ADHD - help! Need infos.

O

ollyvia

Registered User
Hi....

My daughter has just been recently diagnosed with ADHD when I took her for a check up a few days ago. She's 4 1/2 years old. All the symptoms that I told the paedi match this category - such as fidgeting, clumsiness, easily distracted, talks excessively, can't sit/stay still, etc. But when I brought this up to her teachers at school, they said she's absolutely fine, and to them, she definitely is not an ADHD child. And according to them, usually the childern with ADHD will show the symptoms throughout the day, not only at home.

Now I'm thinking about getting a second opinion.
Can anybody recommend me someone who's good in detecting this illness? Does anybody have children with ADHD and care to share with me the signs and symptoms I should be looking at, and how or where to treat her?

All your responses will be greatly appreciated.


Worried Mommy :(
 
As long as your daughter is doing well at school you need not worry. If it's the doctors at the public mother care clinic that gave you the diagnose you have to think carefully before believing them, given the fact that the government is cutting the medical budget and 1/3 of those clinics may be closed as they are running out of patients. My daughter and her cousin were suspected of hearing problems and they both turned out fine in further testing. I've been a worried mother for 4 years until now, everything turns out fine.
 
Hi,

I've attended a talk about ADHD in Union Hospital 3 weeks ago. The talk was conducted by DR.Iris Lau ( specialist in paediatrics). As far as i know,child with ADHD usually shows the symptoms all day and according to the doctor,teachers at school will be the best indication. So if your child's teacher said she's fine, perhaps you need not worry too much. However if you're intrested to contact the above doctor,you could send me a private message at [email protected]. I could provide you the details.
 
Thank you everyone for your reply.

You're right, Nicmum.... according to her teachers, they should be able to see it right away if she does suffer from ADHD, right from day one at school. Maybe I'm just being a bit too paranoid here (?).

Have been doing some research on my own, maybe it's her diet that causes all those mood swings and behavioral ups and downs? 'Cause she can be so sweet for a few days (and she is now, at the moment) and nerve-wrecking the next. Does anybody have any idea how I should go about to find out what she's allergic of?

Thanks again.
 
I would doubt that your daughter is 'allergic' to a specific food - if she was allergic, you would have seen physical symptoms, such as a rash, hives, or difficulty breathing. Food intolerance is a different matter - you could discuss this with your doctor. Some children react fiercly to specific food preservatives - maybe keep a food diary if this is bothering you.
Please be aware that there is a fierce debate in the medical community about the actual extent of ADHD (or ADD) - it is asserted by many commentators that ADHD is extensively over-diagnosed. One study suggested that many children diagnosed with ADHD are actually suffering from sleep-deprivation (not hard to believe in HK, when you always see tiny children up very late at night.........).
I would get a second opinion - and if they're not seeing the behaviour you mentoned at school, maybe it is something in her home environment that is affecting her. For example - could she be bored/lonley?
Good Luck
 
HappyV:
Yeah.... my daughter does have rash and runny nose that come and go every now and then. That's why now I'm more certain that maybe it's her diet (?). I should've mentioned this to her paedi, but she should know this right? And you know how fast the doctors in HK just label the children? This is why I'm thinking about getting a second opinion.
And she still naps in the afternoon (when she doesn't have other activity after school) and goes to bed at 9, I think that's reasonable right?

Does anybody know any good homeopath? I'm thinking about seeing one for my daughter.

Thanks again.
 
It sounds like a food diary would be a really good first step to help you find out if it is something to do with her diet - although it still sounds like more of a food intolderance than an 'allergy' as such. Hopefully, whatever it is, she will grow out of it.
By the way - there's a really interesting article in The Times about ADHD - have a look at www.timesonline.co.uk, in the Health section. (It was published on September 20, but it's still online.)
There are also some very interesting articles in the archive section of the New York Times - however you need to $$ for those.
 
HappyV: can't find that article :( maybe I'm just tired of browsing on ADHD the whole day :P Would you kindly give me the complete link that I can just click on? Thanks a lot!
 
Barb and HappyV,

Thanks for the articles. I've always have doubts about ADHD. Sometimes people make fun of my daughter having ADHD, but they never mean it seriously. My daughter used to be emotionally very unstable, and I know I am highly responsible for this, partly our style of living and partly hereditary. I remember her having an extremely difficult time at school (being unattentive and emotional outbreaks) and at home (always crying and screaming) between 3 1/2 and 3 3/4 years old, and I was considering sending her to a full day nursery during the holidays. Yet suddenly came the cure, we took her to the playground for 5 consecutive days during Easter, and she was reported very calm and stable for 1 whole week at school and in the restaurants.

