Girls with ADD
 

Just curious as to how many women have Attention Deficit Disorder out there...it seems it is diagnosed much less frequently for girls than boys. Would love to know more about coping skills, what works etc and if you take/have ever taken any medication for it. I think my eldest daughter has it! You can pm me if you want! Thanks!

I'd never recommend self-diagnosing something like this. ADHD is something that is so often incorrectly diagnosed. My advice would be to take her to a child psychologist -- one that specializes in ADHD. Be careful, many of them are quick to diagnose and medicate as well.

I am ADHD and personally would push the coping route more than the medication route. I was/am a pretty severe case. Early in HS, I decided that medication for life was not the answer to my problems.

You're right about the diagnosis thing. I recall hearing a figure back in the day that 15% of males were thought to have this condition where only 1% of females did. I think we're quickly finding those numbers are a little closer together.

Good luck!

I have ADD...and no I can't just cope and deal with it...In fact that's part of the reason that I am taking this semester and next semester off from school....still trying to find something that works!! I've been on every drug pretty much.....but theres definitely alot of options out there....I'll keep you updated on what drug works for me...I'm going to try out some meds this winter!!

Girls don't have the same symptoms of add that boys do. Girls with ADD are often misdiagnosed with depression. There is a lot out there on internet to help sort that out. But make sure to read about add and girls. Not just about ADHD. Then take your information to your doctor. :)

I'm not sure how old your daughter is, but I brought up the possibility of my son having ADHD with his teacher at Parent Teacher conferences this year and she filled out Copeland's checklist for me. I am to fill out one also and then take them to the pediatrician to see what he thinks. From what she filled out, I don't think he'll be diagnosed.. he's just an extremely bright, bored, creative and impulsive little guy.

Dee

I have attention deficit disorder, but not the hyperactive kind (known as ADHD). Mine is more of the inattentive kind, there is a difference between the two. People who have ADHD can learn how to use their hyperactivity positivily as they become adults. usually, they can come off of medications and cope. People who have innatentive ADD will usually need to stay on their medication for the rest of their lives. For example, if I skip a day without my medication I am just as ADD as before my medication was prescribed to me.

Diagnosed in 8th grade...which was way too late. I have the combined type-both inattentive and hyperactive. Most females have the inattentive type or, like me, a mild combined type. Many females don't get a diagnosis because of the myth that you have to be hyperactive in order to have ADD. I have mixed feelings about meds. I agree with Lisa, I think it's more neccessary for the inattentive kind.

Get more than one professional opinon if you think your daughter has it.

I wasn't diagnosed with ADD till I was 29! You are right, it has become common that women are not diagnosed till adulthood. I am still trying to learn to cope with it. I don't have the hyperactivity with it. You definitely need to have a doctor to diagnose it though.

For more information, you might want to read a book called "Understanding Girls with AD/HD" by Kathleen Nadeau. There is also a book called "Women With ADD" by Sari Solden. These are both excellent books to try.

Thanks everyone! This helps tremendously! Will keep you all posted on what we find out. I think she may fall in the inattentive bracket - we can be talking directly to her, she's nodding her head like she is listening, and five minutes later cannot remember a thing about the conversation. I don't think she is hyperactive. She is forgetful, messy and disorganized. We really started noticing it this year when somewhere between the time we do homework in the afternoon (when she remembers the necessary books) and time to turn it in the next morning, her homework gets lost. She also makes lots of little careless mistakes when doing her work, as though she is only halfway paying attention to what she is doing. Anyway, I suppose we will talk to someone about it further. Would you recommend starting with the school, pediatrician or a psychiatrist? Thanks all!

Start with a psychiatrist in my opinion...often time schools really aren't that helpful (in my experience). Also, pediatricians generally aren't as knowledgable about psychiatric conditions as a psychiatrist is. While they may be able to identify the condition, they will not neccessarily know about the newest drugs for ADD/ADHD as they have about a bazillion different areas that they must be updated on. A psychiatrist, on the other hand will be up to date and aware of any new medicines and can help you to find a medicine with the least negative side effects for you.
However, I would suggest going to your pediatrician for the name of a psychiatrist, or if you have a friend you could ask, but definitely don't just choose any psychiatrist without a reccomendation because there are definitely alot of quacks out there (for example, my psychiatrist in Los Angeles was completely inept and did not understand how dosing works with certain drugs like straterra, causing many problems that ultimately left me taking last spring semester off)

Hope everything works out!!

