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Suggest Treatment For ADHD And Asperger's Syndrome
Question: My son is 23 years old, Diagnosed with ADHD-asperger. He keeps repeating the the same question over and over again. and always talk of negative things. He was sacked from school when he was 15 years as he hit the teacher. but a gentle hit, and now he keeps telling that he was sacked because he touched the teacher each day several times. and becomes violent. his command of language is very good and his memory is also very good. how can we cure him? He is taking medication from small days on words, but still no improvement.
Brief Answer:
Correct diagnosis is the key.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Welcome to HCM
We understand your concerns
I went through your details. Adults with ADD/ADHD often have difficulty staying focused and attending to daily, mundane tasks. Since children / adults with Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger Syndrome share similar behaviors, the two can appear to overlap. However, there is a fundamental difference between Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger Syndrome. Children / adult with ADD have a Theory of Mind and understand other people’s motives and expectations. They make appropriate eye contact and understand social cues, body language and hidden agendas in social interactions. Children / adult with asperger syndrome can not.
One author put it this way: children / adult with Attention Deficit Disorder respond to behavioral modification. With Asperger Syndrome, the syndrome is the behavior.
Therefore diagnosis is the key for the treatment and cure. From your description, diagnosis is not at all possible. You say that your son was diagnosed ADD-Asperger. When there is a fundamental difference between these two, the expert psychiatrist must have distinguished them. Therefore, I suspect the diagnosis itself. Of course, there are other opinions which states that both these are same, but I prefer to think and treat the other way.
1. Is there any other circumstances where your sson repeating a particular syllable / sentence?
2. What are his negative thoughts and activities?
3. At the age of 15, he was sacked from school for misbehaving. What was he doing all these years? Any treatment? Is there other episodes of misbehavior?
4. Did he try self harm? Any family history of mental illness?
5. General behavior with other people, social behavior pattern?
6. Please look for the following symptoms too.
a. Difficulty remaining seated and still
b. Social awkwardness and difficulty interacting with others
c. Frequent episodes of non-stop talking
d. An inability to focus on things that do not interest them
e. Impulsivity, or acting on a whim
Treatment focuses on reducing patients symptoms and helping them have a happy, well-adjusted life. Complete cure may not be possible.
Most will see relief with medication or behavioral therapy and counseling. A combination of both can be very successful. Medication is used to treat ADHD symptoms if they interfere too much with everyday activities.
Therapy, counseling, and behavioral training are the most common treatments for AS. Medication is not commonly used. Medicine may be prescribed, however, to treat some of the co-existing conditions children and teens with AS sometimes experience. These conditions include depression and anxiety.
Therefore, I request for the detailed information so that a correct diagnosis can be made.
God bless you.
Correct diagnosis is the key.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Welcome to HCM
We understand your concerns
I went through your details. Adults with ADD/ADHD often have difficulty staying focused and attending to daily, mundane tasks. Since children / adults with Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger Syndrome share similar behaviors, the two can appear to overlap. However, there is a fundamental difference between Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger Syndrome. Children / adult with ADD have a Theory of Mind and understand other people’s motives and expectations. They make appropriate eye contact and understand social cues, body language and hidden agendas in social interactions. Children / adult with asperger syndrome can not.
One author put it this way: children / adult with Attention Deficit Disorder respond to behavioral modification. With Asperger Syndrome, the syndrome is the behavior.
Therefore diagnosis is the key for the treatment and cure. From your description, diagnosis is not at all possible. You say that your son was diagnosed ADD-Asperger. When there is a fundamental difference between these two, the expert psychiatrist must have distinguished them. Therefore, I suspect the diagnosis itself. Of course, there are other opinions which states that both these are same, but I prefer to think and treat the other way.
1. Is there any other circumstances where your sson repeating a particular syllable / sentence?
2. What are his negative thoughts and activities?
3. At the age of 15, he was sacked from school for misbehaving. What was he doing all these years? Any treatment? Is there other episodes of misbehavior?
4. Did he try self harm? Any family history of mental illness?
5. General behavior with other people, social behavior pattern?
6. Please look for the following symptoms too.
a. Difficulty remaining seated and still
b. Social awkwardness and difficulty interacting with others
c. Frequent episodes of non-stop talking
d. An inability to focus on things that do not interest them
e. Impulsivity, or acting on a whim
Treatment focuses on reducing patients symptoms and helping them have a happy, well-adjusted life. Complete cure may not be possible.
Most will see relief with medication or behavioral therapy and counseling. A combination of both can be very successful. Medication is used to treat ADHD symptoms if they interfere too much with everyday activities.
Therapy, counseling, and behavioral training are the most common treatments for AS. Medication is not commonly used. Medicine may be prescribed, however, to treat some of the co-existing conditions children and teens with AS sometimes experience. These conditions include depression and anxiety.
Therefore, I request for the detailed information so that a correct diagnosis can be made.
