Comments on: ADHD in adults and children http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dr-peter-jensen Interviews with Mayo Clinic Specialists, and Your Questions Tue, 07 May 2013 15:20:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Marie http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-406 Marie Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:51:44 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-406 Thank you, all, for the helpful comments. There is no doubt he has ADHD-inattentive. I have personally observed him take tests or do work and he plays with pencils, erasers, paper clips, notices every movement, every sneeze, etc., EVERYTHING but the work. He struggles on work and can't get it done and does not know much of it. Teachers and experts say that it isn't because of intelligence or abilities, it is because of lack of focus. As such, over the years, there is so much classroom lecture, etc. that he has missed because he hasn't focused on it. A teacher can read a story or I can and, even though a short story, the child cannot recall any of it. Yet, ask him a map sequence on a video game, and he is crackerjack. If he got more challenging work, he would be lost because things he should be able to do now (divide, multiply, curvsive writing) he can't do because he can't focus on the lessons. Thank you, all, for the helpful comments. There is no doubt he has ADHD-inattentive. I have personally observed him take tests or do work and he plays with pencils, erasers, paper clips, notices every movement, every sneeze, etc., EVERYTHING but the work. He struggles on work and can’t get it done and does not know much of it. Teachers and experts say that it isn’t because of intelligence or abilities, it is because of lack of focus. As such, over the years, there is so much classroom lecture, etc. that he has missed because he hasn’t focused on it. A teacher can read a story or I can and, even though a short story, the child cannot recall any of it. Yet, ask him a map sequence on a video game, and he is crackerjack. If he got more challenging work, he would be lost because things he should be able to do now (divide, multiply, curvsive writing) he can’t do because he can’t focus on the lessons.

]]> By: Tracy http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-405 Tracy Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:07:46 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-405 Dr. Jensen says "I fully agree." Dr. Jensen says “I fully agree.”

]]> By: Tracy http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-404 Tracy Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:07:19 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-404 Dr. Jensen says "True; good points." Dr. Jensen says “True; good points.”

]]> By: Tracy http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-403 Tracy Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:06:34 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-403 Dr. Jensen says, "Seems to happen in some cases; so find a doctor you can work with, whom you like and trust and hang in there." Dr. Jensen says, “Seems to happen in some cases; so find a doctor you can work with, whom you like and trust and hang in there.”

]]> By: Tracy http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-402 Tracy Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:05:03 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-402 Dr. Jensen says, "Hang in there. We don't know that Ritalin causes severe depression, so you may have gotten it anyway. People with ADHD are at risk for getting depressed, just because of how life beats them down. For treatment, first get treated for your continuing depression and fatigue. SSRI's such as Prozac or Zoloft, or Venlafaxine can often be useful. Also, find a therapist you can like and trust who konws how to do CBT ot ACT (Acceptance and Commitment therapy.)" Dr. Jensen says, “Hang in there. We don’t know that Ritalin causes severe depression, so you may have gotten it anyway. People with ADHD are at risk for getting depressed, just because of how life beats them down. For treatment, first get treated for your continuing depression and fatigue. SSRI’s such as Prozac or Zoloft, or Venlafaxine can often be useful. Also, find a therapist you can like and trust who konws how to do CBT ot ACT (Acceptance and Commitment therapy.)”

]]> By: Tracy http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-401 Tracy Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:01:31 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-401 Dr. Jensen says, "First of all, find an ADHD expert, and go online to WWW.CHADD.ORG and find a local support group of parents closest to you and get to know their opinions about "who is really good." You need a caring doctor that will continue to work with you and seek solutions. Second, have hope and find a way to keep a good relationship with your child. That relationship is the best predictor of who does well over the long-term, not any single treatment. Third, find areas of skill or competence, so that your child can feel s/he is "good at something," even if not at school." Dr. Jensen says, “First of all, find an ADHD expert, and go online to http://WWW.CHADD.ORG and find a local support group of parents closest to you and get to know their opinions about “who is really good.” You need a caring doctor that will continue to work with you and seek solutions. Second, have hope and find a way to keep a good relationship with your child. That relationship is the best predictor of who does well over the long-term, not any single treatment. Third, find areas of skill or competence, so that your child can feel s/he is “good at something,” even if not at school.”

]]> By: Tracy http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-400 Tracy Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:56:09 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-400 Dr. Jensen says "There is still no agreement that ADHD is caused by sleep problems. It certainly is worsened by sleep difficulties, however." Dr. Jensen says “There is still no agreement that ADHD is caused by sleep problems. It certainly is worsened by sleep difficulties, however.”

]]> By: Tracy http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-399 Tracy Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:55:01 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-399 Dr. Jensen says, "Other medications can help that are non-stimulants, such as Clonidine (Catapres or Kapvay); Guanfacine (Intuniv); and Atomoetine (Stratterra.) These may also benefit the anxiety and PTSD. Dr. Jensen says, “Other medications can help that are non-stimulants, such as Clonidine (Catapres or Kapvay); Guanfacine (Intuniv); and Atomoetine (Stratterra.) These may also benefit the anxiety and PTSD.

]]> By: Dru http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-398 Dru Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:47:17 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-398 I agree with this entirely. I was diagnosed ADHD in third grade after a teacher recommendation for evaluation. My mother sought a second opinion and the finding of that therapist was that I was bored. His treatment recommendation? Move me to fourth grade. I stayed in third to remain with my friends but I never had ADHD. I start medical school in July. Perhaps your child is simply not engaged enough in the classroom! I agree with this entirely. I was diagnosed ADHD in third grade after a teacher recommendation for evaluation. My mother sought a second opinion and the finding of that therapist was that I was bored. His treatment recommendation? Move me to fourth grade.

I stayed in third to remain with my friends but I never had ADHD. I start medical school in July. Perhaps your child is simply not engaged enough in the classroom!

]]> By: Tanis http://radio.mayoclinic.org/2012/04/01/dr-peter-jensen/#comment-397 Tanis Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:21:29 +0000 http://radio.mayoclinic.org/?p=3246#comment-397 If none of the traditional treatments work, the child may not have ADHD (other conditions can mimic symptoms). If tests reveal above average intelligence and teacher says straight A's are possible if the child focused, maybe the child needs more challenging work. Bright kids can have a great deal of trouble focusing if the work is too easy. Ask your child's teacher to try enriching him/her, and if the teacher isn't willing (because of "lack of focus" issues), then do it yourself at home. If none of the traditional treatments work, the child may not have ADHD (other conditions can mimic symptoms). If tests reveal above average intelligence and teacher says straight A’s are possible if the child focused, maybe the child needs more challenging work. Bright kids can have a great deal of trouble focusing if the work is too easy. Ask your child’s teacher to try enriching him/her, and if the teacher isn’t willing (because of “lack of focus” issues), then do it yourself at home.

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