I think my child may have ADHD. What do I do?

Loreita - posted on 02/11/2009

Paula I have a few suggestions. Email me ASAP so I can tell you what has worked for us. My email is loreitah@msn.com

Pamela - posted on 02/11/2009

Also know, there is also ADD another form of ADHD but without the hyper part. My son has a lot of the symptoms without the being unable to calm down. Sometimes, it's hard to get him off the couch.:) 

Tammy - posted on 02/10/2009

set up an appt with your doctor. they will likely want you to complete a connors scale at home and at school.

a connors scale is something like this:

 If 8 or more of the below listed traits are continuously persistent in an individual's behavior, then they may be an attention deficited person.

1. Gives up easily on tasks, assignments and self-interests.
2. Poor reality testing skills, and avoids reason or logic.
3. Poorly developed skills of integration, interpolation and extrapolation.
4. Poor skills of attention and concentration, unable to sustain focus of interest.
5. Difficulties in short term and long term memory acquisition and management.
6. Difficulty in making up their mind, or making choices without undue anxiety.
7. Poor planning abilities, unable to follow through consistently or complete tasks.
8. Difficulty in differentiating between competing, extraneous stimulation.
9. Easily distracted from tasks, conversations or social interactions. 
10. Often over-stimulated and over-sensitized to their surroundings.
11. Poor listening skills, often interrupts others, abruptly changes topic.
12. Overly excitable, reactive and easily perseverating from one situation to another. 
13. Inability to manage emotional responses, overly responsive to depressive neural cascade patterns leading to temper tantrums. 
14. Easily frustrated, emotional labile/unstable leading to immediate changeable moods, behavioral inconsistencies.
15. Often hyperactive, fidgety, overwhelmed with feelings of restlessness.
16. Inability to maintain appropriate social conduct, often disruptive in school.
17. Experiences difficulty in following instructions and guidance.
18. Impatient, continuing difficulties in delaying gratification. 
19. Overly demanding may become self-destructive and aggressive.
20. Poor sleep patterns, often not rested, angry or despondent upon rising.
 
 talk to your doctor.

Tammy - posted on 02/10/2009

set up an appt with your doctor. they will likely want you to complete a connors scale at home and at school.

a connors scale is something like this:

 If 8 or more of the below listed traits are continuously persistent in an individual's behavior, then they may be an attention deficited person.

1. Gives up easily on tasks, assignments and self-interests.
2. Poor reality testing skills, and avoids reason or logic.
3. Poorly developed skills of integration, interpolation and extrapolation.
4. Poor skills of attention and concentration, unable to sustain focus of interest.
5. Difficulties in short term and long term memory acquisition and management.
6. Difficulty in making up their mind, or making choices without undue anxiety.
7. Poor planning abilities, unable to follow through consistently or complete tasks.
8. Difficulty in differentiating between competing, extraneous stimulation.
9. Easily distracted from tasks, conversations or social interactions. 
10. Often over-stimulated and over-sensitized to their surroundings.
11. Poor listening skills, often interrupts others, abruptly changes topic.
12. Overly excitable, reactive and easily perseverating from one situation to another. 
13. Inability to manage emotional responses, overly responsive to depressive neural cascade patterns leading to temper tantrums. 
14. Easily frustrated, emotional labile/unstable leading to immediate changeable moods, behavioral inconsistencies.
15. Often hyperactive, fidgety, overwhelmed with feelings of restlessness.
16. Inability to maintain appropriate social conduct, often disruptive in school.
17. Experiences difficulty in following instructions and guidance.
18. Impatient, continuing difficulties in delaying gratification. 
19. Overly demanding may become self-destructive and aggressive.
20. Poor sleep patterns, often not rested, angry or despondent upon rising.
 
 talk to your doctor.

Amber - posted on 02/10/2009

I recommend that you take the time to research ADHD, and have your child checked for allergies, particularly food allergies. Depending on the age of the child, once you have a small grasp of what ADHD is believed to be then you need to consult a pediatrician that specializes in ADHD and discuss the situation. Once you have done this and gotten the physicians professional OPINION- research the options that they offer. Pray for direction for what is right for your family and your child. Always remember that you know your child better than anyone else does and you have to be their advocate. Good Luck!

Liz - posted on 02/09/2009

Paula...I have a 29 yr old son with ADHD. First of all DO NOT let a non-medical professional label or diagnose him! Your best bet is your pediatrician working in conjuction with a neurologist. Some teachers, though meaning well, will try to diagnose because they've had other kids in the classroom with similar behaviors. Our frustration was that when my son was in grade school, there was not alot of info about ADHD. Much more is available now. Like everyone else we went thru the meds frustrations...no appetite, headaches, frustration, etc. You will have to find what works for you, but the most effective thing for us was patience, love, proper stimulation, and a very controlled diet. Do some research about this...we found some foods were quite a trigger. My son is now a very successful business man in a great relationship. He still has his challenges but maturity has helped him cope and learn. I will be thinking of you and praying for your family.

