By Holly Schurter
Is there a problem? Lately you’ve
noticed your seven-year-old never stops talking or moving, and he
interrupts others constantly. Not only that, he has trouble sitting
still and can’t follow instructions either at home or at school.
Unfinished assignments are piling up. His classroom teacher has
expressed concern about his ability to focus and follow through on his
lessons. You’ve thought he might outgrow these habits, but he hasn’t.
You are beginning to wonder, are these just bad habits, or do these
traits and symptoms signal Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)? What should you do next to help your child?
Dr. Anjum
Bashir, a psychiatrist practicing in Decatur and Bloomington, Illinois,
believes patients of any age who are suspected of having ADHD need a
proper diagnosis. “I think a lot of times, it is misdiagnosed. The
important thing is for people to know that ADHD is a medical disease,
and a lot of treatment options are available,” he says. “A patient needs
to be evaluated just to rule out the ADHD diagnosis.”
Diagnosing ADHD
ADHD, a neurobehavioral disorder, is often suspected when someone has
difficulty focusing and paying attention in situations where it is
appropriate, when someone experiences a certain level of hyperactivity,
or when someone consistently acts impulsively in ways that seem out of
control. People with ADHD consistently find it difficult to concentrate,
to persevere, or to control their impulses. Children with ADHD might
seem out of control; adults with ADHD seem unable to focus on or
accomplish the goals they set for themselves.
Scientists have
been unable to pinpoint an exact cause for ADHD, but they have
identified several factors that seem to be associated with the disorder.
Some patients suffer from a chemical imbalance in their brain, which
causes a shortage of the chemicals that assist with concentration and
attention. In some cases, ADHD appears to be more common in children
with close relatives who also experience ADHD. In other cases, a brain
injury, environmental exposure to something like lead paint, or even an
injury before birth may make a child more susceptible to ADHD.
Occasionally, a child’s environment may affect the severity of the
symptoms.
Children, whose symptoms often become more noticeable
when they begin school, are often initially evaluated by a team of
professionals which might include the classroom teacher, a school nurse,
the child’s family physician or another specialist, a social worker,
and a school principal, or counselor. After observation and evaluation,
any of these professionals may suggest the child see a medical doctor
for a formal diagnosis and treatment.
But how does one know if a
child is easily distracted, or simply mischievous and highly curious?
Is it hyperactivity or exuberance? When does spontaneity become
unheeding impulsiveness? Because the symptoms of ADHD can be subtle or
easily misunderstood, an objective measure of symptoms is useful, but,
until recently, getting that accurate, objective measure of symptoms was
difficult.
An Objective Measure: The Quotient® System
Dr. Bashir first learned about the Quotient ADHD system, an objective
way to gather data to measure symptoms typical of ADHD, in a
professional journal. Intrigued, he researched Quotient and discovered
the Quotient ADHD system was developed by BioBehavioral Diagnostics Inc.
to assist doctors treating patients with ADHD; giving them objective
data to supplement their observation and examination of a patient. It
was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2002. Reassured by
his research, Dr. Bashir decided to try the Quotient ADHD system in his
practice.
Taking the Test
A child between
the ages of 6 and 12 can complete the Quotient ADHD test in 15 minutes,
while an adolescent or adult will need 20 minutes to finish the
evaluation. Seated comfortably at what looks like a study desk, complete
with a computer, the patient is fitted with monitoring equipment, and
given simple instructions to complete the test.
The monitoring
equipment assesses a patient’s movement, as well as how the patient’s
attention shifts during the test. Once the test is completed, these
measurements are compared to a database of results generated by others
who have taken the test, matched by age and gender. This analysis allows
the doctor to assess whether or not symptoms are significant enough for
a diagnosis of ADHD.
Helping Target Treatment
The benefit of an objective measurement for ADHD is that, depending on
the data gathered by the Quotient system, Dr. Bashir is able to work
with a child’s parents and teachers, as well as with the child, to deal
with an ADHD diagnosis in the most effective way. Treatment may include
medication, but medication is not necessarily a first choice. Dr. Bashir
may also recommend close observation of the patient to check for vision
or hearing issues, or behavior modification therapy to help the child
develop coping skills. He may work with parents to improve various
aspects of a child’s environment, including things like consistency,
discipline, scheduling, and various ways of offering homework
assistance. He may suggest more than one way of dealing with a
diagnosis, combining various non-medicinal therapies to achieve good
results.
