Devon ADHD Case Study

Devon was diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type when she was nine years old. Devon was in the forth grade at the time and was having trouble completing her class work. Devon was a pleasant and quiet little girl at school, but was easily distracted and often day dreamed causing her to have trouble with class assignments. Devon also had a hard time listening and completing task at home. Her parents had to repeat things to her often and Devon would forget what she was told. Devon was put on 20 milligrams of Strattera, a medication used to treat ADHD. Within six weeks of taking Strattera, Devon stated that she was concentrating better at school. Devon’s teacher also noticed an improvement in Devon’s work getting done, but stated that Devon sometimes …show more content…
Some common side effects of Strattera include: abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite (which can lead to weight loss over time), dizziness, vertigo, irritability, and mood swings (Rosack, 2002). According to Shatkin (2009), “stimulants remain the most effective and commonly employed treatment for ADHD” (p.46). Some common stimulant medications used to treat ADHD include: Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, Daytrana, Focalin, Methylin, Metadate, Dexedrine, and DextroStat. Nausea, headaches, insomnia, and decreased appetite are the four most common side effects of stimulants used to treat ADHD (Shatkin, 2009, p. 50). If side effects occur, lowering the dose and slowly raising the dose over time can help manage the side …show more content…
If I were working with Devon’s parents I would let them know that parenting classes are a great way for parents to gain skills that will help them better interact with Devon. In parenting classes parents learn how to create structure and consistency with their child. I would also educate Devon’s parents on the possible causes of ADHD and how Devon is not purposefully ignoring directions out of disobedience, but instead, because her disorder prevents her from being able to function the way she should. I would talk to Devon’s parents about the importance of using things such as calendars and checklist to help Devon stay on task. If Devon’s parents were hesitant about medication I would explain to them how the medication works and how if medication is started early it will help prevent negative consequences in the future. I would also give them resources such as pamphlets and articles on ADHD that would help them gain a better understanding of the disorder and treatment