I agree with Rachael. A psyschiatrist would be the way to go. I would get recomendations first.

Update?
 

Just wanted to see if there was an update with your daughters situation?? I am curious because I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 18, and still struggle with the symptoms to this day. I definately learned alot from being ADHD and the challenges that it brings. I was failing out of high school, and nearly didn't graduate. I was diagnosed late my senior year. My Mom was a prof at the local college so she pulled some strings and got me in. To make a long story short, with the right combination of meds and therapy with a therapist for years I graudated in the top of my class and I am now in graduate school working towards my doctoral degree in psychology. Learning strategies to cope and deal with some of my symptoms was key. Let me know if I can be of any help!

I know a ton of people with ADD and ADHD its a joke its a matter of willpower and nothing more.

You know I don't have a problem with people who have ADD or ADHD, but as long as they take their meds. And I know some may not take them because they could have sideffects, but what about people who stop taking them for no reason. Like one of my sisters right now has ADHD and she is constantly on and off her meds. She also falls back on ADHD whenever people look at her like she's crazy. She blames it on the condition, and then admits she ran out of meds.

How would you guys deal with that? I can be really forward at times, and I don't want to hurt her feelings because she is my friend. But, I can't take it sometimes. I don't think anyone should fall back on their condition when they don't even take them for a lame reason. I just don't know how to tell her.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

SORRY GUYS.

I have no willpower.

I just couldn't STOP!

Update - We had her tested with a psychologist. He said she has several traits of inattentive ADD, but does not think they are severe enough to diagnose her with it. I'm still not sure I completely agree, and may go ahead and seek a second opinion. From everything I've read, the DSM-IV criteria for diagnosing girls with ADD needs to be revised. Girls appear to show different symptoms than boys, and often the symptoms do not fully present until they hit middle school - keeping up with six different classes may throw them off kilter, and the symptoms really start showing up at that point. Anyway, we are going to continue to monitor her, and use the suggestions he made to help her at home and at school.

I don't think she needs medication right now - so I'm not sure we really need the label at the moment. I do want to make sure her needs are being met though, and will pursue it further when and if I need to.

The whole testing process was very educational, and I know much more about my daughter and how she learns and processes information!

You too? Gosh, it must be an epidemic!

Its a neurological disorder. Or maybe you have a secret doctorate that you're hiding from us.

Russell~ I don't know you, but I already love you!:p :p :p

ADD in girls and boys is different. I think this is somewhat because girls are more quiet and and more likely to please others than boys. Boys tend to be more on the hyper side than girls. But this is just a difference between boys and girls. It makes it harder to diagnose girls who are NOT hyper with Attention Deficit HYPERACTIVE Disorder. On the flip side it would be just as hard to diagnose a boy because it would be difficult to decifer if he was just hyper or if he has a problem.
I was the type who was quiet and had trouble paying attention, especially in school. I remember the phrases, "Lisa, are you listening?", and "Lisa, this is important, so please stay at your desk." very often from teachers. Medication does wonders for me. There is a new Wellbutrin XL out which works 24 hrs. a day. It's the greatest stuff since sliced bread! Keep us posted about your daughter, AXO Mom.

I have ADD but I HATED the meds....it made me feel like I was a zombie....

What finally worked for me is coffee...caffiene is a stimulant and can work in the same way as Ritalin or Cylert in a mild dose with less side effects...

P.S. I'm a coffee addict...so I guess it's true I have no willpower:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Woah! There's a LOT of ADD people on the internet. I've been on forums whenever the subject came up, about 1/4 of the forum confessed to having it. GC is catching up.

@ AXO mom, get a second opinion. The docs and psychs said the same thing about me when I was your daughter's age. I could've done a lot better in school and in life, if I was diagnosed and treated a lot earlier. There's worse labels out there.

@ Whirlwind, if your sister doesn't want to take her meds, I guess there's not much you can do, she's grown. I take mine on and off too. I don't like the side effects and it makes me feel like a zombie too. I'm also scared what it might do to me in long term. Sometimes I just want to be myself. However, your sister should not be using her condition as an excuse to be an ass.

I am so glad you are going to wait a bit. ADD and ADHD are often used when there isn't a quick answer. They did a survey in our town and we had so many kids on Ritalin, we were higher than the National Average!!!

