Comments on: ADHD in Families http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/ A blog about Attention Deficit Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:51:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Sonia http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-162792 Sonia Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:55:55 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-162792 Thank you for your reply. Our daughter is such an amazing, reasonable, social, compasionate, even tempered and well behaved child, many people tell us so. She is extremely bright: has been reading since age 3 and a half, now reading chapter books, has an unbelievable long term memory and has incredible analysis capabilities. When watching,listening or talking to her, you often think she is much older. She just sometimes - not always - can't pay attention or loses focus. Is it normal 5 year-old behavior or ADHD? Does she just get bored when things are not advanced for her? Is it just because we forget she is only 5? I guess I'm afraid to find out as I can see the impact with my husband. Thank you for your reply.
Our daughter is such an amazing, reasonable, social, compasionate, even tempered and well behaved child, many people tell us so. She is extremely bright: has been reading since age 3 and a half, now reading chapter books, has an unbelievable long term memory and has incredible analysis capabilities. When watching,listening or talking to her, you often think she is much older.
She just sometimes – not always – can’t pay attention or loses focus. Is it normal 5 year-old behavior or ADHD? Does she just get bored when things are not advanced for her? Is it just because we forget she is only 5? I guess I’m afraid to find out as I can see the impact with my husband.

]]> By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-135857 Dr. Kenny Handelman Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:46:30 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-135857 Sonia - ADHD can be diagnosed no younger than 3. It of course becomes much more reliable as a diagnosis after the age of 6 - i.e. school years. A study was done that looked at the safety of ADHD medication in the group of preschool age kids. You can read my summary of that research here: http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-medication-for-3-4-and-5-year-olds/ I hope that helps. Best, Dr. Kenny Sonia – ADHD can be diagnosed no younger than 3. It of course becomes much more reliable as a diagnosis after the age of 6 – i.e. school years.
A study was done that looked at the safety of ADHD medication in the group of preschool age kids. You can read my summary of that research here: http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-medication-for-3-4-and-5-year-olds/
I hope that helps.
Best,
Dr. Kenny

]]> By: Sonia http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-135523 Sonia Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:28:27 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-135523 How young is too young for a diagnosis? My husband was diagnosed last year at 35. (A relief to know but were are struggling in dealing with it) Our 5-year old shows signs of inattention - not hyperactivty - but comments from teachers resemble greatly comments from my husband's report cards growing up: Very bright (may be gifted) but needs to pay attention, loses focus when doing uninteresting things, lazy when time to pick up etc... How young is too young for a diagnosis? My husband was diagnosed last year at 35. (A relief to know but were are struggling in dealing with it)
Our 5-year old shows signs of inattention – not hyperactivty – but comments from teachers resemble greatly comments from my husband’s report cards growing up: Very bright (may be gifted) but needs to pay attention, loses focus when doing uninteresting things, lazy when time to pick up etc…

]]> By: rebecca http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-119263 rebecca Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:51:53 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-119263 Etta, you state that, "The APA came up with a diagnosis for these children who behave in a certain way, and we all accept it as if the disease really exhisted. The APA had nothing more to go on that the fact that children tended to behavior similarly". This is certainly true. In fact, this is true of EVERY mental disorder recognized by the APA. Psychological disorders occur when behaviors deviate sufficiently from "the norm" to cause a decrease in a person's quality of life. The APAn has studied behavior and seen that certain features of "abnormal" behavior commonly occur together, and have used this to classify behavioral/ psychological disorders, such as ADHD.This does not in any way mean that these disorders do not exist, as you appear to be implying. In fact, it means that there is solid data to support the fact that these disorders do exist. To say that the "The ADD and ADHD are merely symptoms of some underlying cause for the behavior" is not entirely untrue. The symptoms of any disorder have underlying causes, whether these causes are genetic or environmental. I firmly believe that the behavior of a person, whether that person has ADHD or not, is caused by an interaction between that person's genetic inheritance and environmental influences. (Environmental influences include what people put into their bodies, such as food and medicine). I just as firmly believe that many of the ADHD symptoms that we see today have strong genetic influences. By altering the environment, we can help a person with ADHD to manage their symptoms. In this way, a person who has genetically inherited ADHD can have less symptoms of ADHD by making changes to the environment. As a behaviorist, my field would benefit if I could say that medications merely masked the symptoms of ADHD and making changes to the environment would solve the "root problems" of ADHD. But I cannot do so because there is to much evidence that medication treatment is almost always more effective than behavioral treatments for ADHD. While behavioral treatments for ADHD are definitely helpful, they are most effective when they are used along with medication treatment. On a side note, while many therapists claim to "do behavior therapy", they often know very little about the subject and give up when their treatments have failed. If you are looking for behavior therapy, I highly recommend choosing someone who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), as a BCBA has taken extensive coursework in behavior treatments, has spent a significant amount of time in supervised work in behavior analysis, and has passed an exam which ensures competency in the subject. Ok, that's enough from me for now. I'm afraid I've written more than I had planned. Etta, you state that, “The APA came up with a diagnosis for these children who behave in a certain way, and we all accept it as if the disease really exhisted. The APA had nothing more to go on that the fact that children tended to behavior similarly”. This is certainly true. In fact, this is true of EVERY mental disorder recognized by the APA. Psychological disorders occur when behaviors deviate sufficiently from “the norm” to cause a decrease in a person’s quality of life. The APAn has studied behavior and seen that certain features of “abnormal” behavior commonly occur together, and have used this to classify behavioral/ psychological disorders, such as ADHD.This does not in any way mean that these disorders do not exist, as you appear to be implying. In fact, it means that there is solid data to support the fact that these disorders do exist.

