Symptoms of ADHD

[charliegirl]

Welcome to our site.

From what you have said I tend to agree with you. Take a look at some of the other disabilities on the site. Many things are misdiagnosed initially as ADHD and many things are often found along with ADHD so it should help you figure out whether she needs additional testing. I think I would start with aspergers.

We'll help you all we can. The support you will find here is wonderful.

[misty]

First of all Lori,




My daughter just turned 14 & I can well relate to the descriptions you wrote of lacking common sense. After YEARS of nagging her, she just last week started remembering to dry up the bathroom floor after showering. Of course, when she remembers to close the shower curtain she'll no longer NEED to dry the floor. LOL. She's very messy & I find crusted plates under her bed, in empty drawers, etc. Drives me nuts. I think I gathered almost a 12 pack of half full water bottles from her room when I was last in there. So yes, I think that sort of thing is mostly the inattentiveness of ADD.

The other things I'm not so sure of. My daughter has friends, but only a couple that are really close. She does seem a bit immature, but the gap is closing, especially during this past year. She was into the goth look, but she's now starting to wear colors again so it was short lived thank goodness.

Have you had your step daughter tested recently? Does she have an IEP? Is she on meds? My daughter does well off meds. I give her Omega 3 caps (fish oil). If she's struggling in school, I'd have her tested for learning disabilities if you haven't yet. My daughter has a math LD & once we figured it out & got her an IEP she has really started improving her grades. Being a teacher, I'm sure I'm not telling you things you don't already know but I thought it wouldn't hurt to mention.

Welcome to our group!

[lori]

First and foremost...THANKS for your reply...its nice to talk to someone who understands b/c her mother and I are feeling a bit frustrated at this point thinking there must be more to it. She is on meds (Daytrona I think it is) a patch...2 a day. I honestly cannot tell a difference when she's on her meds vs. off. Her mom says you can tell and she would know b/c she lives with her on a daily basis where as we get her on every other weekend and extended holidays. She has IEP's, (504)...her mom says teh modifications help...but says without her help (mom's) she would most certainly fail.
One thing I meant to mention and failed to was her hygeine...UGH...its quite atrocious...at 15, most girls are in to makeup and looks...she could care less what she looks like...if she bathes at all or brushes her teeth and the fact is, she's a beautiful girl when fixed up.
She has been to a psychologist and a reg. pediatrician and they both labeled her ADHD as well as LD. She has an upcoming appt. with a psychiatrist...we are trying that route b/c we are out of ideas and beleive that its something more than just the above listed. And it very well could be just the above...we just are not sure...its seems to be more?
Just frustrated...and i hate to say this out loud...but after a few hours with her...Im ready to scream b/c I feel like so many things she does or says is soooooo immature and as it is, I have a 2 and 5 year old to take care of...when she's with us, its like having 3 small children...I have to pay just as much attention to her as I do the other two and its just frustrating. AND not b/c I don't love her...maybe b/c I dont understand her disability fully and want to...I want to understand what's going on in that head of hers...you know?

[misty]

Oh I know what you mean. I wish I knew what Shannon was thinking half the time (the other half I'm afraid to know...ROFL). She takes showers & does the make up stuff but forgets deodorant and has to be reminded daily to use her face cream (She has really bad acne & uses a prescription cream. It works really well WHEN she remembers to use it).

Anyway, I know what you're going through. I think its harder with girls than boys at this age because of all the changes their bodies are going through. I know that when she has her period she is worse in every way. Not only more moody, but more inattentive & impulsive too. Sometimes I'm not sure what is ADHD & what is teenage hormones.

[lori]

Hey Charlie...i didnt see your reply at first, just Mistys. So, I wasn't ignoring your post...so, thank you as well. I must say, I have talked to 2 diff. diagnosticians in our school district...one that worked for our school alone as well as our district wide diag. And they BOTH said it sounded like Aspergers. BUT from the little I have read on here, I would disagree...although they both came up with that same idea when I described some of her actions. AND acc. to my step daughters mother, the doctors she has seen did not think so. So...who knows? Its just so puzzling...its like you know something is terribly wrong but you cannot put your finger on it and are so unsure as to what route to take as far as a true diagnosis. I have to wonder if she will ever grow out of this extreme immaturity and be able to function in this world one day?

[lori]

Funny stuff Misty...my SD (Step daughter) and your daughter seem to have much in common already...guess that's what brought me here right? LOL
Same here...if I dont tell her to put on her deoderant, there will be none put on. And then I feel like I need to show her how to put it on properly each time...and I feel bad doing that...like Im nagging her. Same here with the Acne lately...just in the past year its gotten so bad...
We have a checklist for her to go off of daily...and AM and PM...Ex: brush teeth, bathe, put on make up, make bed, put on patches, ...
Do you have a check list and if so, does it seem to help. It does with my SD and saves me a lot of reptition

[lori]

What about the lying....do ya'll have that problem? The deodorant reminded me of that...b/c just this past weekend I asked if she had put on her deodorant and she said yes, then when I asked to see it, knowing she may be lying, sure enough, she did not even bring it from her mom's house...and lies like that are allllll the time and they are just uncessary...
I do want to say she is very sweet and would never buck me nor her mom or dad...she's almost abnormally compliant. If there is such a thing...

[misty]

Yes! I have a list up in the bathroom & on her bedroom door. They do help but she still forgets things here & there (Maybe she forgets to read the list...LOL).

Another thing I do is use a dry erase board. If I need to have her do something that requires multiple steps I write the steps on the board & have her carry it with her & erase each step as she does it. That works really well for things that are not every day chores.

[lori]

Thanks Misty for your support already...its nice to chat with you and Charlie about some things Im feeling a bit lost and frustrated with. AND it puts my mind to ease a bit as well to know we are not alone.

Im off to bed, as I said, i have a TWO year old. Busy little bee...wont go to bed without his mama...will be up early in the morning with my coffee checking my posts from my new post buddies! I must say, after re-reading some of my posts...i really should spell check...Im not making a good name for myself as I told you I am a teacher and I see that I have many spell check issues going on! LOL...but HEY, its summer...I dont have to spell check...Im out of school right now right?
Gnite girls and thanks for the chats...will see you early in the AM...Im an early riser usually...6:30-6:45 ish.

[misty]

Jun 24, 2008 22:47:26 GMT -5 lori said:

What about the lying....do ya'll have that problem?

Oh sorry. I missed this post last time around. Yes, Shannon does lie at times. She's mostly truthful, but will definitely lie to keep from getting in trouble or to get out of doing something. She lies about brushing her teeth all the time. She has braces so its even more important she keep up on brushing. She'll tell me she did & then I'll find her dry toothbrush & the lid still on the paste (she never puts the cap back on) & I'll know she lied & I've even gotten her up out of bed to come do her teeth. She hates that!