I don't think any harm can come of getting an evaluation. See if there are any psychiatric nurse practitioners in your area, they're usually easier to get in with than psychologists or psychiatrists and should have lots of experience with ADHD and medication. A neuropsychologist would do a more thorough evaluation but they are expensive and have long waiting lists. I also use audio books or talking on the phone to get me through tasks like housecleaning, dishes, and laundry. I'm completely useless without something to keep my brain active and engaged.

No specific advice, but absolutely she should go for it! I actually know a Stanford professor who has a couple of high school students in his lab so it is certainly not unheard of.

The Kingdom of Wrenly books also have dragons (one baby Dragon in particular)

agreeing with Hunter that there is not exact correspondence between a set of phonograms and all English words; for the O-T systems I am familiar with the pronunciation of some words has to be modified to fit the phonogram system. Which I personally find a bit ridiculous but oh well. Many children do not require or benefit from such complex teaching of phonics, I really think it depends on the child.

A weight obsession can be due to OCD--my dd was only 8 when she asked me one day "mom, why can't I stop worrying about weight?" She wasn't choosing to think about it, the worries were just constantly intruding in her mind and were affecting her behavior.

Does she have an official dyslexia diagnosis? Seems to me that alone should be sufficient.

While a gluten free diet does seem to help some people with psychological issues such as anxiety, I would be very hesitant to cut out a major food category if there is any hint of anorexic type behaviors.

With sudden onset/sudden worsening you may also want to investigate the possibility of PANDAS/PANS. OCD type symptoms are a particular hallmark; when one of mine started manifesting early symptoms of an eating disorder it was due to OCD-type intrusive thoughts/compulsions.

I was diagnosed as an adult, officially just within the past year. I'd suspected the diagnosis ever since I was 17 or so, but had never pursued evaluations. I went to the same neuropsychologist who had diagnosed my kids (several of whom are ADHD). Mine is mixed type, I did try medication very briefly and found it made a difference but stopped because we were planning another pregnancy. I look forward to being able to take it again at some point in the future, I was just taking a small dose in the afternoon and it kept me from feeling so muddle headed I couldn't focus on anything.

I can't imagine that "listening to our words" could help with clinical anxiety. No, I don't think you need a gifted specialist to evaluate for anxiety. I don't know what your options are; anxiety is a medical diagnosis, our insurance paid the majority of the cost of evaluation by a neuropsychologist. Cognitive behavioral therapy is likely your first line of attack, medication may be necessary as well. Start with a full medical workup though, including vitamin D levels (low D3 can contribute to anxiety), thyroid, etc.

Which might be the direction dh would go, given a background in business, project management, logistics, etc. He's frustrated with his current career trajectory (i.e., he doesn't want to just move up and do what his boss does).

He's done first year college calculus, but it was awhile ago. I have no idea about physics.

I think an actual degree, though maybe he could start with a MOOC to see if he really likes it? Thanks for the tip about AZ state.

The vaccines are great but they don't protect against all forms of meningitis. I wouldn't want parents thinking "this can't be meningitis, my kid has been vaccinated". There are so many different types of both viral and bacterial meningitis.

I take the intense urge some children have to climb as proof positive that our ancestors must have lived in trees at some point :D

Yes, I think it is OK to ask. If that doesn't work, my kids wear earplugs when the music is loud--the clear silicone ones designed for swimming.

We got rid of almost all furniture. There's really no way to keep a climber from climbing, you just have to watch them like a hawk.

Could you arrange with a neighbor to have packages delivered to their house?

The phonograms are based on the Orton-Gillingham system, which has been around for a long time--I think since the 1930's? Denise added four phonograms to the basic O-G list of 70, for a final count of 74 in her program.

I'm wondering if it is possible to get an engineering degree by takinng classes in the evening or online? Just a random musing this morning. My husband has an undergraduate degree in business and an MBA, but for years has said he regrets not studying engineering. I'm wondering if there are programs out there for working professionals who want to pick up engineering later in life.

Thinking of you OP, hope all is well and you and your dd are getting some needed sleep.

My Father's Dragon

I am so sorry.

Yeah, I hate ER trips. Especially late night ones. Meningitis is tricky that way though--kids can go from seemingly mildly sick to life threateningly ill in a very short time; the urgent care doc was right to be cautious. Hopefully for your dd this is just a necessary precaution and it doesn't turn out to be meningitis.

The cases I am aware of were fatal--as in, child went to bed feeling mildly sick and parent found them dead in the morning. Take her to the ER.