Courtney Woods

Professor Campbell

UWRT 1104

4 April 2019

ADHD: Decoding the HYPE

“There’s a bright side to ADHD, and that’s where all the shiny things are.” – Brian King

Welcome

If you have a child diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or if you

suspect your child has ADHD and are at your wit’s end this is the page for you. I’m Courtney.

My son Lennox was diagnosed with ADHD in August 2018 at the age of three. Life in our

household has been chaotic to say the least, but we seem to be on the right track toward a calmer,

gentler home. For the past eight months I’ve immersed myself in the world of ADHD. I’ve tried

everything. Behavioral specialists, psychologists, parent-child interaction therapy, occupational

therapy, physical therapy, stimulants, – you name it, I’ve tried it. Now I’m sharing the benefits of

my research and investigation with you. Hope it helps.

 Meet Lennox

Dear Lennox,

I love you more than time can tell. I know it’s taken me some time, but I finally understand you.

You’re acting out, but you’re not trying to drive me crazy. You have Attention-

Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. This means that you have the type of brain that never rests. I

want you to know that ADHD is not a bad thing at all. You’ve been blessed with an

extraordinary mind. You are creative and you have a unique way of seeing the world. You are

without a doubt the most brilliant four-year-old I know. Believe me when I say that these are all

traits that will take you very far in life. Of course, with good days come bad ones and you will

have times where you’re feeling frustrated. Please remember that you are not alone, and I will

always do my best to help you and have your back, no matter what. I can’t wait for the world to

know how incredible you truly are.

Love, Mommy
 What is ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder also known as ADHD is a chronic medical condition

including attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. A person with ADHD has

differences in brain development and brain activity that affect attention, the ability to sit still, and

self-control. Symptoms People May Experience –Behavioral: aggression, excitability,

fidgeting, hyperactivity, impulsivity, irritability, lack of restraint, or persistent repetition of

words or actions. Cognitive: absent-mindedness, difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, problem

paying attention, or short attention span. Mood: anger, anxiety, boredom, excitement, or mood

swings.
ADHD – what doctors are saying

What is the cause of ADHD?

Angelica V. Robles, MD: The cause of ADHD I think is caused by an imbalance in

neurotransmitters in the brain that help regulate executive functioning. It also runs in family

showing that there is a genetic link. This affects some different areas of the brain, but really

affects the prefrontal cortex where most of this executive functioning occurs. As the brain

continues to develop, executive functioning generally improves. The brain actually continues to

develop until around the mid-20’s.

Lisa S. Mills, MD: The cause of ADHD is unknown but likely some influence of genetics and

abnormal transmission of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters).

Is ADHD being over-diagnosed?

Angelica V. Robles, MD: I think that ADHD can be given as an incorrect diagnosis at times and

may lead to some over-diagnosis. For example, for children with inattention alone- this is

commonly diagnosed as ADHD, inattentive-type. ADHD-predominately inattentive-type is

actually less common compared to the predominately-hyperactive or combined-type. In most

cases, the inattention may actually due to a learning disability/difficulty, anxiety, and/or

depression. That is why it is important to look into all of these areas before making a diagnosis.

Lisa S. Mills, MD: This is a hard question–I think the term ADHD is misused, ie a lot of people

toss it around in casual conversation. Additionally, I think there are children who appear

inattentive and hyperactive and meet ADHD criteria though have another underlying often
undiagnosed issue–learning disorder, autism spectrum disorder, even anxiety and depression.

The diagnosis generally should not be made without some form of validated testing. Most often

used are Vanderbilt scales because they are easy to access and complete and do not require a lot

of financial commitment. I am always appreciative of a more comprehensive psychoeducational

profile that looks for some of the other conditions such as learning disorders but these are not

generally covered by insurance and too costly for many families.

To Medicate or Not to Medicate

Just for a moment, imagine being a child who is constantly fidgety, hyperactive, irritable, and

impulsive – and you can’t control it. Now imagine having to take a medication every day that

alters who you are as a person. It makes you quieter, almost zombie-like as well as suffering a

loss in appetite. This is the reality many young children face in the United States. Attention

Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is on the rise and children as young as three-years old are being

diagnosed and placed on medication.

Families are increasingly opting for medications to treat kids. Two-thirds of children with a

current diagnosis are being medicated — a jump of 28 percent from 2007 to 2011.

The American Academy of Pediatric almost always recommends that, before age 6, you start

with behavior therapy. Not only do most stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall affect children’s

growth, they come with a list of side effects.

ADHD – what doctors are saying

Is ADHD treatable without medication?

Angelica V. Robles, MD: I think ADHD can be treatable without medication in certain

situations, but not all. This depends on how well the child is functioning academically and in the

home. If the ADHD is primarily the inattentive type, it is actually better to make sure learning
supports and mood are being addressed before going to medication. Medication at times may

also not be as effective for this type.

Lisa S. Mills, MD: Some children respond well to non-medication therapies for ADHD. This

generally involves routines, low distraction environment, praises/rewards (including offering of

prizes for reached goals), setting simple goals, checklists. It is also important to give a lot of

positive reinforcement, commenting often on good behavior. Additionally, we incorporate

modifications in classrooms such as preferred seating arrangements near front of class, extra time

for testing, or testing outside typical classroom. At times parent-child therapy can be helpful.

