same symptoms,different reasons? | ADHD Information

Making perfect sense. I hope it's true because, if not, you'll find out later on. I think it's always a good idea to get ASD interventions if you aren't sure. It can't hurt, even if the child has ADHD and some of the same problems, as they overlap, although are more severe with ASD kids. Often you can't tell ASD from ADHD (nor can professionals) until the kids are older. Lucas played pretty well as a younger kid, but, now that he's older, you can more obviously see the difference between him and his peers. There is no way to know why a child has a speech delay--we can guess. Lucas was hyper off the walls, which is why he was dxd. with ADHD. Many ASD kids do well on stimulants for the hyper-ness of the disorder. Lucas didn't, but he did learn to be quite articulate. However, he can't have a give-and-take conversation, and this impedes him socially. He also has other ASD traits that are more obviously different now that he is 13 than when he was 5. You'll see, as Jude grows, if he has ADHD or ASD or something else. The first diagnosis is usually not the last, at least not in the US, and the child changes and grows and symptoms become more obvious/less obvious in different kids. No child is harmed by ASD interventions. If the symptoms are there, imo, fight for the interventions even without the dx. to give your kid the best chance. Get the speech, OT, PT, and social skills. It helps all our kids. I'm glad I didn't just think, "Oh, ok. ADHD. We'll just use meds for it and let the rest go." Lucas wouldn't be nearly as functional if I'd stood pat. More is better than less with kids who are having trouble in any area. Temper tantrums that are "terrible" can be attributed to many disorders, but rages for hours on end aren't typical ADHD, so I'm not sure what's going on there, nor are the people who assess Jude. The people who assessed Lucas were only taking guesses as well. Young kids, with disorders that defy blood tests, are hard to pinpoint. Having been through the diagnostic mill with my own self, I knew that professionals, especially psycologists, make tons of wrong dx. so I didn't just accept. I wanted the highest level help for my kid and the most accurate dx. I could get, and ADHD just didn't cut the whole mustard, although many here would think it did. If I was a new mom, posting Lucas's symptoms, I'd hear "Yes, ADHD kids have poor social skills" "ADHD kids have speech delays" and the gamut of other things attributed to ADHD on this board (on other boards parents are more like me and warn of other possiblities). However, I know enough about childhood disorders to realize that these are not normal ADHD issues. Whether or not ADHD causes speech delays seems to be controversial from what I've read. The sites that say it is, mostly come from abroad, and you know I feel that outside North America the diagnosing is horrendous and way too mild (therefore, I'm sure many kids get left behind). I need to see research from experts in the US to be convinced that ADHD kids suffer speech delays. It's not in the DSM as a symptom. It IS in the DSM as a symptom of ASD. I'm leery of those who claim speech delays are ADHD. Have they tested the child for ASD first? The verdict is still out on ADHD causing speech delays--I think they'll find it's more often ASD. I think it's just more of not understanding ASD from ADHD. And the reluctance of some professionals to "label" kids beyond ADHD, thus denying them the help they desperately need. You know what is best for your child, and I'm sure you'll do what you can to help him. Most of my posts are directed at either new posters, who are lost, or lurkers, and that's where I get most of my response from (my PM is always busy). People who post here regularly are pretty sold, for whatever reason, that their kids problems are all due to ADHD, and I'm not here to change minds. I can't. They are just too positive that ADHD is the cause of the entire problem areas of their kids, and that's that. I find it strange that many won't look beyond, but that's their own decision. I'm here to the guide the newbies who don't realize that there are other causes of ADHD symptoms, especially when they are severe. I've had a lot of posters PM me that they got another eval. and, yes, it's this or that and not just ADHD, so my mission continues--save a kid--one at a time MomWI38933.2497453704

some of the latests posts had got me thinkingabout some symptoms of ADHD and others more serious afflictions that our children have.i am not making a statement,just bouncing ideas.I am talking about jude and me here,not generalising.

speech delays are more than ADHD but could jude's slight speech delay be because he is so hyper all the time,he doesn't slow down enough to think about speaking properly,not because he can't process informations.

his social problems are not extreme,he can play nicely with one child for some lengh of time,then he looses control and gets too exited and impulsive(throwing toys,hitting out)i also am not a very sociable person by choice,i can't hold conversations for long and loses interest in people very quickly ,i just find it easier to have just one friend.

his temper is horrendous but so is mine,i have mood swings for no reason and i think jude is just frustration and genes really.my side of the family has quite a mediterranean hot temper.

we both have obssessions at some time or others,i know mine is what i call my phases which are because of my impulsive side,jude grows out of them pretty quickly as well.

I know these "symptoms" are more considered ASD than ADHD but they are for us ADHD or ADD ,just different reasons of these symptoms.

SORRY IF I AM NOT MAKING ANY SENSE I AM FEELING A LITTLE BIT SPACEY LATELY

MOMWI,I DO READ ALL YOUR POSTS AND I THINK THEY ARE VERY HELPFULL AND ALWAYS TAKE YOUR ADVICE ON BOARD,I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO ASSESS MORE THAN ADHD AFTER GOING THROUGH THE MISDIAGNOSIS FOR YOUR CHILD AND I RESPECT YOU FOR TRYING TO WARN OTHERS BUT SOMETIMES IT IS JUST ADHD/ADD.

GREAT I AM FEELING ALL FUZZY LOVEYDOVEY,THIS IS NOT LIKE ME.I REALLY NEED TO SEE MY PSY AGAIN.SORRY FOR THE RAMBLING