I'm not saying she does or doesn't have it, but if the diagnosis is made and put into her permanent record, it will stick through her entire life, even if it was a misdiagnosis. With the state of healthcare and insurance, I'm not so sure I'd want that information (forget HIPPA) available UNLESS is was 100% accurate.

Kids develop at different rates-self control and learning to focus
are skills that used to be taught and nurtured in kindergarten. Now, parent are pushing and have their children on the verge of reading by that time. What you said about her being bored may very well be the problem. Plus...even though he's a boy...you described my SON!

PLEASE stick with your plan to give it a little more time. There are so many factors that could produce the same symptoms

My mom swears she has ADD, and displays many of the symptoms. She takes 1/2 a Sudafed and she says it helps her focus. I guess because its a stimulant like caffiene.

ADD is when there is an inadequate amount of glucose uptake in the frontal lobe of the brain. This impairs executive functions, and makes it very dificult to switch from a current activity to another, especially when the current activity is stimulating and the next activity isn't. Stimulants are used to increase the glucose uptake in the frontal lobe, and, counterintuitively, have a calming effect.

The brains of boys and girls are wired differently. It is reasonable to expect that a neurological disorder will manifest itself differently in boys and girls.

I know that if I had been even 2 years younger, I would have, without a doubt, been diagnosed as being ADD. I was pretty calm as a kid, and I did well enough that any problems were overlooked or brought to my parents' attention as soon as possible. Most women my age who have it were diagnosed in college, when the strain of classes added to the change of support system threw them off.

I worry about children being overmedicated, especially with Ritalin. My kindergarten class was full of boys who were prescribed Ritalin, and they changed. They were just as rambunctious as some of the other boys, but when they started taking Ritalin, they were practically zombies.

On another, totally unrelated note, teaching kids to read in kindergarten and preschool is pointless (unless they teach themselves). It's more a way for the daycare or school to show what they can do. There's a school here that teaches kindergarteners cursive. WTF?!

Thanks everyone! We are setting up a meeting with her teachers next week, and I am curious as to how they will react. I think one will work with her as much as possible, and I hate to say it, but I think the other will probably blow the report and suggestions off. I think that is the main reason I don't want the label quite yet. I'm worried that some people will automatically will react the same way as "Colonist" did, and make a biased judgement without ever meeting my child. Those of you with ADD, what have been the responses of teachers, schools, etc? Were most willing to work with you, or did you find some just looked at you as having no "willpower?"

JAM - you are so right, as usual! I do want to make sure we are 100% on target before getting and sharing a diagnosis. We are still learning about ADD and how it affects our girl, so I think taking our time would be most judicious at this point!

Lisa - I constantly have to repeat myself to my daughter to make sure that she hears me! Now that I know the source, I have become much more tolerant of her - I make her look at me now when I talk to her so she can focus on what I'm saying - LOL!

I'd thought it was a problem with norephineprine (a neurochemical) and/or its precursor dopa /dopamine? The general points tally with what I'd heard; apart from the glucose issue.Then their dosage was probably wrong, presuming a correct diagnosis. There may be overdiagnosis of ADHD as there may be underdiagnosis. But this does not affect the validity of a diagnosis which is done correctly.

There are a few causes for ADHD:
Brain structure, which influences temperament.

The function of chemicals in the brain that help regulate attention and activity (dopamine and norepinephrine).

Abnormal function of the prefrontal cortical lobe that causes problems with attention and impulse control. (Glucose uptake)

There are also environmental factors to consider, such as exposure to toxins, nutrition, and lifestyle habits.

Ritalin at any dosage level will bring about some drowsiness, insomnia, change in appetite, skin problems, and nervousness. It's a drug designed to affect the mind and it can't be expected to work 100% side effect-free.

In children especially, Ritalin is overprescribed. In adults, it really depends on the behavior pattern and its duration to determine whether or not Ritalin is an appropriate course of action.

It is not not not not a willpower issue. There are some kids out there with discipline problems that get labelled ADD/ADHD, incorrectly, of course. For someone who genuinely has it, it has nothing to do w/ willpower. Will we all please join this century now?

Hmm, interesting
 

I'd heard studies showing the brains of those with ADHD are typically 2-4% smaller in size than others. barring the very rare cases where it seems to have arisen after head trauma later in life, I'm guessing that's what you are referring to.Haven't heard of this glucose thing, I'll look into it - are there any particular studies?This has been largely and completely debunked. Very young children with food allergies may be affected, but as far as nutrition/sugar being a cause or changing diet helping, it's generally held that unless the dietary improvements involve grinding in coffee and sprinkling on speed, that it won't help. ;-). That said, a healthy diet is good for everyone. :)
As for Ritalin, it's been around 40-50 years and is still popular, there are alternatives too (Adderall XR, Concerta etc) including non-amphetamine based (Strattera etc).

