Dealing With A 3&half Year Old Boy Who May Possibly Be Suffering From Adhd. Hasnt Been Diagnosed...

Melissa - posted on 02/11/2009

3

28

I hate to say this, Sharon, but the little one probably does remember his behaviors, but is conditioned to respond with "I don't remember" because it keeps him out of time-out... Believe it or not, there are studies that suggest children begin to manipulate their parents starting at THREE MONTHS! Now to the possibility of ADHD - I have 2 kids, now 19 & 12, who both had similar meltdowns/attention issues at a young age. I had always thought maybe ADD, not hyper, and the school suggested I have my daughter evaluated. As a counselor myself, I did some heavy research & attended conferences on Sensory Integration Dysfunction, which can MANY times be mistaken for ADD or ADHD. It has more to do with visual, auditory, tactile stimulation (overstimulation). These kids have a hard time with loud sounds, people looking at them, feeling of grass on bare feet, etc., for example. There is no medication for this (thank God!), as it is dealt with on a behavioral level and introducing different stimuli/eliciting communicative responses rather than physical ones... I suggest play therapy or some form of Early Intervention Program, but specifically ask for the Sensory screening, as it is still fairly new to many counselors...and I hate seeing a Sensory kid medicated for something misdiagnosed as ADHD! Good Luck!! And please spread the word about Sensory Integration Dysfunction so all counselors & doctors can be more up to speed!!!!

Melissa - posted on 02/11/2009

3

28

I hate to say this, Sharon, but the little one probably does remember his behaviors, but is conditioned to respond with "I don't remember" because it keeps him out of time-out... Believe it or not, there are studies that suggest children begin to manipulate their parents starting at THREE MONTHS! Now to the possibility of ADHD - I have 2 kids, now 19 & 12, who both had similar meltdowns/attention issues at a young age. I had always thought maybe ADD, not hyper, and the school suggested I have my daughter evaluated. As a counselor myself, I did some heavy research & attended conferences on Sensory Integration Dysfunction, which can MANY times be mistaken for ADD or ADHD. It has more to do with visual, auditory, tactile stimulation (overstimulation). These kids have a hard time with loud sounds, people looking at them, feeling of grass on bare feet, etc., for example. There is no medication for this (thank God!), as it is dealt with on a behavioral level and introducing different stimuli/eliciting communicative responses rather than physical ones... I suggest play therapy or some form of Early Intervention Program, but specifically ask for the Sensory screening, as it is still fairly new to many counselors...and I hate seeing a Sensory kid medicated for something misdiagnosed as ADHD! Good Luck!! And please spread the word about Sensory Integration Dysfunction so all counselors & doctors can be more up to speed!!!!

Dahli - posted on 02/11/2009

5

0

Hello I am a pediatrice nurse. Have you tried changing his diet? No concetrated sugars, no caffeine, no carbonate drinks. Feed him fruits, veggies, foods that you have cooked your self. Sometimes a diet change can fix some problems. It did with my son. He went from not being able to sit still to a honor student. The saying is right we are what we eat.

Dahli - posted on 02/11/2009

5

0

Hello I am a pediatrice nurse. Have you tried changing his diet? No concetrated sugars, no caffeine, no carbonate drinks. Feed him fruits, veggies, foods that you have cooked your self. Sometimes a diet change can fix some problems. It did with my son. He went from not being able to sit still to a honor student. The saying is right we are what we eat.

ADJ - posted on 02/11/2009

28

31

I would strongly, strongly suggest you cut out all Red40 from his diet. My daughter would get the same way, screaming and throwing fits for no reason, sometimes just having complete meltdowns over trivial little things. We noticed a huge difference after cutting out red food coloring. I know that too much yellow food coloring can do the same thing, but it doesn't seem to affect her as strongly as the red.

Also, you could try reducing his milk protein. Many people don't realize how common it is for young children to be allergic to milk protein--not lactose!--and the affects it can have. If you read up on it on line, you will find alot of interesting information about the side affects, including behaviour problems.

