i think my 6yr old has add/adhd

Peg - posted on 03/11/2010

I too am wondering if my daughter may have add/adhd. My X is also in denial. I have enlisted the help of his extended family. They are helping by hosting a meeting for us to all sit down and talk with each other about what I need ( I too am going crazy, and depressed) but also working to get him involved with more of the meetings with her school, teacher, guidance, social worker etc. I have an appointment scheduled for TCBH for testing as well. Has your hubby attending any of your daughters school conferences or sat in a meeting with the staff I mentioned to discuss your daughters behaviors and how the school is addressing them and or their thoughts? What types of behaviors are you experiencing? Is your daughter and only child?

Angela - posted on 03/11/2010

Hi. My daughter doesn't have ADD/ADHD, but has several other sensory issues that are greatly exacerbated by artificial food color, artificial flavorings and preservatives. The Feingold Association has helped her (and us!) tremendously! Please go to http://www.feingold.org/ to research the diet and materials. It's very easy to stick with this diet and 1000s of familys have been helped by diet change alone! There is a small fee to join and get your materials but WELL worth it! Once my daughter found out that artificial food dyes are made from petroleum and artificial vallina (vanillian) is made from paper mill waste, she made her own choice to stay away from them! Fiengold does all of the work/research for you. All you have to do it take the HUGE food selection list to the grocery with you. It's all about knowing which brands/generics to buy.



I hope this has been helpful and please try this before the meds. I'll be interested to know if you try it and it works!



Take care

Kristin - posted on 03/11/2010

Sharon,

I don't know where you live but there is treatment out there that doesnot require stimulant medications. Those types of drugs just mask the symptoms and don't treat anything. Go to www.neurosensorycenters.com you will be able to read about treatment centers called NeuroSensory Centers of America. There may be one where you live or close by. I took my boys there and their symptoms were totally reversed and they treated what causes ADD/ADHD. Sometimes a person may have some of the symptoms but it very well may be something different. Thosed disorders are definitely over diagnosed.

Hope this info helps.

Kristin Freeman

Sherry - posted on 03/11/2010

I have a fifteen year old who has adhd and the medicine has helped him become succesful in school and other activities. I did not agree with with medicine in the begining and then i thought that if my child had strep would I not give him an antibiotic so what is the diffrence between this. See all the medicine does is regulate the chemicals in the brain that is off balance and causing the adhd wich is the sympton of this. There are so many medicines out there tha tdo not alter the personality as rittlin does ,all they do is help the child focus when they need to . I explained it to my husband as if he were trying to read a book and where in the middle of the football field how much could he read.Hope this helps.

User - posted on 03/11/2010

Hi Sharon my name is Tricia. My 6 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD combination type last year. Like you, I feel he is too young to be medicated, and want to exhaust all other options first, but sometimes his behaviors just drive me crazy! The first step I would recommend is to speak to your child's teacher about doing a "Connor's Scale". It's an evaluation for the parent & teacher to fill out & then it is scored by the school psychologist to determine if your child is exhibiting the ADHD symptoms and the severity. Next step is to get an official diagnosis from a pediatric neurologist. Then from there, there are many different approaches you can take. At school: you can get a 504 plan in place to give special accommodations for your child like extra time to complete assignments if needed, and more. If her ADHD is severely imparing her abilities in school you may want to have her evaluated by the school's child study team and possibly be classified so as to go the route of the IEP. At home: Dietary changes, occupational therapy, chiropractic to name a few have been helpful to many. Try different things to see what works for your child. Unfortunately it is a process of trial and error that will take time and patience. As an adult who has experienced this, you have an insider's view of it and can help your child understand it as she gets older so she feels less alienated. Good luck.

Marion - posted on 03/11/2010

Sharon....wow look what you've started! Great question and fabulous responses. Does it make you feel a little more at ease to know you aren't alone? No one knows your daughter better than you and your husband. I don't want to spar another debate, but would you ever consider homeschooling? You would have one on one interaction, where the teacher is divided into so many other students. You'll be able to have first hand knowledge where she is excelling and where she may need a little re-enforcement and guidence. You could then adjust her lessons accordingly. It would also give you an opportunity to help her learn how to control her behavior, as much as possible. I do agree that diet does help, although that becomes quite tasking too. I wish you luck determining what is right for your family, as I know it weighs heavily on your heart.

