ADHD immpulsive behavior

Rose - posted on 07/08/2009

I'm probably going to ruffle some feathers here but advice boards are about honest opinions. I live in a community where 9 out of 10 kids are diagnosed and medicated for adhd by age 5. In my opinion that diagnoses should not be made until age 8 especially for boys. I have 4 children and by age 3 I was told by a doctor or other health professional that they were adhd turns out that only 1 of the 3 really does have ADD he is now 9 and we still do not medicate him. He needs constant redirection and until last year needed behavior management. It is a constant struggle to keep him focused but the extra work is well worth it. He is a bright creative child who can carry on an intelligent conversation with any adult. (he sometimes makes adults run for a dictionary to look up a word he has said) ADHD at least in my community is over diagnosed and way to many of these children are on heavy meds that some do not need. Please wait until he is older before you let him be labeled as ADHD it is a label that is easily handed out but not easily removed.

Sarah - posted on 07/05/2009

My son was diagnosed with ADHD and impulse control issues when he was 4. Donovan is also legally bind and has lots of other health issue. We had a hard time getting him diagnosed properly due to all his other issues, but we knew all along it would be ADHD He is very high strung and emotional we had times of aggressive behavior and is always hyper and at times uncontrollable. I am a firm believer in not medicating a child unless necessary so we struggled finding ways that would help. I tried herbal medication which helped some in calming him but really didn't last. We finally made the decision to let his doctor try the medicine on him. Let me just say Thank You to whoever invented Concerta. Donovan is a lot calmer now he focuses on his school work and grades have come up, he is so much happier too now that he can focus and control himself. It dosent make him groggy or doped up. We continue with other methods as well like regulating his diet, less sugar and carbs and more protein. No dyes like red or blue or purple, this is hard to do but it is possible to cut them back considerably. These things help a lot. We also took him to a counselor, it really helps for them to have someone they can trust that's not a parent or relative to talk to and complain too. Donovans nine now and we still have days that are full of stress and hyperactivity but the good ones out way them. I will say this its a good idea if you go with a medication to control it to give them breaks from it, when he dosent have school or we have nothing planned and are just going to be at home all day we don't give him his medicine. Most doctors recommend medication breaks. I hope you figure out for sure if its ADHD and wish you the best of luck, Its as hard on the parents and family members as it is on the child when they cant focus and are out of control.

Tracy - posted on 06/26/2009

Quoting Marie:

My son was diagnosed with adhd at 4. He was always bouncing off the wall and very hyper-active. Now he was diagnosed now with autism. I have had him to all the doctors possible and not 2 can agree on a diagnosis. We have him medicated. He was on 3 prescriptions now we have him on two. I am having him completely evaluated at a childrens hospital where they deal with this everyday I am hoping once and for all they can tell me what is wrong and what he needs from here. He is now 7 and just going into 1st grade in sept. He is in the special needs classes and doing wonderful in school. At home is another story he is still bouncing off the wall and hard to control, constantly yelling having tantrums and hitting. If you have a childrens specialized hospital near you take your son there they can test him and tell you if thats what he has or what it could be. Hope this helps. Good luck

It is nice to finally hear that I am not the only one!  My daughter has been going through all kinds of testing for the last 6 years and I still do not have an accurate diagnosis and like you I get different answers from different doctors.  Every medication she has been put on has not helped at all, infact in some cases made her worse.  She seems to get worse as she gets older.  They put her into spec ed classes but she can not even function there now and will be bussed to a special school in Sept.  To date she has been diagnosed with ADHD, bi polar, and PDD.  The doctor who diagnosed the ADHD did not treat with meds..I think he may have been correct but unfortuantely the doctors we have been to since than have not agreed and have treated her with meds for other disorders and of course they have not worked.  Testing done at her school came out with ADHD and ODD..now we just need the right doctor to help us.  Good luck to all...you'll be in my prayers.

Marie - posted on 06/21/2009

My son was diagnosed with adhd at 4. He was always bouncing off the wall and very hyper-active. Now he was diagnosed now with autism. I have had him to all the doctors possible and not 2 can agree on a diagnosis. We have him medicated. He was on 3 prescriptions now we have him on two. I am having him completely evaluated at a childrens hospital where they deal with this everyday I am hoping once and for all they can tell me what is wrong and what he needs from here. He is now 7 and just going into 1st grade in sept. He is in the special needs classes and doing wonderful in school. At home is another story he is still bouncing off the wall and hard to control, constantly yelling having tantrums and hitting. If you have a childrens specialized hospital near you take your son there they can test him and tell you if thats what he has or what it could be. Hope this helps. Good luck

Marie - posted on 06/21/2009

My son was diagnosed with adhd at 4. He was always bouncing off the wall and very hyper-active. Now he was diagnosed now with autism. I have had him to all the doctors possible and not 2 can agree on a diagnosis. We have him medicated. He was on 3 prescriptions now we have him on two. I am having him completely evaluated at a childrens hospital where they deal with this everyday I am hoping once and for all they can tell me what is wrong and what he needs from here. He is now 7 and just going into 1st grade in sept. He is in the special needs classes and doing wonderful in school. At home is another story he is still bouncing off the wall and hard to control, constantly yelling having tantrums and hitting. If you have a childrens specialized hospital near you take your son there they can test him and tell you if thats what he has or what it could be. Hope this helps. Good luck