Dyslexia/ADD?

[carol]

Do all children who have dyslexia have ADD/ADHD? Doesn't dyslexia encompass some attentional difficulties? My 10yo is learning in his special ed. classroom. He is completing work and the IEP works for him. I have been told by a friend and others that I am doing him a disservice by not giving him a med to help him focus better. His learning would not be so slow. I know this in my heart, but I do not wish to give him a med. He is responding to the therapy and I want him to learn the coping skills. Am I really doing him a disservice by not giving him something to help his learning along, if in fact, it actually will. The small learning environment seems to be working. He is not exhibiting the same behaviors he once had in a larger classroom.

[katiekat]

I do not agree that you are doing a disservice to your child by not medicating. That is your decision. Yes, we medicate Sean but that was only after we tried everything else and saw no improvement whatsoever. The main reason we even started considering medication was because of his violence and aggression. My best friends son was DX with ADHD at 5 and she never gave him medication. The older he got the less issues with hyperactivity and innattention he had. He is now 16 and you would never peg him as someone with ADHD.
I do not know the answer to your question about ADHD and dyslexia but if your son is doing well and learning in his class and responding to therapy I don't feel that medication is necessary at this point. Friends always have opinions they will share with you but in the end he is your son.

[carol]

Here is another question, Can dyslexic children be in regular ed? I really need to talk with his school and find out more about his progress. He is turned off on reading again. He is reluctant to try and when he does, his fluency is slow. Will ritalin or like drug get him to read? In this respect, I do feel as if I am doing him a disservice. I am clearly ambivalent. On the other hand, I am very concerned about ritalin. I read everything and listen to all the facts, but I am just not comfortable with the idea. My h is completely against it. Gage is controllable at home. He is a little impulsive at times. He is not hyper, but has some occasions of some hyperness. He seems more ADD and this is what has been speculated with the doctors. A dx has not been made due to Gage's emotional issues. We have a family history of bipolar, but he is not exhibiting any blatant symptoms. When I observe and asses Gage, putting on my educator hat, I see a kid who is passive-aggressive, exhibits low self-esteem, lacks confidence in himself and his abilities, and has a "why bother" or "I can't" attitude. He denies he has dyslexia saying, "I am on my reading level now." He is very consumed with not wanting to be seen as different. He distrusts adults, we believe from his previous school experience with teachers. He exhibits anxiety about things he really feels unsure of and is behavioral (manipulative) sometimes when he does not want to do something, only when it is new. I have trouble with previous therapists and doctors telling me, "Gage is a complex child" or "I am stumped." My h says I am always looking for an answer and there is not one. This is who he is and we have to work on his weaknesses and develop his strengths. I cannot seem to be satisfied without an answer. If it was just dyslexia, then why could he not go to a LD school and why does he fall under Serious Emotional Disturbance umbrella just to get him help. I know he had a horrible school experience, I almost wonder what did really happen while he was there. He seems to have "grown into" this emotional state." He was not always like this. I do believe he fits the ADD profile, but reports from teachers in the past and now are that Gage chooses to not do work. They feel he is pretty much in control of what he is doing. This is also where I want him to learn about making the correct choices. I am just venting. Sorry so long. I just don't get it. Will I ever?

[carol]

kk, your words mean more to me than you know. I think about Sean often. Peace to your family.

[jj]

First of all, don't let others make you feel guilty. You know your son better than anyone. If you know he is suffering in school because he can't concentrate or hold still then maybe your heart is right. If he is doing reasonably well in school then don't let others pressure you. He has an IEP in place so that is probably half of the battle to help your son.

I haven't looked this up or anything but I would think dyslexia could stand alone although what I've read ADD/ADHD is often present.

Your son is old enough that I think you could have a really frank talk with him. Tell him you are trying to decide if medication is right for him and ultimately it will be up to you to decide but you want his opinion on the matter. Ask him how he feels about not being able to concentrate or sit still - which every is the problem for him.

You know you can always try medication and stop it if you don't like what it is doing to him. My feelings on medication are this: If a child is failing miserable, is getting depressed, anxious, is disrupting the classroom and nothing seems to be helping then yes, maybe it is time to look at meds. I know a lot of adults that say they wish they had medication when they were in school.

But from the sounds of it you aren't even sure if he has ADD/ADHD (or are you not sure about the dyslexia?)so my feeling is if it isn't obvious to you then it must not be that bad and medication probably isn't warranted.

I'm just guessing here but one thing for sure. No one who is not a proffesional doctor should be pressuring you to medicate. They are wrong in doing so.

[jj]

Sorry, I was typing my response and sent it before I saw your next more detailed post.

[jj]

Carol, I want to add after reading your more detailed post....

