ADHD????

Beth - posted on 09/07/2011

I would see if the teacher will give him something more challenging to work on in math and go from there.

Tessa - posted on 02/17/2010

It sounds to me like the teachers are just too medication happy! Maybe suggest to the teachers to put him in an advance math class where he won't be so bored. Maybe the match class isn't at his level he needs something more challenging.

Julie - posted on 02/17/2010

I am no expert but agree with the doctor's, I don't think he has ADHD. If I had to sit through maths for 80 minutes I would get bored also. Maybe you need to suggest that he has a snack break for 5 or 10 minutes halfway through maths. I understand he is gifted but that is a long time for a 9 year old to sit and work. Don't feel pressured into giving him ADHD medication if you don't think he needs it.

Melanie - posted on 02/17/2010

Thank you so much for your opinions. Having a teachers point of view is wonderful.

Megan - posted on 02/16/2010

Take it from someone who was labled ADD and medicated from a very young age: Look into other things you can do. There has been a lot of research done that shows changing a childs diet can help, certain carbs and sugars can lead to ADHD like behaviour. It is not necessary to medicate a child anymore. Go to the library and get some books, look online, and talk to doctors. Don't just dump medicine down your childs throat.

Bronwyn - posted on 02/16/2010

If you have a child in the schools gifted program and the school is the only one who is concerned with the child's behaviour, change schools, dont risk distroying your child with medication they dont need and will make them dumber.

Jodi - posted on 02/16/2010

Some teachers would prefer kids on medication because it makes them easier to manage, not because its in the best interests of a child. If you and your doctor believe he does not need to be on medication, and he is obviously doing well at school, then tell the teachers to "shove it", seriously. Boredom is not ADHD. Any kid will get restless when they are bored. My brother was an extremely talented kid academically, and he used to be in constant trouble at school because he was bored, so they had to challenge him more. Maybe the teachers need to offer him greater challenges? Seriously, the teachers sound like they are just being lazy and don't want to have to deal with it.

Danielle - posted on 02/16/2010

This is just my opinion, but if he is doing well academically, which he obviously is, and has good social skills, I wouldn't worry. I am an elementary teacher and have kids in my class every year where this comes up. Personally, I feel that meds are needed in many cases. Mostly, my concern is with kids that are struggling with learning or interacting with others due to the disability. If your son isn't struggling, he's obviously finding ways to compensate and work with whatever attention issues he has. It may, in fact, be an issue of being bored. As you said, he is in a gifted program. Maybe he still isn't being challenged enough. And, no matter how gifted, 80 minutes of math is too much for a 9 year old. I'd have attention issues too if I had to sit and do math for that long.



Most kids with ADHD aren't just hyperactive in one subject. It impacts their learning in other ways, throughout the day. If they are telling you they only notice it during math, that would concern me. You, as a parent, have the right to do what you choose. I wouldn't feel pressured to put him on meds. This is coming from a teacher that has felt that meds should be given in many cases, but your son's case doesn't seem to fit the typical ADHD profile.



Do you have behavioral issues at home? Does he get along well with other kids his age? It may just be that this "gifted program" is so structured that he can't thrive in that environment.



Hope that helps. Again, just my opinion.