Chantel - posted on 03/11/2010

Hi Sharon, I would like to wish you all the best in your process to find the answers. My daughter (now 8) was diagnosed with ADHD (with a very big H!!!) at age 6, after her Grade 1 teacher told us that she will not make Gr 1. I took her to a very good specialist in Pretoria and he's been assisting her since 2008. She is on conserta as well as an antidepressant, and doing very well academically AND socially. I do not give her meds to "get rid of her problem", but to help her to guide her with the problem - you can not guide or help if the child in uncontrollable! I compare it with her sister - she suffers from Asthma - She has her daily meds to control her problem, not to take it away. Thus, what I am trying to tell you is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Ask your child’s teacher to help you and ask the school if they would assist with a support group, just to be in constant touch with other parents in the same situation. I felt that I could run away and give my child to family members to raise, as I sometimes can not handle it, but with enough info and support, you will feel in control again.!!!!! from a Proud ADHD Mom.

LeeAnn - posted on 03/11/2010

Someone on this board has probably already suggested this and I haven't read all of the replies but have you thought of changing her diet? Perhaps there is something that doesn't agree with her which is contributing to the behavior? I am not saying that you don't know the signs of ADD or ADHD I just know that diet plays a large part in a healthy lifestyle.

This could be related to something she's allergic to. Perhaps a visit to a Naturopath might help and your husband might be open to that because it's not meds and is more holistic.

Check out this website - it has videos and talks about diet changes and the results.
It might be that she's intolerant to sugar, gluten or more. It would be worth it to try diet changes before moving right on to meds but your her Mom and no doubt you're going to do what you think is best for her.

http://www.thrivein30.com

Good luck! Stay Strong!

Lisa - posted on 03/11/2010

i agree stimulating her mind helped my daughter also. She loves puzzles and legos so I get them for her and she will sit and build. It helps her focus. The doctors will be your driving force. Try to relax until your appointment and know that she will be ok.

Jennifer - posted on 03/11/2010

I totally agree with jodi adams and i will tell you why.... my daughter was the same way in preschool and her teacher insisted that she had add or adhd and i said she didnt. so just to make the teacher happy and to satisfy myself. so i took my daughter to the child developement centre to have her diagnosed and it turned out that she had neither and was just bored. my daughter ended up having an iq of 137 overall and was just really really bored. so before you put your child on unnecessary meds wait for the appointment...in the mean time try doing different more challenging things. a tool i used was those books that are for higher level children that you can get from walmart for less than 10 bucks. or meven more challenging crafts. you may find yourself surprised!!! Hope this helps!!

Tina - posted on 03/11/2010

Thats a hard one to deal with. Have you had her tested for it yet? I do know my son was tested and they put him on meds but they get quarks from it like blinking their eyes alot and i took him off of it. You also have to make their dissapline real simple because they forget why they're in trouble for.

Katherine - posted on 03/11/2010

Often what doctors diagnose as ADD and ADHD is an allergic reaction to a substance such as sugar, food coloring, or preservatives. It is cheaper, less dependent on you, and more money-making for these doctors to point you to a medicine.
Keep in mind that medicine is not the answer to life's woes. If you put her on medicine, she may be stuck - essentially addicted by necessity to the meds all of her life.
I have a good friend with a problem child who is 8 yrs old. She tried a couple natural methods and found one that worked. For her - it was food coloring. Artificial food coloring was what was messing up things, and there was a noticeable difference when she made sure the child was staying away from it. I noticed, and I only see them once a week or so for babysitting sharing.
Another one you often hear about is sugar. My older sister had a sugar sensitivity that made her ADD and was just fine once she was off sugar. Her daughter is the same way and would bounce off walls and ignore everyone when we slipped her candy - we learned better fast when we watched my niece! Sugar was never meant to be such an integral part of the human diet - we are sweetaholics in this country.
I honestly and truly dislike when doctors teach us that these fancy medicines are the only solution. America is a commercially run land, we need to watch out and not let these ads boss us around.