Food allergies are OFTEN misdiagnosed as ADHD and Autism. It would really be worth it to look into these possibilities, so that your little guy is not just passed off by a doctor as an easy "autism" diagnosis.

Hayley - posted on 02/11/2009

10

30

i have a brother who is adhd n my mum is also adhd but i can remember my mum cuttin out alot of things in hes diet like sugarry stuff n stuff with loads of coloring in (coke,sweets,tomato ketchup) all stuff like that can trigger it off my little boy cnt have alot of that stuff as he gets very naughty. but my little brother was very bad with adhd but cutting out sum foods might help a little bit :)

Tricia - posted on 02/11/2009

21

48

hi,i have a son with major hyperactivity.i didnt finf out till he was older,but to conteract the bad bad hyp.u can give them omega 3 fish oil,nasty stuff,but works instantly!

i would recommend this to anyone,also the book 'food boosters' its got every e that is bad for them. its a fantastic book. cos the hyperactivity is caused by foor,not jus colours,but preservatives and sweetners,believe it or not it takes years to sort diet out,but it is worth it if it is this thats causing it.

i tried it for a few days,e's are even in gravy!

hope this helps.my son was majoy hypt.his so much better now.

Jamie - posted on 02/11/2009

2

5

PS to my prior post - when my son was your son's age, I went to the pediatrician and said that I thought he had ADHD and the pediatrician told me that "all 3 year olds have ADHD"! My point is Keep pushing until you find out the problem - some docs just don't see it and/or just don't know about the sensory dysfunction and the behavior it causes.

Angela - posted on 02/11/2009

1

8

I would try a natriopathic (sp?) Doctor first...and see if there is anything they can suggest with his diet...try that for a good month and see if there is any change...I have heard great things being resolved just by diet alone! Even things you think are good for you can have side effects to certain people...

Jamie - posted on 02/11/2009

2

5

Have you considered that it may not be ADHD but instead a sensory dysfunction that makes him melt down? My son is now 9, but he had meltdowns seemingly for no reason and it turns out that he has sensory issues and central auditory processing disorder. There was no dealing with him when he got like that because kids with sensory issues often do not/cannot calm themselves down once the meltdown starts. One of the issues with my son was noise - loud or sudden noises would set him off - he simply cannot tolerate it. Just something else to consider -- sometimes ADHD is the first thing people think of.........

Shonta - posted on 02/11/2009

1

0

I am a Nurse and a mother of three boys one who was diagnosed as Autistic MRDD and ADHD and my five year old who was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD. I was not too keen on the idea of puttin my boys on stimulant meds either and we tried several different things before goin that route and I have to say my autistic son has made tremendous improvement academically since being on meds. Meds are not for everyone but there are some natural alternatives such as fish oil that supposedly help. Also if he is waking at night and Having fits this is probably contributing alot to his daily meltdowns because he is not getting enough sleep at night. You can try giving him 1 mg of a natural supplement called melatonin about a half hour before bed time...give it to him in a spoonful of applesauce..this should help him sleep a little better at night. You can usually find it for like five or six bucks at your local drug store. My advice though would be to get him evaluated because im not sure the tantrums actually from adhd. ADHD has specific criteria mainly to do with distractibility, hyperactivity and impulse control. Getting Him tested doesnt mean that he will have to go on meds. Ultimately youre the mom and you decide whats best for you little one not the doctor. However getting him an official diagnosis will help him to become eligible for services that he can benefit from such as play therapy and maybe family therapy where they teach you how to work with him and deal with his tantrums and meltdowns. Also he may benefit from occupational therapy all these things however you usually need an official diagnosis to get the referrel for services. Some things I will tell you that may help during meltdowns; 1-as long as he is safe and not harming himself or others you have to remain calm and dont feed into the tantrum. The more you feed into it the more they will act out. Let him calm down and realize mom isnt going to feed into it and then when he is calm that is when you rationalize with him. Talk to him then and try to find out whats going on with him. Funny enough other things I have tried is when my son is in the middle of his tantrum I have done something really silly and off the wall like dance around the house with some music in his power ranger mask acting totally goofy and at first it ticks him off even more because im not feeding into him but then he thinks im sooo goofy after a few minutes he will get quiet and just watch me make a fool of myself and then he will end up cracking up laughing and joining in. Also for my Autistic son he loves music so when i see warning signs that one is coming on I slap his headphones on and crank his mp3 player up to some of his fav tunes and he rocks and self soothes. Its hard if you dont know whats triggering it but sometimes there are little clues that are individualized to your child that helps you know when one is coming on. Trying to figure those out and catch them before its a full blown tantrum helps because then you can usually distract him with something he really likes doing. However I must say the meltdowns that are seemingly triggered by nothing...especially in the middle of the night remind me alot more of autistic characteristics than ADHD. Are there any other odd behaviors you have noticed from him? Is he obsessed with anything or do anything repetitive? Does he seem to have any social problems or issues playing with other children?Do some reading on Autism and tell me what you think. Hang in there Mom trust me I know its a tough road. His best chance is early intervention so the sooner you get him diagnosed the sooner you can get him help and remember that doesnt always mean meds!! Let me know how things are going and if i can be of any further help. Us moms have to stick together. Best of luck to you and your little guy!!

