Expert: Dr Billy Levin - 7/22/2010

Question
Hi there,

I have a 14 year old son with a very long and complicated medical history, but i will go with the shorter version.  He was diagnosed with CAPD, and borderline ADD, he stutters, suffers from social anxiety.  He has many friends and manages to do well in school, B honours until the final term and then usually c's.  This has been his whole life.  We have managed by talking through his sypmtoms and explaining to teachers.  When asked if he could change one thing, he says his stutter and not being able to understand when people talk to him.  He is well liked by everyone, plays sports, has friends over ect.  But i wonder if there is more we could be doing for him as he says he has to work REALLY hard to get through his school day as a normally functioning person.  To add to this , he had an in utero stroke of the left frontal pariatal lobe, we were told he would have cerebral palsy of the right side, but none of that came to fruition, thankfully.  Your thoughts?

Answer
There is a possibility that the left intrauterine stroke might not necessary give a right sided palsey but could explain the stutter and the auditory imperception both related to left brain. Left brain injuy will also affect concentration and learning ability especially in languages. All that would certainly add up to ADD but no borderline! This would cetainly suggest a trial on Ritalin for ADD and Haloperidol for the stutter titrated to optimal effective doses would be acceptable. A consultation with an ADD expert would be my advice.