Question: My 18 year old daughter has experienced cognitive & memory issues that seem to be be increasing the older she gets. She was diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Dysorder when she was 7 but has a high IQ. We are noticing she is having more & more difficulty with short term memory & stringing her words together, using the wrong words, etc. & often ends up crying in frustration--Apparently her Dad had/has similar issues--I am wondering if it could be related to head injury? diet/dificiency? hormones? emotional? neurological issues? What kind of doctor do I start with? She has also been diagnosed with CVS (Chronic Vomitting Syndrome or abdominal migraines).

Is Methylphenidate the same as Ritalin? If so, I am concerned about the addictive nature of the meds & also side effects. Is there any meds that do not alter the chemical make-up but boost the body's natural functions? She had been taking metachlorpramede (?) and lorazapam as needed for the CVS but neither seem to be very effective unless she is able to take it just before an episode comes on & even then it seems touch & go. Are the medications you mentioned in the same "family" of meds? Thanks, XXXX I wanted to add, that the reason I listed spine as one area of concern is that my daughter was trampled by a horse when she was 5 (on the back of her right leg above the knee, flipped over & trampled again on her chest almost over her heart). She was diagnosed with CAPD & CVS after that & has had back & neck issues since (bone spurs in her lower back , issues with her mid back (thoracic) & upper cervical. She sees a chiropractor on a fairly regular basis & has been told she has the joints of an 80 year old already at 18. I am just wondering if all of these things could be related to that incident with the horse somehow...