Then when she failed her mid-term exams her teacher in class suggested her to repeat K1 and the principal made several suggestions of my daughter having problems not yet detected. Now she is in K2 and the principal says she's fine except for her phonological problems. LABELLING IS A HORRIBLE AND DISASTROUS THING. IT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM PUTTING YOU IN AN ASYLUM. WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY TODAY IS LABELLING A PERSON TOO EARLY.
 
ollyvia:

Sorry about the heartache you're going through... I don't know whether homeopathy is the way to go, but you might like to write to Dr. Pandya at [email protected] to find out more about it. The doctor is specialized in pediatrics too.

Sara.
 
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Valencia said:
LABELLING IS A HORRIBLE AND DISASTROUS THING. IT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM PUTTING YOU IN AN ASYLUM. WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY TODAY IS LABELLING A PERSON TOO EARLY.
Click to expand...

I cannot agree more. My son was initially diagnosed Mild Autism by a paediatrician who saw him for not more than 15 minutes. We were distraught and scared for more than 2 weeks until we saw the specialists (Speech and Occupation Therapist and Child Psychologist) who both told me that my son was only suffering from speech delay at 2 years old! Which was very common among boys living in an environment where he hears several languages!

Read about the condition, observe your child and talk to specialists.
Best advise i can give.

Lylah
 
Barb and HappyV:
Thanks for the articles. They definitely give me more insights, especially regarding the medication.

Sara:
Where is the clinic of Dr.Pandya? He's good? Is your son seeing him?

Ollyvia
 
Dr. Pandya

ollyvia:

I'm sorry I don't know where Dr. Pandya practices. I was just talking to a friend when she casually mentioned that her GP recommended that she contact Dr. Pandya if she needs more info. on homeopathy. I got the e-mail contact for you...

Sara.
 
About ADHD

ADHD is a developmental disorder with different tendency. That means, some children have more serious problems in behaviour while some kids just have slight and inconsistent behavioural issues in different situations and environments. Professionals, like teachers, etc., would only classify the kids with serious behavioural problems as ADHD kids. But from a new professional perspective, some kids do have ADHD but are not classified as having "disorder". It's just like having depressive moods, depression or depressive disorder. They are just showing different severity of depression on the depression scale. It's the same for ADHD.

My older son has a tendency of hyperactivity and impulsivity and can be easily distracted. But he is not so serious to the extend that he needs medication. I myself is a psychologist-to-be. I'm training him using some behavioural therapy so that he could control himself in certain circumstances. And I keep my eyes closely on him. If I've noticed that his hyperactivity tendency has become more serious, I'll bring him to his paedi as she's very good at treating ADHD kids. But so far, my son is doing fine in primary 1. Sometimes, all we parents need to do is to allow them to grow into what they are meant to be, as long as they are trained to know what is right and wrong as well as protect themselves from dangers. Most of the ADHD kids are very intelligent and creative. My son is really creative and original. Once I've accepted that, I would allow him to do things in his impulsive ways if circumstance allows that.

Below is how to diagnose and classify ADHD:

a) There are three subtypes of ADHD. One of which is the Inattentive type which is characterized by the presence of 6 or more symptoms of inattentiveness present for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive. Symptoms include: inattention to details, careless mistakes, difficulty sustaining attention, not listening when spoken to, not following through on instructions, failure to finish tasks, difficulty organizing tasks, avoidance or dislike of tasks requiring sustained mental effort, easy distractibility, often losing things, and frequent forgetfulness. This happens in 30-40% of the ADHD population.

b) The Hyperactive/Impulsive type is characterized by the presence of 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity present for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive. Symptoms include: fidgeting, leaving one?s seat, running/climbing excessively in inappropriate situations, difficulty playing/working quietly, ?on the go? or acting as if driven by a motor, excessive talking, blurting out answer before questions have been completed, difficulty waiting one?s turn, and often interrupting or intruding on others. This is in 10% of individuals of ADHD.

c) The Combined type is characterized by the presence of 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and 6 or more symptoms of inattentiveness present for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive. This is in 50-60% of individuals.

Hope the above info is helpful to you. If you still want amsecond opinion, you can try my son's paedi: Dr. Eunice Wong, 2858-2183. Her clinic is in Central.



ollyvia said:
Hi....

