Medical Testing Right or Wrong?

[mom2twoangels]

What is the name of your state? Virginia

My ex and I share joint legal custody. Our 7 year old daughter is doing extremely poor in school and with the issues she's having, all the signs point to her possibly having ADD. Her father is firmly against her being tested, but the situation with her in school is only getting worse. Since we are unable to agree will we have to go to court to have a judge decide whether or not she can be tested by our pediatrician or am I able to just take her?

Thank you in advance for any insight.What is the name of your state?

 

[CJane]

What, EXACTLY does your court order state regarding medical decisions?

 

[mom2twoangels]

The court order is vague and just states we are to keep each other "informed" of medical appointments, schooling and extra ciricular activities. I want to be sure this is not an actual legal decision I'm making without him that there could be repercussions for.

Thanks.

 

[CJane]

The court order is vague and just states we are to keep each other "informed" of medical appointments, schooling and extra ciricular activities. I want to be sure this is not an actual legal decision I'm making without him that there could be repercussions for.

Thanks.

Well... if it were me, and the order said "inform" not "agree to" or "confer with" or "consult" then that's exactly what I would do.

I would inform him that your daughter has an appointment w/DrX at whenever on XX/XX/XXXX. Let him know he's welcome to come.

IF it's believed that your child DOES have ADHD, I would recommend that you seek a diagnosis beyond one based on behavioral issues. There are new brain imagine techniques that will show the actual physiological differences in a child's brain when they have ADHD as compared to a child that does not. This will avoid an incorrect diagnosis.

http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392460&cat=1_5

 

[Just Blue]

Well... if it were me, and the order said "inform" not "agree to" or "confer with" or "consult" then that's exactly what I would do.

I would inform him that your daughter has an appointment w/DrX at whenever on XX/XX/XXXX. Let him know he's welcome to come.

IF it's believed that your child DOES have ADHD, I would recommend that you seek a diagnosis beyond one based on behavioral issues. There are new brain imagine techniques that will show the actual physiological differences in a child's brain when they have ADHD as compared to a child that does not. This will avoid an incorrect diagnosis.

http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392460&cat=1_5

Good advice...You would also want the testing done by a Pediatric Neurologist or a Neuro-psychologist.

 

[xylene]

Good advice...You would also want the testing done by a Pediatric Neurologist or a Neuro-psychologist.

Because it is worth thousands of dollars to wring the doubt out...

And if your kid is diagnosed 6 different way the lifetime stigma of mental illness is less.

 

[TCool]

I wouldn't be too quick to put your child on drugs. There are so many things that can cause a child to do poor in school besides adhd. I don't know all the numbers, but I happen to know a few psychologists who are extremely concerned with the rate at which children are being diagnosed with adhd. They seem doubtful that adhd is that big of a problem and believe that it is definitely highly over diagnosed.

 

[Just Blue]

Because it is worth thousands of dollars to wring the doubt out...

And if your kid is diagnosed 6 different way the lifetime stigma of mental illness is less.

Could you clarify your sarcasm for me please???

 

[Sculptor]

Maybe your school....

...can be called on to do an IEP on your child. My daughter was exhibiting some behavioral problems and inability to focus or organize. Her dad blamed the school and teachers and denied my daughter's problems, while I requested an assessment. Both mediator and daughter's therapist said that I not only had the right, they backed me up.

The assessment included academic, IQ and emotional testing by the school's special education expert, school psychiatrist and counselor. My daughter was deemed not to be ADD or ADHD, but to have emotional problems that interfered with her learning. We put what's called a 504 plan in place, which sets up a behavioral mod plan.

I live in MD, and have been told not every state or county offers this. It's definitely worth a try. Good luck

 

[lealea1005]

Could you clarify your sarcasm for me please???

I would also be intersted in that clarification!!!

It is archaic to believe that a child diagnosed with ADD faces "a lifetime stigma of mental illness". Although I can agree that an experienced Pediatrician/Family Physician is more than qualified to order the testing and make the diagnosis. The sub-specialist can rule out other factors which may be causing the symptomology.

