My DS is in 2nd grade and has been having trouble in school for the past couple of years. (Won't stay in seat, won't finish class work, doesn't follow directions, can't concentrate, etc.) It's taken me some time to admit it, but after reading about some of the symptoms of ADHD, I'm starting to agree with his teacher that he actually has this disorder. For a long time, I've always thought he was just a normal active 7 year old boy. Well, I'm terrified of putting him on some possibly addictive medication that may or may not have some side effects. I've been researching herbal treatments for this. Does anyone have any experience with these remedies? Do they work? Are they credible? Which companies are credible? I'd appreciate any responses to those who have some experience with this. Thanks in advance!
Totally OT - Does anyone have an ADHD child?
- Thread starter sstindt
- Start date
Hi,
I'm a special education teacher and my husband has ADHD. I'm not familiar with herbal remedies, but I see medication used quite frequently. I can honestly say that I have very mixed emotions about medication, but in the educational environment it becomes sort of a double edged sword. Consistent and repeated failure in school is not good for a child's physchological or emotional well being not to mention their academic success. The early years are critical to academic success.
It's not bad to have ADHD, it is just a diffence in wiring. In most cases these individuals grow up to be productive members of society. It is good that you are exploring the situation now and willing to find help for your child. I find that students with supportive, accepting parents do the best.
If you have not contacted your pediatrician or a child pshychiatrist I would, or bring your child up for evaluation at their school. I'd get a diagnosis before you do anything. Depending on the severity, sometimes simple strategies can help minimize some of the characteristics that seem to be so detrimental in the educational environment. Sound medical and educational advice is very important.
Tracy
I'm a special education teacher and my husband has ADHD. I'm not familiar with herbal remedies, but I see medication used quite frequently. I can honestly say that I have very mixed emotions about medication, but in the educational environment it becomes sort of a double edged sword. Consistent and repeated failure in school is not good for a child's physchological or emotional well being not to mention their academic success. The early years are critical to academic success.
It's not bad to have ADHD, it is just a diffence in wiring. In most cases these individuals grow up to be productive members of society. It is good that you are exploring the situation now and willing to find help for your child. I find that students with supportive, accepting parents do the best.
If you have not contacted your pediatrician or a child pshychiatrist I would, or bring your child up for evaluation at their school. I'd get a diagnosis before you do anything. Depending on the severity, sometimes simple strategies can help minimize some of the characteristics that seem to be so detrimental in the educational environment. Sound medical and educational advice is very important.
Tracy
2121
Cathlete
I would get a diagnosis first too. I worked in a school with kids who had varying degrees of ADHD among other disorders. Some parents tried diet alterations. I don't have any specifics it is just another thing to look into. Being a parent, I would try to find a natural remedy befor using any type of drug. Good luck and trust your instincts too. Melissa
allwildgirl
Cathlete
I started a thread very similar to this one a while ago, and got some amazing responses. Here's a link to that thread.
http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?..._id=235193&mesg_id=235193&listing_type=search
Just to update, my daughter has an appointment with the doctor on Monday in order to get a referral to a specialist so we can get her diagnosed once and for all.
http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?..._id=235193&mesg_id=235193&listing_type=search
Just to update, my daughter has an appointment with the doctor on Monday in order to get a referral to a specialist so we can get her diagnosed once and for all.
I think ADHD is a label that, in some cases, pigeonholes those "diagnosed" with it.
I have done some reading on related topics and evidence exists that artificial sweeteners and thimerasol (used in immunizations as a preservative) contribute to the "development" of ADHD. Some evidence even suggests that these two things actually cause ADHD. So, watch what you're letting your son eat. Make sure he's not drinking diet sodas or eating "sugar-free" candy. Don't serve your child Equal, Sweet-n-Low, Splenda, or other artificial sweeteners in ANYTHING! Do not cook with these substances, and do not use them in your drinks. I won't get started on all the hazards of artificial sweeteners since that's not what this thread is about, but they can contribute to ADHD. As far as thimerasol (mercury) is concerned, there's not much you can do about that now if your son has already had all his immunizations.
