This time.

But it reminded me of going through the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD with my therapist. For inattentive ADHD (mine), you should exhibit 6 of these 9 criteria:

1. Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
2. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
4. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
5. Often has trouble organizing activities.
6. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn’t want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (such as toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
8. Is often easily distracted.
9. Often forgetful in daily activities.

I exhibit all 9, just so you know. But for most of them, I’ve developed ways to cope. The music thing is  a perfect example. When people are talking to me, I can generally follow them most of the time. But I’ve also learned to watch them when they talk. That way, I am not only having the auditory stimulation, but also the visual stimulation from their face. Bonus points if they talk with their hands.

The radio seems to lack this visual stimulation, so it’s much easier for me to get distracted. This is harmless enough when I’m listening to music, but so much more frustrating when I’m trying to catch the traffic report. You see, the highways I drive on are generally at the end of the report…unless there’s a rollover or something else going on. So I have to listen the whole time. But usually a shiny car drives by, and next thing I know, they’re onto a commercial.

On the other hand, music actually does help me concentrate more. When I’m working, I need to be listening to something I’m familiar with. It helps to occupy my brain a little bit, and tame the easily distracted elf who runs my brain. That way, the Very Serious Elf can get some work done. And if there’s a paper to be written, I bust out the classical music, and the Very VERY Serious Elf takes over. My theory is that classical music is more regimented, so there’s less chance of a surprise.

Unlike this song. Where that little background ditty in the last verse distracts me every. single. time.

Well.

Being an amphetamine, Adderall can suppress hunger, hence it made a great diet drug. Unfortunately, it also means that it did the same to Ethan, who really does not need to be losing weight. Which is what he did, losing 4 pounds in a month. It’s also apparently lasting longer in him than it usually lasts in kids. For him, it wears off around bedtime, though he’s also been waking up during the night, which he’s rarely done since he started sleeping through the night. But, it’s also definitely helping him at school.

Apparently, Ethan takes after his mom a lot. As a comparison, I’m on 5 mg of Lexapro regularly. Whenever I tell a doctor that, they always look at me and say, “Really?! And that helps?!” Well, yes, it does. But I’m apparently really sensitive to medications. So is Ethan, as we’re finding out. But we don’t want to abandon the Adderall altogether, so we’re going to switch him over to 5 mg as well. We’re also going to switch to traditional release, as opposed to the extended release kind. For average kids, it’ll wear off around lunch time, so hopefully his will take him through the end of the school day.

The bad went down and the good went up. Like the part of my brain that wants to go tiptoe didn’t have to fight with the bad part. There was more space for it to be good.

I met with his teacher, again, but also met with the principal and e-mailed the district’s Special Education Director. The Special Ed Director got right back to me, and his principal promised to set up a team meeting to evaluate Ethan’s behavior and see if he needs additional assistance. I also scheduled this appointment with his pediatrician, just in case. And, luckily, the guidance counselor also had a chance to meet with Ethan, and agrees he definitely has some impulse control problems, and should be talking with Ethan more.

At any rate, Ethan’s dad and I both filled out parent checklists, and I did get a teacher checklist back from his teacher. The pediatrician and I talked about Ethan’s symptoms, went over the checklists, and Ethan himself gave the final bit for a diagnosis. (Ethan describes his lack of focus due to, “His brain making too much noise.” Interestingly, I have the same problem…maybe it might be worth looking into for myself…)

We discussed whether or not to have Ethan take medication, since he is all of 6 years old. The pediatrician was glad to hear that I’m hesitant to commit to long-term medication (as are all of Ethan’s other adults), so the plan right now is this: We’re starting on adderal at the lowest dose to see what it does for him. With any luck, medications will affect him the way they affect me (greatly), so we can stick with that. Once we get the dosage figured out, we’ll also keep it just for school days, so he has that added help. And, of course, we’ll supplement it with some talk therapy as well. Because, as the pediatrician pointed out, not all of Ethan’s behavior can be chalked up to ADHD, and even I’ll say that having your parents get divorced must make you a little angry.

So I think overall, it will help. We shall see, and keep our fingers crossed!