ADHD/ ADD where to start? | ExpatWoman.com
 

ADHD/ ADD where to start?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 May 2012 - 11:44

My son (6 yo) is being monitored at school with a view to being assessed for ADHD/ ADD. I am keen to have more information on getting him tested in Dubai (I know school has a place they refer people to, but would it necessarily be the best option?) - I did a search on EW but many posts were 2011 and I know how quickly things change here!

Also, are there any support groups/ courses/ centres for parents and children here? I feel like I am drowning in information from the internet, but it is leading me nowhere, and I can't ask the questions - and get the answers - I want...

Thanks for any help...

From an increasingly frustrated Mum....

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 April 2019 - 10:04
Hello Mums, Is there anyone that recently has been diagnosed with attention deficit of your kid and started to treat somewhere? I do appreciate any experience/advice you might share. I have a doubt that my 5 yo son cannot follow the instructions or listen carefully. Thanks a lot!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 May 2013 - 07:15
Scotchanddiet...my original post was not to you. It was to the lady who asked the question. Good luck OP
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 22:58
In my opinion medication is essential in dealing with the symptoms of ADHD.Medication will deal with concentration, impulsivity and anxiety. As a result of medication, the child will be able to learn social skills, he will be able to improve on his academics resulting in a higher self esteem.Diet and different parenting will be useless on their own if the child cannot comprehend what is expected of him.A lot of people get scared about medicating their child with ADHD. If your child had type 1 diabetes, would you think twice about medicating ? No you wouldn't.Looking at diet is important of course. For me it is the fine tuning.I opted straight away for medication as I realised I would be able to implement new parenting skills far more easily with an attentive and happier child.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 22:29
I have a nephew with asphergers, a niece whose autistic and has fetal alcohol syndrom and a sister who is dyslexic/ADD. A change of diet and physical activity has helped with some symptoms...as it did with my son who had an allergy to red dye. with my family every avenue was researched as im sure OP has done. my post was to add to the other posts. yes therapy, medication but you can also add a change of diet or fitness. Diet does Help. Staying away from boxed processed food helped. Organic only. No red meAt. These changes have all helped. edited by dogcatcher on 21/05/2013 Let me explain... When you come into a thread that is that primarily consists of woman sharing their experience of helping their children with diagnosed ADHD and giving each other support and you say something offensive like "in my day we called ADD day dreaming" indicates that you support the view that its not a 'real' disorder. Suggesting that a bit of salmon and a run will help with ADHD is kind of on par with telling someone struggling with depression "in my day it was called sadness" and "go for a run and change your diet and your depression will disappear. Would a child or adult benefit from a diet which is less in processed ingredients and artificial flavours? Well yes, it would be beneficial to *anyone* to eliminate these things. Is ADHD caused by diet? Absolutely not. If eliminating food from a diet 'fixes' ADHD then it was not ever true ADHD to begin with. Am I exhausted from the day in day out antics of having a child with ADHD? yes. Am I tired from not sleeping for the last four years for fear that my child with no understanding of danger will climb off the balcony on the middle of the night? Yes. Am I frustrated as **** when people infer that ADHD doesn't really exist but can be cured by diet? Absolutely! Do I have to steel myself and mentally prepare when sitting in the school car park before collecting my ADHD child from school for I know that something is likely to have occurred during the school day that the teacher needs to inform me of. ? Every. freaking.day. edited by Scotchanddiet on 21/05/2013
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 21:09
I recommend The Developing Child Centre as well. I take my son to the OT there and so far things are going well.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 20:19
Can I have some details on Developing Child Centre? I am really confused about Speech Therapy for my 7 year old child on the spectrum. All that is being done is sign language and I don't know how effective that will be to promote speech as they are not working on vocalization. ANy ideas here regarding Speech? Hopefully speech would come from effective communication and sign language is effective communication. Some children never talk but they can communicate just as some of the children can talk but it means nothing because its just words coming out of their mouth.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 20:01
