ADHD or Anxiety

[terribm]

Hi, Looking for some advice. DD-9 was diagnosed with ADHD last year. She has inattentive type but not hyper activity or impulse control issues. We knew prior to her testing that she has some axiety issues. So we started her on medication, stratera at first and then a different one that I can't think of right now. We never saw that "night and day" difference that so many other parents told me about. We tinkered with doses trying to get it right since she had end of grade testing coming up. We never noticed any real difference but she was not struggling in school and she did really well on her EOG's. Does anyone think she could have been missed diagnosed with the ADHD and it is really the symptoms of her anxiety that made it look like ADHD. I really don't want to start off this school year with medication that in my opinion, is not doing anything for her. Also, do I go and make her new teacher aware of this or wait and see if she notices anything. She is in a very small (12 students) class and the teacher should be tuned in if anything seems off with her. I welcome your opinions.

thanks,
T

 

[Liberty Belle]

ADHD is misdiagnosed quite a bit, so it's possible. My son has ADHD and anxiety. I was really worried this medication would make his anxiety worse, but it hasn't seemed to (and he's on nothing for the anxiety). He takes the Daytrana Patch 10 mg and it's been the best medication for him so far (he's taken Straterra and Adderall, too). The Adderall did seem to make his anxiety worse.

 

[Pembo]

DS is hyper but also has anxiety issues and yet the ADHD meds never seemed to work, enough. Turns out he has a mild form of Asperger's Syndrome and there's no meds for that.

I'd give the teacher a couple weeks and then make an appt to talk about your dd. Let her form opinions without knowing previous issues.

 

[Christine]

There is always the possibility of misdiagnosis. However, inattentive-type ADHD is one of the most difficult to treat. Medication doesn't seem to be as effective. My DD has this and, at age 19, STILL has it. She has been on and off medication since she was in 4th grade and it never really made much of a difference. My son also has ADHD but he has the more "classic" ADHD and the medication made the "night and day" difference in him. It works so well for him.

I feel so bad for my daughter because you would never, ever think she was ADHD but she has some of the signs and the inattentiveness is the biggest part of it.

What seemed to work well for her at the elementary level was more intervention on our parts and the teachers' parts. Once we knew there was an issue, steps were taken in the classroom (seating her up front, getting cues from the teacher when she was drifting off, etc).