Expert: Norm Bishop - 4/5/2010

Question
I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY 5 YEAR OLD SON. HE IS ALWAYS EXTREMLEY ACTIVE ALWAYS RUNNING AROUND, WHEN I ASK HIM TO SETTLE DOWN HE ANSWERS OK MOMMY AND CONTINUES TO WHAT HE IS DOING, OR SOMETIMES HE DOESNT EVEN LISTEN TO ME TILL I HAVE TO REALLY RAISE MY VOICE AT HIM, HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN REALLY ACTIVE, AT SCHOOL HE IS CALM BUT I THINK BECAUSE HE IS SO SHY, I ASKED HIS TEACHER IF SHE NOTICES ANY THING DIFFERENT IN HIM BUT SHE SAYS HE IS FINE. I DO NOTICE AT HOME WHEN HE IS LEARNING TO WRITE HIS LETTERS HE GETS DISTRACTED EASILY. HOW CAN I DETERMINE IF HE HAS ADD IS THERE A PHONE NUMBER THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE SO THAT MAYBE HE CAN GET A EVALUATION IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA?? PLEASE ADVISE

Answer
The only way to truly know whether a child has ADHD is to see a physician who has training in the condition.  From what you have described about your son at home, I would suspect he may have ADHD, however, if the teacher is not seeing it in terms of his out of home behavior, then he may not.  

I would recommend that you start with a conversation between you and your Pediatrician.  Describe your son in as much detail as possible and query the doctor regarding his training.

Living in Los Angeles you have access to one of the world's leaders in ADHD and other brain dysfunction.  Dr. Daniel Amen, http://www.amenclinics.com/  I have no idea if his methods and techniques are covered by insurance, how expensive his service is, etc.  However, he is the leading researcher in ADHD in the world, does international training and teaching, and his Spect technique is cutting edge.  It might be worth your time to find out about those services.  

I don't know any directly in the Los Angeles area.  I know about Dr. Amen from his research and his clinic in the Tacoma, WA area when I lived there.  However, I think you should start with your local doctor.  If he recommends a prescription, then move on to someone who has researched ADHD in young children.  (Not that medicine may not be the answer, but at age 5 any doctor who goes first to the prescription pad has not been trained in the condition...they should start by a comprehensive evaluation, perhaps some other trails in sleep patterns, diet, behavior management...then consider meds.

Good luck...Norm