So, do you think your child has ADD but not ADHD? The condition of Attention Deficit has been known for several decades, but it has not always been called the same thing and it has made things pretty confusing.  Today, we call it Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
So, what if you or your child does not have the “H”?? Why the change and what happened to just ADD?
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) publishes the official guidelines for naming and diagnosing mental disorders. This book (called the DSM, or “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”) is  updated periodically as researchers in the field increase their knowledge. Research started in the 1970s and 1980s began to show there are actually different types of attention deficit in both children and adults. Although they do have some major differences, the types are really more alike than they are different. Doctors began to realize that the different types are really all part of the same major condition. In 1994, the DSM-IV changed the name from ADD (attention deficit disorder) to ADHD because of these advances in research.

There are three sub-types of ADHD. They are:

predominantly inattentive
predominantly hyperactive/impulsive
combined Type

Some doctors and mental health professionals still use the term ADD. If you or someone you know has been given this diagnosis, it most likely means you or they have the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD. This is not the individual who is “bouncing off the walls” or “simply can’t sit still.” Rather, it’s the person who seems to be always daydreaming, is forgetful, is easily distracted, is disorganized, or just can’t seem to pay attention.

The DSM is currently being reviewed and a new edition (“DSM-5″) will probably be published in the next several years. There is no telling what we will be calling it next!!!

Click here for more information regarding the symptoms of each subtype and how to diagnose ADHD.

Children with learning disabilities can be more prone to chronic depression, according to the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Some of the causes of depression can be attributed to:
Repeated failures in school
Inability to make and keep friends
A high level of emotional stress

What is Depression?

Depression is more than the feeling of sadness that all of us experience from time to time. A depression disorder causes impairment and can be debilitating. There are three major subtypes of depression:
Major Depression
Dysthymia
Atypical Depression
Major depression must have symptoms lasting at least 2 weeks, must be a different than previous moods or behavior and at least five of the following symptoms must be present:
Feeling depressed on most days, for the majority of the day (in children depression may show up as irritability)
Loss of feeling pleasure
Loss of appetite or eating more than normal
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than normal
Feeling irritable or agitated
Feeling tired, no energy
Feeling worthless or guilty
Difficulty concentrating
Persistent thoughts of death or suicide
These feelings cannot be caused by alcohol or drugs, by grief and must impair normal functioning. If feelings are accompanied by periods of mania, it may indicate bipolar disorder rather than depression.

Dysthymia is a milder, yet persistent and chronic form of depression. Symptoms are similar to those of major depression and can last longer than 2 years. People suffering from dysthymia may have low energy and have a general feeling of sadness, hopelessness or dissatisfaction with life.

Atypical depression includes symptoms such as overeating or oversleeping. People with atypical depression may feel “weighed down” and have a low tolerance for rejection. Atypical depression is more common in women.

Depression Symptoms in Children

Children may not be able to explain how they are feeling and may not understand what they are feeling is not “normal.” They may exhibit some of the following behaviors:
Frequently crying, feeling teary
Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities or friends
Feeling tired, lack of energy
Irritability, easily annoyed, becoming angry quickly or without reason, emotional outbursts
Constant complaining
Anxiety
Poor academic performance, drop in grades
Can’t sit still, trouble concentrating
Frequent headaches or stomach aches without a valid medical reason
Inability to sleep or sleeping more often
More serious symptoms would include talking about suicide or a preoccupation with death.

If parents are concerned their child may be depressed, they should speak with their medical provider. If your child is talking about suicide, you should seek immediate medical help. Treatment for Depression

There are several different treatment options for those with depression:Medication – Numerous antidepressant medications are on the market today. Many people respond well to antidepressant medications, especially if used in conjunction with therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – This type of therapy works to change thought proceses.
Psychotherapy – Talk therapy is often found to be helpful to people with depression.
Lifestyle changes – Exercise has been found to decrease symptoms of depression. Eating right, getting enough sleep and relaxation techniques, such as meditation may also help.
Alternative treatments – Some people find herbal supplements, such as St. John’s Wort to be helpful, however, you should always talk with your doctor before taking supplements as these can also have side effects or interfere with other medications.
Treatment may vary depending on the age of the person, the type of depression, and co-existing conditions.

Some doctors may recommend trying treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or therapy before starting a child on antidepressants. These types of medications are not always recommended for children, unless other treatments have not helped.

References
“Depression Basics”, Last reviewed 2006, Dec 21, Reviewed by Harvey Simon, MD, A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia
“Learning Disability and Depression” Eileen Bailey, www.friendsofquinn.com

http://www.intel.com/about/companyinfo/healthcare/products/reader/index.htm

The Intel Reader is an amazing tool that can help dyslexic students both in and out of class. Watch this video to hear two students talk about their experience with the Intel Reader.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbQy4KBCryk

If you are a student or you have a student that will be requesting accommodations on either the SAT or ACT, it is important to be aware of the deadlines for submitting your documentation.  College Board (SAT) requires that disability documentation (last evaluation) be completed within 5 year of the accommodations request.  ACT requires that the documentation be completed with 3 years of the request for accommodations.   SAT documentation deadlines are listed below.  ACT requires you send in your documentation along with the application for accommodations by the postmark date for regular registration for the test date you are requesting.  There is not a separate date for eligibility documentation to be submitted.

SAT Documentation Deadlines:

September 17 for November 6 test date

October 15 for December 4 test date

December 3 for January 22 test date

This is a great article. What a great way to show the different ways people learn.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-nh_dyslexia_0417gd.ART.State.Edition1.4cd07db.html

It’s 8PM on Wednesday night and your child has just told you, he’s lost the study guide for the test he has to take tomorrow. Both of you are at your wits end! You are frustrated that your disorganized child has lost yet another important assignment for school and your son is simply frustrated with school thinking he is just dumb. You know your child is smart, he just can’t seem to get himself organized. This may be your first indicator that he could have a learning disability.

Now that you’ve decided there could potentially be a problem, what do you do next? Your first call should be to your pediatrician for a referral to a diagnostician for educational testing.

Why hire a private diagnostician? First thing, you have more control over when and how in depth the testing will be. You, as a parent, will play a more significant role in the pretesting process. An independent evaluator may be able to dedicate more time to get to know your child and may be more creative in the ways in which they test your child.

“I recently was testing a very bright 5-year-old who could only pay attention for 10 minutes at a time,” Laura Solomon, a special-education consultant, recently told me. “So we did 10 minutes of testing and five minutes of play. It took us three mornings to finish the tests.”

Dr. Solomon, who has been assessing children for 27 years, said “testing is an art and a science.”

Using a private evaluator often gives you a more in-depth report with suggestions and explanations to their findings, as well as, possible classroom observations to better evaluate your child.

Once you have a report and suggestions for accommodations, you should submit a copy of the report to your school. Your school should accept this report and work to make the necessary accommodations for your student. If you run into problems with your school accepting your evaluation, you have the right to request a hearing with your school board of education, and should bring your attorney along with you for this hearing.

When everything is said and done, this is your child we’re talking about. You have to be his best advocate and insist that he receive the best education in the least restrictive environment possible.

Welcome to the Diagnostic Learning Blog page!! We are excited you are here. Our goal for this page is to share valuable information regarding anything and everything that deals with learning disabilities. We also hope that if you have any experiences or insight that you may be willing to share those with us as well! Check back over the next few days as the entries begin coming in! Have a great day and please feel free to call us if you have any questions!!

Thanks
Laurie