To say that the “The ADD and ADHD are merely symptoms of some underlying cause for the behavior” is not entirely untrue. The symptoms of any disorder have underlying causes, whether these causes are genetic or environmental. I firmly believe that the behavior of a person, whether that person has ADHD or not, is caused by an interaction between that person’s genetic inheritance and environmental influences. (Environmental influences include what people put into their bodies, such as food and medicine). I just as firmly believe that many of the ADHD symptoms that we see today have strong genetic influences. By altering the environment, we can help a person with ADHD to manage their symptoms. In this way, a person who has genetically inherited ADHD can have less symptoms of ADHD by making changes to the environment.

As a behaviorist, my field would benefit if I could say that medications merely masked the symptoms of ADHD and making changes to the environment would solve the “root problems” of ADHD. But I cannot do so because there is to much evidence that medication treatment is almost always more effective than behavioral treatments for ADHD. While behavioral treatments for ADHD are definitely helpful, they are most effective when they are used along with medication treatment.

On a side note, while many therapists claim to “do behavior therapy”, they often know very little about the subject and give up when their treatments have failed. If you are looking for behavior therapy, I highly recommend choosing someone who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), as a BCBA has taken extensive coursework in behavior treatments, has spent a significant amount of time in supervised work in behavior analysis, and has passed an exam which ensures competency in the subject.

Ok, that’s enough from me for now. I’m afraid I’ve written more than I had planned.

]]> By: Adi Jaffe http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-115976 Adi Jaffe Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:08:52 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-115976 I love conspiracy theories about pharmacological treatments. Etta, no one said that ALL children with either ADD or ADHD have the same underlying cause(s). What I did say was that there have been genetic markers linked with the condition. If anyone is not clear on the difference, I'd be happy to explain it further. It seems that you don't believe genetics have any role in behavior, which is something I strongly disagree with, as does most scientific literature. Also, your assertion that children WOULD get better if their condition was dealt with in the 5th grade seems pretty self-serving. I'm sure people tried to intervene if the condition was known. Had you said that their condition MIGHT have improved, I'd be right on board, but this notion that you have discovered the cure to ADD and ADHD seems a little suspect to me. I would be happy to look at your book though. You can write me on my site and I will give you a shipping address. I love conspiracy theories about pharmacological treatments.

Etta, no one said that ALL children with either ADD or ADHD have the same underlying cause(s). What I did say was that there have been genetic markers linked with the condition. If anyone is not clear on the difference, I’d be happy to explain it further.

It seems that you don’t believe genetics have any role in behavior, which is something I strongly disagree with, as does most scientific literature.

Also, your assertion that children WOULD get better if their condition was dealt with in the 5th grade seems pretty self-serving. I’m sure people tried to intervene if the condition was known. Had you said that their condition MIGHT have improved, I’d be right on board, but this notion that you have discovered the cure to ADD and ADHD seems a little suspect to me.

I would be happy to look at your book though. You can write me on my site and I will give you a shipping address.

]]> By: Etta K Brown http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-115098 Etta K Brown Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:50:10 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-115098 I disagree with you both, it does not follow that all children with ADHD, ADD have the same underlying cause. The APA came up with a diagnosis for these children who behave in a certain way, and we all accept it as if the disease really exhisted. The APA had nothing more to go on that the fact that children tended to behavior similarly, and like the drug companies we accept the behaviors as a condition to be treated. The drug companies will manufacture a drug, and we in the helping professions develop a treatment for it. Children behave the way that they do because of conditions in their environment, and this means everything from childrearing practices to what they eat on a daily basis. The ADD and ADHD are merely symptoms of some underlying cause fo the behavior. In the 30 years in public education as a school psychologist, I followed some children for years, and watched the simple lack of attention in kindergarten develop into full blown behaviors that were diagnosed as ADHD. If there had been intervention in kindergarten, the child would have stabalized by 5th grade. It is all documented in my book LEARNNG DISABILITIES: Understanding the Problem, Managing the Challenges. I will forward you a free copy upon request. I disagree with you both, it does not follow that all children with ADHD, ADD have the same underlying cause. The APA came up with a diagnosis for these children who behave in a certain way, and we all accept it as if the disease really exhisted. The APA had nothing more to go on that the fact that children tended to behavior similarly, and like the drug companies we accept the behaviors as a condition to be treated. The drug companies will manufacture a drug, and we in the helping professions develop a treatment for it. Children behave the way that they do because of conditions in their environment, and this means everything from childrearing practices to what they eat on a daily basis.