I think it is very important to really find out what is going on. Forgive me if you have mentioned this before but have you ever found a really good neurophsych to really pin point his problems?

And if there is a history of bipolar then that puts a whole new spin on considering Ritalin - in my opinion it is not a good idea.

[carol]

He has seen a developmental pediatrician 2x who said, although he may indeed have ADD inattentive type, and this was based upon a checklist completed by one of his teachers in the 2nd grade in the midst of Gage's turmoil, his emotional state (observations of anxiety & depression) was far more striking. At the office, he sat and was anxious. He kept his head down and would not engage in conversation or give eye contact. He would not allow her to do a complete examination. At one point, he turned his back toward her on the exam table, and curled somewhat. On the next visit about 6 months later, he was a little more interactive with her. He drew a picture for her. He was talking in the exam room while we were waiting and then when she came in, he clammed up. (Selective mutism?) Normally, he talks freely, but only clams up with new people. The developmental pediatrician ruled out Aspberger b/c the school insisted this was Gage's problem. She concluded the same findings on the 2nd visit as the 1st. The psychologist I took him to concluded the same as the developmental pediatrician. Although he has some attentional difficulties, they were not that blatant. His emotions specifically anxiety were far more striking. The psychiatrist who evaluated Gage for 4 hours on 2 different days saw anxiety, concluded he was not hallucinating or hearing vioces. He could not figure Gage out as well. He concluded that he had psychological backlash or baggage from a neglected Reading Disorder by his school. He found Gage's focus to be good, but they were playing with legos and building. He suggested a Montessouri school which was not possible with the due process. We could have fought it, but Gage needed help like yesterday so we researched and chose an Approved Private School which the school agreed to pay for.
To answer your question, no. I have never took him to a neuropsych. What would this person do and what is he or she looking for? Thanks for your input.

[katiekat]

Yes, we have been told this by every professional we have seen. If BP is even a possibility a stimulant or any medication for ADD/ADHD should not be given alone. Before, Sean was taking Adderal but first he was put on Depakote.
Now I have a question for you Carol-at what age was your son DX with dyslexia? I suspect Sean is dyslexic but the school keeps telling me he is too young to determine that. They said we need to wait until he is in at least 2nd grade. I am no expert but I disagree with this. He hates to read and it seems to exhaust him. He constantly confuses d,b,p, and the number 9. He says "on" for "no" and "saw" for "was" and when he is trying to sound out words he will sometimes start with the last letter or even a letter in the middle of the word.
I do not think that medication would help with this-Sean has been and is currently on medication and his reading never improved. It may help them to focus more on the task of reading but I do not believe it would change the fact of being dyslexic.

[carol]

kk, Gage was dx with dyslexia when he was 8. I took him upstate to Mifflintown, PA to a Dyslexia Testing Specialist. It cost $500.00. Her report alone will not hold up in court and the school did not respect it b/c she was not a psychologist. I later had him definitely diagnosed by a psychologist when he was 9. I knew there was something wrong in PreK as he struggled learning letters and writing his name. In K, he seem so brilliant but his achievement was average and sometimes not even that. I thought with him being so verbal and intuitive, he would have no problem reading. I just knew something was not right, but could not put my finger on it. First grade was doable, but he still did not achieve at the level expected. In fact, he was above-average in 1st grade Terra Nova testing and clearly below average at the end of 1st grade, specifically reading and writing. 2nd grade, the teacher was not even convinced he could read until May. He superimposed letters and numbers in 2nd grade as well. I just could not figure it out until I met a new friend. We became close. She saw me one day struggling with Gage on our porch to do homework. I had shared Gage's trials with his behavior at school and I did not know what she thought of him. She took over the homework for me and worked with him that day. She watched him moan and groan about the reading and looked at his writing. She said, "I know what the problem is. He's dyslexic." I naturally said, "How do you know that?" She said, "Because I am." I was friends with her for a year and did not know that. It answered so many questions.
There is a psychologist in Bala Cynwyd, PA. She can do an independent psychoeducational evaluation to rule it in or out. The school has to respect it as well and accommodate. Her fee is $500.00. It is the cheapest you are going to get. She is very respected and extremely knowledgeable about dyslexia. She will provide a very comprehensive eval. that the school has to respect and follow because she is a psychologist. She charged me the $500.00 for my older son's eval. Gage's price was inflated b/c his previous school was required to pay for it as a part of the settlement. I can give you her name if you are interested.
I know what the educators say about boys and lack of maturity and the letters will straighten out by third grade. Studies have shown, the earlier it is detected the better off the child will be academically given the proper instruction. I really do not think it is too early, but best to ask a professional.
Thanks for your info, it was helpful.
I check in a lot if you need any info.