forefront in society today and with continued diligence and dedication of the medical community, we will have more definitive answers in terms of the complexities of the brain which will lead to even better treatments or a total cure one day
Lillian, I know three kids who HAVE ADHD. They just don't rage, put holes in walls, or swear at their parents. It's not a symptom of ADHD. You can thinks what ya wants ta think though. I"m not getting into it. I come here for the parents who do have kids breaking things, hurting people, swearing, and who may have other issues that mimic ADHD. If ya don't like it, dont' read it. Many people who post here have kids who have dx. of bipolar or Aspergers. Since it's becoming "scary" for some parents to hear these possibilities, I'm steering them to a board that is friendly to people who are dealing with children who have more than ADHD. I've gotten enough private messages to know that many people ARE interested in other possibilities or co-morbids. Sorry if you don't like it, but that's a fact. No more posts to you from me.OlderMom38777.6826388889Sat I am meeting with the psychologist with all stuff he has not seen as a appeal to our sons case. I will let you know from here what he says. RN
Lots of disorders have a poor attention component is why she is telling ya this. Asd is one. Epilepsy can also. The CDC even says full evaluation if getting this label.
Look up the DSM it is best to educate on this book it gives the symptoms. It is why I think our son is miss dx. This what they go by! No where in is Spd mentioned as part of haveing adhd. My issue is you have Spd your adhd score will be low. A spd person's Brain is missing some of what is even said. I know I have SPD. Rn
Well, the parents there have been thru misdiagnose, bad meds, etc. and they're older and, imo, wiser. They are past being afraid of other labels, give good advice, and are brutally honest, yet kind and gentle. I love it there.I will vouch for the Conduct Disorders website. I've gotten a lot of great advice there.
Bump as I feel it's important. Many kids here exhibit symptoms beyond ADHD and doesn't hurt to toss them off other parents who have dealt with these issues. bumpity bump bump *BAM*OlderMom,
One of these days, I wish you would fess up to the fact that you don't really believe in ADHD. I have been on this board for nine months, and during that time, I have "heard" you repeatedly tell parents that the dxs of their children were wrong and to try and stear them away from this board and to conductdisorders.com, where they can talk to other parents who have had wrong dxs and are "wiser." WHY do you keep coming to this board??? Honestly, I don't get it.
lillian38777.6720601852