While we're at it, get some books on sugar consumption and learn the hidden sources of sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in the diet, and cut that junk out. Amazon.com has a bunch of good books on this topic, and I've been reading a few.
Lastly, perhaps your child is just a very bright kid. Smart children can become easily bored with the "dumbing down" in the classroom. I went through this when I attended Business College. I would sit in a room for 3 hours with a classroom of students who slowed down the class so severely that I would sit bored for half the class. The instructor had to dumb things down so much for the "slower" students that I suffered for it. Imagine if I'd been a second grader! Bored = devil's playground for a young kid! Perhaps you need to look at advanced classes or a different style of teaching - something more active that will hold his attention.
I have done some reading on related topics and evidence exists that artificial sweeteners and thimerasol (used in immunizations as a preservative) contribute to the "development" of ADHD. Some evidence even suggests that these two things actually cause ADHD. So, watch what you're letting your son eat. Make sure he's not drinking diet sodas or eating "sugar-free" candy. Don't serve your child Equal, Sweet-n-Low, Splenda, or other artificial sweeteners in ANYTHING! Do not cook with these substances, and do not use them in your drinks. I won't get started on all the hazards of artificial sweeteners since that's not what this thread is about, but they can contribute to ADHD. As far as thimerasol (mercury) is concerned, there's not much you can do about that now if your son has already had all his immunizations.
While we're at it, get some books on sugar consumption and learn the hidden sources of sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in the diet, and cut that junk out. Amazon.com has a bunch of good books on this topic, and I've been reading a few.
Lastly, perhaps your child is just a very bright kid. Smart children can become easily bored with the "dumbing down" in the classroom. I went through this when I attended Business College. I would sit in a room for 3 hours with a classroom of students who slowed down the class so severely that I would sit bored for half the class. The instructor had to dumb things down so much for the "slower" students that I suffered for it. Imagine if I'd been a second grader! Bored = devil's playground for a young kid! Perhaps you need to look at advanced classes or a different style of teaching - something more active that will hold his attention.
hopefull
Cathlete
I know this from both angles. I am the mother of an ADHD son, and a teacher. It is perplexing. I think my son is a very interesting person, and I think my ADHD kids are too. There are blessings with this condition as well as challenges. The one thing that concerns me the most about ADHD kids is that due to the lack of attentiveness they sometimes do not develop a high level of empathy for others. This was the deciding factor for putting my son on meds. He wouldn't pay attention to anything long enough to understand how his actions affected others. He's come a long way, but in all honesty it was the testing the doctor did with him that made me aware of this problem. I didn't see his head strong ways as being due to a lack of empathy. Paying attention to others wasn't something that came naturally it had to be taught. We've come a long way on that scale! I don't think it would have happened if the deficit hadn't been diagnosed. ADHD kids present with many different profiles. This may not be a factor with your son, but I think it's something that often gets overlooked with ADHD kids, and is a barrier to them being successful in school and out. As far as remedies, there isn't one. Your son doesn't need to be fixed. He just needs to learn to work with what he's got. He will always be ADHD. Med's etc. just deal with symptoms, and only partially at that. The worse thing I see parents do to kids is over medicate, thinking it will fix a kid. If you go down the meds route. Be sure you have a doctor who listens and will work with you on dosages and try different meds if necessary. Also it is very important for your son to take any meds regularly. It takes several days for these meds to reach their optimal dosage. If you skip a day you are back at square one. Many of my parents don't give meds on weekends. Makes for rough Mondays.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for all who responded! Shelley, your post was like a lifeline for me. I didn't know your DD had ADD or that you had already posted a question about it. I went right to the link and read every post immediately! There were so many knowledgable comments and things to consider. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! How long did it take your DD to get a diagnosis? Are you planning on putting her on meds? I've been denying that he might have ADHD and now I feel that I've wasted all of this time when I could have been getting him some help! Like some of the other posters have mentioned, he really struggles in math and has difficulty attending to details. He won't do his work at school probably because it takes sustained mental activity. He's hard to control in social situations. Everyday, I live in fear that we'll get another note from school. Hopefull, like your DS, he doesn't understand how his actions affect others, also. I'm also a teacher, so maybe that's why I've been struggling with admitting my own DS might have ADHD. It is so great to see that I'm not alone! I'm still scared about meds and their side effects, however, but you ladies have helped me so much. I have more information to consider and I also feel so much better about this situation. Thanks so much for being so understanding and helpful. You are all the best!
