Ask Dr. Silver
The following are past questions and answers from Dr. Larry Silver on this topic.
Do you have any tips for teenage drivers with ADHD and/or LD?
I am a 17-year-old girl who has been diagnosed with ADHD and a type of LD. I have had my license since August of 2005. Since then (not including the minor bumps against the garage), I've had two severe car accidents resulting in totaling both cars. The first one was inexperience, but the second one was failure to pay attention and my reaction time.
My parents are restricting my driving right now but they don't want to take it away because they don't want me to lose my freedom. Do you know of any tips or books for teenagers living with ADHD and driving?
Thanks
Ashley
You are wise to ask for help.
Start by learning what type of LD you have. Hopefully your parents or a school professional will know. You need to find out if this disability might be contributing to your problem. For example, if you have visual-spatial or visual-motor difficulties, you might have trouble judging distance, closeness.
Then, clarify in what ways you have ADHD. Are you hyperactive? Are you inattentive and easily distracted? Are you impulsive? If you are any or all of these, it would be important that you be on the proper medication when you drive. This medication would reduce or stop such behaviors.
Now, to be more practical. Ask your parents to check with the driving schools in your area. Ask if any program has a teacher that works well with students who have ADHD or Learning Disabilities. Even though you already have a license, it would be helpful to take more practice lessons with someone who understands and who can give you practical advice.
Good Luck.
(November 2006)
How can I get a good diagnosis for my child who might have a learning disability?
My 5-year-old son was recently referred for testing by teachers. We filled out forms and brought him to the pediatrician who promptly diagnosed my son as ADHD and prescribed Focalin.
I asked about other possibilities related to LD maybe being part of the problem as his skills are severely delayed (about 1.5 years behind other children). I was told it was possible he had an LD that caused him to lose interest and focus OR it could be ADHD that caused him to have problems learning. I asked how do we know which it is and was told the solution was to medicate and see if it works or not.
I described in detail his ability to learn and retain information verbally just not visually so much. I asked about testing for learning disabilities before we started medicating my child.
The pediatrician referred me to a developmental clinic who does not take private insurance, only Medicaid, and costs around $10,000 for a full screen for LDs. I need to have an alternative as I cannot afford this screen and am hesitant to make my child a guinea pig with medication that he may or may not need.
Please help - what do I do? What resources exist for us?
Thank you,
Jenni
You ask good questions. Your son's problems might be due to evolving Learning Disabilities or due to ADHD or due to both. It is important to clarify.
Did your pediatrician do a full assessment? Did he/she use the required criteria to diagnose ADHD? (Presence of hyperactivity and/or inattention and/or impulsivity that has been present for several years and that are noted at school, home, with friends.) If not, don't accept the diagnosis.
I would suggest you find a good educational diagnostician, experienced with early childhood. You will not have to guess. If there are developmental delays or LD, testing will clarify. This assessment should not cost more that $1,500 to $2,000, depending on what is done. (I have no idea what a developmental clinic would do that would cost $10,000).
(November 2006)
How do we help a child with ADHD and auditory processing deficit?
We are trying to decide which therapy would be better for our daughter who has been diagnosed with a mild case of ADHD and a possible auditory processing deficit. We are currently considering the NILD Discovery program or neurofeedback. We cannot find information comparing the two.
Thank you so much for replying.
Sincerely,
Lori
First, and most important is that the diagnoses are correct and that other possible causes for the problems have not been missed. Has she had formal psycho-educational testing? Has she been diagnosed with ADHD by a professional who uses the criteria required to make this diagnosis? Please do not jump into any type of treatment until you know what it is that you are treating.
For ADHD, medication is the treatment that works best. For auditory processing problems or learning disabilities, speech-language or special education therapy works best.
Don't spend your money and your daughter's time on NILD Discovery or neurofeedback as an initial step. Neither has been documented as being effective treatments for ADHD or for auditory processing problems.
If you want more information on evaluation, diagnosis, treatments, you might want to read the book, The Misunderstood Child.
(August 2006)
Should ADHD medication be given only when a child is at school?
My step-son is taking Concerta. Shouldn't he take it every day? His mom only gives it to him through the week, not on the weekends, or only when he's in school. When we have him, he says he feels weird on Monday at school. I want to know if it is harmful to him because he's on and off it so much.
Thanks,
Shaun
Medication for ADHD, such as Concerta, should be taken whenever the hyperactivity, inattention, and/or impulsivity could interfere with the child's ability to function and perform.
If weekends are casual and there are no sports activities or homework to do, he might be ok without medication. If you notice that his ADHD behaviors create behavioral, social, or academic difficulties when he is with you, it might be important for him to be on the medication.
(July 2006)
For more information on this topic, please visit the ADHD section in LD InDepth.