Therapy

Behavior therapy: given by parents and with the support of healthcare providers, teaches

children to better control their own behavior, leading to improved functioning at school, home

and in relationships. Learning and practicing behavior therapy requires time and effort, but it has

lasting benefits for the child.

 WHAT WILL PARENTS LEARN?

Parents learn how to:

• Strengthen the relationship with their child through positive communication, for example, active

listening and describing emotions

• Reinforce good behavior, for example, giving positive attention and effective praise for good

behavior

• Create structure and provide consistent discipline, for example, giving effective instructions,

withholding attention for unwanted behavior, and effective use of time-out

 Journaling the Journey

December 17, 2017

I don’t know what to do with Lennox. It’s two days before his 3rd birthday and he decides to

destroy their television out of anger. He could’ve hurt himself! I’m concerned with this rage he

has. What could he possibly be upset about at two? Dr. Mills doesn’t believe me, but I know

something is off. Something is not right with his behavior and it’s only getting worse.
January 28, 2018

Today was a pretty good day. Well, besides Lennox’s huge meltdown. I took Sincere, Lennox

and Chance to Discovery Place to spend some cousin time together. Everything was going great

until Lennox decided to fall out on the floor kicking and screaming. I don’t understand why the

slightest thing can set him off and turn him into a madman. It is so embarrassing. What was I

thinking trying to juggle three boys today?

August 20, 2018

Today was bittersweet. I took Lennox to Novant Health Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics

for a screening and received both good news and bad news. The good news was that I had

someone who was willing to listen to my concerns. The bonus was that she agreed with all of

them. She could clearly see I needed help and guidance with Lennox. The bad news was
officially hearing that he did indeed have ADHD. I knew deep down for months this was the

inevitable, but seeing it confirmed on his medical paperwork was gut-wrenching. To make

matters worse, she believed he may have ASD. My heart sunk. There’s no way Lennox has

autism. It’s just impossible. He’s so smart and a social butterfly. She’s wrong. The next step for

us is getting him started on Guanfacine in hopes of calming him down so he can receive

treatment. Fingers crossed.

October 3, 2018

Could today get any worse? I received a call today from Lennox’s daycare around lunch time

that I needed to come pick him up immediately. I get to the school and I see Lennox being

restrained. The first thing that crossed my mind was why is my three-year-old not wearing a shirt

or socks and shoes? Why is this woman pinning his arms across his chest? What is going on?

She explains to me that Lennox had a tantrum and started to get physical with the staff. Due to

safety reasons he could not return to that center. Did I hear her correctly? Did she just say that

Lennox could not return to her daycare indefinitely? In no way do I tolerate physical violence,
but he’s three year’s old and weighs less than thirty pounds. He’s in no way a threat to any adult!

Enough is enough. What am I supposed to do now? I have to work. I need him in school. Jesus

take the wheel.

Works Cited

Aubrey, Allison. “More Children Are Being Medicated for ADHD Than Before.” NPR, NPR, 22

Nov. 2013, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/11/22/246771526/more-children-

are-being-medicated -for-adhd-than-before. Accessed 2 March 2019.

Behavior Therapy Images. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/behavior-therapy.html

Cohen, Marisa. “ADHD: Can You Treat It Without Drugs?” WebMD, WebMD,

www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/can-you-treat-adhd-without-drugs. Accessed

3 March 2019.

Brain Images. https://images.app.goo.gl/VEi5KYiVRY6Z9tga8

Mills, Lisa S. Personal Interview. 5 February 2019

Pakdaman, Fatemeh, et al. “The Efficacy of Ritalin in ADHD Children Under Neurofeedback

training.(Report).” Neurological Sciences, vol. 39, no. 12, Springer, Dec. 2018, pp. 2071–

78, doi:10.1007/s10072-018-3539-3. Accessed 21 February 2019.

Robles, Angelica V. Personal interview. 5 February 2019

Squire, Ann. ADHD True Book. New York, Scholastic Children’s Press. 2017.

Statistics for ADHD Images. https://www.addrc.org/adhd-numbers-facts-statistics-and-you/

Peer Review Comments:

Just finished looking at your website, I believe it is very good. It is organized well and
has lots of cute pictures. The content is very good, the way you can relate your life to
ADHD makes your claims even stronger. The statistics and journal entries are powerful
evidence to your overall theme. I couldn't imagine being the mother of Lennox, I know at
times it is chaotic, but you just have to persevere. I know Lennox has a bright future
coming from a mother that really loves him and works really hard, he will be a prodigy of
yours. I know from experience of being the oldest in the family that the younger ones at
ages 3-7 are hectic to deal with but overtime they will mature and behave better. I
admire your work and to be honest the website gives me a blogging vibe, but I like it
and especially since this is my first time reading about ADHD. Keep working hard and I
wish you all the best! Lennox is a really cute kid!

Best Regards,
Richard Vaca