Angelina - posted on 02/11/2009

1

30

i have an almost 7 year old little boy who on top of having adhd has also suffered from a learning delay caused from the adhd, there are other meds that you can put him on.. i was like you i did not want to see my little boy just sitting there spaced out all the time.. where i live they will not diagnose him until he was in school, which made me mad.. the only thing i could do when he would through his fits was hold him and tell him that i loved him over and over.. now my son is on adderall, and all though he is still trying to catch up on his work at school this has helped him a great deal.. it is not ment to calm him down but to stimulate his mind.. they also say that video games are great for children with adhd..

Natasha - posted on 02/11/2009

3

11

I have a son who was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in grade 2, he is now 18 years old, and there was no trouble seeing the signs of ADHD when he was a young child, hyperness, being impulsive, blurting, etc...but never had a problem with him forgetting things he did, I think that would be another problem entirely that needs to be checked on, but when it comes to Ritalin, well, I struggled with that too, when he was diagnosed I refused to put him on any medication, most doctors seems to be too quick to shove in the drugs, but afer about 6 months, I felt I had no choice, he became to uncontrolable in school, I was getting calls all the time, and even at home, he was hard to handle, I put him on pills during the school day, and none in the evening, and it did help, not a miracle cure by no means, but it can help, you just have to be sure of the dosage, but my son went off the meds a few years ago because he decided for himself that he didn't want to take them anymore, and he has been fine without them, but as for the discipline aspect, many parents feel that if the child is doing things that he can't control, then they shouldn't discipline, that in my opinion and the opinion of all the specialists that I have seen is wrong, the child needs to be disciplined but not bawled at, things need to be explained to them in detail and the consequences known. I know in your case that may not be the best alternative right now, but I would defanitely get him checked out to make sure there is nothing else wrong, and if it is ADHD, you don't have to put him on Ritalin, that choice is yours not the doctors. Myself and my son have been through pure hell for years dealing with ADHD, and I have learned a lot in those years also...if I can help you in any way...let me know.