My daughter has just been recently diagnosed with ADHD when I took her for a check up a few days ago. She's 4 1/2 years old. All the symptoms that I told the paedi match this category - such as fidgeting, clumsiness, easily distracted, talks excessively, can't sit/stay still, etc. But when I brought this up to her teachers at school, they said she's absolutely fine, and to them, she definitely is not an ADHD child. And according to them, usually the childern with ADHD will show the symptoms throughout the day, not only at home.

Now I'm thinking about getting a second opinion.
Can anybody recommend me someone who's good in detecting this illness? Does anybody have children with ADHD and care to share with me the signs and symptoms I should be looking at, and how or where to treat her?

All your responses will be greatly appreciated.


Worried Mommy :(
Click to expand...
 
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Allergies

If your daughter is just having running nose and rash, especially not immediately after having certain kinds of food, she should be allergic to dust mites which are hidding in her mattress and pillow. She is just one of the 90% of those who are suffering from allergies. Just use the anti-dustmite encasings would be fine for her. Don't get those encasings with medication or chemical. Go for the ones which are tightly woven with medication so that the dustmite waste won't come out. BTW, I'm using them myself and for my sons.



ollyvia said:
HappyV:
Yeah.... my daughter does have rash and runny nose that come and go every now and then. That's why now I'm more certain that maybe it's her diet (?). I should've mentioned this to her paedi, but she should know this right? And you know how fast the doctors in HK just label the children? This is why I'm thinking about getting a second opinion.
And she still naps in the afternoon (when she doesn't have other activity after school) and goes to bed at 9, I think that's reasonable right?

Does anybody know any good homeopath? I'm thinking about seeing one for my daughter.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
 
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Repeating K1??

It's hearbreaking to read personal experience like this. You must have suffered a lot. It's interesting that my husband saved this discussion thread on my computer and when I came across your discussion, I had an urge to respond to all the postings.

I can see both you and your daughter is experiencing a lot of stress. It could be the way of your daughter to handle her stress like that at school. I can't imagine there's a kindergarten which requests a 3-year old to repeat K1. Repeating K1!!! Teachers are meant to be loving for and understanding on children. Yet, I doubt those teachers and principal really knows what real child development is. This little being is simply trying her best to learn many new skills and cope with new changes in her life. Please give children rooms and time to develop themselves, following their own interests and talents.



Valencia said:
Barb and HappyV,

Thanks for the articles. I've always have doubts about ADHD. Sometimes people make fun of my daughter having ADHD, but they never mean it seriously. My daughter used to be emotionally very unstable, and I know I am highly responsible for this, partly our style of living and partly hereditary. I remember her having an extremely difficult time at school (being unattentive and emotional outbreaks) and at home (always crying and screaming) between 3 1/2 and 3 3/4 years old, and I was considering sending her to a full day nursery during the holidays. Yet suddenly came the cure, we took her to the playground for 5 consecutive days during Easter, and she was reported very calm and stable for 1 whole week at school and in the restaurants.

Then when she failed her mid-term exams her teacher in class suggested her to repeat K1 and the principal made several suggestions of my daughter having problems not yet detected. Now she is in K2 and the principal says she's fine except for her phonological problems. LABELLING IS A HORRIBLE AND DISASTROUS THING. IT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM PUTTING YOU IN AN ASYLUM. WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY TODAY IS LABELLING A PERSON TOO EARLY.
Click to expand...
 
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Hi, Sagacity,

Thank you very much for your care. You're right. Every time she had an exam I was freaking out. She couldn't recognise the alphabet and the Chinese characters, she couldn't write. What could I do? She's only 3! When my daughter was invited to repeat K1, my response was NO. I don't want her to be bored by repeating the same things all over again. My decision is proved right. She is doing fine this year. I was talking to my husband if she had repeated this year, what would have happened to her, wasting her time with an inexperienced teacher? Her class teacher is just GREAT this year, experienced and patient. I see the difference right in the second week of the new semester. A good teacher makes all the difference.

I suspect one of the reasons for their asking her to repeat is their lack of new students. The principal told me another child in her class was invited to repeat because he did not like writing (Ridiculous!).

In the good old days, I went to kindergarten at four and learned the alphabet at five. My daughter is outdoing me and I'm very satisfied. I've been a private tutor for many years and it's sad to see parents pushing their children so hard.
 
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