Questions to Explore

The Questions To Explore is intended to help you best understand what is going on and to help you find the best options for your family. This section helps show the broad range of possibilities to consider when there are questions concerning a child. Its function is to provide options to think about when a child is having difficulties learning or interacting - sometimes exhibited by dissatisfaction, rebelling or withdrawing. These questions are neither intended to be "the answers" nor to be recommendations.
1.   How is a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD made?
2.   What questions can teachers and parents ask each other or think about to establish a collaborative effort in working with a child?
3.   Does your child watch a lot of television or play violent or aggressive video games?
4.   Has your child had a thorough physical evaluation by your physician?
5.   Does your child get a good night’s rest?
6.   Does your child snore?
7.   Does your child live with anxiety or in fear, with or without apparent causes of such feelings?
8.   Has your child been taking antibiotics?   
9.   Did your child stand up and walk without crawling first?
10.  How is your child’s growth rate?
11.  Before your child showed signs of difficulties, did she/he suffer a head injury or an illness (especially one requiring hospitalization)?
12.  Is your child taking any medication or herbal or nutritional supplements?
13.  Does your child show signs of developmental issues in coordination, like tripping?  Does your child have trouble reading?
14.  For no apparent reason, does you child lack confidence in the face of challenges?
15.  Does your child eat foods that contain preservatives, additives, flavorings, or food dye (such as some candies, chips, pastries or carbonated drinks)?
16.  Does your child have sensitivity to sugar and/or wheat?
17.  Have either of the biological parents had similar experiences as a child or as an adult?
18.  Does your child fidget a lot and have difficulty sitting still?  Does s/he fidget only at school or one particular place, or does the child display this all the time?  Can your child become absorbed in a video or a video game to the extent that they do not hear a person calling their name?
19.  Is your child allergic to any natural or synthetic substances?  Examples of this would include cat dander, pollen, grasses, antibiotics or other medications, or the dyes used in medications?
20.  Are you not feeling good for any reason?