| Your child's teacher says that you need to find out if | | | | meet with the professional who will do the |
| your child has ADHD or not. What do you do? Here | | | | assessment, and perhaps the treatment. If the |
| are some tips from the ADHD Information Library. First, | | | | professional seems to know more than you do (after |
| find a clinician, a Psychologist, or Marriage, Family, and | | | | you've spent time preparing) then that is a good sign. If |
| Child Therapist, or Psychiatrist, who has a good | | | | they seem to know less than you now do, then that is |
| working knowledge of Attention Deficit Disorder - | | | | a bad sign. Why pay money to someone who knows |
| ADD or ADHD. Most mental health professionals do | | | | less than you do? Find the Expert -- do what he |
| NOT know much about the disorder, even if they tell | | | | recommends -- and pay him what he's worth. Ask to |
| you that they do. During my formal training in | | | | have a thorough assessment done, including a parent |
| psychology at both the Master's level and the | | | | interview, a child interview, parent and teacher rating |
| Doctorate level I received about 15 minutes of training | | | | scales, and TOVA testing as appropriate. Emotional |
| on ADHD. Find an expert in your community. Ask | | | | conditions that could also be causing ADHD-like |
| parents at your local CHADD meeting about who the | | | | symptoms must be ruled out. If the diagnosis is |
| best doctor and the best therapist in your area are. | | | | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder what should |
| Then call your local psychiatric hospital and ask for | | | | you do? Never give up YOUR responsibility as your |
| either the Children's Unit or the Adolescent Unit Charge | | | | child's parent to any professional (medical, |
| Nurse. Ask the nurse who the best doctor and | | | | psychological, or educational). If they are experts, get |
| therapist for treating Attention Deficit Disorder are. | | | | information and opinions based on their experience. |
| Once you have a name or two, call the professional | | | | Trust their judgment and learn from their wisdom. But |
| on the phone and give them a two minute interview. | | | | YOU are the parent. Once your child or teen has had |
| Keep the phone call brief. They are busy people too. | | | | a good work up, and you have a "righteous" diagnosis |
| Ask them questions such as, "What percentage of | | | | you will have a lot of decisions to make regarding |
| your practice is with Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD | | | | treatment. But always remember that YOU are the |
| ADHD children or teens?" "How many years | | | | parent. It is YOUR job to get all of the information that |
| experience do you have in treating ADD ADHD | | | | you can from the experts and make the decisions |
| individuals?" "How do you do a diagnostic work-up for | | | | regarding your child's treatment. No professional will |
| Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD?" and "What | | | | ever love your child as much as you do. Educate |
| treatment options are you familiar with in the treatment | | | | yourself until you are an expert! Read lots of books, |
| of ADD ADHD?" Based on their answers you will | | | | vist each of the ADHD Information Library's family of |
| know whether or not you will want to work with them. | | | | web sites, talk to lots of people who know what they |
| Read this entire ADD Information Library web site. | | | | are talking about. Subscribe to our newsletter. As |
| Once you have read the 80 or so pages of | | | | Solomon said, "My son, get Wisdom and Knowledge." |
| information at that site for parents you will be ready to | | | | You need to become an expert NOW! |