New to Dubai - ADHD Advice needed

I went with Christa because quite a few people had recommended her on here but it was only when a good friend told me about the testing process her boys went through with Christa that I decided to pursue it. The Learning Support team at my son's school also recommended her. My son's other learning support issues had been diagnosed previously by occupational therapists but ADHD had not been identified by them at that stage. We did not consider a psychiatrist because there was no anxiety or other issues which we felt needed the help of a psychiatrist. There had been no major changes in our family, circumstances, school or location and no obvious change in his behaviour; it was just that some of the improvements which we had hoped therapy for dyspraxia etc. would bring didn't happen and the occupational therapists said there were no further benefits that their therapy could give (although the therapy had made huge improvements). There are a number of ADHD traits which are common in other learning disabilities, so it can be quite hard to identify exactly which learning disability someone has, as traits can present differently in each person, and there may be more than one at a time. It's possible that your teacher has experience of a child with ADHD and assumed it's what your daughter has, but in fact she might have something else with some of the same traits as ADHD or just be exhibiting the behaviours of ADHD for other reasons, which is where a psychiatrist might be helpful. If your school has a Learning Support team, it would be interesting to know whether the teacher has discussed your daughter with them, as if so, they really should be getting in touch with you to register their concerns and offer their support and recommendations for psychiatrists and assessors used by other parents. If not, why hasn't the teacher raised it with them?

In the U.S. only licensed and doctorate level Clinical Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, or neuropsychologists can administer psychological or psychoeducational assessments etc. Others can administer the tests but will not be as qualified and will need the report to be signed off. Make sure to ask questions about the clinicians qualifications.

First educate yourself on the diagnosis...then get a consultation with a reputable clinic in Dubai. If your child does have ADHD you would likely have seen some of the symptoms when she entered school. A good therapist will be able to tease out what's actually ADHD symptoms versus other possibilities (e.g., depression, adjustment issues, trauma, etc.). If it is ADHD...I'd take the approach of trying behavioral interventions first with a licensed therapist then explore the options of meds with a child psychiatrist if the symptoms don't improve. Change can take time. The child should be able to function at his or her full potential and sometimes medications can help with that. To be diagnosed with ADHD whether it's hyperactive impulsive type, inattentive type or combo of both...symptoms have to be significant enough to be interfering with the child's life in two settings (e.g., home & school). Look up all the symptoms necessary for a diagnosis rather than just focusing on one or two. It's a neurobehavioral disorder and the severity with each child will vary...so for some children, behavior changes put forth at home and school can be be enough. Best of luck!

We used Christa Strauss on a friend's recommendation and she was great with our children - her website is http://christastrauss.com. We had to wait for about 6 months to get an appointment but her testing is very thorough. We did it all privately with no referral from school, although the teacher had to fill in a questionnaire. It depends on your insurance whether testing is covered: ours didn't cover it and doesn't cover the costs of medication either (and it's far from cheap). In my son's case he has ADHD because he was born with it, as well as dyspraxia and various sensory issues. We didn't get the diagnosis for ADHD until age 10 because it was masked by his other conditions. It would be wonderful if he didn't have to take medication but after years of therapy (which we paid for) and being in a supportive school with a very helpful learning support team we made the decision to take medication; in his case it is the only way for him to cope effectively in school. We haven't had any side-effects from the medication, but I make sure he gets a full annual physical with his doctor to identify any changes that could be cause for concern. Not all types of ADHD involve hyperactivity, so you need an assessor who recognises the other forms that ADHD can take. Wishing you and your daughter good luck.

A friend's daughter was diagnosed with it, put on heavy medication, gained crazy amount of weight as a result, then turned out she was going through a difficult phase because of resettling and parental issues. She is all well now with the help of therapy and not medicines, with the help of a learning assistant who recognised her own learning style and helps her accordingly, her grades increased as well. Her parents started seeking a counsellor too as a result, they are all doing much better now. Saw psychiatrists and psychologists, the amount of money spent was insane. I would also like to mention different mental health professionals "diagnosed" her with 4 different conditions, it was so confusing for them. I guess what I am trying to say is this: be careful before jumping on the bandwagon of ADHD that involves a psychiatrist's assessment/diagnosis/controlled medication (that is [u'>on her file for the rest of her life[/u'> and is accessible to all future employees should they ever enquire as data protections laws are different here, etc). If you are very concerned and as is the school, take her to see a Paediatric Psychiatrist who can assess her and give an opinion, there is one at Mediclinic at Dubai Mall. He specialises in hyperactivity. Then think what route to take etc...If she does indeed have ADHD, medicine, therapy (educational psychologist), learning assistants can help at school, extra tutoring at home with the type of learning style she reacts well to (there are 7!), change of diet/exercising, etc... You don't need a referral, you just make an appointment. You can claim the psychiatric consultation if your insurance covers such consultations, call them and check, also check if they cover that type of medication should you choose that treatment. Also call the clinic to check if they do direct billing with your insurance company and how much the consultation is, does the assessment cost extra, etc...Also worth checking with your insurance company if they cover mental health, in the form of psychological therapy, some cover that but not a simple counselling, depends on the clinics as well, some only do reimbursement basis that you might never recover, so best is to make a list of what to ask your insurance company so that you are well informed as mental health treatment is very expensive here. The school does not have to be involved in the consultation, you are a parent who is simply taking her daughter to see a doctor about something that others suspect she might have, at this stage its all assumptions. Once you had the assessment you can discuss the outcome with the teacher/school and your chosen route or support you might require from them, etc... Children are heavily overmedicated when it comes to ADHD, that is not to say it can't benefit someone, best is to try other 'diagnosis' specific alternatives before plying her with drugs like they did my friend's daughter who never needed them in the first place. Hope you find what helps her best!