melodygirl
Cathlete
I have not read any of the responses, but yes, my now 12 yo DS lives with ADHD. DH and I struggled for years with getting the accurate diagnosis. THEN we struggled with the medicate or not to medicate issue. We went through Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall with not good results...it seems each of them metabolized through his system extremely quickly due to his unbelieveably high metabolism and at a rate that put him on a horrible emotional rollercoaster. A few years ago his doc suggested we try Strattera. Strattera is not a stimulant and he has had absolutely no side effects. He can focus on school work most of the time (we homeschool so I deal with this real firsthand) but he continued to exhibit problems with "ups and downs"...bottom line, he is also bipolar and in addition to Strattera is on Abilify, which is a God send for him. I don't say this to scare you, he is adopted and his bio mom was bipolar. Just wanted to be honest and say ADHD is not all he deals with.
Your child may very well be ADD or ADHD. It is not a horrible thing. It is just a matter of learning what works for your child...meds nor not...and/or behavorial therapy (we do both), and processed foods, sugar and food dyes make a difference in my son's behavior. And if he gets sick, oh dear, we do not like to give him medications such as antihistimines, decongestants or cough syrups...he leaves the planet in a berserk pattern of behavior if we do and we wish we could leave the planet.
First talk with your child's pediatrician and complete the necessary "diary" type forms to document behavior. Then if warranted, proceed to have him evaluated further by a psychologist. Once you have your answers, you can determine how best to proceed for your child. Different methods and medications work differently for each child. There is no one correct answer.
Bless you and good luck.
Your child may very well be ADD or ADHD. It is not a horrible thing. It is just a matter of learning what works for your child...meds nor not...and/or behavorial therapy (we do both), and processed foods, sugar and food dyes make a difference in my son's behavior. And if he gets sick, oh dear, we do not like to give him medications such as antihistimines, decongestants or cough syrups...he leaves the planet in a berserk pattern of behavior if we do and we wish we could leave the planet.
First talk with your child's pediatrician and complete the necessary "diary" type forms to document behavior. Then if warranted, proceed to have him evaluated further by a psychologist. Once you have your answers, you can determine how best to proceed for your child. Different methods and medications work differently for each child. There is no one correct answer.
Bless you and good luck.
dorothyrd
Cathlete
I posted on the other thread. My now 13 year old DD was diagnosed in 6th grade with ADHD - inattentive, she is the dreamer. It is important to get an official diagnosis, preferably from a doctor. Our hospital actually has some ADHD specialist although DD refuses treatment(the problem with diagnosing a tween), so we did not go that route.
In second grade, I would make sure he is getting enough activity outside the classroom. There is a woman around here that both her children are ADHD, and even though they live about 2 miles from school, they started walking to and from school everyday regardless of the weather in kindergarten(Mom with them). That was 15 years ago, and I hear she was successful with that, and other behaviour modification.
There is an ADHD magazine, a myriad of books, which your doctor can help you find, and also google on it.
When you are dealing with any type of thing like this that you are unfamiliar with, educate yourself. You will find good things, you will find bad thing, but learn as much as you can as this can be a life long thing he is dealing with.
