Looking for a Good Doctor to Evaluate Our Son for Behavioral issues/ADD

Hi I'm doing a new "nutrition response testing". I am specializing in this sort of thing. Maybe he doesn't have ADD at all, maybe he just needs a little healing of affected areas. I'm a chiropractor, but I have been learning this "NTS" and I am so excited about it. Call us I can help! ###-###-####
Dr. J.

I work for a private school that specializes in educating students with various learning differences, AD/HD, and Asperger's Syndrome. I work closely with several diagnosticians and counselors. I recommend Lee Ann Hamm, ###-###-#### and Dr. Derrick Blanton ###-###-####. You may also visit our website at www.greatlakesacademy.us should you want to more information regarding our school. Welcome to Dallas!

Welcome to Dallas!
I encourage you to talk to several different resources. ADHD is a big and profitable business. Schools , especially private schools, want kids "in the box". If they are not , then they want them medicated or OUT.

We were told in PreK ( age 4) that our son should be tested. We spent three long years trying to figure out "what was wrong".I had him evaluated at Our Childrens House at Baylor (an excellent facility, there will be a wait, but get on the cancellations list and you'll get in a lot faster.)

I got a nutritionist involved which was probably , in retrospect , the best thing I did. Changing his intake of gluten and refined sugars was good for all of us!

In the end we had him do occupational therapy in second grade as he did have some sensory integration issues ( check out Lakewood Pediatric Therapy for this) which mimic ADHD. Now that he is 11, in hindsight, I probably would have opted to quit working, be more hands on and get him into more outdoor activities. ( In other words, do the occupational therapy myself!)

Most kids today don't get the physical activity they need and that is one of the reasons we see so many manifestations of sensory and attention issues.

But lets be realistic. It's PRE K. Kids are not SUPPOSED to be paying attention and listening to teachers. They are SUPPOSED to be playing in the grass, counting clover and wrestling with their pals. They are KIDS. I dont' know about you but at 4, even at 5 I was not in a classroom, I was playing, outside with my mom and my friends. It sure did not hurt me down the road when I graduated with honors!

I'm an older mom and my expectations of the service an academic atmosphere should provide are highly colored by my own excellent experiences growing up in Department of Defense schools. My husband had equally excellent academic challenges in boarding schools. We finally gave up on schools, both private and public, completely, and now homeschool to the delight of our child. He is thriving , works a full grade level above his peers and has a more active social life than ever.

While not everyone can homeschool, you can take a look at different learning environments and maybe even hold him back. Pre K is not a necessary experience for children. They do not NEED to be socialized. While it can be a great experience for some, it can be a disaster for others. One triplet may love it, one may hate it. Each child is so different. I encourage you to listen to your heart, only you know what is best for your child.

Scottish Rite Hospital is another excellent resource. I can certainly second the advice about Shelton School and the others you've been told about. Dallas is full of resources and one of the best places in the country to live if you truly find you need to seek treatment for a spectrum disorder.
Good luck and whatever you do and don't let it get you down.

Hi C., Dr. Quoc Tran is a child psychologist and is in Dallas on Preston Road...he is wonderful and dealt with my son who was diagnosed with bipolar...very patient...extremely knowledgable and just great to deal with and his staff...I do not have his number on had right now...but you can find him the the phone book...I know he is on Preston...I believe at Preston and Frankford....I see that the response that you got fro Laura A. has all his information regarding phone numbers and address...Good luck...I think you will really like him.

Hey! I read the resposes and most are really good. I have been down your road. I don't think that it is a conspiracy to get kids on meds or in a box but I do think that it is important to get a couple of people to look into your situation. Lakewood pediatrics is a wonderful place but is now closed. The best road for Sensory Integration/ADD/Aspber. is Excel Pediatrics in Rockwall. the wait wont be bad at all and they are highly successful using physical, occupational therapies, interactive metranome, and biofeedback therapy. They also served as my point of contact when it was time to investigate other options.
Just remember that when we are dealing with the brain it is very rarely just one easy answer. Quite often it is a puzzle that we put together, sometimes quickly but usually it is a process. You will need to clear up one issue to see the rest. You are starting younger than most wich is wonderful for the future of your child! Good luck!