The ADD and ADHD are merely symptoms of some underlying cause fo the behavior. In the 30 years in public education as a school psychologist, I followed some children for years, and watched the simple lack of attention in kindergarten develop into full blown behaviors that were diagnosed as ADHD. If there had been intervention in kindergarten, the child would have stabalized by 5th grade. It is all documented in my book LEARNNG DISABILITIES: Understanding the Problem, Managing the Challenges. I will forward you a free copy upon request.

]]> By: Adi Jaffe http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-114171 Adi Jaffe Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:56:47 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-114171 Hi Brigitte, I'm sorry that you don't agree, but science has clearly shown that many of the genes that are more common among ADD and ADHD individuals are also more common among substance abusers. If you do the search yourself, you will see that the Dopamine 4 receptor-type gene (called DRD4) has a variation (the 7 repeat one) that is more common both in ADHD patients and substance abusers. The same is true for the dopamine transporter gene (DAT). What this means is that at least some of the genetic predisposition to developing both ADD/ADHD and substance abuse problems, likely rest on the same genes. If you notice my previous comment, you'll see that I mentioned both genetic and behavioral influences on the development of the condition. This is true for both ADHD and substance abuse. Feel free to come over and read more on the topic. Issues of impulsivity, self-control, and substance abuse come up often at www.allaboutaddiction.com Best, adi Hi Brigitte,
I’m sorry that you don’t agree, but science has clearly shown that many of the genes that are more common among ADD and ADHD individuals are also more common among substance abusers.

If you do the search yourself, you will see that the Dopamine 4 receptor-type gene (called DRD4) has a variation (the 7 repeat one) that is more common both in ADHD patients and substance abusers. The same is true for the dopamine transporter gene (DAT).

What this means is that at least some of the genetic predisposition to developing both ADD/ADHD and substance abuse problems, likely rest on the same genes.

If you notice my previous comment, you’ll see that I mentioned both genetic and behavioral influences on the development of the condition. This is true for both ADHD and substance abuse.

Feel free to come over and read more on the topic. Issues of impulsivity, self-control, and substance abuse come up often at http://www.allaboutaddiction.com

Best,
adi

]]> By: Brigitte Jones http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-113263 Brigitte Jones Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:02:32 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-113263 I disagree with the proposition that those with ADHD have any higher genetic ratio for addictions than in the general population. It is like in the general population when people encounter a higher load of stressors they turn to a range of substances to settle themselves or stimulate themselves in an attempt to alter the feelings of imbalance. What does happen is that those with ADHD do frequentl experience more stressors due to the ramifications of their condition plus a degree of earlier erratic family life as often their parents that had it too. If their life circumstances are positive their worst addictions tend to be coffee, cola, sometimes chocalate untill they have overdone it to developing sensitivities to these.Late diagnosed teens have tended to smoke as the nicotine meets a partial need for the stimulant their brain responds to. Those with ADHD coming from positive environments with a variety of interesting activities and timely treatment rarely have high levels of significant substance abuse. I disagree with the proposition that those with ADHD have any higher genetic ratio for addictions than in the general population. It is like in the general population when people encounter a higher load of stressors they turn to a range of substances to settle themselves or stimulate themselves in an attempt to alter the feelings of imbalance.
What does happen is that those with ADHD do frequentl experience more stressors due to the ramifications of their condition plus a degree of earlier erratic family life as often their parents that had it too.

If their life circumstances are positive their worst addictions tend to be coffee, cola, sometimes chocalate untill they have overdone it to developing sensitivities to these.Late diagnosed teens have tended to smoke as the nicotine meets a partial need for the stimulant their brain responds to.

Those with ADHD coming from positive environments with a variety of interesting activities and timely treatment rarely have high levels of significant substance abuse.

]]> By: Who Needs ADHD Medication? | ADHD NEWSTODAY http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-105476 Who Needs ADHD Medication? | ADHD NEWSTODAY Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:49:36 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-105476 [...] ADHD in Families [...] [...] ADHD in Families [...]

]]> By: ADHD Family Summit « ADHD NEWSTODAY http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-in-families/comment-page-1/#comment-105443 ADHD Family Summit « ADHD NEWSTODAY Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:28:55 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=500#comment-105443 [...] ADHD in Families [...] [...] ADHD in Families [...]

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