Lisa - posted on 03/11/2010

She sounds just like my daughter BEFORE she was diagnosed with ADD. She would crawl under her desk, not complete her work, cry, was very emotional. Would'nt stay on task at school. It was VERY hard at home too. I got tired of hearing from the school. we took her to the pediatrician who then refered us to a specialist. We chose medication. She is on the lowest dose of Adderol and it has done wonders for her. We now get great marks sent home on her behavior. Her grades have improved. She got A/B honor roll for the first time. Don't let people sway you one way or the other. You have to do what is right for your child. We also were told to make sure she gets protien in the morning. It helps with concentration. Also Omega 3. You can get omega 3 gummie vites. Omega 3 is supposed to be very helpful but like my doctor said....If the vitamins were all they needed they would'nt have this problem. Thats why we chose to medicate her. There have'nt been any real side effects. She has'nt lost weight but she has'nt gained much either. I'm rambling on if you need more advice I would love to share. good luck:)

Sherra - posted on 03/11/2010

I have not read all the replies (there were over 90 when I started reading this), so I may be duplicating some suggestions - if so, I apologize in advance.

My suggestion is to at least get her tested properly for ADHD (ADHD is the medical term for Attention Deficit Disorder, which can be Hyperactive Type, Inattentive Type or Combined Type - ADD is not used in the medical community anymore) and educate yourself as much as possible. ADHD treatment has come a long way since we were kids. I was diagnosed (FINALLY) in November (I'm 36) and I immediately had my oldest daughter tested after my diagnosis (she just turned 9), and she too has ADHD - we both have Combined Type.

There are many options for effectively dealing with ADHD, not all of which are medication. Because the ADHD mind processes information differently, if your daughter DOES have ADHD, you, and her teachers and other caregivers, will need to adjust the way you interact with your daughter which can make a big difference in many aspects of her life. The techniques used by non-ADHD people often do not work for those with ADHD.

Here is a link to my Delicious bookmarks for several ADHD web sites I've found helpful in my research http://delicious.com/sherrascott/add It's at least a place to start.

April - posted on 03/11/2010

Don't take the school's word that your daughter has ADD. Our school label my son as ADD and pretty much demand me to give him medication, when I talked to a doctor and a phycologist, we found out that wasn't what was wrong with him. He was the type of kid that talked a lot and wouldn't sit still and now at 16 he isn't like that anymore. I know this will be a very unpopular view, but I agree with your husband. I don't believe in giving a pill to control behavior, I think it's something that needs to be learned.

Carla - posted on 03/11/2010

You should have her checked by a doctor before you do anything. A lot of children just have a lot of energy.

Lyndsey - posted on 03/11/2010

Did you give her vaccines? Lots of people claim it's genetic but parents proved that wrong and doctors also. You need to get her to a holistic doctor to flush it all out. Once that happens, she needs to have a teacher that can work on her one-on-one either in the class or in the teacher's own classroom. I have ADD and the only thing that helped me was having individual attention. Homeschooling would have really helped me but teachers and schools today still don't deal with issues correctly. See if there is a program at her school or research your options for home schooling. Not only will she get the attention she needs, she will be further along in school and learn more than what public and private schools can provide.

Jari - posted on 03/11/2010

First and foremost you have to have her evaluated by a professional. Your school district should provide the eval once you request a meeting. If she is in fact diagnosed as ADD or ADHD there are several different options for behavioral modification. I waited until my son was in 2nd grade before going the route of medications. But we tried modification plans and other methods. Be sure to explore all options and your school district should be a valuable tool to assist you with your daughter's ultimate success.

Bev - posted on 03/11/2010

hi i cant say this is the right thing to do but my son was like this as a child he had medication but all that did was calm him down and make in sleep for a couple of hours which gave me a brake but i use to watch what i gave him i stopped all fizzy drinks stopped anything with orange and stopped sugar i found that helped

Wendy - posted on 03/11/2010

My oldest son who is now 18 behaved in the same manner. In the 1st grade He would stare out windows, grades were low, he couldn't concentrate, and he would lash out. His teacher suggested he see a doctor and be medicated. I... well, I said no and I'll leave it at that ;). The next year again his teacher called me and suggested he be tested. As I started to blow up... she said no, an IQ test. She thought he was bored. I let my son decide if he wanted to take it. 3 months later he said yes and was tested. He scored off the charts and has been taking advanced classes ever since and doing great!!!