Hi C., there are several places that should be able to help..though I would not cancel the doctor appointment. Is the doctor Dr. Genecov...if not, you should try her. She is popular and may well be her.

The Shelton School (a specialized school for children with Dyslexia or ADD/ADHD) and Oak Hill School (specialized for children with developmental issues/learning differences)...both have community testing centers. They do have PhDs that do the testing. Actually, the Winston School is a specialized school as well that offers testing. All three have websites where you can get contact information.

We used Dr. Addie Beth Denton at Oak Hill and we were very pleased with her.

Just to warn you that this is a "big" industry here in Dallas...so if you get a diagnosis..and it sounds to me like he might just be a normal boy!..I'd get a second opinion from someone who does not stand to benefit from providing services to your son.

Wow I can't believe they want you to test him that young. My son is 8 years old and we really hated to put him on medicine. We waited as long as we could but finally this year took him to a doctor. We have several friends at church that use this doctor and we really like him. His name is Dr. Tran 17736 Preston, Suite 101 Dallas Tx. 75252 and his phone is ###-###-####. The name is Dallas Psychiatric Associates. Good luck!
L. A

Hi C.,

There is a consultant to our school distrist which is Highland Park ISD who has her own practice. She is fabulous and speaks at a lot of autism forums and I think has published a book. Her name is Marilyn Monteiro PH.D at 14673 Midway Road #215, Addison, TX. Her phone is ###-###-####. She has a wonderful reputation.

While I can't offer you any advice, I can say that I know exactly how you feel. I'm in the same boat with my 4 year old son. He has his good & his bad days. When he's on a good day, he's excellent! But when it's a bad day, it's a BAD day & there doesn't seem to be any turning it around!!! Just know that it's not your fault!!! You're doing a great job!!! Keep your head up!!! It's bound to get better eventually!!!

Robert Chudnow is a brilliant pedi neurologist - there are other things that can cause behavior type issues (one being highly gifted)........he also will go to bat at school....good luck.........oh testing too is a wonderful neuro psyc at Children's Medical Center....he diagnosed my daughter's LD

Since one in 6 boys has a learning disability and 1 in 98 has autism I'd get him evaluated. Contact your local school district for an autism evaluation. And check his titers (blood test) before you give him booster shots.

Have they tried seperating them into different class rooms? Most pediatricians will (and should) tell you that at 4 he is too young to make a diagnosis with something like ADD. I have worked in the medical field and I have a son with behavioral issues and although he was not evaluated at Scottish Rite until he was 5 and will most likely not be medicated until after he is 6 or 7. I would strongly recommend getting a referral to te scottish rite behavioral clinic. Your pediatrician should know how to go about doing this.

C., my son is seeing a Psychiatrist, Dr. Jane Miles (she is in Dallas - 635/Preston area). We think highly of her...she isn't the doctor that will jump to medicine unless it's necessary. Your pediatrician won't be able to diagnose the disorders you’ve mentioned. While it's always good to keep them in the loop, it might be faster to go straight to the source depending on your insurance. If you have insurance and need to follow proper insurance “protocol”, I would suggest getting a list of which doctors are covered and taking that to your pediatrician for a recommendation. Many blessings to you and your family...I know this isn't an easy situation. I hope you find some peace and good advice!

One more thing...we finally ended up putting our son in Montessori school. They allow the child to develope at their own pace and has a much lower teacher/child ratio. THey also seem much more loving and care about your child's education. Montessori teachers are trained and give much more to your child than the average preschool. Just a thought.

C.,

If you can wait until the school year starts, you can have the school district that you live in, do the testing. You have forms and referrals to fill out but if they see a need for testing, they will do it and it is free.

T.

You might contact your home school and ask about PPCD assessment if you have concerns about an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Your public school can provide these assessments for free.