Oh boy, we haven't been officially dx yet (I've talked to someone in the public school system about getting it done, but my husband is resisting having our 7 year old daughter labeled), but when I filled out the Taylor Hyperactivity Screening Checklist she came out 42 out of a possible 42 (severe hyperactivity).:eek: Not totally surprising that she is ADHD, although I wouldn't have thought she was in the highest category. Her behaviors really bug my husband, but don't bother me that much (and since I'm home schooling this year there is no teacher to bug -- although she's doing great in some elective classes she's taking). She is extremely resistant to classes she find boring (IE: math, phonics, handwriting, etc.) I was hyperactive as a kid and my mom says she's just like I was -- maybe that's why it doesn't bother me.:rolleyes: I am concerned though about how she would do with the classes she doesn't like if we put her in school next year. She also gets very frustrated if she makes a mistake or is corrected. I'm curious -- has anyone else used the Taylor checklist? Is it any good or reputable or anything? Any suggestions about where to go from here or feed back would be helpful.

Thanks,
Scattered

I'd get the diagnosis done, "label" or not. And what's to label - she is the way she is and if that happens to be ADHD, what difference does it make that you know what to call it. Besides, you already know - suspect - that she's ADHD so I'd end the speculation and make it official. She will probably have a far better time in school, especially in the boring subjects, if she is treated for it. It depends on the child of course, but the boring and frustrating things about school may become far more enjoyable for her.
I don't have any experience with the Taylor checklist, so I can't give you an opinon there. Are you ADHD yourself? Ever diagnosed? Did the symptoms go away when you hit adolesence or do you still have them? (often the hyperactivity goes away, but the other symptoms remain. Frustration and anxiety sometimes "replace" the hyperactivity as we get older). ADHD does have a strong genetic component - children of ADHD parents have a much higher chance of having it, and in siblings, when one has ADHD, the other is more likely to have it as well - so the fact that she is just like you were may be another indication.
On the plus side, ADHD children are more likely to be "gifted", so you may end up labeling her in that way, once she is tested.

I'd get the diagnosis done, "label" or not. And what's to label - she is the way she is and if that happens to be ADHD, what difference does it make that you know what to call it. Besides, you already know - suspect - that she's ADHD so I'd end the speculation and make it official. She will probably have a far better time in school, especially in the boring subjects, if she is treated for it. It depends on the child of course, but the boring and frustrating things about school may become far more enjoyable for her.

That's pretty much how I feel about it too. I called her pediatrician this morning to evaluate her, and I'm suppose to stop by and pick up some forms.

Are you ADHD yourself? Ever diagnosed?

Yes, by the time I was two my pediatrician thought I was! Several doctors recommended to my parents that they put me on Ritalin, but they opted not to. I got by okay without it.

Did the symptoms go away when you hit adolesence or do you still have them? (often the hyperactivity goes away, but the other symptoms remain.

Yes to both actually. The symptoms went away (at least I thought they did
-- looking back and knowing more about adult ADHD -- I think they more change and lessened rather than went away). Since I've entered perimenopause they have come back with a vengance and have severely impacted my functionality. I called my doctor to discuss ADHD too.

Frustration and anxiety sometimes "replace" the hyperactivity as we get older).

I didn't know that until recently. I've always been a worrier and had a low frustration tolerance. I've also dealt with generalized anxiety disorder for a good share of my adult life.

ADHD does have a strong genetic component - children of ADHD parents have a much higher chance of having it, and in siblings, when one has ADHD, the other is more likely to have it as well - so the fact that she is just like you were may be another indication.

Not only am I ADHD, but my husband is dyslexic and I highly suspect is ADD. Plus one of my brother's has Tourettes which I'm reading is associated closely with ADHD.

On the plus side, ADHD children are more likely to be "gifted", so you may end up labeling her in that way, once she is tested.

That'd be nice. After I got through elementary school, I ended up being an exceptional student and musician. That's why I never realized I still had ADHD. I had never heard of hyperfocusing, although I've always done that.

Thanks for the feedback and taking time to respond!:)

Scattered

Hi Scattered,

Boy do I hate the negative connotation with "labeling". I want to find out what is going on with my child and what I can do to help him! :) We're newly dx'd adhd and in kindergarten and we're trying ritalin 10mg right now. He's shown improvement in class, so we're headed in the right direction.

I would suspect without support and medication help your daughter will have a harder time in a school setting. At home you can vary the schedule, if she doesn't want to write now you can work on handwriting later. At school, everyone needs to do the activity at the same time. David has had a hard time with the transitions from activity to activity, being able to settle down, focus and do the current activity. He's been having an easier time with it and has been much more focused since trying the meds.

