ADD/ADHD TESTING Vs Allergy Testing

He sounds exactly like my oldest daughter. She is almost 16 but has been the same way for years. I never heard of this type of behavior being allergy-related . . . although that is interesting since she has suffered from allergies for years. My daughter is highly intelligent, loves to read, but she hates math. She is in the gifted/advanced classes in high school (except math!) but she struggles because of disorganization, daydreaming, etc. Yet at the same time she can be hyperfocused on specific things . . . especially the things that she enjoys. I admit I never had her formally diagnosed because I wasn't interested in medicating her. What has helped is finding an organizational system that works for her. McKinney ISD offers a program called AVID which has to do with helping the struggling kids succeed and part of that is learning the AVID organization system. However, that did not work for my daughter but she ultimately found a system that she has been successful with. What I have learned is that I just need to be more aware of what's going on at school, etc. to help keep her on track.

Oh yeah. He sounds like a poster child for adhd-i.

COULD it be allergies? Possibly, but I'd lay money against... because you mention several of of *gifts* of adhd (hyperfocus for hours at a time, giftedness, etc.) and the things that mimic adhd ONLY mimic the downsides. ADHD always always always comes with both hyper and hypo focus. Hypofocus (distractedness) can have many sources, hyperfocus doesn't come along with those other sources. Kind of like 2 women can have equally large bellies. One is pregnant, the other is an alcoholic. Same symptom... 2 totally different causes. Remove the alcohol and only ONE woman's belly will shrink. It's like that with allergies. If you do an elimination diet, and work with a nutritionist to make sure nothing is missing from the diet, and symptoms magically disappear ... it's not adhd but was a nutrition / allergy problem. If (after about a 30-60 day placebo period -where the excitement kicks up adrenaline which naturally medicates adhd- all the same symptoms are there, it's not allergies). The "mimics" only fool non-adhd professionals, or the hacks. The ones who only know a liist of 10 negatives to look for.

((A very very cool side note: The "field" has finally recognized publicly that ALL forms of adhd have hyperactivity. ADHD-h (hyperactive) is denoted for hyperactive physical... ADHD-i (inattentive) is denoted for hyperactive mental... and ADHD-c (combined) for those of us who were too greedy -or indecisive ;) to just stick with one. They hyperactivity is ALWAYS there, but for some it expresses physically, some mentally, and some both physically and mentally. ADHD-i used to be known as ADD, and you'll still find that phrase kicking around for the next 5-10 years while the terminology shifts)).

Hyperactive mental types spend a LOT of time "in their own worlds". We have entire universes in our minds. Surfacing requires both a lot of effort and interest. It's daydreamy in appearance.

Here are a few other traits I'll bet your son has exhibited most if not all:

- "Is a pleasure in class" AND "Does not consistently or regularly complete or turn in homework"

- poor transitions (needs time in between each activity, and even with "warning" gets shocked/ surprised/ freaked out that it's time to transition)

- His own sense (or lack there of) of time. ((Time is apparently linear for most people. Our sense of time looks like a london tube map... tangled). Constantly struggles with being late.

- Sensory issues. These vary with all of us, but most of us have them. Touch, sound, light, crowds, clothes, etc. Sensory overload : TOTALLY "inappropriate" reactions to certain of these stimuli. Like shutting down completely in stores from being overwhelmed, to throwing tempertantrums about something minor and fixable.

- Strong emotions. Love, Anger, Embarrassment, Fear, Joy, pick an emotion, any emotion... and it's intense. Also comes with a protective "shut down" response where the emotions are so strong they go "blank"... retreating inward. But everything is x10. The good is fantastic, and the bad is heartbreaking.

- Background noise. As in having both the music and the TV on at the same time.

- Sleep issues. Either insomnia or oversleeping or both.

- Judging social cues incorrectly. ((I'd always translated this to social awkwardness, but in my son and several others this actually translates in THEM to charisma. They don't "know" they're "supposed" to avoid an outcasted kid, or be afraid of popular kids, so they get equally excited about *everyone*, and end up being uber popular themselves. Ditto other social "supposed to's". They just don't see them and so their own personality just shines through no matter how many times they're told to act a certain way. But more often, it really does translate to social awkwardness.)).

- Quasi-eiditic memory. Ex) being able to repeat back a conversation word for word without actually having *listened* to what was said. (I've known adhd'ers who could repeat back up to 20 minutes of what several groups of people were saying while they were reading a book or watching a movie. Their brain catalogued it without actually translating it) OR being able to recall scenes in minute detail, even years later OR absorbing *interesting* information like a sponge in almost rain-man like ability... but something they do every day (like putting their shoes in a certain place), they can't remember.

- Selective memory. He can stand there, listen to simple directions, repeat them back to you, walk away 3 feet and not remember what he's supposed to do. Or only remember a piece of it.

- Magic hands. Things disappear out of his hands. They were there, then they're not. They're somewhere (set down while his mind was elsewhere), but where is anyone's guess.

- Piling System. Others have filing systems... adhd'ers tend to pile everything in SIGHT. Creates a giant "mess", yet they can reach right into a seemingly random pile and grab exactly what was needed. Unless they're in a rush. Then they run around looking for a thing that is in plain view.