Natasha - posted on 02/11/2009

3

11

I have a son who was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in grade 2, he is now 18 years old, and there was no trouble seeing the signs of ADHD when he was a young child, hyperness, being impulsive, blurting, etc...but never had a problem with him forgetting things he did, I think that would be another problem entirely that needs to be checked on, but when it comes to Ritalin, well, I struggled with that too, when he was diagnosed I refused to put him on any medication, most doctors seems to be too quick to shove in the drugs, but afer about 6 months, I felt I had no choice, he became to uncontrolable in school, I was getting calls all the time, and even at home, he was hard to handle, I put him on pills during the school day, and none in the evening, and it did help, not a miracle cure by no means, but it can help, you just have to be sure of the dosage, but my son went off the meds a few years ago because he decided for himself that he didn't want to take them anymore, and he has been fine without them, but as for the discipline aspect, many parents feel that if the child is doing things that he can't control, then they shouldn't discipline, that in my opinion and the opinion of all the specialists that I have seen is wrong, the child needs to be disciplined but not bawled at, things need to be explained to them in detail and the consequences known. I know in your case that may not be the best alternative right now, but I would defanitely get him checked out to make sure there is nothing else wrong, and if it is ADHD, you don't have to put him on Ritalin, that choice is yours not the doctors. Myself and my son have been through pure hell for years dealing with ADHD, and I have learned a lot in those years also...if I can help you in any way...let me know.

Katie - posted on 02/11/2009

2

15

You can always go to see an Upper Cervical Chiropracator to make sure that his brain is getting the signals. Wanna make sure that his C-1 and C-2 are in line. It has done wonders for my son

Shauna - posted on 02/11/2009

4

34

I would try everything in order to keep him away from medication at all costs.

We have friends with children who were thought to be ADHD and it just turned out to be dietary problems...it is amazing what food can do to a person...especially not really paying attention what is on the labels...

Shauna - posted on 02/11/2009

4

34

Sharon,

We had a similar situation. It turned out to be eating habits...certain foods high in carbohydrates and sugars made our son (4 in April) behave unbelievably!

He was just diagnosed with HYPOGLYCEMIA! When he would consume cereal, sugar, chocolate, sweets, juices, fruits, raisins (alone), and other items with natural or man made sugar he would react within 25 to 45 min and stay that way for over 3 to 4 hours...destructive, mean, obnoctious, you name it.

I would have him checked for allergies and maybe see a dietician. After we got our son on the right kind of diet, the pre-school teachers, family, and friends could NOT believe the difference in him!

I hope this helps! :)

Samantha - posted on 02/11/2009

5

13

Hi I'm A adhd adult I've lived with it all my life and I have a food triger it is quit common. I have also never been on drugs for my adhd but I have been diecnosed by the doc. You can figer out what his trigers by taking things out of his diet and seeing if it helps. My trigers are chocolet and sentetice surpse. I hope this helps.

Melissa - posted on 02/11/2009

1

19

Being a mom of three young ones myself with a degree in Early Chilhood Development, I hate to tell you this but he sound like any other 3 year old I have ever been around. Be carful to label him with a "problem." I think you will find with time and a lot of patience, you will see him grow out of this stage.

Lillian - posted on 02/11/2009

2

0

I also suggest that you check out Dr Sears's website (He is the leading pediatrician in the U.S.) AskDrSears.com...and if you would like more information...go to juiceplus.com/+lg23856.

Thanks

Lillian

Anita - posted on 02/11/2009

1

19

I have done a little research on nuerological conditions and I realy think you might enjoy a book written by a mother of two boy with conditions, it's called Enzymes for Autisms and Other Neurological Conditions. Can't remember author right now I lent it to a friend, but I'll let you know later. awesome read!!!

Tammy - posted on 02/11/2009

3

12

I have two daughters one has been tested for ADHD and was positive and the other goes in about a week to be tested. When my girls started with their problems and it became noticeable to others as well, I mentioned it their pediatrician and of course they were quick to say lets try them on some medication. I felt like you and I didn't want to just put them on medicine without knowing for sure so I was told by a friend to ask the pediatrician to send you to a psychologist that will test your child. They have numerous tests that will show if he has ADD or ADHD or something else. Sometimes medicine is unavoidable but atleast if you get your child tested you know for sure they need it. Also the psychologist can help you learn ways to cope or help your child. Try it out and I hope it works for you. Good Luck.