I don't know Taylor we used Connor's and also NICHQ. I've also latched on to the science. The studies are showing that this is an imbalance in the brain and that the medications balance activity in the parts of the brain affected.

Hope that helps!
Barbara

Thanks Barbara! We go to the doctor tomorrow. We filled out a bunch of paperwork and so we'll see. Kind of scared of either answer you know.

Scattered

Just got back from the doctor's office where my 7 year old was dx with ADHD. I was pretty sure about that but it's good to have confirmation of my observations. The doctor's suggestions and information was helpful too. She's going to be working with us in an ongoing manner on this. We're not doing meds at this point, but she talked about situations where we might want to in the future, if the behavioral/diet stuff isn't enough. Now, I've got to figure out how to tell me husband who didn't want her dx.

Scattered

I think what I would ask DH (or yourself) is why doesn't he want the dx? What are the negatives in his mind? With the dx, if she goes to public school you can get accomodations that won't make her stand out as different, but can help her learn to cope and be successful. More time with tests if they make her anxious, understanding if she acts out or has a rough spot in the day, things like that.

I was pretty nervous telling my parents, even though they ended up being pretty cool about it! ::)

Barbara

My husband thinks she'll be stigmatized and every problem will be blamed on ADHD with no further looking for answers. He may not want to own up to his own ADD either. He's never been diagnosed, but he's dyslexic and sure has a lot of the symptoms. In fact, I've though for years that HE was ADD. Duh, never considered that I was still ADHD or that my daughter was. My parents were great. They actually filled out one of the forms for the doctor, but then they raised me and had 3 doctors tell them I was hyperactive, and they both say she's just like me, so they're not that surprised!

I figure knowing what's going on helps in knowing how to approach things. If she's hadn't been ADHD, I'd approach discipline differently, because it would be a defiant thing (which I don't see most of the time) and not a distracted forgetful thing. And like you say having access to services or programs or accomodations to help will be nice.

Scattered

I think stopping at adhd when a problem comes up is up to you. If you look further and ask the school to, (they should be able to help even if you are homeschooling) you'll know what is going on. It is really hard to understand that adhd affects memory and that they really don't remember that you told them to stop x activity 20 minutes ago and why you're upset that they're doing the exact thing again! One of my favorites is climbing on the piano. 20 times a day we tell David not to climb on the piano. Turn around...he's back on the piano!!:p

I'm also dyslexic, not as severe as some people, but it's there. Having a dyslexic parent ups the chances of your child being dyslexic. Doesn't mean she will be, but there is a genetic link. That's what started our checking on David, I saw dyslexic symptoms (which are also very similar to adhd symptoms!). His handwriting and reading has improved since we're trying the meds. I'm not ruling out the possibility that he may also be dyslexic.

So much of it is how you (and someday the school) handles it. I didn't recieve services, my parents worked with me on areas I needed help. I never felt labeled. I probably felt more labled being in the gifted program. Not in a bad way, but in the oh you're one of those smart kid way. There's worse things out there LOL!

I think I'm just as nervous now because they're talking about testing David for gifted in the spring. His math scores blew them away. Me too, he must have got that from daddy! :o

Keep letting us know how it's going, it's so helpful to hear from parents in a similar situation!!

Barbara

It is really hard to understand that adhd affects memory and that they really don't remember that you told them to stop x activity 20 minutes ago and why you're upset that they're doing the exact thing again!

You know, it's kind of funny -- but it's not really hard for me to understand, because it's the way I am. My husband doesn't understand, because his ADD shows up differently -- he remembers stuff like that. He still thinks that I do things like that because I don't care what he asked for, but in truth, I just forget about a minute after he asked me to do it. He's starting to see with me that it's ADHD in action, so maybe he'll eventually realize that with our daughter as well, since he acknowledges how much like me she is.

I like hearing from others in similar circumstances too! It helps to know your not alone and also hear what worked and what didn't for others.

Scattered

just done the test for my 7 year old and he has got a perfect score but he is yet to be diagnosed yet. i have been trying to get the help he needs for years but they will not admit it.

I went to our pediatrician after getting that score. She gave me another couple of questionaires to fill out and they came out high too. She believes my daughter has AD/HD and gave us really useful info on behavioral approaches. We're not trying meds at this point, since the behavioral stuff is working.

Good luck to you in getting the support you need!

Scattered

I don't know the Taylor checklist..................but I do know that as of the Summer of 2003 that the ONLY checklists normed on BOTH males/females were the Conners (Parent )Checklist and the ADHD IV Checklists.In other words,all the others were normed on boys.Therefore, girl's scores on all the others are invalid because they are being compared to boys.Please check it out and good luck.