Expert: Dr Billy Levin - 12/4/2011

Question
Hi, I am writing about my 7 yr old (I have four boys 2,7,10 & 12). My 7 yr old is constantly moving/talking and I don't know if it is something to get checked on or not. I don't know if maybe he is just competing for attention? I have researched ADD but he is not at all moody like I am reading. (I have inactive ADD or 'dreamers disease' is what they called it when I was in school, and his father has ADHD and was recently diagnosed with Bi-polar but is responding very well to medication. The 10yr old is very moody but the others are calm like me#. He came out happy and is still that way, you can get on to him, he will yell, talking back #his brothers didn't do that# and run away no matter where we are, but two minutes later he is back like nothing happened. He talks loudly nonstop even if he is by himself and he is constantly moving like he just cannot be still. He wants constant attention from everyone. He is also very bright,he is  reading on a 5th grade level, doing three digit math problems, two digit multiplication, word problems, all in his head, he has surpassed me lol! He doesn't act like it, he is a bit immature. He will be still only when he is focused on a project such as a computer game, writing a story, and you know what he makes a lot of lists. He loves to plan out everything, he has a list for when someone comes over down to the minute, he will even just make a list to plan out his day and he will try to stick with it.  I don't like medicine, for one thing he is also a very, VERY picky eater and is small for his age and I'm worried about the losing weight w/ meds. I wouldn't think of even asking about ADHD until the school says something, except for one thing my husbands Dr told him. He said 'T- you think you don't need ADD meds because you went to school and are successful ICU nurse. What if you had? You could be a Dr by now'. And he's right, he wanted to go on to med school but just couldn't #due mostly to spending problems from the adhd and bipolar#. I don't want to hold my son back or lead him to make rash judgements in drugs etc when he is older. We don't have a pediatrician we trust, I don't know who to talk to. His teacher thinks he's cute when he is talking nonstop, which doesn't help us. He is having small problems in school with his work, he will finish his work but he rushes it and misses silly little things that he knew.He made a 70 on a math test because he said he was tired of it and missing for instance 11-5 while at home is multiplying 12x8. Should I look into it? Who should I talk to about my concerns? Are there any good webpages you would recommend? And lastly, could he just be hyper w/o add? Thank you so much for taking your time to read all this.

Answer
From your description I am  almost certain he has ADHD and a high IQ. Medication is safe and effective. The side effects are never serious, usually temporary and easily handeled by an expert doctor. The very  serious possible complications of non treatment and neglect  out-weight by far the  minor trancient side effects of medical treatment. You are strongly advised to see a medical expert as soon as possible. With a high IQ he will cope despite his problem but will underachieve and eventually rebel. ADHD is a serious genetically inherited treatable condition.