Tammy - posted on 02/11/2009

3

12

I have two daughters one has been tested for ADHD and was positive and the other goes in about a week to be tested. When my girls started with their problems and it became noticeable to others as well, I mentioned it their pediatrician and of course they were quick to say lets try them on some medication. I felt like you and I didn't want to just put them on medicine without knowing for sure so I was told by a friend to ask the pediatrician to send you to a psychologist that will test your child. They have numerous tests that will show if he has ADD or ADHD or something else. Sometimes medicine is unavoidable but atleast if you get your child tested you know for sure they need it. Also the psychologist can help you learn ways to cope or help your child. Try it out and I hope it works for you. Good Luck.

Amber - posted on 02/11/2009

2

1

Hi. my name is Amber. I have a 9 and 7 yr old with adhd. I was strongly against any medications to help with it, but I got to the point where I was up for anything. I have to say, being on medication is easier for me to deal with them. My primary focus is for them to settle down in the classroom and focus. It does do that. Medication is not ment to modify their behavior, though it does help tone it down. My life has been easier. I can tell whether or not that have had their medication. They live happier lives. Really. They do not get a medication that makes them a zombie. If your child is acting like that, then they are on the wrong kind. For your child being 3, I would just try to find something that intrests them, and go on that. go for a rewards system that will give them something to look forward to having good behavior.

Amber - posted on 02/11/2009

2

1

Hi. my name is Amber. I have a 9 and 7 yr old with adhd. I was strongly against any medications to help with it, but I got to the point where I was up for anything. I have to say, being on medication is easier for me to deal with them. My primary focus is for them to settle down in the classroom and focus. It does do that. Medication is not ment to modify their behavior, though it does help tone it down. My life has been easier. I can tell whether or not that have had their medication. They live happier lives. Really. They do not get a medication that makes them a zombie. If your child is acting like that, then they are on the wrong kind. For your child being 3, I would just try to find something that intrests them, and go on that. go for a rewards system that will give them something to look forward to having good behavior.

Lillian - posted on 02/11/2009

2

0

I believe everyone is affected by what foods that go into our bodies...I would highly suggest that you check to make sure he is eating a ton of fruits and vegatables. There is a lot of dies in our food and also tons of sugar..these will both make a difference in behavior.

Sincerely

Lillian

Tina - posted on 02/11/2009

1

8

Hi, my daughter was diagnosed with adhd when she was in second grade. We did end up putting her on meds. Eventually she out grew every med she was on, and her body became immuned to it. She is 12 now and in seventh grade. She told me one day that she could not understand why she was on the meds when she felt that they did not help

her. So her and I decided that we would take her off the meds and go from there, and to be honest, she is a little more mellow without them. Yes, she still has them melt downs, and no one can get her to calm down. The only thing that I have realize with my daughter is that she figured out how to get out of them, meaning she would tell me she does not know when she is doing them and stuff like that, so that she was not responsible for them. but when I figured out that she actually did, I made her responsible for them, and now I can talk her out of them, and when she starts heading for a melt down, I send her to her room or my room, a quiet place, and then go in and talk to her after a couple of minutes.My daughter has adhd, and bipolar, and we are managing it without meds at this time. Sometimes I feel that drs. mean well, but what they give you in the line of meds, just does not work all that well. Only you know your child. I learned that when I went into the dr. with her and told the dr. of new things that she was doing...they would look at me like I just wanted her on meds so that I did not have to deal with her behavior. So this is why I decided to go the route that her and I chose, against drs. wishes, but like I said you know your child better than any dr.

Suz-Anne - posted on 02/11/2009

2

16

I agree with Mindy to get him to a Dr. to see what is wrong. I have 2 sons with ADHD and one has ODD with it (Oppositional Defiant Disorder). He was diagnosed through UCLA medical center when he was 3 1/2 they were doing a 5 year study on Ritalin in preschoolers. Ritalin was bad because of the highs and lows but when he turned 6 he went on Adderall XR and it has been great he just turned 11. They have had to up the dose cause he grew but works for most of the day. We just put him on a very low fast acting dose for the afternoons. There is 2 books by Cynthia Whitham, she taught our 12 week parenting course at UCLA as part of the study and IT WAS GREAT. One book is make no mean no and the other is win the whining war. If your son has ADHD or ODD, stay calm, get closer and quieter and talk at his level. Learn behaviors to ignore but making sure if he is flopping at your feet, he won't hurt himself.

