Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/recently diagnosed 6 year old

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Expert: - 1/4/2008


Question
My six year old was diagnosed with Developmental Coordination Disorder during a psychiatric assessment.  In addition, the doctor stated that it was only my responses on the questionnaire that prevented a formal diagnosis of ADHD and that I should consider whether I have simply become acclimatized to the behaviour.  He can be a very difficult child, fidgeting and falling or knocking things over and his behaviour can be disruptive in the classroom.  The teacher has asked me to consider medication, despite the fact that the diagnosis did not state ADHD.  The pediatrician is willing to support my chosen course of action.  However, I have no idea what is the right choice.  Is there long term impact to medicating a child (be it Ritalin or another choice)?  His behaviour is certainly affecting how he is treated at school and I worry about his self-esteem.

Answer
Dear Yvonne,

I would like to take some time to really answer this in depth and ask you more questions about his behavior.  You are oh, so smart, to question this diagnosis.  I am just finishing my book, Does Your Child Really have ADD/ADHD in which I go over all the "symptoms" and explain how they are personality traits.  It is my belief that it is not the kids who have disorders but the system they use to teach them is completely out of order and needs fixed.

Medication is addictive.  It is the type of drug that has been banned for years because it is addictive.  The old name for it is "uppers" and kids usually hate to take it because of how it makes them feel.  I would like to talk to you more about this.  I have a dinner appointment and need to leave right now but wanted to respond quickly to  your question.  

If you would like to contact me at www.myspace.com/personalityconsultant and send me a few specific instances of his behavior I will help you figure out a plan for him and share more information with you, too.

I am so glad you wrote.  Please contact me there, if you have a problem, ask another question here on All experts and I will give you my email address.  

I await to here from you and can answer it Saturday.

Sharon Crandall

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

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Sharon Crandall

Expertise

Behavior and learning challenges are usually caused by personality traits such as Restlessness, High Physical, Low Concentration, Wide Tolerance (spaciness), Force (anger), Aggressive, plus others. I can help in either area.

Experience

25 years experience working with families, teaching them how to work with traits so they work for you, rather than against you. As mother of seven grown children and grandmother of 19, I have seen first hand the beauty of recognizing talents and potential in a child who is difficult to raise. I could not have raised my last daughter, who had a very strong personality, without this knowledge. Besides working with families, I have worked with individuals and businesses. The challenges are always the same--learning how to work with your own traits, plus learning how to handle trait differences between yourselves and others.

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