ADD / ADHD
Small Changes Can Add Up To Big Results

Amelia was 12 years old when we first met. Her mother was concerned because Amelia was struggling in the 6th grade, failing her math class, despite spending three to four hours a night on her math homework. Despite pulling Amelia out of dance class and her theater program and threatening to take away her iPad if her grades didn’t improve, Amelia seemed to be withdrawing more from her family members and friends and seemed angry too often, according to her mom. After speaking with Amelia alone, it became clear that Amelia felt anxious about her struggles with her math and other course work and in turn, felt angry and sad that she didn’t know how to fix the problem. She told me that she had a hard time paying attention in school but was smart and had been able to figure out most of her assignments on her own, up until her first year of middle school. Upon further questioning, Amelia revealed that she had never read an entire chapter book, usually losing interest in books by about half way through. She also had difficulty watching a movie without getting up to do other things multiple times and her friends often accused her of interrupting them and being “rude.”

Amelia’s mom was given a questionnaire and asked to complete it as it pertained to Amelia. She was also asked to have Amelia’s father complete his own copy of the questionnaire and given a slightly different screening tool for Amelia’s homeroom and math teachers to complete. Once these questionnaires were returned, we used them in combination with Amelia’s health information and history to diagnose Amelia with Attention Deficit Disorder; predominately inattentive type.

Amelia was started on medication to help improve her focus and concentration and responded very well. She worked with me to develop tools to support her success in school and interpersonal relationships. A combination of medication and therapy resulted in Amelia improving her math grade to a B and reporting a significant increase in self-esteem. Her mom happily reported that Amelia was back to her normal, happy self and that she was so proud of her improved school performance.

Facts About Childhood ADD / ADHD

  • There are three types of ADHD: Inattentive (formerly called ADD), hyperactive-impulsive, and combined.
  • ADD/ADHD runs in families. Children who have one parent with ADHD are more than 50% likely than those who don’t to have ADHD themselves.
  • ADHD is one of the most common behavioral disorders that happens in childhood. According to the CDC, ADHD affects 11% of all school aged children

Parent Quiz for ADD/ADHD

1

Does your child have difficulty paying attention to details or make careless mistakes, such as in homework?

2

Does your child have trouble listening when spoken to directly?

3

Does your child lose things necessary for tasks or activities (school assignments, pencils, or books)?

4

Does your child fidget with their hands or feet or squirm in their seat often?

5

Is your child always “on the go,” almost like they are driven by a motor?

6

Does your child talk too much?

7

Does your child have difficulty waiting his or her turn?

8

Does your child have difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly?

9

Is your child easily distracted by extraneous stimuli?

10

Does your child often not follow through on instruction and struggle to finish schoolwork (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand)?

If you answered YES to 2 or more of these questions, you should discuss the possibility of ADD/ADHD in your child with a trusted WellPsyche provider.

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What WellPsyche Patients Are Saying

“I’m so glad I decided to have Aiden tested for ADD. It runs in our family so I was pretty sure he had it but I also really didn’t want him to have to take medications that caused side effects. Our provider worked with us to find the right dose for Aiden and he’s doing so well in school now.”

Sharon, Aiden's Mom

“The change in my daughter since starting therapy and medication for her ADD has been really positive. I’ve seen her confidence increase and she’s making friends now which is such a relief .”

Yalin, Isabel's Mom

“Hayden had always been super active but his grades were good until he started the 3rd grade. His teacher suggested we have him evaluated for ADD so we did and discovered that he did, in fact, have pretty bad ADD. Medication and learning some new skills to help support Hayden have helped him a lot. He’s doing really well in the 4th grade.”

Liam, Hayden's Dad

Did You Know?

MANY famous and highly successful people have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD? Some of those people include, pop star Justin Bieber; Olympic Gold medalist and swimmer Michael Phelps; James Carville, American political commentator and media personality; Simone Biles, American Olympic Gymnast and Gold Medalist; American Socialite and business woman Paris Hilton; and NLF player, Virgil Green, just to name a few.

ADD / ADHD Resources

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For Parents

As a parent, you want the best for your children. You may be concerned or have questions about certain behaviors they exhibit and how to ensure they get help. We have provided some guidance and resources to get you started.

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