Now, my youngest son. He is about to turn 7. He is the complete opposite. He won't pay attention but that's to anything!! He is violent, he won't sit still. At all. Even during activities he likes. He tries so hard to be good and obedient. He loves to be praised but it only lasts for seconds. He will then jump up, fling himself down and scream. He seems to be unable to control his emotions. He (knowing the consequences) refuses to do his chores and looking in his eyes it's like he's fighting a war within himself. I have tried changing his diet. No glutten, preservatives... I have been fighting this for years. It breaks my heart to see him this way! I love my lil man so much and it kills me that he has no friends and even adults do not like being around him. My ex-husband refuses to let me take him to the doctor anymore for this saying it is my fault that I must not be able to raise him and will sue for custody (he knows I can't afford an attourney) if I persue the matter with a doctor. I secretly took him to the doctor and he seemed to not be worried about it. It scares me that if I do grow the courage to keep at this, that doctors have become so jaded because of so many people wanting to have kids medicated that they don't believe the ones that may actually need it. *sigh* Sorry I took up so much of your space but I felt I needed to reply and let this out.

Victoria - posted on 03/11/2010

good advice from everyone. you have to check everything - eyesight, allergies (food, drug, enivronmental), etc. have her tested by a dr and get 2nd opinions. make sure she has lots of structure and consistency in her daily life.

my daughter was diagnosed in Kindergarten (ADHD combined type), but at the same time i found out she had allergies and needed glasses. getting all of those things worked out for her at the same time helped tremendously. my daughter does much better on meds and she has been on the same med (concerta)/same dosage since 1st grade. meds are a very personal choice and one you have to weigh carefully.

good luck to you, your daughter, and your family!

Kelly - posted on 03/11/2010

i have been in the same situation as u. what i did get my husband 2 agree 2, was having my son tested 4 a.d.d. by qualified doctors. not medical doctors, but psychologist. there r 2-3 tests, that r stansard in diagnosing the disorder. when my son tested positive, our conversation w/the qualified dr. included her recommendation, that 4 my sons benefit, we try medication, 4 his sake. she explained in exceptional detail, how the a.d.d. mind works, & what the meds do 4 it. and actually getting the diagnosis, but letting it go, untreated, is quite a diservice 2 the child. u would not withold insulin from a diabetic, why withold treatment for a.d.d.? good luck 2 u! f.y.i. after we did start my son on medication, along w/therapy 4 behavior modification, ( a life skill that enhances their self control) it is a trial &error process, 2 get the does/drug, that workd best 4 your child. it took us approx a year, 2 get it right, but boy!! it was worth it! good luck

Lou-Marie - posted on 03/11/2010

Dear Sharon, don't we all go through the mill with regards to our children. Same scenario on my side - school insisted medication, but I then got the advise to have her eyes tested - not the screening they do at school - a proper test - visual tracting etc etc - does both eyes work in sink - well, since we started therapy - HUGE change, and I must say a huge change - concentration improved, much more calmer, sits and listens to instructions, and follow through, no more me having to nag, and fight and being the old hag in the house. Yes, I agree follow the correct avenues, but do yourself a favour and have the eyes tested by a developmental opt. THe route of elimination

Michelle - posted on 03/11/2010

Sharon you mentioned you feel like your on an emotional rollercoaster....well you must have jumped on the one i ride on a daily basis. I have an 11yr son and from about 18mths old i knew he was different to other children. at the age of 4 i had him diagnosed as ADHD and by professionals who i believed knew more than I. mmmm self doubt not a good thing in these situations....i put him on several meds which did not really do much for him over the period of 5 years.... he wouldnt put on weight...he was pushing to get just over 20kilos at the age of 9....so decided to take him off meds and i still have a handful of a son but he know weighs the amount a boy of his age should, has growth spurts as he was also quiet a bit shorter than children his age and after a year has settled down with school.
We know have him on Fish Oil Tablets and they took about 6 months to really kick in a help but i have a child that does not jump on tables at school, etc...you know how it goes... so patience and try every possible scenario before resorting to meds....but whatever decision you make, always be at peace with yourself.

This comes from a person who was pro meds and is now DEFINATELY anti meds... I hope all works out well with whatever you decide.