Jennifer - posted on 02/09/2009

Hi, I have 2 children diagnosed with ADHD. My daughter, now 14, was diagnosed by a psychiatrist. My son, now 7, was diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician. Looking back at both experiences, I believe the developmental pediatrician is the better way because they do a complete evaluation on the entire child. There might be another reason your child is showing signs that look like ADHD.  I even heard that sleep apnea can cause signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity. The psychiatrist just automatically diagnosed ADHD  and gave medication.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Jennifer - posted on 02/09/2009

Hi, I have 2 children diagnosed with ADHD. My daughter, now 14, was diagnosed by a psychiatrist. My son, now 7, was diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician. Looking back at both experiences, I believe the developmental pediatrician is the better way because they do a complete evaluation on the entire child. There might be another reason your child is showing signs that look like ADHD.  I even heard that sleep apnea can cause signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity. The psychiatrist just automatically diagnosed ADHD  and gave medication.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Rebecca - posted on 02/09/2009

Quoting Pamela:

Quoting Paula:

I think my child may have ADHD. What do I do?

I think my child may have ADHD. What do I do?

I have a husband with ADHD and our 13 year old son started to really show signs about the time he was 3 or 4. It was never a surprise and so we sought out the classroom teacher and his learning assistance teacher. They were very helpful and did a lot for our son so we could try to keep him off medication and still keep him productive and learning. He has never had hyperactivity so a good part of the time the teachers would forget he even had a problem. It was when they came around to help with homework or to mark tests that our son would have no idea what had been asked of him and could not remember what he needed to do. When his reading began to show real problems we decided to seek out the best pediatrician in our area to help him. We slowly began him on medication and since then he has been able to at least focus long enough to keep up with some of his schoolwork. He still struggles but he is getting older and learning to deal with his disorder.

 

If you have a family doctor you trust, ask their advice but also remember, people who do not have someone with ADHD/ADD sometimes have very narrow ideas and opinions as to what they think you should do. As a mother, go with your gut, If you really think their is a problem, do something about it. Check local support groups, Learning Assistance teachers in your Elementary school etc. There will be someone in your community who specializes in this disorder check the health unit. Good luck,  it is heartbreaking to see your child struggle but remember, as they grow older, they become adults who live normal healthy productive lives.

 

 

I agree with you one hundred percent on being the mother and go with your gut. I work in a school district in a class with 9 children with ADHD, I also have a 12 year old son with ADHD and was diagnosed when he was in 2nd grade. It is however important to correlate what you see, the teachers see and bring that information to the doctor. I researched a ton about it and because my soo take him is a gifted student they never assumed he had it, however he was extremely hyper and if I hadn't done anything the trends for his focus and organizational skills would have declined. I also had him on meds, he become depressed and like a zombie and when we switched he began to get horrific migranes. I began to make the choice at that point to take him off all together. While we still have our trials now that he is older and raging with hormones, and in middle school, with our help guidling him and showing hom organizational skills and focus he gets the work done. We work with his diet and meditational skills to calm his anger and frustration and take it one day at a time.

Pamela - posted on 02/08/2009

Quoting Paula:

I think my child may have ADHD. What do I do?

I think my child may have ADHD. What do I do?

I have a husband with ADHD and our 13 year old son started to really show signs about the time he was 3 or 4. It was never a surprise and so we sought out the classroom teacher and his learning assistance teacher. They were very helpful and did a lot for our son so we could try to keep him off medication and still keep him productive and learning. He has never had hyperactivity so a good part of the time the teachers would forget he even had a problem. It was when they came around to help with homework or to mark tests that our son would have no idea what had been asked of him and could not remember what he needed to do. When his reading began to show real problems we decided to seek out the best pediatrician in our area to help him. We slowly began him on medication and since then he has been able to at least focus long enough to keep up with some of his schoolwork. He still struggles but he is getting older and learning to deal with his disorder.

If you have a family doctor you trust, ask their advice but also remember, people who do not have someone with ADHD/ADD sometimes have very narrow ideas and opinions as to what they think you should do. As a mother, go with your gut, If you really think their is a problem, do something about it. Check local support groups, Learning Assistance teachers in your Elementary school etc. There will be someone in your community who specializes in this disorder check the health unit. Good luck,  it is heartbreaking to see your child struggle but remember, as they grow older, they become adults who live normal healthy productive lives.

Erin - posted on 02/08/2009

I talked to my sons doctor about it and we did surveys with his teacher and us.  The doctor compares and sees where the problem is and trys different meds.  We are having a hard time finding a med that works but doesnt have bad side effects.  We have gone through a medicine that works but he gets depressed and doesnt eat so for now we are taking him off until hes ready to try another,

Rebecca - posted on 02/08/2009

Quoting Paula:

I think my child may have ADHD. What do I do?

I think my child may have ADHD. What do I do?

If your child is of school age, have the school evaluate him through the day. Speak with his teacher first, being that she spends the most time with him throughout the school day. See if it is disrupting his focus on school and if it is effecting his grades or effecting him socially in anyway.