At what point did i label the OP's child? I have a nephew with asphergers, a niece whose autistic and has fetal alcohol syndrom and a sister who is dyslexic/ADD. A change of diet and physical activity has helped with some symptoms...as it did with my son who had an allergy to red dye. with my family every avenue was researched as im sure OP has done. my post was to add to the other posts. yes therapy, medication but you can also add a change of diet or fitness. Diet does Help. Staying away from boxed processed food helped. Organic only. No red meAt. These changes have all helped. edited by dogcatcher on 21/05/2013
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 19:27
To OP.... I havent read any of the comments just your original post. Have you looked at a change of diet or fitness for your child who's being monitored for this. I read something on the Internet a few days ago that said, in my day ADD was called daydreaming. My son was very hyper and would act out a lot then we changed his diet. No red or orange food coloring! Lots of sushi...salmon to be specific and he changed. It seems we are very quick to medicate kids when sometimes all they need is to go ride a bike, play in a park, dog, get dirty, get away from games and TV and change their diet. Dog catcher -Do you not think that parents of a child with any kind of additional needs will have explored every avenue? Do you honestly think they want their kid labeled? In 'your day' maybe autism was just considered 'he's a bit quirky and anti social' but medical research has advanced.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 18:04
To OP.... I havent read any of the comments just your original post. Have you looked at a change of diet or fitness for your child who's being monitored for this. I read something on the Internet a few days ago that said, in my day ADD was called daydreaming. My son was very hyper and would act out a lot then we changed his diet. No red or orange food coloring! Lots of sushi...salmon to be specific and he changed. It seems we are very quick to medicate kids when sometimes all they need is to go ride a bike, play in a park, dog, get dirty, get away from games and TV and change their diet.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 17:28
I can recommend The Developing Child Centre. I have visited it several times and know some of the staff there personally. Some of their staff have moved there from the Dubai Community Health Centre. It is a beautiful centre although not quite finished yet. They still have to finish their outside area. The rooms the therapists are currently working in are spacious and well equipped. All the staff are well qualified and experienced. Go and have a look for yourself.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 17:22
Careful av1998. The posters "Daltabs" and "Momof4" are heavily shilling on this site. I wouldn't go near the "Developing Child Centre" with a ten foot pole. Instead, I suggest a professional place such as Dubai Community Healthcare Centre. It's been around since 1987 and very highly regarded. (And I have no professional affiliation with DCHC. On a personal level, I am a patient of Dr. Amer Saddedien (okay, I've probably totally spelled his last name wrong). But I also have friends that have children who have gone there for speech therapy and had great success. Good luck! We've just been accused of being bullies yet their thread has been deleted. Lol. A bully? I don't think so. A no-nonsense NYer. Well, I guess I'm totally guilty on that front ;)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 17:12
Careful av1998. The posters "Daltabs" and "Momof4" are heavily shilling on this site. I wouldn't go near the "Developing Child Centre" with a ten foot pole. Instead, I suggest a professional place such as Dubai Community Healthcare Centre. It's been around since 1987 and very highly regarded. (And I have no professional affiliation with DCHC. On a personal level, I am a patient of Dr. Amer Saddedien (okay, I've probably totally spelled his last name wrong). But I also have friends that have children who have gone there for speech therapy and had great success. Good luck! We've just been accused of being bullies yet their thread has been deleted. looking at the post history of the poster and the other 1-2 accounts that seem to be linked to it Id say there will be some banning done soon...? Admin...?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 17:10
My DS (10) sees Dr Amer.What would you like to know ? Do you mind if I ask what he charges for a consult? Is he a psychiatrist....I need a psychiatrist to prescribe the medication my son takes, and I'm aware that a lot of the insurance companies exclude Psychiatrict treatment (even though its not really treatment just writing a prescription because the GP cant!) I think I paid 500dhs for the initial consult and 300dhs for my follow-ups. He is a psychiatrist and amazing on all levels - professional, extremely knowledgable and compassionate. Couldn't ask for anyone better! (As you can tell, I am quite happy with him as my doctor. Coming from NYC, I guess I didn't know what to expect here and thankfully, he has more than exceeded all my expectations and helped me immeasurably:)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 17:06