As to my DD, this year is better than last, but she really has to work hard at it. Next month I will be meeting with the HS counsler and start building the same type of communications I have now at the Junior High. That was key, making changes that most helped her, like sitting toward the front, moving her hard classes to the afternoon when she is more awake. We still joke, the child either gets A's or F's, no in between.
Someday, her talents will shine, she is an artist, and writer, and very bright, but everyday school will always be a struggle.
In second grade, I would make sure he is getting enough activity outside the classroom. There is a woman around here that both her children are ADHD, and even though they live about 2 miles from school, they started walking to and from school everyday regardless of the weather in kindergarten(Mom with them). That was 15 years ago, and I hear she was successful with that, and other behaviour modification.
There is an ADHD magazine, a myriad of books, which your doctor can help you find, and also google on it.
When you are dealing with any type of thing like this that you are unfamiliar with, educate yourself. You will find good things, you will find bad thing, but learn as much as you can as this can be a life long thing he is dealing with.
As to my DD, this year is better than last, but she really has to work hard at it. Next month I will be meeting with the HS counsler and start building the same type of communications I have now at the Junior High. That was key, making changes that most helped her, like sitting toward the front, moving her hard classes to the afternoon when she is more awake. We still joke, the child either gets A's or F's, no in between.
Someday, her talents will shine, she is an artist, and writer, and very bright, but everyday school will always be a struggle.
I have ADD and my daughter has ADHD (and bipolar depression). I grew up without medicines wasn't a stellar student, did all kinds of risky behavior self medicated with narcotics. In short my life was a mess, until the Navy busted me and I learned self control and managed my behavior.
My daughter diagnosed in 2nd grade was medicated, Ritalin first then Concerta. She excelled in school, learned to self manage in 9th grade and took herself off the meds.
I wish the medical community diagnosed and medicated me, getting beaten in school (legal then) and home, being called a misfit and a lot of other choice names has left some deep scar.
Theres things that your kid has to learn in those early grades that build the foundation of his/her education. If the "team", doctor. teacher and family, can't come up with a solution, then medicate.
There are some wonderful holistic practioners out there, but its a crap shoot. There is no regulation and controls on the "herbal" industry. Walk gently down that road.
My daughter diagnosed in 2nd grade was medicated, Ritalin first then Concerta. She excelled in school, learned to self manage in 9th grade and took herself off the meds.
I wish the medical community diagnosed and medicated me, getting beaten in school (legal then) and home, being called a misfit and a lot of other choice names has left some deep scar.
Theres things that your kid has to learn in those early grades that build the foundation of his/her education. If the "team", doctor. teacher and family, can't come up with a solution, then medicate.
There are some wonderful holistic practioners out there, but its a crap shoot. There is no regulation and controls on the "herbal" industry. Walk gently down that road.
Again, these responses have helped me tremendously. Melody, I'm so happy to hear that the Strattera has no side effects for your child. Dave, thank you for sharing your story and that of your daughter. More than ever, I want to make sure my son doesn't go down the road of risky behavior, which I can see him doing if we don't help him now. Also, I hope one day my DS will be able to control this without medication, but I guess we'll just have to take it one day at a time. I'll keep you all posted, and once again, thank you for the inspiring stories, and information. With all of your input, and some research on the internet and with some books, I plan on getting educated to do what's right for my DS.
Two of my children have ADD. There is so much out there; natural vs. medication. I tried them all. By sheer chance I spoke to a woman who was struggling with a child with ADD like I was. She steered me toward a treatment call "Vision Therapy". 25% of children diagnosed with ADD have problems tracking with their eyes. It is amazing how many words on the page just "disappear". I googled vision therapy and vision therapy and ADD, and came up with these websites.
www.vision-therapy.com
www.visiontherapystories.org
www.add-adhd.org
There is certainly no magic bullet and different things work for different children. This procedure was very successful for my daughter and was covered by my major medical insurance.
