Siblings - is it common for both to have ADHD?

[Anonymous]

10 yo DD has ADHD inattentive subtype. She's been in therapy for a while and now on meds and is thriving.

6 yo DS now has us concerned. He is a mess. Scatter brained, forgetful, messy, disorganized - we call him "the guppy" because a thought will enter and leave his brain in less than 5 seconds. He often forgets what he's supposed to be doing as he is in the process of beginning the task. For example, we tell him "put on your shoes." He will pick up a shoe ...3 seconds pass...and he says "what am I supposed to be doing?" He also seems WAY more 'hyper' than any of our other kids. Busy, busy, busy.

But the thing is, I don't know if all this is: (a) normal for a boy; (b) normal for a 6 yo boy; (c) normal for THIS particular kid and his personality (versus our other children); or (d) possibly a kid with ADHD.

Do siblings often share a diagnosis? Any words of wisdom for me? Does this sound like YOUR son with ADHD?

[Anonymous]

It does run in families - i have it as does my DS.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like my 5 year old DS. So far NT.

How is his schoolwork? Do you have other kids with ADHD or only the 2?

[Anonymous]

OP here . DD had the typically "daydreamy" inattentiveness plus the forgetfulness with school assignments and inability to get things accomplished at school or home in any reasonable length of time. Her teachers really started to call it to our attention more and more after 2nd grade, and it got bad in 3rd grade. She also had extreme hyperfocus/tunnel vision in other areas (reading) - she was kind of a textbook case.

I think DS seems fine so far at school, but then again, he's only in 1st grade and has very little rigorous work and almost no homework. He likes school and thinks school work is fun. He just can't seem to get or stay on task and he's like a Mexican jumping bean all the time. He's constantly up from the table at meals or 'forgetting' to finish his food - today, he jumped up from breakfast and started to take off to the playroom, so I said "where are you going? Your breakfast is here!" He was like "oh, yeah! breakfast!" and sat back down to eat. Honestly, I feel like his brain is a jumbled up mess. Is that normal for a little guy or does it sound like something more is going on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like my 5 year old DS. So far NT.

How is his schoolwork? Do you have other kids with ADHD or only the 2?

DD 10 has it.
DS 6 I'm suspecting might have it.
DD 4 - ??

[Anonymous]

OP, since he's 6, I would get a neuropsych evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we have two. Oldest has aspergers, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here . DD had the typically "daydreamy" inattentiveness plus the forgetfulness with school assignments and inability to get things accomplished at school or home in any reasonable length of time. Her teachers really started to call it to our attention more and more after 2nd grade, and it got bad in 3rd grade. She also had extreme hyperfocus/tunnel vision in other areas (reading) - she was kind of a textbook case.

I think DS seems fine so far at school, but then again, he's only in 1st grade and has very little rigorous work and almost no homework. He likes school and thinks school work is fun. He just can't seem to get or stay on task and he's like a Mexican jumping bean all the time. He's constantly up from the table at meals or 'forgetting' to finish his food - today, he jumped up from breakfast and started to take off to the playroom, so I said "where are you going? Your breakfast is here!" He was like "oh, yeah! breakfast!" and sat back down to eat. Honestly, I feel like his brain is a jumbled up mess. Is that normal for a little guy or does it sound like something more is going on?

Mine was DX ADHD and isn't as energetic as yours. I'd give it another year or so, if he's manageable, and then see a Neuropsych.

[Anonymous]

My DH was diagnosed after our oldest was diagnosed. Our youngest had some other SN identified and was to be evaluated for ADHD when he was older. All three presented in different was and I had no longer had an idea of what 'normal' was. My middle kid seemed more emotional than 'normal' so I had her evaluated. Totally NT. In fact, she's like me - pretty much the opposite of ADHD. Glad I had her evaluated because I never have to wonder.

[Anonymous]

Three generations of my family have ADHD. All three of my kids have ADHD. My nephew has ADHD. It runs in families. The up side for us was it was much easier to get the third child diagnosed at an earlier age than the other two because we knew all the signs of ADHD and already had a developmental pediatrician we regularly saw.

[Anonymous]

So here's my question. With DD, her diagnosis was made by her therapist in conjunction with our pediatrician. No neuropsych testing. Do we need neuropsych testing for #2? Where do we go? What does it entail?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So here's my question. With DD, her diagnosis was made by her therapist in conjunction with our pediatrician. No neuropsych testing. Do we need neuropsych testing for #2? Where do we go? What does it entail?

Can you get a referral from your ped?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10 yo DD has ADHD inattentive subtype. She's been in therapy for a while and now on meds and is thriving.

6 yo DS now has us concerned. He is a mess. Scatter brained, forgetful, messy, disorganized - we call him "the guppy" because a thought will enter and leave his brain in less than 5 seconds. He often forgets what he's supposed to be doing as he is in the process of beginning the task. For example, we tell him "put on your shoes." He will pick up a shoe ...3 seconds pass...and he says "what am I supposed to be doing?" He also seems WAY more 'hyper' than any of our other kids. Busy, busy, busy.

But the thing is, I don't know if all this is: (a) normal for a boy; (b) normal for a 6 yo boy; (c) normal for THIS particular kid and his personality (versus our other children); or (d) possibly a kid with ADHD.

Do siblings often share a diagnosis? Any words of wisdom for me? Does this sound like YOUR son with ADHD?

I'd caution you about this comparison. You have one DS and 2 DDs- he's apt to be more physical.

[Anonymous]

15 year old has it.
13 year old does not. He is profoundly gifted.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like ADHD.

As a scientist, I can tell you that ADHD is not one illness. Researchers are wondering whether the hyperactive type and inattentive type should be split more formally into two completely different syndromes.
They are also wondering whether inattentive ADHD is more akin to Asperger's and HFA.

Research in mental health has so far to go!

But to answer your question, ADHD-type issues run in families. Having a family member with ADHD increases the odds that another family member will have ADHD, but perhaps not present the same symptoms.