Peyden Childress loves to climb trees, but it was when he thought about jumping out of them that his parents really became scared.
Peyden’s parents were worried that those suicidal thoughts were side effects of the drugs he was taking for ADHD.
Peyden’s mother took Peyden to four doctors and tried four different medicines before they found a once-a-day pill that seems to help him focus without the troubling side effects.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD can be difficult to diagnose and even more challenging to treat.
New technology is adding more science to the process by measuring a child's brain waves.
Pediatric psychologist Dr. Robert Kline said the key is taking a different approach to finding out what's going on inside the brain.
In some cases Kline recommends what's called a QEEG.
The electroencephalogram measures different brain waves and put that data through a computer program to show specific brain functions.
Neurologist Dr. Susan Anderson interprets the scans and says they can show how a the brain works differently for people with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
Anderson and Kline don't rely on the QEEG alone and many times after using it find that the problem is not AHDH at all.
Kline said he can see many problems that share some of the symptoms of ADHD, but are treated differently. The other problems include depression, sleep problems, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, thyroid problems, Vitamin D deficiency, a hearing impairment or even behavior problems due to the overuse of decongestants.
“This should help with accuracy,” Kline said. “In thirty percent of the kids I see with a past diagnosis of ADHD it is due to something else.”
Kline reminds medication is not always the recommended treatment. But, the QEEG tst helps him have more clarity about how to proceed with treatment. Peyden's mother wishes he'd had the test when they were searching for help.
Read the LIVE CHAT in Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Robert Kline. Dr. Kline answered questions about ADHD and QEEG.
Got more questions about ADHD, leave a comment below with your question.
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