son has ADHD along with other problems - ADD / ADHD Message Board

wmjsease · 11-03-2004, 07:00 PM

My son has been on ADHD meds for about 5 years now. We've tried numerous meds, but really none that help him much. He is 12, and is very immature for his age. He also has asthma, along with high cholesterol, which he has an appointment with an endocronoligist for soon. Monday, he saw an ENT doctor about coughing all night long every night, that the asthma meds won't help. They have agreed to take his tonsils and adenoids out. My question is, can some of the ADHD symptoms come from this tonsil problem. The ENT said maybe, but that he isn't sure. He's driving me crazy at this point. I can tell him to do one thing, and he never remembers what he is supposed to do. He can't stay on task. I know that this is typical of ADHD, but like I said the meds doesn't seem to help much with him. He has been on Adderall, Metadate, Straterra, Concerta, and one other one that I can't remember the name of. He is about to be put on dexidrine as soon as the pharmacy gets it in since it had to be ordered. I don't know what to do to help him stay on task, get his grades up, or listen. Please help me. Thanks

MafiaKiddo · 11-03-2004, 07:29 PM

First thing I would ask is how was your son diagnosed with ADHD. Did they do a lot of testing, blood tests and allergy test and hearing tests. Since you've already mentioned that your son has high cholesterol and asthma it's very possible that he doesn't even really have ADHD but has symptoms from those or other illnesses that were just diagnosed as ADHD. This could also be why you are not having success treating him with medications. Many kids are misdiagnosed every year because doctors are not thorough in ruling out all the other problems that cause add like symptoms.

Of course you may just not have found the right medication, dosage or combination of medications that will help him. Also remember the meds can only do so much they will help with focus but the ADDers need to learn to use this new focus to get things done. No medication will change behavoir overnight it just makes it possible to get results but you will still need to work to reach that goal.

Is your son in counseling or getting help at school to teach him skills such as organization. This can be a big help. It sounds easy but remember most ADD kids couldn't do these things before so they need to be taught how to do them once they start on meds.

Good luck to you

Z'sMom · 11-08-2004, 12:05 PM

Has your son been tested for an issue with auditory processing? A learning disability? Has he had full blood scans for medical disorders? Other issues?

That is generally a first step. Once you know EXACTLY what you're dealing with, you can address the results.

One thing that has been beyond helpful for us is behavorial therapy. The therapist worked with Z to help him identify his issues, control his choices and execute on set responses so that he could feel HE was in control. The coping mechanisms she gave him can be as basic as breathing techniques to very detailed plan making.

Please provide more information so that others who have BTDT can provide some support. Z'sMom

index.html · 11-08-2004, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmjsease

Monday, he saw an ENT doctor about coughing all night long every night, that the asthma meds won't help... My question is, can some of the ADHD symptoms come from this tonsil problem. :

Could some of his ADHD symptoms come from coughing all night? IMHO, in a word, YES!!! Absolutely, without question, sleep deprivation can cause/worsen ADD symptoms. And if he is coughing all night, he is not getting the sleep he needs. Even without the coughing, if he has enlarged tonsils, he may have some sleep apnea which, again, can look alot like ADD during the daytime.

The other possible contributing factor to a worsening of his ADD symptoms is his asthma meds. If those have been increased to try to treat his coughing, they could *definitely* be making him more inattentive and hyper. An increase in asthma meds can feel like a caffiene overdose does to us - it can make you jittery and restless which, of course, makes it more difficult to concentrate. In fact, asthma itself can cause ADD symptoms simply from the resulting hypoxia.

From what I know, I'd have to say that yes, definitely, your sons worsened ADD symptoms could relate to what is going on for him physically.

Biblophile · 11-08-2004, 01:30 PM

Just wanted to post and say that I am VERY pleased that people are encouraging people to look into alternative causes/reasons for ADD.
I think it exists and it is a legitimate dx, but so often doctors just kneejerkingly say it's ADD.

Quote:

along with high cholesterol, which he has an appointment with an endocronoligist for soon.

I would definitly pursue this avenue. It is possible that your soon really doesn't have ADD at all, but simply has an unusual disorder.