Scottie - posted on 03/11/2010

oh and Sharon...feel free to email me privately if you like. I will do my best to help you. Even my son's dad, who was outrageously against the medication, agrees that he needs it for school and he is so relieved that our son can go back to being the kid he IS, and also that there are medications out there these days that aren't like the Ritalin (dubbed "the zombifier") of days past...not once have I ever thought my son was zombielike on the Vyvanse. TONS of kids are mis- and over-diagnosed with it...but for those actually struggling with the disorder, the medicine is their life raft.

Scottie - posted on 03/11/2010

Sharon...I'm sure 1,000 moms will give you almost 1,000 answers. Many will be what mine USED to be - maybe she's bored, maybe she's just active, maybe she needs more discipline. (That would be a joke in our house, as our boys are being raised by 2 Marines, and I can tell you, they are respectfully handled but we certainly don't slack on the structure!)
I have 2 boys. My oldest, who is 10, we joke all the time about him being the "poster child" for ADHD...but he's not. He's hyper and excitable, but he does great in school and doesn't have any of the other signs of ADHD. My 6 year old, however, is a different story. At age 5, my once mellow, calm, even-keel boy began having utter meltdowns over the smallest thing, and his teacher had us in there for numerous conferences. Who WAS this kid? We we angry when she suggested ADHD. I thought, oh sure, my little boy acts out and you want to dope him instead of fixing it. But that was SUCH a stupid way to look at it. Long story short, we agreed to have him evaluated, and sure enough he had ADHD. I was still skeptical - I asked his Pediatrician (whom I trust VERY much), if he takes the medication, and we see no improvement, what then? He said out of 20 kids he evaluates for ADHD, maybe ONE might actually have it, so he just tries the medicine...and something that stuck with me SO strongly - "if you don't see a BIG difference in him within 48 hours, we may be looking at something other than ADHD...because, does it make any sense to you at ALL that you could give a hyper, emotional kid a STIMULANT and have him or her CALM down?" This shut me up and I agreed to try, and it took less than 48 hours to see "my" little boy coming back, and replacing this odd emotional whirlwind that had been there. It wasn't the energy that bothered me, or the talking - it was the frustration and the temper. Kids were beginning to stop wanting to play with him, he almost got suspended - in KINDERGARTEN! That wasn't him! When people met him, before the ADHD surfaced, some would say he was "creepy" because he was so mellow and easy going, and that was unusual for a kid that age.
We have that mellow boy back. His medicine, Vyvanse, has a MUCH lower instance of zombie side effects, but it's not without its price. It supresses his appetite, we have to make him eat. Sometimes it makes him melancholy. So then we'll take him off for a few days...because with Vyvanse, you can do that without any weird side effects. His doc says the minute that the benefits stop outweighing the side effects, we'll come off. In the meantime, his grades are back up and he's on a 5th grade reading level (he's in 1st). ADHD kids are almost always super smart...but their talents get lost in frustration. We don't give him the medicine on weekends, or when there's no school, like breaks or summertime. Only for school. We have other ways to channel his energy and frustration then...but at school, he NEEDS to have it so that his brain can slow down and he can be the stellar student and loving, sweet kid we know he his...so much of his temper and meltdowns were because he wanted so desperately to be the "star student" he WAS, and he just...couldn't. He knew something was wrong.
Good luck. Like our doc says, whether you like it or not, what the medicine does is your big clue as to if the child actually has it.

Shannon - posted on 03/11/2010

Enrol her in sports activities. They provide such a great outlet for all that energy. It worked in my household!!

Vanessa - posted on 03/11/2010

Hello Sharon,

I was scanning through all of the amazing advice posted here and wanted to give my solid two cents on the whole medication factor. I did not read everything posted, there is a lot to read, so if I restate something already said, forgive me.

Anyway, here it goes: First - the whole trend of drs diagnosing energetic children as ADD/ADHD started off in what I remember to be the early to mid 90's. this is when my cousin was falsly diagnosed and my aunt was told immediately to get him on meds. She refused, thank goodness and he is 21 now doing fine. Don't get me wrong, my daughter's father has ADHD so bad that he absolutely CANNOT sit still for longer than a minute or two without subconsciously starting back up with both knees swinging back and forth in a scissor motion. He can't even stand still without shaking his knees & not to mention he shake/rocks himself to sleep at night! His mother is the same, just not as severe and they have both attempted almost every cocktail of meds to no avail. Now his 14 year-old son has been diagnosed with not only ADD but dyslexia as well. The family is still refusing medication because there are SO many other alternatives out there. Please exhaust every avenue before jumping on the meds-train. Also, you mentioned that you suffer from ADD & I wanted to point out that it is possible that you feeling like your little girl is running you ragged could be a compilation of your ADD+her hyperactivity. Is it possible you may be slightly more overwhelmed than an "ordinary" person would? Try some breathing/meditative techniques, if you ever have the time or focus.

