Ask Dr. Silver
The following are past questions and answers from Dr. Larry Silver on this topic.
Can an ADD child get addicted to video games?
I have an 11-year-old son with ADD. A doctor has stated that there is research showing that a) kids can become addicted to violent video games and that b) gaming raises cortisol levels in people who play video games. A counselor says that ALL electronics can cause the above two situations. What is your take on this? What about active video games such as Dance Revolution or the wii games? How should a parent address this? Take them off all games, etc? Permanently or just take a break?... HELP!
This doctor is providing part of the research. May I refer you to a website that will provide more facts: notMYkid (then click on Internet addiction). Another site is MediaWise (then click on game addiction).
(January 2008)
Is it blaming the victim to say a child uses LD as a crutch?
Our 13-year-old daughter has a reading disability. How do you show her not to use the LD as a crutch when she does poorly in school? Also, her lying to make herself "look good" around others is disheartening? Help!
I need more information to fully answer. How significant are her reading disabilities? Does she receive special education services? Accommodations? If she is struggling in middle school with little help to address her disabilities and minimal accommodations, she should be frustrated and trying to avoid the work. If she has received the proper help in the past and continues to receive help, does she fully understand her disabilities and how to compensate for them?
Her poor self image and the need to cover it up to “look good” suggest to me that she may not have had the necessary help to compensate for her reading disabilities or that she is not receiving adequate services/accommodations now. If she has had all of this and still feels the way she does, she may need counseling to better understand/accept her disabilities. If she has not had adequate help and school (parents?) still “blame the victim” for not keeping up, then the adults need to rethink what they are doing to contribute.
(September 2007)
What is the best way to coach dyslexic people on a sports team?
I wanted to ask a question about team sports and dyslexia. Is there any research or resources about the best methods to coach players with dyslexia and to help them learn individual and team skills the most effective way?
Thank you
Your question and the sensitivity you have are applauded. Yes, students with learning disabilities (current school term for dyslexia) may need special accommodations when playing sports. It will be important for the special education team working with the individual to help you understand his/her strengths and weaknesses. Try to utilize the strengths and find a way to compensate for the weaknesses. Another source of guidance would be someone trained in adaptive PE. The fastest is to speak with the professionals working with this child in school.
(July 2007)
How do you get a teenager with a learning disability to accept help when he says he doesn’t want services?
I work with a high school student who is in foster care and was on IEP that lapsed due to numerous placement changes and bouncing from school to school. He recently was evaluated and found eligible for special services. The student has refused to accept these services because he believes that special education means “retarded.” He is failing all classes. How can I influence this student's decision to accept services?
Joan
Your brief description suggests that this high school student has been through a lot. He probably does not feel very secure, safe, or good about himself. Getting him to accept yet another problem, “I’m dumb,” will not be easy.
Maybe the school counselor can help him. Maybe a concerned tutor can show him how the help will be useful. Maybe the concept of a learning disability might not be used but, “You know, you have had to move around so much that your education has not been good. You need help to make up for what your school did not teach you.”
(June 2007)
How should ADHD be treated when there is also an anxiety disorder?
My eight-year-old son was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD and Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). He has always been a shy anxious child and uncomfortable socially. We have been trying different stimulant medications for him that have helped the inattentiveness, but have exacerbated the anxiety (separation anxiety and peeling his finger tips particularly).
We are now going to try Straterra. Should he get a formal diagnosis for anxiety disorder and be taking something more like Wellbutrin, or should we see how he responds to the Straterra? I have always been bothered by his anxiety issues and feel that the professionals I have seen seem to focus more on the ADD issues. Only now is the present doctor recommending he also has therapy for anxiety.
Thank you,
Judy
When someone has ADHD and also has an anxiety disorder, it is not uncommon for the medication used to treat the ADHD to exacerbate the anxiety disorder. It is best, therefore, to treat the anxiety disorder first.
Once this disorder is under good management, it should be possible to reintroduce a stimulant medication to treat the ADHD. The most frequent medications used to treat anxiety disorders are called “Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.” Discuss this approach with the prescribing doctor.
(June 2007)
What can a child do when their cousin with a learning disability often hits or kicks them?
