"Before fixing a problem, figure out what it is." -Today's Washington Post

[Anonymous]

Excellent article about learning difficulties, written by a pediatrician in the health section.
Can anyone post the link?

[Anonymous]

This article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctor-my-child-cant-focus-in-school-does-he-need-medication/2015/10/30/50a03622-768b-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctor-my-child-cant-focus-in-school-does-he-need-medication/2015/10/30/50a03622-768b-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

Yes, thank you. What do you think of what he suggests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctor-my-child-cant-focus-in-school-does-he-need-medication/2015/10/30/50a03622-768b-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

Yes, thank you. What do you think of what he suggests?

It seems obvious. I don't know anyone who immediately jumped to meds before trying to figure out what was really going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctor-my-child-cant-focus-in-school-does-he-need-medication/2015/10/30/50a03622-768b-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

Yes, thank you. What do you think of what he suggests?

It seems obvious. I don't know anyone who immediately jumped to meds before trying to figure out what was really going on.

In what way did your friends try to figure out the real causes of the problems?

[Anonymous]

I found it really surprising that he says a lot of parents come to his office after report card time, say their child can't focus, and ask about medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctor-my-child-cant-focus-in-school-does-he-need-medication/2015/10/30/50a03622-768b-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

Yes, thank you. What do you think of what he suggests?

It seems obvious. I don't know anyone who immediately jumped to meds before trying to figure out what was really going on.

In what way did your friends try to figure out the real causes of the problems?

By going beyond a checklist at the pediatrician for a diagnosis. By getting an ADHD diagnosis only in the context of looking at other things, like the article suggested -- is my child not paying attention because he can't understand the instruction because of a learning disability. By ruling out medical issues (especially sleep disorders) when appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctor-my-child-cant-focus-in-school-does-he-need-medication/2015/10/30/50a03622-768b-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

Yes, thank you. What do you think of what he suggests?

It seems obvious. I don't know anyone who immediately jumped to meds before trying to figure out what was really going on.

In what way did your friends try to figure out the real causes of the problems?

By going beyond a checklist at the pediatrician for a diagnosis. By getting an ADHD diagnosis only in the context of looking at other things, like the article suggested -- is my child not paying attention because he can't understand the instruction because of a learning disability. By ruling out medical issues (especially sleep disorders) when appropriate.

I work with families. Most children (and parents) I see are sleep-deprived. Also, poor nutrition, even though money is no object.

[Anonymous]

I'm not surprised. My child's 2nd grade teacher said in a conference that he was having trouble concentrating and I should ask my doctor about it. She all but told me to ask for medication. None of his future teachers said anything similar. Parents can easily be led to believe meds will fix what is sometimes a social/emotional/classroom issue.

[Anonymous]

I see both sides. I have one child medicated after extensive testing, therapy, years of trying different things, etc.
I have another child that clearly has something going on. It's probably also ADHD, given that it runs in the family, and it looks a lot like ADHD. There may be sleep things that are related or making it worse, but no one seems to really be able to tell me what to do about the sleep issues other than saying "some kids have trouble sleeping" and giving me a bunch of common sense suggestions that we already follow about bed-time, screen time, caffeine, etc.
So I get the impulse to fix the things that can be fixed, and, as it happens, right now there is a pretty effective treatment for ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctor-my-child-cant-focus-in-school-does-he-need-medication/2015/10/30/50a03622-768b-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

Yes, thank you. What do you think of what he suggests?

NP, but let's just say it didn't surprise me to learn after reading the article that the author is a resident, having graduated from med school only two years ago. While he makes a lot of great theoretical points, it didn't really sound like it was written by someone with a lot of experience in private practice seeing the same patients and families over the course of years.

[Anonymous]

I work with families. Most children (and parents) I see are sleep-deprived. Also, poor nutrition, even though money is no object.

This doesn't surprise me. There was a thread (I think in Older Kids) about bedtimes. My elementary/middle school kids are in bed by 8:00. People were shocked by that and thought I was ridiculous. Whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctor-my-child-cant-focus-in-school-does-he-need-medication/2015/10/30/50a03622-768b-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html

Yes, thank you. What do you think of what he suggests?

NP, but let's just say it didn't surprise me to learn after reading the article that the author is a resident, having graduated from med school only two years ago. While he makes a lot of great theoretical points, it didn't really sound like it was written by someone with a lot of experience in private practice seeing the same patients and families over the course of years.

+1

[Anonymous]

This caught my eye:

Studies have found that people with untreated ADHD are more likely than others to get speeding tickets, abuse drugs, get pregnant when they weren’t planning to, lose a job, suffer accidental injuries, get divorced and go to jail.

I wonder why speeding tickets are even included and why first? There are far more serious things that he left off the list - car accidents, depression, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I work with families. Most children (and parents) I see are sleep-deprived. Also, poor nutrition, even though money is no object.

This doesn't surprise me. There was a thread (I think in Older Kids) about bedtimes. My elementary/middle school kids are in bed by 8:00. People were shocked by that and thought I was ridiculous. Whatever.

You are a really good self-disciplined parent to pull that off.

Solid sleep is 90% of everything. Without plenty of sleep, the poor kids don't even have a fair chance at having a successful day. Most of the behavior problems I see, stem from sleep-deprivation.

The stimulant drugs wake them up, and voila... the kids calm down and sit still and focus. Amazing how that works.