Finding What Works

摘要

Hunter walrath's parents were hopeful when a child psychiatrist prescribed Concerta for dieir 9-year-old son. A bright, highly verbal boy, Hunter has a laundry list of disabilities: he suffers from ADHD, faulty executive functioning, dyslexia and emotional problems that suggest Asperger's syndrome. His limited attention span and poor impulse control made him an outcast at school. But the Concerta, his parents say, had little effect. His doctor upped the dose, but still, Hunter struggled. A few months later, when the doctor switched Hunter to a cocktail of Ritalin and Strattera, their boy's behavior changed—but not for the better. He gained 25 pounds and his outbursts in class grew more intense. Back on Concerta, Hunter has improved and is start- ing a new school, but the Walraths are shaken. "Sometimes we wondered," says John Walrath. "Are the doctors making this up as they go along?"