Hello crazydayz8:

Welcome to the ADDitude forums. I hope we can help uncover some resources to help your stepson this summer during your time with him. First, you probably already know that ADD/ADHD misdiagnosis in children is unfortunately high. We hear stories about children who suffer from comorbid conditions (dyslexia, depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc.) that are misdiagnosed as ADHD or that impact their ADHD and make some medications more/less effective than others. Diagnosing children - especially so young - is just really tough, and I can understand your skepticism and worry.

Here are a few articles that might help shed some light on the diagnosis - I would definitely recommend sharing them with your stepson's mother...

An Accurate ADHD Diagnosis for Children: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1591.html

Maybe It’s Not ADHD After All: About Common Learning Disabilities: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/724.html

About ADHD Children: ADD Diagnosis and Treatment: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/934.html

Also, could you seek a second opinion this summer during your stepson's time with you? Perhaps keep a log of his behavior for the first month and share that with the doctor (an ADHD specialist) when you visit. OUr online directory might help you find someone: http://directory.additudemag.com/

Finally, have you ever thought about trying behavior therapy? The American Psychological Association recommends it as the first treatment option for ADD children under 4. If you meet with success using this non-drug approach, you might have more leverage re: taking him off the ADD meds that you don't feel are necessary/working. Here are some great articles about behavior therapy to get you started:

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/3577.html

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/860.html

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1563.html

I hope this helps!

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I am a mom with ADHD and in the 70's it was hard being a girl because there was not as much info and not as much support - I think most teachers thought only Boys could have it - But as a mother of and ADHD kid, it has given me great insight and helps me so much in making good decisions in creating an environment that my child can succeed in. I will tell you what I tell others who ask - what did you do. It is important to work with a pediatrician that is open to ADHD traditional and non-traditional solutions. And it is important to work with an Educational Psychologist who specialized with ADD/ADHD people, kids and families - they can help coach you on navigating education (you will learn that you have to pick your battles). It is also important to address the nutrition. I did find that the things you eat do make a difference. My child and I cannot process chemically enhances foods (it causes headaches and/or behavior changes) and I use the Feingold program as a guide. We also see a nutritionist to make sure that while we do not always eat while on meds, we are nutritionally balances. – IT is true, it takes a village to raise a child. And you have to put together a team of Doctors you can depend on and that you have a respectful relationship with. You also need to make sure the schools and teachers are on the same page. It can be a very rough and bumpy road that may bring you to tears but have patience. My child is now in the 7th grade, has been on the honor roll and was student of the month for their honesty. Most of us are very intelligent, we just have quirks. We see and absorb the world differently and can be very creative and just have our own way. Learn to love the quirks, and help the quirks work. A Mom

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crazydyz8 said: I am new to this forum, and forums in general. Please excuse me if this post is a little long, I would like to supply some background information. I have a husband who has ADD and has been treating it for about 18 years. I have a degree in childhood counseling so between the two of us we are well versed in the management and treatment of ADD. He has a 6 year old son from a previous relationship. This child's mother has been trying to get him started on ADD meds since he was 4 years old and finally succeeded in December. He was started on Ritalin which was ineffective and later changed to Concerta. In March his doctor had him sent to a psychologist who, after talking to the mother, felt the child was displaying some "mild signs" of ADD. Might I add that this psychologist was clueless in regards to ADD medication and its usage. My husband, his mom, and his teacher all filled out BASC forms in April. My husband has requested both the results of the BASC evaluation as well as whatever clinical notes we are legally allowed to see have have received neither. My husband and I are concerned because all of the behaviors that he is supposedly exhibiting to have caused this diagnosis are behaviors we have never seen. We get him for 8 weeks during the summer and have to fight tooth and nail to spend any additional time with him. His mother has never been involved in his life and he was raised by his maternal grandparents for the first 5 years of his life. If he does have ADD we want to treat it properly, but we are concerned that he doe snot have ADD but rather the behaviors are a result of a VERY unstable home life with his mother. At this point in time we are unsure of how to proceed from here. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for us?

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This is my first post as well. I can certainly relate to your feelings of wanting the right diagnosis for your step-son. I am a grandmother, who is raising my grandson part-time. Mom and Dad are divorced, and divorced, and divorced. The child is left to fend for himself most of the time when not with us. He was failing miserably at school and having so many behavior problems. Believe me, the last thing we wanted was for our grandson to be on brain altering drugs. I was scared to death. But, something had to be done for this child. He was getting totally lost and left behind. My husband and I stepped in and took our grandson to a wonderful psychiatrist who tested him in several different ways. Our grandson not only has ADHD but ODD as well and maybe bi-polar disorder as well. She began Austin on very small amounts of Daytrana patches along with a small dose of prozac and tenex. At first he had to see her every week to check on his meds and his behavior. She even gave us her cell phone in case there were any reactions to the drugs, which we actually needed to use a few times and she really answered her phone. I was amazed. Then very slowly she began increasing this drug, decreasing that drug until she had the right combination for his condition. I can not tell you the difference in our grandson. He went from being disruptive and nasty, argumentative, and basically failing every class to a wonderful, happy, twelve year old who actually would sit down and do his own homework. The change in him is incredible. Yes, get a second opinion. Don't use drugs if the child doesn't need them, but if he does, work with a psychiatrist you trust and have faith in.

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