Often parents suspect their child may have something going on…possibly ADHD /ADD. Observing problem behaviors at home may be followed up by a phone call from your child’s teacher requesting a conference. It’s important that you don’t ignore these signs that something is going on. An undiagnosed child with ADHD is often misunderstood. He is considered lazy or not smart. Also, many children with ADHD experience peer rejection and poor school performance due to their aggression, impulsiveness, inattention, and social-cognitive deficits. Finding help is essential for your child's future academic and social success, along with maintaining a healthy self-esteem . What do you do? Where do you find help?
There are four good resources right at your fingertips! Take advantage of them and they will lead to other useful sources. This is only the beginning of your quest, but this is a good place to start.
1. Don’t overlook your child’s pediatrician. She is an excellent resource and can refer you to professionals in the ADHD/ ADD area. This is not the pediatrician’s first time dealing with ADHD and it will not be her last, so make good use of what she can offer.
2. Friends have friends and their friends have friends. Once you start talking with your friends you will be surprised at how many other parents are in your same situation. You are certainly not alone on this ADHD journey. Parents are always willing to share what they have learned. A referral from another parent allows you to ask her a lot of questions about how the professional works with the child and parents, the frequency of office visits, pricing, and much more.
3. Did you know that there are a number of national directories of professionals? These directories allow you to search by geography so you can locate someone nearby. CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) has a professional directory of not only experts, but also products, publications, treatments, and more. Select a couple of professionals and start contacting them. You will have to do your homework and ask many questions to determine if the professional will be a fit for your child and you, but you should have many possibilities.
4. Expert parents are all over and are willing to share their knowledge. Many parents have been "forced" to become specialists on ADHD and are sharing their experiences. You can join one of the many email lists or forums. This gives you the ability to ask questions that are specific to you and have them answered by other parents.
Blogs can also be a good source of information. There are many expert parents who have focused their blogs on their experience of raising their child with ADHD. These are not difficult to locate. Just search for ADHD under blogs and you’ll have many to review.
There are many ways to locate a professional who can evaluate your child when you suspect ADHD. The easiest way to get started is to talk with your child’s pediatrician, confide in friends, review online directories, and pursue parents who have become experts. You’ll end up with a nice list of professionals. Make phone calls and ask your questions. By the end of this task you should have a professional specializing in ADHD that will be a good place to start.
Danette Schott, M.A., is founder of S-O-S Research, a small research company providing information on "invisible" special needs (ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorder, anxiety) for parents, teachers, and other professionals. S-O-S Step-by-Step offers free information resources in a structured easy-to-follow format. Help! S-O-S for Parents is an informational blog presenting book reviews, giveaways, expert interviews, web resources, and tips. An S-O-S Team is comprised of seven professionals who contribute articles in their areas of expertise. The S-O-S Best of the Best is published monthly and typically has over 20 bloggers contributing their insight on one topic. Find all of this at http://sos-research-blog.com/