“Dear Dr. B.,
I’ve been wondering if my child has an attention problem. How do I know? It seems like ADHD is over-diagnosed and I don’t want to put her on medication. K.D.”
I’m glad you asked. Accurate diagnosis is critical. I think you are right – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often over-diagnosed. This often happens when a parent or teacher is concerned about a child’s functioning and then a diagnosis is made off a checklist.
Truth be told, depending on the time of day we took it, we might all look like we have a touch of ADHD now and then. A neuropsychological evaluation actually assesses an individual’s true level of functioning to help arrive at a diagnosis, after an interview confirms a certain degree of questionable symptoms occurring.
If you are concerned about your child, do a little investigative work. Talk with her teachers to see how her attention is in class. If she is in extracurricular activities, speak with the leaders there to see how well she pays attention compared to her peers. If you attend church and she participates in church activities, ask her leaders about her attention and performance.
And pay attention to her behavior at home. Does she daydream? Does she struggle with organizational skills? Does she have difficulty independently managing multiple step tasks without frequent reminders or repetition of instructions by you? Does she have difficulty listening when you speak to her directly? Does she interrupt you when you are speaking?
We all do these things from time to time, but if you notice a habitual pattern and you hear similar reports from those in her other environments, then I would schedule an appointment to have her evaluated by a local neuropsychologist.
I hear your last concern frequently. Most of us don’t want to medicate our children (or ourselves) unnecessarily. Rest assured, even if your child has a diagnosable attention disorder, there are many avenues of treatment to consider. Medication is helpful in certain situations, but medication is certainly not the only treatment possibility.
I hope this helps put your mind at rest and give you a little guidance. Best of luck to you.
Hope Prevails!
DrB
(If you have a question you’d like Dr. B to answer, contact her here now. Your name and identity will be kept confidential.)
A short brief about Hope Prevails.
Hope Prevails
Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression
Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Speaking from personal and professional experience, a neuropsychologist unpacks what depression is, shows how it affects us spiritually, and offers hope for living the abundant life.
Neuropsychologist Offers Hope to Those Struggling with Depression
-By 2020, depression will be our greatest epidemic worldwide
- An estimated 350 million people worldwide suffer from some form of depression
- As with the bestselling My Stroke of Insight, the author experienced the same condition she treats
- Helpful features include personal stories, biblical truths, prayers, and music recommendations
In Hope Prevails, Dr. Bengtson writes with deep compassion and empathy, blending her extensive training and faith, to offer readers a hope that is grounded in God’s love and grace. She helps readers understand what depression is, how it affects them spiritually, and what, by God’s grace, it cannot do. The result is a treatment plan that addresses the whole person—not just chemical imbalances in the brain.
For those who struggle with depression and those that want to help them, Hope Prevails offers real hope for the future.
Hope Prevails is available now wherever books are sold. To find out more, see: https://drmichellebengtson.com/hope-prevails-book/.