Good luck

Kristin - posted on 02/11/2009

1

46

I have a cousin with ADHD, not on medication. What you can try is diet. If you can afford it, try only organic food products and stay away from anything with high fructose corn syrup (easier said than done, I know). But, if you can stay away from processed foods and buy organ ic foods, that has been known to help a tremendous amount. Good luck!

Eden - posted on 02/11/2009

3

0

my nephew has adhd, and was really hard to handle. my sister enrolled him in a program like helping hands , and he is a complete turn around. they need structure, and they need the daily routine. he was so used to my mom and sister caring for him , and he knew his limits that he always went up and over them. 4 months later, and the teachers say he is so well behaved and the episodes at home has calmed down alot.

Erin - posted on 02/11/2009

2

12

hey my step brother has adhd and one of the things that helped for him was intense excercise 1 hour a day seemed to calm him and allow him to focus...

good luck

Erin - posted on 02/11/2009

2

12

hey my step brother has adhd and one of the things that helped for him was intense excercise 1 hour a day seemed to calm him and allow him to focus...

good luck

Jennifer - posted on 02/11/2009

51

31

Hi! My son has ADHD and was diagnosed at 5. Behavioral therapy works, but it takes MUCH more time than a medication. A lot of meds you can use ONLY for school, etc., but do NOT allow a doctor to diagnose your child before school-age. Your child needs to be showing signs of ADHD in several different areas; school, church, home, etc. SID or SPD (sensory integration dysfunction or sensory processing disorder) also presents the same as ADHD, so if you google that, you can get a lot of info about that. Your child may not have ADHD at all. If you do decide to do some sensory things at home with your child, and STILL do not see any improvement, then you may want to take your child to get tested for ADHD at a later date.

Also, visual charts help ANY child that suffers from ADHD, SID, or any of the autism spectrum disorders. This helps a child know what's coming next. Google PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), and even check out Ebay for those. A lot of why a child with ADHD behaves in a bad way is BECAUSE of transition. With the help of PECS, it will help eliminate bad behavior because the child will be given fair warning. It's not an overnight process, but it does help.

Chelsea - posted on 02/11/2009

1

5

I have a little girl with autism. She used to have melt downs pretty frequently. We were told by the neurologist to hug her tightly, almost like swaddling with your arms. It worked for her. It also worked for my severly ADHD nephew.

I would definitely check into the not remembering thing. That sounds like more than just ADHD.

Sarah - posted on 02/11/2009

1

20

Hi

I put put my son on a gluten free diet he also has adhd and has autism!

I refused to put him on ritalin it hard going but I'm glad I didn't put him on medication

Jamie - posted on 02/11/2009

1

24

Have you tried taking red and blue dye out of his diet?? I have a 6 yr old and they will not say yes or no to the add od adhd. So by eliminating that from his diet has made a world of difference!! Good Luck!!

Nicole - posted on 02/11/2009

4

7

This must be tough for you. First of all, If you think he has adhd, You need to find out for sure...asap! I totally agree with you...you cannot punish him for something he can not help but if he is adhd you must get him anything that is available to help him. Being in denial or not wanting to face it by seeing a doctor, will only do him harm. Finding out for sure is the first step so that you can figure out which direction to take with him. If it is not adhd, then you would know that you need to be firmer on disipline and more consistant. Remember, he will be going to school soon enough and it is your job to get him on the right track before then. I am sure you want what is best for him and would want him treated fairly. My mom has a son who is 5 and could possibly have adhd. He just entered school and their has been problems from the get go. I think she doesnt want to believe that he has adhd and that is why she hasent taken him to find out, but how is that helping him?? If he does have it then it would help everyone to know so that they could understand and not just think that he is a "bad child".

