The U.S. National Institutes of
Health reports that:
"Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that becomes apparent
in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is hard for
these children to control their behavior and/or pay attention. It is
estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of children have ADHD, or
approximately 2 million children in the United States. This means that in a
classroom of 25 to 30 children, it is likely that at least one will have
ADHD."
A child with ADHD faces a difficult but not
insurmountable task ahead. In order to achieve his or her full potential, he
or she should receive help, guidance, and understanding from parents, guidance
counselors, and the public education system. The research is clear that ADHD
and its management is best accomplished through a variety of mechanisms
tailored to the specific child's circumstances, including: medications,
behavioral interventions, as well as parent training and educational options.
The principal characteristics of ADHD are
inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms appear early in a
child's life. Because many normal children may have these symptoms, but
at a lower level, or the symptoms may be caused by another disorder, it is
important that the child receive a thorough examination and appropriate
diagnosis by a well-qualified professional.
It is essential to know that all children are
sometimes restless, sometimes act without thinking, and sometimes daydream the
time away. Symptoms of ADHD will appear over the course of many months,
often with the symptoms of impulsiveness and hyperactivity preceding those of
inattention, which may not emerge for a year or more. Different symptoms
may appear in different settings, depending on the demands the situation may
pose for the child's self-control. A child who "can't sit
still" or is otherwise disruptive will be noticeable in school, but the
inattentive daydreamer may be overlooked. The impulsive child who acts
before thinking may be considered just a "discipline problem," while
the child who is passive or sluggish may be viewed as merely
unmotivated. Yet both may have different types of ADHD. When the
child's hyperactivity, distractibility, poor concentration, or impulsivity
begin to affect performance in school, social relationships with other
children, or behavior at home, ADHD may be suspected. But because the symptoms
vary so much across settings, ADHD is not easy to diagnose. This is especially
true when inattentiveness is the primary symptom.
In addition to our Director, Dr. Robert
Montgomery, Reinforcement Unlimited is very fortunate to have
Dr. Christine Montgomery who is an expert on ADHD and other learning and
impulse control disorders. Dr. Montgomery has training in
neuropsychology and extensive experience in evaluating children. Her
training includes work at the University
of Georgia System's Regents Center for Learning Disorders, at the
neuropsychology unit of Scottish Rite Hospital, and with one of the world's
leading authorities on ADHD - Dr.
William Pelham. She works with Dr. Robert Montgomery to ensure
that your child receives the highest quality evaluation.
A correct diagnosis often resolves confusion
about the reasons for the child's problems. This can allow parents and child
to move
forward in their lives with more accurate information on what is wrong and
what can be done to help. Once the disorder is diagnosed, the child and
family can begin to receive whatever combination of educational, medical, and
emotional help they need. This may include providing recommendations to
school staff, seeking out a more appropriate classroom setting, selecting the
right medication, and helping parents to manage their child's behavior.
To assess whether a child has ADHD, psychologists consider several critical
questions: Are these behaviors excessive, long-term, and pervasive? That is,
do they occur more often than in other children the same age? Are they a
continuous problem, not just a response to a temporary situation? Do the
behaviors occur in several settings or only in one specific place like the
playground or in the schoolroom? The person's pattern of behavior is compared
against a set of criteria and characteristics of the disorder as listed in the
DSM-IV. Additionally, children suspected of having ADHD are more likely
than normal to also have a variety of other disorders such as a specific
learning disability. It is for this reason that a comprehensive
psychological evaluation, not merely a meeting with the pediatrician (who can
also diagnose ADHD) is recommended.
Dr. Montgomery uses a process approach to
designing and conducting evaluations that tailors the process to meet the
unique needs of the specific child. She works in concert with Dr. Robert
Montgomery and incorporates information from direct evaluation of the child,
school and parent reports, medical records, and unstructured observations of
the child. This comprehensive evaluation provides the best assessment of
each child and results in specific recommendations for treatment (if needed)
that includes child, parent, and school interventions.
We appreciate your visiting our
website. We understand that the process of seeking an evaluation for
your child can be overwhelming and frightening at the same time. We have
been there with our own children and hope that this helps us in being better
equipped to work with you. If you have any questions at all about us,
our practice, whether we are the right fit for you and your family we
encourage you to call and talk to our staff and ourselves. We aren't
always the right fit, and if we are not we will do our
best to provide you with resources that best meet your needs.
Call us at 770-591-9552 to discuss
your child's needs.
A
handout on what information we need in order to provide you the best
evaluation possible is available to guide you in preparing for the initial
evaluation appointment. 
Reinforcement Unlimited . All Rights Reserved.