Kelly's Story
Kelly is sixteen. She was always a quiet girl and had what her mother called "a sluggish tempo." Kelly's grades in school have always been better than average. The real academic problems came with starting and completing schoolwork, specifically reading. As Kelly approached her final year in high school, her grades were good enough to get her into a college. According to her parents and her teachers, Kelly was an extremely bright young lady. However, they felt that something was missing when it came to her ability to complete given tasks.
KELLY GETS A COMPLETE EVALUATION
After careful consideration, Kelly's parents spoke with her about the possibility of seeking a professional evaluation in order to provide them with some answers about Kelly's health. Kelly agreed and underwent a comprehensive evaluation, which included a clinical interview, an analysis of past records, and a neuropsychological exam. In the end, Kelly was diagnosed with the inattentive subtype of ADHD. At first, Kelly was a bit apprehensive about taking the prescribed medication, but eventually agreed to try it.
IS KELLY'S MEDICATION WORKING?
With beginning her treatment on Adderall XR, Kelly's academic performance significantly improved in almost every subject. Furthermore, Kelly lost her "sluggish tempo" and her persistence in completing assignments and projects increased. Finally, her parents also reported a noticeable difference in Kelly's participation in conversation. Initially, before medication, Kelly's parents and teachers attributed Kelly's quietness and reserved nature simply to her personality. However, it became clear after taking Adderall XR, that Kelly's lack of conversation had been due to her inattentiveness and difficulty concentrating on a certain topic for an extended period of time. As her concentration improved, Kelly became able to actively contribute to discussions with her parents as well as with her fellow peers. She no longer lost track of what the conversation was about. Along with the improvements seen in school and social interactions, Kelly's mother also noticed her daughter's ability to make plans and stick to a specific schedule. Kelly could now create a list of tasks to be completed each day and actually have the attentiveness to finish each one, including keeping her room clean!
GOOD THINGS ABOUT ADHD
Kelly excels in art and music and she has plans to go to college and major in theater design. She and her parents are planning on finding a doctor, experienced in treating ADHD, in the area around her chosen college so she can continue to receive interventions.