FAQs

• What is the most common referral question for Acorn to Oak?
• Do most of the children you see at Acorn to Oak have ADHD or ADD?
• What is ADHD or ADD?
• Is ADHD common?
• When is ADHD identified or suspected?
• How is ADHD diagnosed?
• How is ADHD treated?
• What is neuropsychology?
• What is a neuropsychological assessment?
• What is a test battery?

• What is the most common referral question for Acorn to Oak?
  • The most common question parents have is: Does my child have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
• Do most of the children you see at Acorn to Oak have ADHD or ADD?
  • The most common symptoms associated with ADHD or ADD are inattention and/or hyperactivity. We have found that there are dozens of reasons why a child might have difficulty paying attention or being overly active, including some of the following:
  • • -Trouble comprehending information
    • -Learning disorders
    • -Memory difficulties
    • -Visual or auditory processing challenges
    • -Chronic illness such as asthma, allergies, sleep disturbances, etc.
    • -Emotional disturbances
    • -Behavioral challenges
  • Our approach at Acorn to Oak is to attempt to identify the underlying causes of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity.
• What is ADHD or ADD?
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed when an individual is unable to sustain age appropriate levels of attention and/or concentration. The individual has attentional difficulties in multiple settings such as school, home, work, etc. The individual may display symptoms that include: hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity.
  • ADHD may be diagnosed with a number of additional descriptors such as:
    • -Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Predominately Hyperactive Type
    • -Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Predominately Inattentive Type
    • -Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Mixed Type
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is technically an inaccurate term and one that is not used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is commonly used to replace the term ADHD when the individual does not display symptoms of hyperactivity.
• Is ADHD common?
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is most commonly diagnosed in school-aged children. It is more common in males than in females. Research suggests that between 3% and 9% of school-aged children may have symptoms associated with ADHD.
  • Recent research suggests that symptoms of ADHD may persist into adulthood.
• How is ADHD identified and when is it suspected?
  • Often a parent or teacher may come to believe that a child displays symptoms of ADHD. The parent or teacher may refer the child for additional evaluation by a school nurse, pediatrician, or psychologist.
  • Adults may suspect ADHD when a child is inattentive, unruly, unusually active, or impulsive.
• How is ADHD diagnosed?
  • Usually a physician or counselor will provide the teacher and parents with a questionnaire about the child’s behaviors.
  • The health care provider may listen to a parent’s description about the child’s behaviors and review the results of the questionnaire.
  • Sometimes the provider will observe the child in a variety of settings such as in the classroom, on the playground, at home, etc.
  • Based upon the results the health care provider may diagnose ADHD.
• How is ADHD treated?
  • There are a number of theories about the best treatment for ADHD:
    • -Some physicians treat the symptoms of ADHD by prescribing medication.
    • -Some families treat ADHD through diet and supplements.
    • -Some families treat ADHD by using neurofeedback.
    • -ADHD may also be treated by behavior modification techniques.
• What is neuropsychology?
  • Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that seeks to understand the relationship between behaviors and brain functioning.
  • A neuropsychologist is interested in each of the domains (areas) of the brain and how they are functioning. Domains include: attention, memory, learning, motor functioning, visual processing, auditory processing, visual-spatial functioning, etc.
  • A neuropsychologist may look at issues of development, or the results of illness or injury on the brain and how that may affect the individual’s behaviors.
• What is a neuropsychological assessment?
  • A neuropsychological assessment is a series of paper and pencil (primarily) tests that are used to identify the individual’s level of functioning in a number of domains (areas).
  • The purpose of the assessment is to describe the individual’s unique set of strengths and weaknesses and then to assist the individual in maximizing their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses.
• What is a test battery?
  • A test battery is a collection of tests that examine the individual’s level of functioning in a number of different domains.