I know with my moms son,(as with most kids) it helps a great deal to encourage him. When I expect good behavior from him, I build him up and let him know that I know he can do it!!! Also, they need routine. All kids do but I think kids with adhd really could benefit greatly.I think it would make him feel more secure and stuctured.Life seems to be more calm when there is a daily routine. When you speak to him...remember to be calm and get down to his level.Explain to him what you are wanting. Alot of times, you have to hold him by the hands and make sure he is paying attention to you. Speak with love and encouragement as I am sure he get frustrated alot. Also, watch yourself and the other adults you have him around. I am sure you know that kids act out what they see from us....so try to keep everything calm for him. Dont be yellers. If you want him to be calm everyone needs to be calm and he can learn from your example. A recent thing I noticed with my brother( he is 5 and I am 31..haha),he loves to do my work out dvd with me. I suggested to my mom to buy him one and work that into his daily routine. I think when we have extra energy we need an outlet for it. SO, why not let him burn the energy working out and teach him to be healthy all at the same time?! These are just some of my suggestions for you. I use them all with my girls. I can tell that you love your son, otherwise you would be oblivious to the situation. JUST LOVE HIM AND ENCOURAGE HIM EVERYDAY!:)

Pam - posted on 02/11/2009

5

30

I have a friend whose son was just diagnosed with adhd. the DR told them to stay away from orange cheese and try your best to not give them anything with red die. They also suggested a fish oil pill or you can get it in a liquid so you can put it in a dring or mix in with food. The fish oil is a old remidy and it's supposed to help keep the brain focused so it doesn't wonder all the time. So far this has helped them greatly. Good Luck!

Alexa - posted on 02/11/2009

8

2

Hi - I am not sure how much you have read but I can recommend the book - The out of sync child - I have a little angel (also three) and it helped me tremendously, also FOOD FOOD FOOD !! Diet plays such an important role - we actually saw a dietician who recommended a diet plan and it seriously works !! Even if you don't want to give him meds - get him evaluated - if he has something else wrong the early diagnosis may make it easier to deal with - I thought I had a brat who always miss behaved but now that we understand his episodes it makes things easier !!

Jackie - posted on 02/11/2009

2

15

i have a 5 year old boy that close 2 getting it comfirmed for ADHD, i been asking help for him since he was 2yrs old they said he was just being paranoid mother, but last year he put his 2year old brother joshua in a hot bath and scaled him really badly, he didnt relise wot he done until he went into hospital for 5 weeks, he now a very nervouse little boy my 5 yr old. to top it all of thomas has got ethzma, it took a very bad accident like this to get some help for him, he hit s an dhurt other people in school, it very hard for him because he feels so guilty all the time and all i can do is give him a hug, he has broken down to me and dad he sorry for wot he done to his brother. that hurts the most because he only a 6 year old boy. i got 2 other children who are really good.he just seems the odd child out

Kali - posted on 02/11/2009

15

9

Well done for wanting to stay away from ritalin. My mother Kept me and my brother off it by making sure we stayed away from sugar and junk food, which had a massive difference. And then channeled us a lot. Admittedly he is only 3 and a nalf but if you try to ensure there is space in every day for a club or trip to the park or something it WILL help. Judo actually kept me in school, it taught me control. There really is no point trying to bargain with him or offer him anything is there are safe room he can go to? He often my brother and I would calm down much quicker if we did not have anyone to play up to.

Clare - posted on 02/11/2009

16

9

it doesnt sound like adhd to me either but there is definatly something going on it could be seizure triggering the melt downs this is linked to autism which affects how the learn language. seizures can be linked to food especially colours cows milk and wheat.

i forgot to say my son has autism but luckily not the seizures but he still has a wheat and dairy fre diet and no colours and chocolate! it has helped his behaviour alot but also parenting courses i am always doing them even the slightest tip helps i do find i have to be so perfect with him then he rarely has a tantrum well compared to before

im doing a speak and language course at the mo which has brought up more issues

anyway its an ongoing thing and when im with him i am having to interact continuously or he can hurt my little one because he doesnt understand. your not alone!

