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Childhood Trauma Mistaken for ADHD?

SaraBT
SaraBT
One of our members shared this on Facebook.

It's is an incredibly interesting idea. We've noticed our youngest's ADD seems to be going away the longer he lives with us.

I think she's on to something...


"Browns findings, which she presented in May at an annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, revealed that children diagnosed with ADHD also experienced markedly higher levels of poverty, divorce, violence, and family substance abuse. Those who endured four or more adverse childhood events were three times more likely to use ADHD medication."

http://acestoohigh.com/2014/07/07/how-childhood-trauma-could-be-mistaken-for-adhd/
scgramma
scgramma
Very good article. I can see the merits. My 5 year old could be called adhd at times when she is upset over stuff, she can get kind of manic. Talking about it, holding her, seems to help . She gets like that less and less now, and the temper tantrums are alot fewer. Had one last night, but only lasted about 5 minutes. I remember when she would scream for an hour about how she "hates her family" and afterwards shed ask if I still love her. In the beginning she thought I would send her away, I guess back to her mom, I dont know. It seemed like she thought she was with me because she was bad, and Id send her back if she was bad. And that was a conflict because she did and did not want to go live with homeless mom...
You have to watch for their triggers, mom coming, me going out of town a couple days with work, overtiredness. Brings out the whineys and tempers. They both have so many anxietys.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've thought this for awhile. My gs is hyper, overactive and very emotional. I have been saying since I got him that a lot of it is due to things he has lived thru and seen.
I have not taken him to a dr about ADHD yet. I would rather not have him labeled so young, I have been waiting, and just treating him as I see fit. Meaning a lot of understanding and leeway when his triggers have been present. There has been quite a bit of trial and error. Basically, in my mind he has PTSD more than ADHD.
After almost 3 years he is much calmer and easier to calm down when he does get worked up. Whenever I know he may be a handful, I explain to people we will be with and most often they say to me that he is just acting like a typical boy. So I guess my methods are working for him.
8legs
8legs
Yes our therapist told us about this right after we started seeing her. I was quick to share with teachers so my oldest wouldnt be label as ADD.
daisydduck
daisydduck
I'm so happy to hear that a doctor is addressing this issue. When they tried to label our grandson with ADD, we spoke with therapist who in s listed grandson was NOT ADD. She pointed out he had issues from whAt he ad been through and needed help with that. We also found he had hearing problems which took 8 surgeries between ages 6-18. Schools need to look at children as individuals rather than categorizing them unfairly.
nutsandbolts
nutsandbolts
My GS came to us as a new born, but them spent nine months in an awful foster home. When he came back, he wasn't the same little boy. Since we have had him back with us for the last two years, he has calmed down and is easier to manage. Based on the article I've seen this first hand through him.
grammy22
grammy22
When the girls changed schools the oldest one's teacher asked me if she was since she was acting up in school and not getting work done. Told teacher I thought she was acting out due to what was going on so teacher tried a different approach with her and I called her DR to talk to her. With in a week it was clear it was not ADHD but issues from the trauma. The school work straightened right out. THEN the counselor tells me the kid is off the charts ADHD, so hyper that she will not sit still in a session unless I am in the room.

That is a big part of why we have a new counselor. The new counselor sees none of that and actually gets this kid to talk instead of bouncing all over the room.