[twinflana]

My 2 almost 3 year old foster son was diagnosed as RAD 2 weeks ago, today we went back for his second therapy appt and the psychiatrist has decided to put him on medication for ADHD, the daycare provider, EIP evaluator both agreed with me that his definately has some attention deficit and hyper issues. I was told since he was diagnosed this early that he should be able to do very well in school. Better than if he wasnt diagnosed until he was already in elementary school. Hopefully this is true. Of course now we have to wait for the parents to consent to the medication or for the judge to order it if the parents dont consent.

But on a happier note he is doing much better since 2 weeks ago, I am amazed at how quickly his is learning how to show empathy, sympathy and calm himself down. Thank you everyone who gave me tips of what to do. The psychiatrist said today that she really believes that since he is so young he will be able to heal and form a good attachment

[stevenstwin]

I'm no expert, so I don't know if my information is accurate, but I'll tell you what I've been told. A's counsellor told me that RAD kids are often WAY over-diagnosed with ADHD because the "symptoms" can be so similar. Specifically, the trauma that causes RAD leaves them with acting out that mimics ADHD. The problem with medicating them is that if the ADHD symptoms AREN'T true ADHD, then they aren't caused by a chemical imbalance, and the drugs aren't effective. They can SEEM effective, short term, because they tend to deaden and suppress all emotion in a child who isn't really chemically ADHD. The other thing that concerns me a bit is that when I was considering having my daughter tested when she was in Kindergarten I was told that they do NOT diagnose ADHD in a child under the age of 7 or 8, because too many normal childhood behaviours could look like ADHD. I've never heard of it being diagnosed (and treated!) in a toddler, and I'm a little afraid that they are going for a "quick fix" here. Again, I'm no expert, and what I was told COULD be wrong, but just something to think about. it's too bad that there wan't a simple blood test to diagnose psychiatric disorders so we aren't always left guessing!
ps - coincidentally, after I posted this I found the following comment on a website recommended by someone farther down on this board:
Connection Between ADHD & Trauma Julie Beem has another blog called ADHD-What's Trauma Got to Do With It? on adoptionBLOGS.com that I'd encourage folks to read, especially if parenting an adoptive child with ADHD.

We hear about higher percentages of adoptive children having ADHD. Some of these children, when evaluated by professionals who specialize in adoption, are found to be hypervigilant rather than truly being hyperactive. The distinction is profound, especially when looking at appropriate treatment methods. Medications often fail to have an effect when hypervigilance is the symptom and trauma is the root cause.
A4everFamily.org - Connection Between ADHD & Trauma

[twinflana]

Yes I have read that one of the symptoms of RAD is the hypervigiliance (sp?) but my fs shows many more signs of ADHD, he was evaluated by 3 different experts before they decided to order the medication for him. Well he wont even get the medication for at least another 2 weeks because they have to get approval first. Also the doctor decided that she is going to give him the lowest dosage possible.

[stevenstwin]

Well, it sounds like you've got the second opinion, and the third! Good luck. (And I still wish there was a simple and infallible way of diagnosing ;-) Sure would make OUR lives a lot easier!)