Secondly: As far as the multiple suggestions here to modify your daughter's diet, I can say it will work wonders! Before moving back into my mother's house(she's a hardcore environmentalist/organic vegetarian) my daughter was slightly overweight and all over the place. Since I can't stand certain vegetables I felt at a loss when told I should switch up the home menu to organic and anti-high fructose corn syrup(which is in almost anything processed synthetically).... that is until I found this ONE cookbook that created an epiphany within me. It is called "The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue" which is actually the sequel to another "Sneaky Chef" cookbook. The recipes have parents sneaking SPINACH(yuck) into sweets like BROWNIES without barely a hint of the flavor(only can taste it if you KNOW it's in there) and absolutely NO visual clue that it's in there! My daughter(3yrs) still refuses to eat anything that looks like a vegetable, but I'm managing to get CARROTS into Mac'n'Cheese, CAULIFLOWER(more yuck) into muffins and much more! Not only does SHE devour all of these recipes, I DO TOO! Since my discovery and implementation of a healthy diet with barely a change to our original list of meal likes/dislikes, I have noticed an increase in her focus, a decrease in her weight and heightened memory abilities. I started the new diet around thanksgiving/x-mas time in 2009. Only about 3 months ago & even I am feeling better! Also, there is some website that describes all the effects that high fructose corn syrup has on the human body that you should try to find, it's a real eye opener! You'll probably never want to eat it again!

With all said and done, I wish you the best of luck with your endeavor in finding the answers/treatments you seek to assist your child in making it in our rigid, unforgiving world. Keep your head up and know that it is always darkest before the light of dawn.

Danika - posted on 03/10/2010

There have been many programs on tv/today tonight about children having add/ adhd and they actually don't, being put no medication they don't need to have. She may have add/ adha or she could just be a kid who is being a kid. Also maybe look at what she is eating, you may need to alter her diet. I would personally try anything i could before putting my child on medication.

Arquella - posted on 03/10/2010

@latishya, my daughter was tested by my therapist and her school and they also found that she has anxiety depression. For example when I do homework with my daughter, she manage to get everything wrong. So the special ed teacher at her school said that when he tested her and just let her do it on her own, she got every answer right. So now I just let her do her homework on her own and then when she's done I'll check it. It's been working out so far. Math is the subject that she is struggling with something awful. I just hope she ends the school year with a passing grade.

Arquella - posted on 03/10/2010

Get her tested. Ask as many questions you can. My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD last year and she's on medication. Her behavior is so much better in school. She still has her struggles but it's a lot better. I was also recently diagnosed. When I was a child my teachers told my mother that she needed to get me tested but she never did and I went thru my life not knowing what was wrong with me. Don't put your baby thru that. I have a lot of resentment towards my mom for not taking their advice. So if you are suspecting that your child has ADD then get her tested. I do understand your husband not wanting her on meds because I felt the same way. me and my daughter are both on Concerta, which is a ADD medication. It's time release so the medication doesn't hit them all at once. Plus it last up to 10 or 12 hours. And you don't feel lethargic either. Just read on it. Get as much info as you can and go to the doctor with all of your questions. Having ADD and being on the meds is not as bad as people think it is. It's just bad if you ignore it.

Monica - posted on 03/10/2010

i work for a neurologist who specializes in ADD/ADHD...we see this alot. first of all, ADD/ADHD is very real, you are born with it, you CANNOT out grow it. as adults we just start to learn how to use it to our "advantage". it IS hereditery....i would not recommend having her assessed by a pediatrician or a psychologist, she needs to see a physician who specializes in ADD/ADHD. there are many side effects of medication, however there are many different types now, one will work if needed. it will be a process to have her diagnosed properly. things we do: EEG, cognitive testing, EKG, blood work, and approx 25 pages of info that neds completed by the parents and the teacher...good luck!