Re: Hmm, interesting
 

It's not just a size issue, it's a structure issue as well. I'm not sure how much head trauma figures into ADHD.
As far as glucose goes, check out this article. It also discusses the impact of nutrition. But yes, a healthy diet is good for everyone regardless of any disorders.
When I get home tonight (need to go to work) I will look up more info about Adderall, Concerta, and Strattera.

Re: Re: Hmm, interesting
 

Yeah, supposedly there's less blood flow and activity in the prefrontal cortex. That's one of the reasons why stims give a paradoxal effect on ADHD people.

I'm coming in late to this, but all I can say is take your child to someone who knows what they are doing, which is rarely going to be the pediatrician. (Not to be a slam on pediatricians -- it's just that this sort of a thing is really a specialty all to itself.) There is a spectrum of disorders that can result in AD(H)D-type symptoms. AD(H)D is only one.

Our son also showed many of the classic symptoms of ADHD from an early age, except for that fact that none of his hyperactivity/inattention got in the way of his life skills or learning, as per the diagnostic tools. (Other kid's learning, perhaps, but not his own.) He was eventually diagnosed with sensory integration disorder, which presents many of the same symptoms but very different challenges. Simply put, his brain did not process sensory stimulation properly and he has to "re-program" his brain to do so. As a result of the improper processing, some sensory input doesn't register as strongly as it should, while other input overloads him. The result is mental and physical disorganization that makes sitting still and paying attention (and lots of other things) hard to do. But with the right therapy (and no medicine), we have seen lots of progress and just finished a very successful first year of school.

You also have to take the lead with teachers and principles. Don't make excuses for a child --"you need to go easy on her because" -- but be an advocate for your child. "She is a smart kid with a lot of potential, but she has some challenges, and this is what we have found will help her and help you day to day." We were really fortunate to have a kindergarten teacher who would go the extra mile for our son.

FYI, there has been a lot research tending to show that the incedence among boys of AD(H)D, sensory intergration issues, Asberger's and autism may have to do with the differences in early brain development between boys and girls. Something else to blame on testosterone. ;)

You sound like such a great father, MysticCat! What else could I expect from a Sinfonian? ;)
There has been a lot of debate about the link between Asperger's (I hate saying it out loud, for obvious reasons), autism, and ADHD to testosterone. There's also theories abounding that estrogen somehow prevents disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. How, that's not known yet. The reason they're linking them is because of the rise in diagnoses of schizophrenia upon reaching menopause.
I also think that having to diagnose a child with anything is something not to be taken lightly because incorrectly labelling a child could devastate his/her future intellectual development and education. Sometimes labels become self-fulfilling prophecies with very sad results. Many parents use it as an excuse for everything, but it's the worst thing they could do for their child because it tells the child, "Hey, I have this problem and Mom and Dad say it limits my potential, so I can do what I want." Once again, I'd say you've handled it quite well. If only more parents had your philosophy.

That's exactly why I've always refused to say that my child (or any other child) "has ____" unless there has been a trustworthy diagnosis. When I needed to say something before we had a diagnosis, I just went with "He shows some symptoms consistent with ADHD."

Thanks for the kind words!

In some of the research I have read recently, ADD and ADHD is pretty easy to control with justa couple simple things.

1. High dose DHA. In multi gram strength.

2. Mozart music believe it or not.

3. Meal frquency and type to control insulin responses and blood sugar.

4. Elimination of allergens.

5. Some cognitive and behavioral correction, because ADD sets up a negative behavioral pattern.

I would attemtp to do that stuff before i put my kid on speed :)

My sister has it, but she is allergic to caffeine so that wouldn't work. I don't know if she was ever on meds for it or not.

The immediate cause of ADD is inadequate glucose uptake to the frontal lobe. This is the part of the brain that controls executive function, and ADD is directly a result of this.

There may be more than one cause for the glucose uptake issue. If it was simply norphineprine or dopamine, than a reuptake inhibitor could be devised, and the problem would be solved for a huge number of people who suffer from ADD.

There is still a lot being learned, and time will tell.