Add/adhd - Kennesaw,GA

I got even more confusing information when I took my son to 2 different neurologists(both from the same office). When I asked the first one if my son needed to be tested for ADHD, he said no don't need to test, of course he has it!, but they don't call it that anymore it's just part of a whole executive brain function disorder. The 2nd neurologist said yes lets do testing and wanted to find out what "type" it was. It was a computerized test where my son was supposed to press 1 if he heard or saw 1, but not press the button if he heard or saw 2. The results sounded really bad, but then they explained that half the results were invalid because my son didn't follow the directions or something. Which I guess still means he has ADHD.
For us, the results do not make a difference for school, because my son qualifies for services under autism already. But I wasn't willing to give him the meds until I saw the proof that he really needed it.

It's just a change in the name, not the actual disorder.

The way it works is that there is a MASSIVE book called the DSM (Diagnostic & Statistic Manual). It gets updated every so often, because of course with time our understanding of disorders/ neurology/ neurochem changes over time.

Under the DSM-IV, you had a choice of ADD, ADHD, OR ADD/ADHD. I'm actually rather fond of the new "classification" (because there is ALWAYS hyperactivity involved with add/adhd... it's just one is mental, the other physical... and the newest version of the DSM... it recognizes it). Now I'm fond of it mentally (and it's sooooo much easier to type) but since I've been saying ADD for 19 years now... ADHD doesn't roll of my tongue as easily.

Here's how the new classification works:

ADD = ADHD-i (inattentive) ... Which means that they hyperactivity is all mental.

ADHD = ADHD-h (hyperactive) ... Which means that the hyperactivity is all physical.

ADHD/ADD = ADHD-c (combined) ... Wheeee, my type... which is both of the above.

It'll take 5-10 years for the entire renaming process to filter through to all the publications/ texts/ and to be in common usage. (Just like Bipolar *used* to be Manic-Depressive, but isn't).

Both ADD & ADHD are covered (in children) by insurance equally. Thank the powers that be, the DSM-V is ALSO recognizing that we don't get new brains on our 18th bdays. (Right now most psychiatrists/psychologists just start coding as "depression" in order to get their 18yo and up patients paid for. Sigh). Once the DSM-V comes out, all the insurance codes will change... but while we know many of the changes in the DSM-V, it's not officially out yet, so it will take awhile.

Yes, the information provided by AJC is correct. Our son has ADHD, combined type. ADD is now called ADHD, inattentive type. The change in name is fairly recent.

You might check out the website for ADDitude magazine for resources as you begin this process. It's a really helpful publication and their website contains a lot of information. www.additudemag.com

Good luck!

here is what i found...
"If you are looking for information on Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) please be aware that much of what is discussed below should also be relevant. Technically, the term ADD is no longer used. Instead, children who have the inattentive symptoms of ADHD but who do not show hyperactive/impulsive symptoms are now diagnosed with ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type rather than with ADD. These terms mean pretty much the same thing but the latter is no longer technically correct."

http://www.helpforadd.com/criteria-for-add/

AND

"The previously used term ADD expired with the most recent revision of the DSM. Consequently, ADHD is the current nomenclature used to describe the disorder as one distinct disorder which can manifest itself as being a primary deficit resulting in hyperactivity/impulsivity (ADHD, predominately hyperactive-impulsive type) or inattention (ADHD predominately inattentive type) or both (ADHD combined type)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention-deficit_hyperactiv...

What is ADD? Is it different than ADHD?
"This is a question that has become increasingly difficult to answer simply. ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is the only clinically diagnosed term for disorders characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity used in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Fourth Edition, the diagnostic "bible" of psychiatry. However (and this is where things get tricky), ADD, or attention-deficit disorder, is a term that has become increasingly popular among laypersons, the media, and even some professionals. Some use the term ADD as an umbrella term -- after all, ADHD is an attention-deficit disorder. Others use the term ADD to refer to the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD, since that type does not feature hyperactive symptoms. Lastly, some simply use the terms ADD and ADHD interchangeably. The bottom line is that when people speak of ADD or ADHD, they generally mean the same thing. However, only ADHD is the "official" term."

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&T...

No matter what you call it - several members of my family, including me, would be diagnosed with attention deficit something, IF we thought that a description of a different way of thinking and dealing with situations can be called a diagnosis. We have avoided the diagnosis because we didn't want to be labeled and put in "special" programs designed to stifle creativity and high intelligence. I am a social worker who worked in the mental health field for several years and also worked with foster children who were diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. All of US are highly functioning adults who find different ways of handling problems and situations than what some experts would call the "norm." A good upper cervical chiropractor can treat the associated problems with great success. Mine in Stockbridge is familiar with treatment and has marvelous results and they can furnish you testimonies from patients. I can suggest theirs and several other websites to provide an education on what this SCIENCE accomplishes that the AMA rarely recognizes, because there are no pharmaceuticals involved. Prescription drugs are very dangerous and psychotropic ones are even more dangerous when given to children. The only long-term studies on them have shown well-documented disastrous consequences. If you want an alternative that is not complicated like the schools and doctors want to make it, contact me for more details. If your goal, like the school's, is to have your child "normed" into sitting down on command to do busy work and never being creative, just follow their procedures. Personally, I've seen too much damage to children for my comfort level.