My name is Alexis and I am 12 years old. My cousin has a learning disorder and gets mad really easily and he takes it out on me. He can hit, pinch, kick, and even bite! But I sometimes do something back to him and he runs crying and I get in trouble. And when I try to tell my Aunt that he hurt me also she doesn't even care about my feelings. I hate it!
Do you have any advice that might make my life run more smoothly? Also do you have advice that might make my Aunt start listening to me?
Thanks,
Alexis
Wow. You do have a problem. And, I am afraid that you will not be able to explain to your aunt what her child is doing. Discuss your problems with your parents. Help them understand what you are dealing with. Ask them to observe. Your aunt's brother or sister (one of your parents) might be listened to before they listen to you. Good luck.
(March 2007)
What happens when family members have ADD and other disabilities such as depression, anger-control problems, and anxiety disorders?
My daughter, who is 11 years old, was diagnosed with ADD. She is on Focalin. For the most part she is doing pretty good but she has her occasional breakdowns. How do you help get a person out of a meltdown without a lot of screaming, yelling, crying from that person?
My wife suffers from depression and also is ADD. She is on medication which does not help when my daughter has one of her meltdowns. Then my wife starts to have a meltdown. Sometimes panic attacks arise from what my daughter is saying etc during a meltdown. Any suggestions would be grateful in dealing with my wife and daughter.
Thanks
Bruce
It is important that you learn about what is called comorbidity with ADHD, as I discussed in my book, The Misunderstood Child. Fifty percent of children with ADHD will have one or more of a pattern of emotional regulatory problems. These include anxiety disorder (with panic attacks), depression, anger control problems, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
These comorbid conditions are neurologically-based as is the ADHD. Usually, each of these problems existed over many years and can occur in school as well as at home. The medication may have made each worse but may not be the cause. Often, there is a family history of similar problems. It sounds as if your daughter might have one or more of these regulatory problems. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. It is essential that you clarify all of her problems so that a comprehensive treatment plan can be done.
(March 2007)
How can I work with the professionals who help my son to improve his behavior difficulties?
My 4-year-old son has some language processing difficulties. I need advice on how to deal with his tantrums of hitting, throwing stuff, peeing on his pants, etc. when he is in his very frequent temperamental behavior. He does not behave like this in school though. This is affecting my other normal six-year-old son's life terribly. Not to mention mine, as well. Please help. Time out or ignoring his tantrums does not help. His tantrums most of the time is due to him not being able to interpret as to what we are asking him to do or him not having it his way.
Laticia
Who identified that he has a language processing problem? I hope it was by a speech-language therapist or a special education team. Do these language processing problems interfere with his ability to process what he hears and what he tries to speak? Do they interfere with early preschool learning like letter and number recognition?
I would suspect that his behavior at home is the result of his frustrations with handling life. If he does not always know what he hears or has difficulty finding the words to express himself, he will be angry and upset. If he cannot do play activities or peer interactions at his age level, he will be frustrated.
Start by sitting down with the professionals who diagnosed him as having a language processing difficulty. Ask this person(s) to help you answer your question about his behavior. Have them explain the frustration and teach you how to help you son be less frustrated.
(January 2007)
How can a sibling help their younger brother with Aspergers Syndrome?
My name is Matthew White and I am 15 years old and I have a younger brother who has Asperger's syndrome. When I babysit, it is always a hassle to get him to brush his teeth or do something when it is his turn to do it. He will fight with me and be so persistent that it annoys me to the point I just give up. I was wondering if you could give me some suggestions to help my house run a little more smoothly and so my parents aren't so overwhelmed.
I was also wondering if you could explain why he does these things. What I can do to help everything run smoother and help make our family more "close-knit"? I think that once we get this under control we can be a happier family in the long run.
All I know about the subject is that I just can't get mad at him, because once I get mad at him he just doesn't listen at all and then there is no way to get him to do what you want.
Matthew
Your brother is very lucky to have a brother like you. Your awareness and sensitivity go beyond your 15 years of life. It sounds like both you and your parents need help. I would hope that this help was available through your brother's school program or though a parent support group.
Ask your parents to go to a website - Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support. This site will provide lots of information on the questions you ask and will provide resources for you and for your parents.
(January 2007)
For more information on this topic, please visit the Behavior & Social Skills section in LD InDepth.