If any of this sounds familiar...

Check out www.additudemag.com and the book"You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?!?" by kate kelly & peggy ramundo.

I couldn't say it any better than Riley said it.
She always has the perfect answer for ADHD questions.
Hyper focus is a symptom of ADHD. And many ADHD kids are also gifted or have learning disabilities.

Check out " Taking charge of ADHD" for yourself and " learning to slow down and pay attention " for your child.
But the first step is to get him tested and dx. Talk to his ped he can give you a referal.

Dr. Deborah Bain of Healthy Kids Pediatrics in Frisco does this type of testing all the time. She even helped "cure" her own son on ADHD symptoms with nutrition.

She's even written a book about this type of testing.

www.healthykidspediatrics.com

I would do a few things for you son. 1- is he taking a good multivitamin? might sound silly, but I know I have inability to focus on simple tasks and forget what I am doing if I don't take mine (yet I can sit and read an entire book in one sitting)
don't waste your money on generic brand! Take a look at: www.oligofructosecomplex.com
2) I would eliminate all chemical toxins from your home- including 'normal' household cleaners, laundry detergent, fabric softner (the worst allergin for me), the disinfectants that you use. Use non-chemical cleaners! look for more info on ADD/ADHD on my website at www.livetotalwellness.com/themillers
3) Make sure he isn't eating chemicals- food colorings, any diet sweetners, etc. Things that could be 'poisoning' his system.

Hope this is able to help you!
Hugs

As you know as the mom of boys, this type of behavior is normal to an extent. However, if it is affecting his school work then you should talk to his pedi. My son has pretty severe allergies and has no problems like this. I hope you find all the answers you are looking for. Good luck!

You may find answers at these 2 websites:

www.amenclinics.com - - brain neurotransmitters, such as seratonin or dopamine, or both can be low

www.sweetpoison.com - - aspertame (NutraSweet) in diet sodas or low-calorie yogurts can be poisoning his brain

ok my experience I have a step son with adhd that can read for hours and focus on video games for hours but cant stop fidgeting. he fidgets non stop.

I have allergies and they will make you spacey and unable to focus. what you need to watch for is constantly rubbing his face and eyes and the inability to stop. I do it constantly. or his clothes hurt his body. I sneeze alot and sleep alot and cough alot when my allergies flair. adhd has inability to focus on chores allergies dont keep a diary and that should give you a way of knowing write down what he is eating and his behavior. write down the weather also. if he does this at a paticular place or paticular room. write down all symptoms people with allergies tend to get "allergy shiners" they look like they got black eyes or bags under their eyes I get bags bad. you wont know over night it will take about 30 days to notice patterns if there are any. patterns is the first step and talk to doc is second step. ps not proven yet but suspicions of add and adhd being linked with allergies so all of the above might be right.

The doctor I work for and I were talking in regards to your post. She suggested doing Neuro Adrenal testing to find out what might if anything be functioning and the allergy testing for a defined result. She also stated to stop all milk products and a gluten free diet. If you want more information you can contact me and I can give you more information. We do the testing in our office.

It does sound more like ADD, your son's teacher, school counselor and principal and your son's doctor should be able to help you get the ball rolling. I believe they will do screening within in Keller ISD but it has to be referred through his school. Mayo Clinic's online info has a helpful checklist on it but you really need the screening to come from professionals.
If you think there might be a tie in with the allergy thing, there's a good group in Southlake, Texas Regional Asthma and Allergy. They'd probably do a test on him were they put drops of common allergens on his back mark them and he has to lie there while they see what allergic reactions come up. It takes a couple hours but it could be worth finding out what he's truly allergic to.

Try Dr. Block at the block center in hurst. She is an expert in exactly what you are describing. I just watched a video online from her website of a young boy who was undergoing allergy testing and it showed a dramatic change in his behavior. Very interesting! Check it out!

You need to call Shelton! Shelton school and evaluation center specializes in this, and can help you, and most importantly your son! They're located off Arapaho and Hillcrest. Good luck!
H. Cronister

I heartily agree with the post about the gluten-free diet. I've struggled for years with "brain fog" and couldn't get my head straight. I was treated for depression, but wasn't depressed. It turned out to be gluten intolerance. There were other symptoms, too, that I never thought were part of the same thing.

He is not ADD. I have a son just like that. He can totally focus on whatever he wants to focus on! You just need to help him by managing him so he develops the desire to do the things that are not so pleasant to him but that he needs to do in life. My ex wanted to label him and cripple him with the ADD/ADHD without him being one! Nowadays too many people want to find a drug cure for just lazy kids! He may need counseling if you can't get him to understand the importance of a balanced eduaction, doing his very best, etc. But don't give up yet! In the meantime, spend a lot of one on one time with him, nurturing him and asking him to do tasks one at a time, then after a while two, and so on. For instance, take him shopping and see if you have enough money to buy 2 of something (multiplication) or 3 different items (addition), find out at the4 grocery store if it's best to buy the larger package vs. the smaller one (division), etc. He is probably very gifted, and extremely LAZY! So he is manipulating the system so he doesn't have to do the work! Be smarter than him! :-) Best wishes and God bless!

Try talking to the child doctor.