Christianah - posted on 02/11/2009

2

6

Hi Sharon,I read this acticle with lot of compassion. I could see that loads of mummy have written to advise you even though i am yet to read any of them. I will tell you to watch his diet stop giving him food that contain sugar, tried to stay away from foods that contains addictives also give him lots of water.Above all and this is most important, i believe in the power of prayer and in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. The bible says at mention of the name of Jesus Christ every kneel shall bow including ADHD. So in the name of Jesus i speak PEACE over whatever the problem is with this child. We speak life of God over him and i want you to do the same that is praying over him. You might not believe in Jesus but i want you to please give Him a chance.He is able to do all things

Christianah - posted on 02/11/2009

2

6

Hi Sharon,I read this acticle with lot of compassion. I could see that loads of mummy have written to advise you even though i am yet to read any of them. I will tell you to watch his diet stop giving him food that contain sugar, tried to stay away from foods that contains addictives also give him lots of water.Above all and this is most important, i believe in the power of prayer and in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. The bible says at mention of the name of Jesus Christ every kneel shall bow including ADHD. So in the name of Jesus i speak PEACE over whatever the problem is with this child. We speak life of God over him and i want you to do the same that is praying over him. You might not believe in Jesus but i want you to please give Him a chance.He is able to do all things

Becki - posted on 02/11/2009

1

3

Hi, my name is Becki. I have a 6 year old grandson that I have been raising since he was a baby. From about 2 to 4 years old he spent frustrated over the littlest things. The only way I could get him to calm down was to talk in a soft voice and hug him. I could feel him start to calm pretty quick. As of right now, he doesn't have that happen much. If the older kids are picking on him, or he tries to do something and is having a hard time with it, or if he gets embarassed. I would look into getting him some help and finding out what it is exactly he is dealing with.

Mary Catherine - posted on 02/11/2009

2

My son is ADHD and he was a huge handful. Especially physically. He would go on forever. It was really hard, but I never gave in to discipline. Deprivation of his favorite things work the best as punishment. That and isolation in his room. Once he started school, he had difficulty concentrating and I had him diagnosed. The American Pediatric Association has a good book on ADHD. Runs about $15, and has lots of suggestions and info on ADHD. We ended up putting my son on Ritalin (There are other drugs as well) and it was like night and day. He is very smart and is doing well in school and never has had a behaviour problem. My niece and nephew are both ADD and are on different meds. If your child is "drugged up" than the dose is too high. A good pediatrician should help you with this. A child psychologist and developmental specialist should help too. I also know a child who has ADHD but is also slightly autistic which complicates things. Your public school (when he starts) is required by law!!! to assist your child. ADHD often runs concurrent with other issues and once you have a good diagnosis, it's a start forward. Try the book, it was very helpful to us. :)

Kim - posted on 02/11/2009

1

try reading the book Ultramind Solution. A special diet and supplements may help....

Deborah - posted on 02/11/2009

6

0

Food, Food, Food. Most children that suffer from ADD and ADHD could be cured if there parents and schools just stopped feeding them chemicals. My son is living proof. If you would like more information you can e-mail me at http://www.feingold.org/pg-overview.html

Carolyn - posted on 02/11/2009

28

0

Hi my mum always said she thought my bro had ADHD when he was around the same age however it would seem that he was just v bored and as soon as he went to school he was totally focused and went on to graduate with a doctorate from Oxford. Have you tried him with slightly more advanced stuff see if that can help him focus? Also food can be a major player but not so much these days as all colourings Enumbers etc removed! Good Luck

Sarah - posted on 02/11/2009

4

31

i am the mother of a 10 year old with adhd and he was not given medication until he was 5 but was diagnosed at 2 with the condition. since he has been on the medication he has calmed down a lot and is doing well at school as b4 he got the medication he was unable 2 concentrate properly at school but now is top of the class and above the average for his age in most subjects so i reccommend u get him diagnosed as soon as possible and if u will put him on medication i think this will help. there r other medications available apart from ritalin as my son started on ritalin then was on concerta and now has equasym so u have options there. good luck