Looking for input | ADHD Information

Hi,

I am no expert, but a friend of mine's son has Tourettes and she told me it takes a full year to dx. One reason is that ADHD kids can have tics and they do not have Tourettes. It is not easy to dx. Also, my ds last year started breathing heavy and saying he was having a hard time catching his breath.  He would just act like he couldn't get a full breath.  His ped. said it was a tic (this is before an official ADHD dx), scared me but she assured me many kids get tics and that this breathing one would end and might be replaced by another.  Thank goodness it lasted about three weeks and we haven't seen a tic since.  Now, he is on Concerta with mixed success. My point is tics are not necessarily Tourettes.  Hope this helps.

Out of the list of doctors you recommended which would be your first choice for a second opinion in this case? Neuropshychologist?

 

Michelle

Before my son was diagnosed adhd I thought that he probably had tourettes because he has tic periods. When I took him to his neurologist (a very experienced man) I asked him about tourettes. He told me that this was out of the question because tourettes means more than noises and tics. It can include constant bad mood, sometimes agressiveness, bad words, and multiple tics, that means more than one tic at a time. It wasn't my son's case. The only thing he said was that he couldn't take stimulants because his tics could worsen; this is why he is on strattera. I wish this information helps you. 

We saw a neuropsychologist.  They do very thorough testing, it took almost 4 hours, and then we went back a few weeks later for the results.  It cost  2 grand, out of pocket, but it was the best money we ever spent.  Don't let the money scare you- they're not all that expensive, the doctor we saw is among the best in our area.  Now we can see the specific areas that he needs help in, it's documented, and the school stopped arguing with us that there was nothing wrong with him. 

Neuropsych!

From the way you talk, it seems like the tourettes dx was based on the kind of expertise you'd get if you watched a one hour special about the disorder!

Pdoc is fine for basics, but not for complex neurological conditions.  Get a second opinion!

My son was diagnosed last year with ADHD, he was on Adderall(made him angry), Concerta (gave him a headache), now he is on Strattera(for the last month).  Last month when we were at the doctors I was explaining to him about the strange noises he makes while playing, his constant need to be making noise, his strange faces he makes, and that he will hit himself when he becomes frustrated.  The doctor said that he has tourrettes' syndrome.  But after looking into Tourette's it just doesn't sound like my son, and the only parts that did sound like him was when they were talking about ADHD.. Anyone else have this diagnosis?  And after reading earlier posts, he sounds a lot like most other "normal" kids that have ADHD, need advice on what I should do. I don't want him mislabeled..

 

Michelle In PA..
Mommy to Tommy (age 8)

It was his pediatrician.  He is the only doctor that has seen my son, and also diagnosed him with ADHD.  When we were at the doctors for his med check yesterday, I just let the doctor talk like his diagnosis was right because I didn't want to get into it with him at the time, but I want to have something to take back with me when we see him in 6 weeks, to show him that I just don't think it is the correct diagnosis.What kind of doc said he had tourettes?  Unless it was a neuropsychologist or some one who specializes in something like this, I wouldn't trust that dx.  It doesn't sound like tourettes to me either.  Have a specialist dx him.

 i would definitely get a second opinion...you won't regret it either way. 

good luck!

shelley

Yes, you should get a second opinion.  I always think it is a good idea to get these diagnoses validated by an independent evaluation.  Specialists that see these cases all the time such are child psychiatrists, developmental pediatricians, and neuropsychologists.  Have a full set of tests done to get some data to back up the diagnosis.  Good luck!