Good luck in your journey. I've been there and it is all consuming. God speed.
Cheryl
www.vision-therapy.com
www.visiontherapystories.org
www.add-adhd.org
There is certainly no magic bullet and different things work for different children. This procedure was very successful for my daughter and was covered by my major medical insurance.
Good luck in your journey. I've been there and it is all consuming. God speed.
Cheryl
My 17 year-old DS has ADD. He has been on every type of medication (Concerta, Adderal, Strattera, Cylert, Methylphenidate (generic form of Ritalin)). I can tell you that it's not addicting. The most significant side effect he had was decreased appetite. He has always been extremely slim (but I think he also takes after me, I was always very thin as a child). About 2 years ago, he decided on his own to stop taking it. I can tell you it definitely helped him as a child but since he's gotten older and more mature, I think he's learned to cope better. All of the behavior that used to get him into trouble has vanished in the last couple of years. He is getting the best grades now than he's ever gotten. He told me the medication made him feel like a zombie, robot, etc. and he didn't like the way it made him feel. Over the years he has been on and off medication. He never really like to take it but I feel it did help him to a certain point. Since he has stopped taking the medication, he has grown. He is now 5'5". It seems strange he is now taller than me. I never thought I'd see the day. I had taken him to endocrinologists and had growth hormone tests done. The endocrinologist told me she didn't think he'd be more than 5'2". My DS now has a job at a movie theater and has been working there for about 5 months making pizza, working the cash register. He comes home proud to say he earned commissions for selling combos. He has always hated to read even when I tried to find books about things he enjoyed. He would like to become a pastry chef and I recently got him a book about becoming a pastry chef. He actually has been reading it. My DS has come a long way and it's been really tough. I've had him in and out of special ed and I felt I was more of a teacher most of the time than his teachers were. I finally found a good high school for him with no more than 6 children in each class. More than anything, he needed as much one-on-one attention as possible. The aides in his school are wonderful and help just as much as the teachers. The Board of Ed was ready to put him in a school with padded walls. This was unacceptable to me so I just kept searching on my own for the right school for him and finally found it. He is now going to be graduating in June and has passed 2 regents and all but one of his RCTs. My advice to you is to never give up, never give in and always be an advocate for your child. Find what works for him/her and do whatever you have to to make sure he is the appropriate school. It will make a world of difference.
Sorry for the long post everyone but I hope it was informative.
Marcy
Sorry for the long post everyone but I hope it was informative.
Marcy
jcm
Cathlete
You're getting so many good responses. I'll give you my experience in a nutshell and you can write if you have questions.
My daughter is going to be 7 in the spring and is repeating kindergarten this year. Her dad is ADD. I reluctantly had testing done last spring and after six hours of testing sat through a two hour appointment hearing everything that was wrong with my "perfect" child. I assumed she had ADD, but the "official" diagnosis was ADHD, Pervasive Development Disorder NOS (not otherwise specificied), Sensory Integration Dysfunction and Stereoypic Movement Disorder without self-injury. I cried a lot until I got a grip on all this.
Well, we did a bunch of tests (blood work, eye exam, hearing exam) just to rule out anything physical like that. And yes, the eye doctor did comment on the visual tracking. From what I've read that goes along with Sensory Integration.
Her ped. pushed concerta but I'm not ready to do that at this point. Here is what we are doing:
I ordered a DHA supplement from Martek Labs (for brain development) and she takes that daily.
She is in speech therapy (NOT for speech - she is very verbal. I found out this helps with the auditory processing) and occupational therapy.
She has been in Tae Kwon Do since April which is WONDERFUL for these kids.
The Feingold Diet (a book) has been highly recommened to me but I"m not very to dive into that yet. It's quite involved.
Anyway, that's my story! It's been quite an adventure so far!
