So, if you have followed this blog at all you will know we've been through the wringer with Little J, trying to figure out how we can help him with his behavioral issues. Maybe "been through the wringer" is an exaggeration, because in reality Little J's issue are not as serious as many other children's behaviors, but still - we have been searching and searching for answers to his behavior problems, enlisting all the professionals we can enlist, with limited results.

We've seen Early Intervention twice, a clinic for Sensory Processing Disorder, had the schools do an evaluation, and have been to a private LCSW who talked to us about behavior issues and ways we can help him at home. Every evaluation we've had, with the exception of the school system's, was useful to us. They've all led us to various conclusions about Little J.

My current conclusion is that the child obviously has ADHD. The social worker said he was too young to treat medically, but suggested a book: Delivered from Distraction (which I'll review later this week). After reading this book I am convinced this is my son's major issue, and I'm also convinced he can be treated...but where to go? Who to see? I thought when I got the referral to the LCSW from the International Adoption Clinic at Duke that I was locating someone who could help me with Little J's behavior...and she did offer some suggestions, but the more I read about ADHD the clearer it is that this is a biochemical disorder. The best treatment, according to the book, is medication.

I called the Psychiatry department at UNC Chapel Hill, but they said they didn't do ongoing treatment. They referred me to Dr. Mel Levine's clinic, The Clinical Center for Development and Learning. I called them and they said that it would probably be a 3-6 month wait before evaluation was possible. I took down the procedure for applying anyway and sat down and cried...for a minute. Then I brushed off my tears, blew my nose, and called the next number on the list.

That number led me to someone who actually listened to me. She let me tell her our story, confirmed that what I was seeing in Little J's behavior was a)out of the ordinary and b)sounded very much like ADHD and c)said that he was not too young to be treated.

Aaaah. Finally, finally, someone who listened and agreed.

What is most ironic about that conversation is that this woman, Carla, does not do pediatric ADHD evaluations. She only works with adults. I was given her number in error. She could have told me that and hung up the phone and she would have been perfectly justified. But she didn't. She listened and she made suggestions and this morning, even though it's not in her job description, she's going to call me back with the names of people who can evaluate my son sooner than 3-6 months.

What a relief!