Talking To Your Doctor or Specialist About ADD

Talking to your child's doctor or specialist about ADD may be very difficult, especially in the beginning stages of diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. It is important to understand and accept that doctors can be of great assistance in treating and helping your child and your family through this arduous process. In the beginning, you may be unwilling to accept your child's condition. If this is the case, you may be uncooperative and rebellious to treatment suggestions or even further diagnosing measures. At this point, a second opinion may be what you should pursue to ease your mind and make certain your child is receiving the proper care. On the other hand, you should not be too certain ADD is the problem before consulting and seeking diagnosis of a competent physician. If your child's doctor does not believe ADD is the problem, you, too, should seek a second opinion. However, you should be careful not to go from doctor to doctor seeking a diagnosis that is inaccurate. Once you and your doctor are certain your child is suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder, the two of you should consider yourselves a team, along with your spouse, your child's teacher, and other adults that play a significant role in your child's life, to aid in helping and guiding your child through the ADD maze. When you communicate with your child's doctor, be sure to ask questions and seek clarification of unclear issues. If a particular course of treatment does not seem ideal for your child, convey your feelings to your doctor and feel comfortable in resolving any conflicting views. The important thing about conversing is that you have a mutual respect for one another and appreciate each other's roles in your child's development. If you feel that your doctor or specialist is not meeting your child's needs, you may choose to try another physician. You do not have to stay with the same doctor simply because they have always been the one to treat your child; it may be that particular doctor was fine until a significant problem arose, and they are not able to provide adequate treatment under these new circumstances. If that is the case, getting referrals from family and friends will offer a road map in where to go next. Just be certain the issue at hand is with your doctor and not your attempt to undermine their efforts.