Can any one help with ideas on how we can find the right doctor to evaluate and treat our 18 yo ds with ADD? We live overseas, which makes it very difficult! Right now “M.” has graduated from high school (pretty good GPA, but dismal senior year) and is living and working with his aunt and uncle in Columbus OH. He’s taking Paxil for racing thoughts which keep him from sleeping, but now his attention problems are becoming worse, he complains he’s in a “fog”. (BTW, he took Ritalin and Dexedrine for two years with no impact on schoolwork, it just made him feel nervous and uptight.)
A week ago I picked up Dr. Amen’s book “Healing ADD” and was amazed at the comprehensive program he presents, utilizing brain scans, medications, supplements, exercise, counseling, diet–everything and anything that might work. There is a big list in the back of the book with recommendations, but none in Ohio.
If you’re familiar with the book, “M.” is a pretty clear-cut “Ring of Fire” type, with all the normal ADD symptoms PLUS hypersensitivity to environment (textures, tastes, sounds, light etc.), rages, insists on his own way, racing thoughts etc. It’s gotten so much worse–this past year was a nightmare. It seems like college, a full-time job, or even driving are out of the question until he gets some help.
How do we track down a doc who understands and is sympathetic to this new (?) approach? Do we work our way through the yellow pages or is there a better way? At least he’s in the States now–over here there’s NOTHING available as far as treatment or understanding.
Thanks!
Cheryl
Re: Finding the Right Doctor
Thanks for the information–there has to be something available in a big metropolitan area like Columbus! The Internet is a wonderful resource, but trying to deal with this from 6000 miles away is challenging.
Our son is aware of his difficulties–he’s complained about being “spacy” and “in a fog” lately. I think that’s especially due to the Paxil–he’s taking 20 mg/day because of “racing thoughts” at night. The Paxil has helped that problem but he needs to get off it until he has a more specific diagnosis from someone with more expertise than our local GP. Now I’ve read that many folks have had difficulties “withdrawing” from Paxil. Sigh… He’s going to look for L-Tyrosine or L-Dopa (lots of silly humor there :-) as natural parallels to Ritalin until we find the right program.
“M” hasn’t always been very cooperative with treatments in the past, so right now we’re just trying to find information and treatment possibilities. You’re absolutely right–when they reach a certain age, all you can do is put the options in front of them and pray!
Cheryl
Re: Finding the Right Doctor
There is a national organization for children and adults with ADD/ADHD called CHADD. Their web site is www.chadd.org. At the web site you can look up chapters in Ohio. Like any volunteer organization, services and knowledge of members can vary in quality from site to site, but it is one place to start to get personal recommendations on local physicians who are good with adolescents with ADHD and possibly other learning or emotional issues. Sometimes there are family support groups, etc. Columbus, OH is a large enough city with a good university that after you find several people who have dealt with similar situations, perhaps the name of one or more doctors will start to emerge as likely good candidates to work with your son. Best wishes.
Re: Finding the Right Doctor
Try writing Dr. Amen directly and see if he responds. (the publisher of the book forwards letters to authors) Explain that you need a doctor’s name in Ohio.
As his book lays out a course of programs so clearly, though, couldn’t some of the interventions be put in place even without a doctor? Have your son’s aunt and uncle read the book as well and are they as enthusiastic about it as you? If they are, it sounds as if the diet and exercise could start immediately while you continue to look for the right doctor to authorize brain scans and counseling.
Good luck.
contact your state medical school
University of Ohio…or any other state medical school in Ohio. Contact the psychiatry department. Request referrals. Good luck.
Some universities have programs that specialize in ADD. UCIrvine in California there is Dr. Marc Lerner and Dr. James Swanson who did the Snap-IV scale…UCIrvine does clinical trials with medications and behavioral modification. Dr. Amen has a clinic in Newport Beach, CA along with his clinic in Northern California.
On the east coast I have heard of Dr. Alan B. Wachtel who is a professor of Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine at (212)348-0175. In Providence Rhode Island there is Patricia Raymond PhD who is the director of Neuropsychology at the Prescriptive Tutoring Center in Providence, RI (401) 751-7772 [email protected]
A neurologist or psychiatrist would be a good place to start. I got help from the students with disabilities where I went to college. I guess a lot of this is up to your son, if he doesn’t think it is a problem then he may not buy into therapy according to some of my friends whose adult children have ADD. One of them had great success with the biofeedback treatment of the Drake Institute but within a few years their son who was in his early 20’s was back into the same destructive habits.