Misdiagnosed by a Checklist: ADHD Symptoms, Root Causes & What Comes Next | A Conversation with Dr. Arthur Lavin, MD

On this episode, I interview Dr. Arthur Lavin, MD, my former pediatrician with 40 years of experience, Co-Chair of Doctors Organized for HealthCare Solutions, and Immediate Past Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on the Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health.

We explore why he chose not to diagnose me with ADHD as a child, even though I displayed many of the commonly recognized symptoms. His approach goes beyond symptom checklists to look at what may be underneath those behaviors, of which there are 49 possible contributors. In fact, Dr. Lavin co-authored a policy published by the American Academy of Pediatrics outlining 49 different reasons a child may struggle academically.

This conversation is a reminder that human beings are complex and cannot be fully understood through a checklist questionnaire. No diagnosis, especially one that leads to powerful, potentially addictive medication, should be made without a deeper understanding of what is truly going on underneath the surface.

References:

Check out the official policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics, co-written by Dr. Lavin, which sets international standards for the profession of pediatrics and its practice, outlining the 49 root causes that contribute to inattention: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/4/e20192520/38485/School-aged-Children-Who-Are-Not-Progressing

An Addy Free tool to help with working memory and attention. Brought to the United States by Dr. Lavin himself: https://www.cogmed.com/