 

[Just Blue]

I would also be intersted in that clarification!!!

It is archaic to believe that a child diagnosed with ADD faces "a lifetime stigma of mental illness". Although I can agree that an experienced Pediatrician/Family Physician is more than qualified to order the testing and make the diagnosis. The sub-specialist can rule out other factors which may be causing the symptomology.

Exactly! My daughter is PDD...with some other "lesser" issues. A Pedi would never have been able to Dx those other issues. As a matter of fact her PDD wasn't Dx till I brought her to a Pedi-Neurologist. Her doctor knew there was neurological issue buy not the exact Dx.

My daughter has no "stigma" attached to her. She is at the top of her class academically with an IQ of 116...High normal. By having the proper Eval done she has been able to get services so that her future will be as "normal" as possible.

 

[xylene]

Could you clarify your sarcasm for me please???

Sure.

A psychiatric diagnosis IS a valid diagnosis.

Brain scans and other physical tests are, nearly universally, a waste of resources to understanding mental illness, that serve only to allay a parents fear of mental illness by allowing them to cling to the false solace of physical etiology. (Clarifying - Worldview of Physical as divorce from mental. All body processes are physical...

If there was any basis to conclude a brain malady or was involved... like olfactory hallucinations for instance... then scans would be warranted.

A preemptive scan to assuage a parents fear of mental illness - NOT WARRANTED.

The basis for such a scan: All too many would RATHER find their child's behavior was caused by a brain tumor than an intangible, and WHOLLY incurable mental illness.

 

[CJane]

Sure.

A psychiatric diagnosis IS a valid diagnosis.

I don't believe I stated that a psychiatric diagnosis was invalid. What I said was, rather than going strictly on behavior as an indicator of an issue, more probing should be done. Too many children are incorrectly diagnosed w/ADHD as a behavioral issue rather than a physiological one.

Brain scans and other physical tests are, nearly universally, a waste of resources to understanding mental illness, that serve only to allay a parents fear of mental illness by allowing them to cling to the false solace of physical etiology.

These brainscans are VERY effective in diagnosing whether or not the ADHD-like symptoms are, in fact, physiological or if they are instead behavioral. Different treatment methods should be used in the different cases.

If there was any basis to conclude a brain malady or was involved... like olfactory hallucinations for instance... then scans would be warranted.

Perhaps, if anyone had suggested they should be looking for tumors... but no one suggested that.

A preemptive scan to assuage a parents fear of mental illness - NOT WARRANTED.

No one said anything about preemptive. And no one mentioned a 'fear of mental illness'. I won't accept a dx of strep throat in my kids w/out a test being run... why one earth would I suggest that anyone accept a dx of ADHD w/out further physiological/neurological testing?

The basis for such a scan: All too many would RATHER find their child's behavior was caused by a brain tumor than an intangible, and WHOLLY incurable mental illness.

Again, you're the only one ranting about tumors. I'm talking about a scan that can show how the child's brain functions under stimulation.

 

[TCool]

I'd have to agree with CJane. I'd do the scan. ADHD, in my opinion, is highly over diagnosed. The problem seems to be that if they see behavior associated with ADHD its assumed thats what the problem is. I don't think thats something you should be assuming, considering the fact that you are most likely putting your child on drugs. And just because the behavior is similar to that of an ADHD child does not mean that it is ADHD. Behaviors can be caused by many factors. In my opinion it is worth finding out for sure.

As for a family physician diagnosing this to be adequate, I'd have to disagree. I'm not even sure a family physician has the power to make a diagnosis on mental illnesses. I would go to a psychologist or a psychiatrist for something like this. And, I'd watch out for anyone who seems to just slap that diagnosis on any kid who walks through their door, because it seems to me that is what is happening a lot in cases of certain mental illnesses such as ADHD and depression.