God bless you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Dear Doctor,
Here are the answers for your questions
1) Same questions from time to time. The question changes after a period of time.
Eg:- why did I come out of school? even if the answer is given he keeps asking it again.
2) Mostly about hitting and harming females. Even those h does not know.
3) He touched the teacher .
He was doing the O\L privately and followed a computer course.
After leaving school he hit unknown women twice and kicked unknown vehicles thrice when it was parked.
These incidence happened within a period of 7 years . after leaving school.
4)He doesn't harm himself, and not aware of any family history.
5) He has difficulty in moving with others freely.
6)
a) Yes- he finds it difficult
b) Yes
c) Yes - quite often
d) Yes
e) Yes- it is quite a problem
Please let me know whether he is ADHD or Asperger or a combination of both.
Thank you.
Here are the answers for your questions
1) Same questions from time to time. The question changes after a period of time.
Eg:- why did I come out of school? even if the answer is given he keeps asking it again.
2) Mostly about hitting and harming females. Even those h does not know.
3) He touched the teacher .
He was doing the O\L privately and followed a computer course.
After leaving school he hit unknown women twice and kicked unknown vehicles thrice when it was parked.
These incidence happened within a period of 7 years . after leaving school.
4)He doesn't harm himself, and not aware of any family history.
5) He has difficulty in moving with others freely.
6)
a) Yes- he finds it difficult
b) Yes
c) Yes - quite often
d) Yes
e) Yes- it is quite a problem
Please let me know whether he is ADHD or Asperger or a combination of both.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
CBT and VT are good treatment options.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Thanks for the information and follow up.
From the given information it seems that your son is more ADD than Aspergers. Differential diagnosis clearly shows so. Secondly, Doctors used to view ADHD as a stand-alone disorder. But recent evidence suggests that about half of all individuals who have ADHD also suffer from depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a learning disorder, or some other emotional or neurological problem. This stands true in the case of your son too.
Repeating of questions - OCD
Answer to 2,3 and 4 questions - Depression, anxiety and anti-social behavior (ADD induced)
Happy to note there is no self harming tendency.
Shows Lack of social capacities
Question No 6 answers clearly show ADD symptoms.
Therefore, in your son's case, Diagnosis is ADD with OCD, anxiety, depression and anti-social behavior pattern. OCD, anxiety, depression and anti-social behavior pattern are part of ADD because due to the several mental conflicts they face, they tend to show all these symptoms.
Psychiatric treatment is basically for the symptoms. The medicines usually prescribed are
1. Stimulants like amphetamine, methylphenidate to reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve focus.
2. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.
3. OCD drugs like Clomipramine, Fluvoxamine, Fluoxetine etc.
As I mentioned earlier, ADD is not curable, but manageable (I am sorry). Psychotherapy methods are proven to improve manageability. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Vocational therapy is the most trusted.
Your son should know every details about his mental disorder. That is where every treatment should start. He has to do the management part. Education about ADD and its allied symptoms makes it easier management.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Vocational Therapy (VT) are purely tailor made for the patient, I request you to consult a clinical psychologist / psychotherapist for proper guidance. I remind you, therapy and treatment should continue throughout the life because it is not fully curable. Therefore, devoted efforts of your son is an important part in treatment.
God bless your son.
CBT and VT are good treatment options.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Thanks for the information and follow up.
From the given information it seems that your son is more ADD than Aspergers. Differential diagnosis clearly shows so. Secondly, Doctors used to view ADHD as a stand-alone disorder. But recent evidence suggests that about half of all individuals who have ADHD also suffer from depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a learning disorder, or some other emotional or neurological problem. This stands true in the case of your son too.
Repeating of questions - OCD
Answer to 2,3 and 4 questions - Depression, anxiety and anti-social behavior (ADD induced)
Happy to note there is no self harming tendency.
Shows Lack of social capacities
Question No 6 answers clearly show ADD symptoms.
Therefore, in your son's case, Diagnosis is ADD with OCD, anxiety, depression and anti-social behavior pattern. OCD, anxiety, depression and anti-social behavior pattern are part of ADD because due to the several mental conflicts they face, they tend to show all these symptoms.
Psychiatric treatment is basically for the symptoms. The medicines usually prescribed are
1. Stimulants like amphetamine, methylphenidate to reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve focus.
2. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.
3. OCD drugs like Clomipramine, Fluvoxamine, Fluoxetine etc.
As I mentioned earlier, ADD is not curable, but manageable (I am sorry). Psychotherapy methods are proven to improve manageability. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Vocational therapy is the most trusted.
Your son should know every details about his mental disorder. That is where every treatment should start. He has to do the management part. Education about ADD and its allied symptoms makes it easier management.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Vocational Therapy (VT) are purely tailor made for the patient, I request you to consult a clinical psychologist / psychotherapist for proper guidance. I remind you, therapy and treatment should continue throughout the life because it is not fully curable. Therefore, devoted efforts of your son is an important part in treatment.
God bless your son.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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