Parents who suspect their child suffers from ADD are often confused about where to turn for help. One trip to the pediatrician may not result in a proper diagnosis because children with ADD are able to control their behavior in novel or intimidating situations, such as doctor visits, and parents may be dismissed as overly concerned, experts say.
Also, because no reliable test, such as a blood test or urinalysis, is available to determine whether a child has ADD and because frustrated families have often developed other problems due to the disorder, diagnosing it can mean untangling a complicated web created over several years.
A number of school districts in the southwest suburbs turn to the Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation and Development at Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn when they suspect a student suffers from ADD. The department`s interdisciplinary team, consisting of an early childhood education specialist, speech and language pathologist, occupational therapist and psychologist, evaluate approximately 15 children a week, many of whom are diagnosed with the disorder.
”Schools, pediatricians and parents come to us for help,” said Julie Bator, an occupational therapist for the department. ”We evaluate the child and try to help the family find appropriate services in the community.”
The department provides neonatal developmental evaluations for infants from the hospital`s special care nursery, early childhood evaluations for those from infancy to 5 years of age, and developmental evaluations for school-age children.
To create a complete picture of the child`s overall functioning, the team conducts in-depth interviews with the parents and, if the child is attending school, sends a questionnaire to the child`s teacher.
”We compare what the teachers say, what the parents tell us and what we see ourselves,” said Maurice Solodky, a clinical psychologist in the department. ”We use all the information we can.”
If the team determines that the child has ADD, it may recommend that the patient return to his pediatrician for medication. Often they suggest counseling, where parents are taught to organize their children`s environment because youngsters do best where rules and expectations are clear and consistent. Children in counseling are encouraged to complete tasks and follow directions.
Some families are referred to experts in the community, while some are squeezed into the department`s busy caseload. Regardless of where they go, Solodky said, it`s important they seek help somewhere.
”Some parents come in and say, `Give my kid the evaluation, find out what`s wrong and fix it.` They don`t realize it`s not that easy,” Solodky said. ”It`s a cooperative effort, and we have to join forces.
”Because ADD doesn`t just go away, my goal is to help parents develop tools to deal with it.”
