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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic
TESTING HIGH-ENERGY BOY FOR AD/HD MAY BE GOOD IDEA
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My son is in second grade and has always been
a handful, in terms of his energy level and needing to be reminded to
listen and not just blurt nonstop. I was that way when I was a boy, too.
Ever since preschool, he has had teachers who were real pros at getting
him to do his best. But his teacher this year is a different story: first
year on the job; young; not a parent. She has asked that we get him evaluated
for AD/HD because she finds my son disruptive. I’m ticked off about this,
but want to do what’s best for my son. What should I know about AD/HD?
— Kalamazoo, Mich.
ANSWER: AD/HD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
It is a behavioral disorder of children and adolescents that affects about
7.5 percent by age 19. Typical symptoms of AD/HD include a diminished
attention span, increased level of hyperactivity and problems with impulse
control — all of which can impede or interfere with success in the classroom.
One or a combination of these symptoms must interfere with how the child
is functioning at school, at home and with peers in order to be considered
a true case of AD/HD.
In addition, to meet the diagnosis of AD/HD, these problems cannot be
caused by something else — for example, a stressful situation to which
the child might be reacting. A child may have a type of AD/HD that includes
just symptoms of inattention, or he or she may have symptoms from all
three categories — inattention, impulse control and high activity level.
Our most recent studies show that boys in general have an increased risk
of developing AD/HD. This research coincides with a number of other studies
that have found males to be at a greater risk than females for developmental
disorders, although the explanation for this difference has not yet been
discovered.
It is important for parents to understand two central points about diagnosing
AD/HD:
1) There is no single test for AD/HD, despite the marketing efforts of
some companies to convince you otherwise.
2) The only way to diagnose AD/HD is through a thorough evaluation by
a qualified physician, taking into account information from school and
home, and using standardized rating scales. Unless carefully and fully
evaluated by an experienced medical team, children can erroneously be
labeled AD/HD.
Your concern about the teacher’s ability to meet your child’s needs is
common. Experienced teachers often are better able to understand active
children and help them stay focused. At the same time, however, second
grade is a common time at which behaviors associated with AD/HD become
more challenging and disruptive. Whether the teacher is young and inexperienced
or not, it sounds like having a pediatrician assess your son could be
helpful.
If the diagnosis truly fits, data show that the best treatment for AD/HD
is a combination of both medication and nonmedical treatment. Medication
alone is not sufficient for optimal results. The child will also benefit
from educational programs and behavioral treatment to improve social interactions.
— William Barbaresi, M.D., Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics,
Mayo Clinic,Rochester, Minn.
Additional Resources:
AD/HD
Appointment
Information
More Information
on AD/HD
READERS: People who have high blood pressure are highly likely
to have high cholesterol that’s not being treated aggressively enough,
according to a new Mayo Clinic-led study that included 2,356 people with
hypertension.
The combination creates a double-whammy risk of heart attack and stroke.
Having both doesn’t just add to your risk of vascular disease; the risk
multiples.
Researchers say the study highlights an opportunity. Nine out of 10 people
who had both hypertension and high cholesterol weren’t receiving adequate
care to manage cholesterol. But with proper treatment, the risk is reduced.
If you have hypertension, have your cholesterol checked. Get both under
control to reduce the risk of vascular disease.
Additional Resources:
Treatment
of Hypertension
Appointment
Information
More Information
on Hypertension
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Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t
replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org,
or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite
114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.
© 2004 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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