When medication is prescribed, it is matched to the
severity of the child’s symptoms. Before prescribing medication, Dr.
Bashir discusses his recommendations with parents, telling them how the
medication works, what side effects it might have, and what difference
they can expect in their child as a result. He leaves the final decision
about whether or not to use medication up to the parents of the child.
If medication is prescribed, Dr. Bashir continues to monitor the
patient’s progress as well as any side effects the medication might
have.
Time to Play
Dr. Bashir completed
his graduate work at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield. He has practiced in the Decatur area for eight years, and
maintains an office in Bloomington.
His practice includes another
psychologist and seven social workers. In his spare time, Dr. Bashir
enjoys walking, movies, and spending time with his family, but even in
his spare time, he is thinking about his patients, and how he might
serve them more effectively.
NeuroStar TMS Therapy®, Non-Drug Treatment for Depression
As a result of that concern for the well-being of his patients, the
Quotient ADHD system is not the only cutting-edge therapy Dr. Bashir
employs in his practice. After careful investigation, he began using
another new FDA-approved therapy for depression. NeuroStar TMS
(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) therapy utilizes focused magnetic
pulses to stimulate areas of the brain that control mood. This
stimulates the brain to release neurotransmitters, which relieves
symptoms of depression in many patients. With none of the side effects
normally experienced when patients use antidepressant drugs, the
NeuroStar TMS therapy may result in mild to moderate discomfort in the
area where magnetic coils are placed against the patient’s head during
treatment, but the discomfort does not last beyond treatment, and
patients leave their treatment session ready to resume normal activity.
Dr. Bashir notes, “In 2008, there were around 40 psychiatric offices
using TMS in the country; now over 500 psychiatric offices utilize this
therapy. FDA approval, as well as excellent results helping patients,
has helped acceptance of this therapy.”
For more
information, you may contact Dr. Bashir at 309-808-2326. The office is
located at 205 N. Williamsburg Dr., Suite D, in Bloomington. If you
prefer to contact him at his Decatur office, please call 217-422-0027.
ADHD Symptoms
ADHD is characterized by a collection of symptoms that can mimic natural developmental stages, including:
- An
inability to pay attention when appropriate. A child may have a hard
time listening, lose everyday items on a regular basis, have difficulty
focusing and following instructions, and find it difficult to complete
tasks. - Hyperactivity. A child may be constantly on the move,
fidgety and restless. The child may talk a great deal, or have a hard
time settling in to play. He may experience difficulty in staying
seated. - Poor impulse control. A child may not be able to wait
for his turn, or have trouble listening, characterized by constant
interruptions when someone else is talking. The child may act without
regard to consequences, or without thinking about what he is doing.
Not every child experiences every symptom. If a child has difficulty
beyond what is normal for his developmental stage, it may be time to
check further.
Psychiatric Conditions
Dr. Bashir’s office provides comprehensive care including psychiatric
evaluation, medication management, psychological testing, and individual
and family therapy. In addition to providing ADHD Quotient testing and
TMS therapy for depression, he also treats a wide variety of psychiatric
conditions including:
- Anxiety Disorder: A diagnosable mental
health condition characterized by persistent worry about major or minor
concerns. Some anxiety disorders such as panic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) have specific triggers and symptoms. - Depression: A
chronic illness that impacts how the person feels, thinks, and behaves
which can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems,
including trouble doing normal day-to-day activities or feeling as
though life isn’t worth living. - Bipolar disorder: Also known as
manic-depressive disorder, this is a brain disorder that causes unusual
shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out
day-to-day tasks. - OCD: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is
an anxiety disorder characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears
(obsessions) that lead a person to do repetitive behaviors
(compulsions). - Panic attacks: Sudden episodes of intense fear that develop for no apparent reason and trigger severe physical reactions.
- Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A mental health condition triggered
by a terrifying event which may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe
anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Source: www.mayoclinic.com