A STUDY ON RITALIN WOULD HELP THE MONCTON CLINIC!!!!

Times & Transcript | Health - News
As published on page A7 on September 14, 2005


Metro Moncton ADD clinic busy
Moncton MD helps diagnose learning difficulties in children

BY AIMEE BARRY
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

A Moncton pediatrician is making sure every student has a chance to be successful in the classroom.

In the one month that Dr. Margaret Hurst has operated her clinic that specializes in treating attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities, she has seen more than 230 children.

"Right now our waiting list is until November," Hurst said.

"As a team approach (children) not only see me for a thorough, physical examination and a history but they also see other members of my staff who can test them for problems with either learning or problems with attention," Hurst said.

"What we're trying to do is create a clinic where the testing can be done and done appropriately and make a diagnosis that is correct for that particular child. It doesn't always mean medication."

Hurst's office is on referral only from general practitioners and she has been working with children from Metro Moncton and beyond, including Campbellton and Amherst.

While the clinic doesn't provide formal testing, it does conduct neuro developmental tests to determine if a learning problem exists.

"Then we can pinpoint that to the school (the child attends) and they can specifically test that area," Hurst said.

"If the school's waiting list is lengthy you could use an outside psychologist to do that formal testing in that area," Hurst said.

The clinic also provides both children and parents with behaviour modification training to better understand the child's behaviour and to learn how to handle it.

Hurst has worked as a general pediatrician in Metro Moncton since 2002 and noticed there was a need in the community for help for children with learning issues.

"From talking with families, (the children) would be put on waiting lists for long periods of time, so that way we could create a clinic that could get those kids through a little quicker," Hurst said.



Right now, Hurst works with a behaviour interventionist who helps with the testing and by October she hopes to add a psychologist to her complement.

She is also meeting with representatives from the school districts, the Learning Disabilities Association, local psychologists, psychiatrists, Moncton Family Services and Mental Health to give them the opportunity to find out more about her operation.

"Our goal is for each child to be successful and to be the best that they can possibly be," Hurst said.