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Better understanding brings better ADD/ADHD treatmentFor a long time, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were phrases used and abused by lay people far and wide for their own non-professional diagnoses: “that kid can’t sit still for a minute – must have ADHD.” In fact, some of those misconceptions still exist today. But, great strides have been made in diagnosing and treating the condition and today there is a greater understanding and acceptance of ADD/ADHD among the general public, medical practitioners and education professionals. New Ulm Medical Center Psychologist Doug Fox, PhD said a positive advancement in recent years in the treatment of ADD/ADHD has been the development of longer lasting medications. “In the past, the medication only lasted three or four hours,” Fox said. “So at lunch time, there would be a line of kids at the nurse’s office to get their second dose of medication for the day. It made it very easy for those kids to be identified, singled out and ridiculed.” Medication is the most common treatment for ADD and ADHD, Fox said. But, often there is a counseling component for a child diagnosed with ADD/ADHD because by the time they are diagnosed, they may have suffered from low self-esteem, anxiety or depression. “There is a common fear among parents of ADHD children that the medication will affect all areas of their life,” Fox explained. “But, the goal is to increase their attention span and decrease the hyperactivity and nothing else.” Jefferson Elementary School Social Worker Jan Carpenter said that the medication component is important because by increasing their attention span, the child has positive experiences and receives a self-esteem boost. “The medication and early intervention is important so they don’t succumb to low-self esteem and depression,” she said. Carpenter has run an ADD/ADHD support group for parents in the New Ulm school district for 16 years. The schools are an important cog in the diagnosing wheel for children with ADD/ADHD, both Carpenter and Fox agree. When children begin school, it is most often the first time they are in a structured environment where they must sit still and follow directions. “If they can’t sit still, then they stand out,” Carpenter said. Fox added that it is also important for all aspects of a child’s life to be observed. “For a diagnosis of ADHD, you have to see the symptoms in more than one environment. When you have all the information that is needed, then it becomes easier to make the diagnosis,” Fox said. The diagnosis process often starts with a teacher noting some concerns. There is a behavioral checklist for the teacher to complete if he or she suspects the condition in a child. Carpenter can then suggest the child be seen by a medical professional for an ADHD assessment. “We have better tools for diagnosis now,” Fox said. “In addition to the behavioral checklist done by teachers, parents and daycare providers if appropriate, we have a computerized Continuous Performance Test that we can perform here at the medical center.” During this test, the child gets no breaks while performing a monotonous task. Almost all the children who take the test comment on how “boring” it was when completed, said Fox. “But the child without ADHD can complete it with few mistakes. The child with ADHD has significantly more mistakes,” he said. When a child is first diagnosed with ADHD, Fox said he reminds parents that with medication and counseling, if needed, there is no reason their child cannot be successful. “The vast majority of people with ADHD turn out to be incredibly creative people,” Fox said. “And that can open some great career doors for them.” Carpenter agreed. “Over the years, the ADHD doesn’t go away, but they learn to adapt. People with ADHD tend to lean towards careers where they can move from task to task to task. They are usually not people sitting behind a desk,” Carpenter said. Careers that tend to attract a lot of ADHD personalities include professional athletes, acting, airplane pilots and news reporters. “Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Mozart and Einstein are all people we believe had ADHD,” Carpenter said. “They tend to be people who think outside the box.” Related Links Behavioral Health Department at New Ulm Medical Center Allina Behavioral Health Services  Back to Health Edition |
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