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epoh · **Any other parents of kids w/ADHD in the DFW area? -** 02-11-2008, 04:51 PM

Got any psychiatrist/psychologist/counselor recommendations? I think we need a psychologist or counselor to do the official testing. I am going to check in with my pediatrician's office tomorrow, but I've found 5 dr's in the area that my insurance covers and was wondering if anyone here had any knowledge of these guys.

Lisa Ferrell (Grapevine)
Constance Celaya Forbes (Hurst)
Clifford Cooley (Arlington)
John Price (Arlington)
Lorayne Genaro (Keller)

We know about the Child Study Center in Fort Worth but our insurance doesn't cover that unless the kid is exhibiting signs of like schizophrenia or something, and besides they have a several month long waiting list. We've been to the Parenting Center, and they were great, but they don't do diagnoses or testing, nor can they prescribe anything...

Thanks for any input guys!

SPStakem · 02-11-2008, 05:07 PM

Hey there Amy. I do not know of any of those Dr's but I can tell you who NOT to use. Stay away from the Davisson Clinic in Dallas. It is a scam and he charges $500 to do a 20 minute test and then $100/month to renew your perscription each month. Then you still have to pay for the medicine on top of that. It's a scam. I now get my perscriptions at no charge from my family doctor and pay $10 for the adderall a month! Haha. Good luck though!

Duffy Pratt · 02-11-2008, 05:36 PM

Be very careful about the diagnosis. There are alot of kids out there who are getting drugged for acting like kids.

lscottpht · 02-11-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffy Pratt

Be very careful about the diagnosis. There are alot of kids out there who are getting drugged for acting like kids.

My thoughts exactly!

epoh · 02-11-2008, 05:42 PM

Duffy - I totally agree. Our first order of business is to get an official diagnosis. Then we will see about counseling and other resources to help us learn to discipline him better. We would only do medication if it became necessary once he started school.

brad · 02-11-2008, 05:42 PM

Do not be too quick to jump on the ADHD bandwagon... there are lots of other things that could be at the root of the problem and ADHD drugs will only serve to cover up those problems without actually solving them. Statistics show something like 10% of kids are under treatment for ADHD and like disorders, but experts say that only 1-3% of kids actually have it.

If your child is in public school, insist that they be tested for the things that could be causing problems in class... most specifically a learning difference. Your child could be super intelligent, but suffering in one area that is making it difficult to work well in a classroom setting.

My son (now 17 and a senior in high school) struggled throughout elementary school with behavior issues.. and we let the school pressure us into thinking it was ADHD and that it was our problem to get it diagnosed and treated (we never did put him on ADHD meds, but we tried a lot of things and a lot of experts in the field.. all at our cost). The reason for this is that if the school identifies it... they are financially responsible for diagnosing it... and coming up with an alternative education plan under the ADA. They will delay and fight and tell you flat out lies to avoid paying for this.

In the end, it wasn't until the 7th grade that we found out that our son had a writing based learning difference similar to dyslexia. His behavioral issues were all rooted in that... he was trying to avoid doing writing work in class because he couldn't do it on grade level even though his intelligence level was way above grade level (he was reading at a college level in the third grade).

Its possible that ADHD is actually in play here... and an LD is just one possible "other" cause... there are lots of reasons they could be showing those signs. Talk to some experts... do NOT go to a doctor with the idea that ADHD meds will solve all their problems. One place to start is to do some research into a DFW based doctor named Mary Ann Block.... just do some reading before you start handing out meds.

JohnT · 02-11-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffy Pratt

Be very careful about the diagnosis. There are alot of kids out there who are getting drugged for acting like kids.

Thanks for saying that. I was beginning to think that I was the only one who believed that way.

brad · 02-11-2008, 05:47 PM

Dr. Block's website: http://www.blockcenter.com/

Debbi · 02-11-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffy Pratt

Be very careful about the diagnosis. There are alot of kids out there who are getting drugged for acting like kids.

True, very true; however, it is a real condition for some. My son (who is about to turn 22) was diagnosed in the 4th grade with ADD. I don't remember the name of the place. Downtown FTW and was recommended by his doctor. We went thru all of the testing at school, with his pediatrician and EXTENSIVE tests at this "place" before getting a diagnosis. There are so many other treatments now that still allow kids to be kids. We still had behavior issues and never lost sight of his personality. For children who truly have this condition, it is tough. He hasn't been on medication in years but still has it. You can spend 30 minutes having a conversation and you can almost see his mind wondering around everything but what we are discussing. He even mentioned last week while he was home visiting that he needs to see the Navy doc and get back on his meds.

Bottom line, make sure the proper testing is done and if your child is diagnosed, keep a close eye on their medication and the child's reaction to it. I've seen kids that look and act like zombies as soon as their meds kick in and it's very sad. Best of luck to you.

SCone · 02-11-2008, 07:17 PM

Take a look at some of the alternatives

http://www.mental-health-matters.com....php?artID=435

brad · 02-11-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debbi

You can spend 30 minutes having a conversation and you can almost see his mind wondering around everything but what we are discussing.

Heh.. as adults, we call that multi-tasking and it can be a skill if harnessed properly. LOL

Toad · 02-11-2008, 08:47 PM

I am 28 now, but from Kindergarden to the 5th grade, the school insisted I see a shrink because I was so "obviously" ADHD. In the 5th grade, they told my parents that they either had to send me to get help, or I would have to leave the school (private school by the way). The reason why the school thought I was ADHD?... I didn't do my homework... ever.
So... I spent 6 weeks in a hospital, where I got to try all sorts of fun drugs, and they got to have fun playing vampires by drawing my blood 3 times a day.
Finally, I was released from the hospital with a prescription (don't remember what the name was).
Well... 1 week after leaving the hospital, I quit taking the meds, and started hiding them in a jar from my parents.
2 months later, the school was praising how well I was doing now, and how the meds had helped me so much. Then, one day while at my monthly appointment, I pulled out the jar in front of the doctor and my dad, and set it on his desk. Upon seeing the jar full of pills that I had supposedly been taking, my dad led me out of the doctors office, and cancelled all further prescriptions and appointments.

I wasn't ADHD. I just hated school.