Careful av1998. The posters "Daltabs" and "Momof4" are heavily shilling on this site. I wouldn't go near the "Developing Child Centre" with a ten foot pole. Instead, I suggest a professional place such as Dubai Community Healthcare Centre. It's been around since 1987 and very highly regarded. (And I have no professional affiliation with DCHC. On a personal level, I am a patient of Dr. Amer Saddedien (okay, I've probably totally spelled his last name wrong). But I also have friends that have children who have gone there for speech therapy and had great success. Good luck! We've just been accused of being bullies yet their thread has been deleted.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 17:05
Careful av1998. The posters "Daltabs" and "Momof4" are heavily shilling on this site. I wouldn't go near the "Developing Child Centre" with a ten foot pole. Instead, I suggest a professional place such as Dubai Community Healthcare Centre. It's been around since 1987 and very highly regarded. (And I have no professional affiliation with DCHC. On a personal level, I am a patient of Dr. Amer Saddedien (okay, I've probably totally spelled his last name wrong). But I also have friends that have children who have gone there for speech therapy and had great success. Good luck!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 16:04
Thanks for the information. I will contact them.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 15:46
Can I have some details on Developing Child Centre? I am really confused about Speech Therapy for my 7 year old child on the spectrum. All that is being done is sign language and I don't know how effective that will be to promote speech as they are not working on vocalization. ANy ideas here regarding Speech?
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 13:57
I am at the end of my rope with getting a response from Kids First! 3 weeks and several calls and nothing I agree. Their reception is nothing short of a disgrace. A complete and utter fiasco. However once you do manage to catch someone's attention they really are very good at what they do. Ive spent the morning collating emails and phone calls to them, as has my daughter, so we can give them evidence as to how awful their point of contact is.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 13:35
I am at the end of my rope with getting a response from Kids First! 3 weeks and several calls and nothing There's a new place that opened .. its called The Developing Child Centre and i hear they are really professional ... My son goes to The Developing Child Centre. They are lovely there. Would definitely recommend
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2013 - 13:18
I am at the end of my rope with getting a response from Kids First! 3 weeks and several calls and nothing There's a new place that opened .. its called The Developing Child Centre and i hear they are really professional ...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 October 2012 - 10:58
I am at the end of my rope with getting a response from Kids First! 3 weeks and several calls and nothing
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 October 2012 - 10:54
Diet plays an important part http://feingold.org/ http://fedup.com.au/ http://failsafediet.wordpress.com/
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 October 2012 - 10:46
Dr Christa Strauss is amazing if you are looking for full assessment
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 October 2012 - 08:56
There are alternative approaches..... holistichealing4children (dot) com are based in Dubai and both girls are qualified Holistic Education Therapy practitioners I have a friend who has followed this path with positive results for both the children and parents'.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 October 2012 - 07:39
My DS (10) sees Dr Amer.What would you like to know ? Do you mind if I ask what he charges for a consult? Is he a psychiatrist....I need a psychiatrist to prescribe the medication my son takes, and I'm aware that a lot of the insurance companies exclude Psychiatrict treatment (even though its not really treatment just writing a prescription because the GP cant!)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 August 2012 - 22:57
My DS (10) sees Dr Amer.What would you like to know ?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2012 - 15:35
Has anyone here been to see Dr Ameer with their child? He's at Dubai Community Health.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2012 - 00:07
Hi Valt Checked out The Brain & Learning and they take kids from 7 yrs so my DD is too young for now. Thanks though. <em>edited by Missymoo on 16/08/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 22:00
Bless you! It sounds like you are having a tough time. I took my son to Bakti for OT and he really made good progress with his motor skills (fine & gross) as well writing. All in all I was very happy with Bakti. She was very hard on him but that is how she got results from him. Good luck with everything!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 August 2012 - 13:44
Hi Valt & Honey Thank you for the recommendation will contact Brain & Learning and see what they can offer us. Valt - how did you find Dubai Community Center? what services did you use from them etc Tell me about being a super mum. DH is currently in hospital for the next 3mths OS so between working FT and therapy sessions etc I am running on fumes :( All for a great reason though :)
 
 

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