“Living With ADHD”

              “Organizing Life One Minute at A time” 

 

                 An UncommonSense Health Newsletter

                              from drhuggiebear.com and Frank Barnhill, M.D.

 

Issue 5           Volume 1                   May 2005

 

We apologize for the tardy nature of this month’s issue. Unfortunately our server has been down for over two weeks and the back up would not handle the newsletter volume.

Thanks for your kind patience. I’m sure we’re all still have the same goals, irrespective of time and technical constraints.

Dr. Frank

 

This UncommonSense Health Newsletter is dedicated to being your source for easy to read, up to date ADHD information on current and important medical issues for your growing family.

 

Dr. Frank’s behavioral rule #1:

       “ADHD is first a diagnosis of exclusion, then a diagnosis of inclusion!”

You must first exclude all the illnesses that mimic ADHD and then be sure the diagnosis fits ADHD traits.

 

This Month’s issue:

 

ADHD diagnosis and treatment

 

What a parent needs to know about ADHD

Frank Barnhill, M.D.

 

Over the past three months, I’ve collected the most common questions asked about ADHD during patient office visits. I’ve decided to publish the answers and explanations here, in hopes that you will gain more insight into the multiple faces of this disorder that can drastically alter the course of a child’s entire life.

 

Here are the answers:

 

ADHD is inherited and if a child has the disorder, it is likely one or both parents are also ADHD. Likewise, if a parent was ADHD at any time during childhood, there is a 60-75% chance his or her children will be ADHD.

 

No two children or adults with ADHD will show the same behavior traits or have the same response to identical medicines. Every person’s ADHD is as unique as the difference between any other two people. I’ve had to treat identical ADHD twins with different medications because of their individual behavior-learning skills and treatment responses.

 

The most common reason a child’s ADHD goes undiagnosed is due to parent denial that their child could possibly be ADHD. Guilt over the possibility that the parent may be responsible for their child’s ADHD is the second most common reason for avoiding the diagnosis. Parents are no more responsible for a child’s ADHD than they would be if the child later developed high blood pressure.

 

Most children with ADHD are only diagnosed after a teacher complains about the child’s learning difficulties, problems with behavior and short attention span. A large majority of these kids can be properly diagnosed by the middle of the third grade. Unfortunately, parent denial keeps 75% of these children from being properly diagnosed and treated for a year or more.

 

Studies have very clearly shown that behavioral therapy or modification alone will not significantly help ADHD. However, the very same studies clearly show medication alone can help in 85% of all ADHD cases and this success rate can approach 90-95% when behavioral therapy is added.

 

The most common reason for treatment failure is parents not giving medicines correctly or stopping them early or totally. ADHD medications do not work effectively for up to three weeks after they are started. Stopping ADHD medicines before you give them a chance to work can lead to parent-doctor frustration and exposing your child to many more drugs than necessary.

 

The most common side effect of stimulant type ADHD medications is nausea. The second most common side effect is weight loss or loss of appetite. A lot of times, this side effect is dependent on the dose of medication given and simple changes in dosing may resolve the problem. These types of ADHD drugs should never be taken on an empty stomach. Every child should eat breakfast first.

 

Only about one out of every ten primary care doctors is adequately trained in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Approximately 4 to 6% of all kids with the diagnosis of ADHD have been misdiagnosed. To learn more, please read, “When it’s not ADHD, What is it, a Zebra?” at www.drhuggiebear.com.

Help rescue a child’s life, learn to mentor.

Dr. Frank

 

 

 

   Remember: Our goal in treating ADHD must be to use the most appropriate therapy to help your child develop the social and learning skills necessary to reach their fullest potential as a happy child and eventually an independent adult.

 

   Dr. Frank’s Golden Rule:

“ADHD is first a diagnosis of exclusion, then a diagnosis of inclusion”.

 

Frank Barnhill, M.D.

 

No portion of this information is intended to be offered as medical advice for the individual. Your family doctor is still the best source of advice for you and your family and you should consult him or her if you have any medical concerns. If you wish to use this article as a parent handout or in your newsletter, please see http://www.drhuggiebear.com/ for our reprint policy . mailto:drfrank@drhuggiebear.com

 

drhuggiebear.com is your source for uncommonsense medical resources.

Let Dr. Frank’s years of experience help you find solutions for life’s little ups and downs. Our complimentary newsletters include timely information on ADHD, depression, work and personal stress, family health, and drugs.

 

Refer A Friend Or Relative

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If so, please help us reach as many “growing adults” as possible by forwarding this newsletter to a friend or relative. subscribe@drhuggiebear.com

 

All articles are derived from published materials, educational sources and years of experience for each author. No portion of the above-contained information is offered as medical advice in any manner. In times of need, your family doctor or professional counselor is still the best source of advice for you and your family and you should consult him or her if you have any medical concerns. If you have comments or questions, please drop me a line at drfrank@drhuggiebear.com.

Frank Barnhill, M.D. 

All materials, content and graphics are Copyright 2005 Frank Barnhill, M.D.

 

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