Jen
My daughter is going to be 7 in the spring and is repeating kindergarten this year. Her dad is ADD. I reluctantly had testing done last spring and after six hours of testing sat through a two hour appointment hearing everything that was wrong with my "perfect" child. I assumed she had ADD, but the "official" diagnosis was ADHD, Pervasive Development Disorder NOS (not otherwise specificied), Sensory Integration Dysfunction and Stereoypic Movement Disorder without self-injury. I cried a lot until I got a grip on all this.
Well, we did a bunch of tests (blood work, eye exam, hearing exam) just to rule out anything physical like that. And yes, the eye doctor did comment on the visual tracking. From what I've read that goes along with Sensory Integration.
Her ped. pushed concerta but I'm not ready to do that at this point. Here is what we are doing:
I ordered a DHA supplement from Martek Labs (for brain development) and she takes that daily.
She is in speech therapy (NOT for speech - she is very verbal. I found out this helps with the auditory processing) and occupational therapy.
She has been in Tae Kwon Do since April which is WONDERFUL for these kids.
The Feingold Diet (a book) has been highly recommened to me but I"m not very to dive into that yet. It's quite involved.
Anyway, that's my story! It's been quite an adventure so far!
Jen
dorothyrd
Cathlete
My daughter had vision therapy in 4th grade for tracking issues. The vision is now not a problem, but it took about two years to catch up to her grade. She also has an LD that relates to Math and Science, but again, the knowledge of that helps us work with the school and her. Knowledge is power.
deanie
Cathlete
I haven't read any responses, but here is my story: My son has ADD he is 10 and in 5th grade. I had him tested in 3rd grade, because homework was such an issue,( sitting and doing it, not getting it,) and I had a meeting at school with the teacher and principle and a few other specialty teachers. They asked me to get him tested because he tested for gifted and talented and shows he has a high IQ but his grades were C's. He was tested and we were told he was borderline, so we did nothing. In 4th grade, again the teacher tells me: he is very smart but....his father insisted he was the same type of student, there is nothing wrong with him, he reminded me of my brother, smart enough to do the work, but not making an effort., so again, denied anything was wrong. In 5th grade, he started getting D's and failing and in Oct. was sent to the principals office. That day I made him an appt. to get retested for ADD. (behavior at home was bad, I couldn't and didn't know how to help him, worried about his wild behavior with his younger brother- I didn't want him getting hurt). Anyway, ends up, he has ADD. After MUCH (and I can't stress that enough) MUCH disscussion DH and I decided if DS would agree to the meds we would go that route. DS said he would try. He is on week 7 of being on Ritalin 30mg. The meeting I had at school this Tues. to discuss his progress was wonderful. He is now getting A's and B's, he is making good choices about friends and HE is much happier!!! It was like night and day. He likes how he is on the meds and he has the option to skip a day on the weekends if he wants, but he choses to take the meds, life is easier for him. We have a meeting at the end of the month with the dr. again, she will check his progress and he will have to see a dr. who will help him with statagies to use for schoolwork, so he won't always be on meds. ALso, the dr. recommended he do some physical activity(which he already does)-a team or individual sport, but something. There were some side effects: he does stay up till about 10pm, he used to fall asleep at 9; he has had a drop in appitite and may not always eat his lunch, but thats not a big deal, he eats when he comes home from school and has dinner like usual.
I would think your first step is to come to grips that he should be tested. I say this with a lot of "warm fuzzies" for you- this was soooo hard for me. I would cry for like 3 days just thinking about it. But think how hard it is for your child, he wants to do well and is frustrated when he can't. You should test him, and take it from there, I think that is the best way to help your child.
Good luck,
My thoughts are with you,
Deanie
I would think your first step is to come to grips that he should be tested. I say this with a lot of "warm fuzzies" for you- this was soooo hard for me. I would cry for like 3 days just thinking about it. But think how hard it is for your child, he wants to do well and is frustrated when he can't. You should test him, and take it from there, I think that is the best way to help your child.
Good luck,
My thoughts are with you,
Deanie