family focus DESIGNS IN DECORATOR WOOD & LAMINATES, LTD. It Doesn't Have To Cost A fortune... Only Look Like It! Is It ADHD? T he scenario is all too com- mon. A child is struggling at school with behavior prob- lems: fidgeting, not paying attention in class, not completing assignments or losing them before they can be turned in. The teachers become con- cerned and reach out to the parents, but the parents don't know what to do. In many cases, the child is labeled as having "atten- tion problems" and taken to see a family physician who asks a few questions before writing a prescription for medication. But what hap- pens when this doesn't solve the problem? It's been widely reported that the diag- nosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is on the rise. A study pub- lished in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry last November looked at trends in the diagnoses of ADHD as reported by parents from 2003 to 2011. The study showed that the percentage of children in the U.S. between ages 4-17 who were diag- nosed with ADHD by a health care provider increased dramatically dur- ing the study period. In 2011, 11 percent of U.S. school- aged children had been diagnosed with ADHD by a health care provid- er, compared to just 7.8 percent in 2003. From 2007 and 2011, the rate at which those children were taking medication for ADHD — prescribed by their doctors — rose by 28 per- cent, the report found. These findings raise a challeng- ing question: Are more and more children suffering from ADHD, or are we missing something? A grow- ing number of mental health prac- titioners believe we are absolutely missing something. All too often, the processes used by health care pro- viders to diagnose ADHD and other cognitive and developmental issues in children are insufficient or inac- curate. In some cases, proper diagnosis by a mental health professional can be achieved with a simple meeting, answers to a few questions, and a period of observation and interac- tion with a child. In more compli- cated cases, mental health providers can conduct comprehensive psycho- logical testing to reach a diagnosis with far greater accuracy than a fam- ily doctor. These tests can evaluate for ADHD using cognitive, achieve- ment and social-emotional mea- sures, while laying the groundwork for a unique, multifaceted treatment plan for each child. Cognitive testing provides an indication of a child's ability to learn and use new informa- tion. For example, results will show if a child has a deficit or strength in using nonverbal or verbal infor- mation, or if she takes in new information faster or slower than others. Combined with achieve- ment testing, which shows what a child has learned in school, cognitive test- ing tells a psychologist if a child is learning as well as she should. If there is a discrepancy between the two tests, examination of the results tells the psychologist how to help. Meanwhile, social-emotional test- ing provides a clearer picture of how a child experiences emotions. Answers to questionnaires given to the child, parents and teachers, coupled with tests administered in person, help a psychologist evaluate how the child functions emotionally. Combined with a comprehensive history and observations of the child, a psychologist can use aggre- gate results from all of these tests to make a diagnosis, if appropriate, and give recommendations for treatment, if required. It's possible that the prevalence of ADHD and other cognitive and developmental conditions is on the rise among children. In many cases, health care providers likely do pro- vide a careful and accurate diagno- sis. But diagnosing and medicating a child for ADHD is a process that deserves a thoughtful and informed approach. For many parents, reach- ing out to a mental health profes- sional is the first step toward getting the answers they need. For more information, including potential costs and how to know if your insurance covers testing, see the resources on our webpage at jfsdetroit.org/psych_testing . Complete kitchen and bathroom remodeling as well as furniture design and installations including granite, wood and other materials. Lois Haron Allied Member ASID 248.851.6989 If you are not wearing it... sell it!... or BORROW on it! You can't enjoy jewelry if it's sitting in your safe deposit box. Sell or borrow on it for immediate cash. We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins. A Service to Private Owners, Banks & Esta comprehensive psychological testing services in addition to a wide range of other mental health programs. 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