Latishya - posted on 03/10/2010

I can concur with you on being driven up the wall. I am a osldier married to another soldier so that says a lot in itself, but I always the one who deals with the children the most. I was at the schools so much that I was on a first name basis with the teachers and the principal. My daughter wa really struggling in school, she was frustrated and just angry with everything and everybody. The teachers told me to outsource about having her tested because the school said it would take up to 8 to 12 weeks....Are you really serious? School will be out by then and you are talking about retaining my child in the same grade, but the teachers are expressing that there is a problem here? Well I went outside of the school and had her tested and I am so glad that I did. She was diagnosed with ADHD combined type, Anxiety disorder and A state recognized learning disablility understanding written expression...with that being said you do whatever you have to get the answeres you are looking for

Faye - posted on 03/10/2010

Look at her diet. Sugar, corn syrup, refined carbs in general, food additive especially MSG can all affect children's behavior. I'd try working with a whole foods diet before you consider drugs. www.westonaprice.org can give you information about healthy food for children.

Brandirose - posted on 03/10/2010

Kids not treated for this disorder who actually have it are more likely to self medicate and become addicts. However, on the flip side kids who are treated for it with medication are less likely than the average population to become stimulant users. If you are able to take her to a behavioral specialist instead of a regular pediatrician that would be wise.
Teachers and students are often harder on kids with ADD/ADHD. They are prone to ostrisization and ridicule which can lead to interpersonal problems latter in life. Your husband should do dispassionate research before drawing conclusions about medication. Claiming that something is harmful when it is widely used sells books, papers, etc. it's called sensationalism. Ritalin and other stimulants and non-stimulant medications work well for many people and improve quality of life. It's not for everyone, but if it isn't for your family....make sure it's for the right reasons.

Megan - posted on 03/10/2010

Look online for other things you can do besides medicate!! My mom found that by changing my diet and using different discipline techniques my behavior was different. There have been studies done that show sugars and carbs can affect the childs ADD/ADHD. But also remember that she may just be an active child, one of the most teeling signs of ADD/ADHD is going to be wether she is able to start an activity and finish it. At 6 yrs old a lot of children have a hard time sitting still and talk a lot, but they don't all have ADD/ADHD. If you are truely concerned about her take her to get evaluated, and then go from there.



Always remember that medication should not always be the first solution. Be patient and try to work with her a little, I know it's hard looking back I can see how hard my mom struggled and I feel bad that I didn't put more effort into doing what she asked of me, but it is worth it!!

Natasha - posted on 03/10/2010

i have a family member who was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. she completely turned around 110% by her parents putting her on a strict diet. all foods with colours/preservatives/addivites etc had to be eliminated because these were what was causing all the behavioural problems. it was a pediatric dietician who advised her parents to try this diet and he was spot on because that child's behaviour turned around almost instantly!!! it was amazing. i recommend trying diet first before any medication.

Kathy - posted on 03/10/2010

To Sharon,

I know what you are going through. My child was like that also. Try and change your child's diet. I know for a fact that banana's and grapes will make them more hyper, and things like coffee and soda that has caffeine in it will do the opposite and mellow them out. I never put my child on any medication, that's the first thing all doctors want to do. Give this a try. Hope everything works out for you.

Bridgette - posted on 03/10/2010

I have a child that was diagnosed with ADHD and I didn't want to put him on meds so while he was home with me, I kept him busy with things he could do with his hands. ADHD children love working with their hands. At school, they pretty much did the same after I talked to them and in formed them what was going on with my child. My son learned to control his ADHD on his own.

Martha - posted on 03/10/2010

My son also has adhd but I decided to keep him out of medication bacause in the Summer time the secondary efects were pretty bad. I recommed you to find a natural medicine. Here is a website that they can help you with your son www.nativeremedies.com

I hope this really help you

Lara-Adele - posted on 03/10/2010

has your child been formally diagnoised (sorry bad spelling) with ADD/ADHD? if not then dont jump to conclusions. it could be your child is bored. I am 40 years old and ADHD with dyslexia so my mother had it bad with me. if you keep your child engaged in activities that build the brain cells that might work. sports are good because it is something different all the time in a place like a boys and girls club or a ymca. there are lots of learning video games as well but time and paitents is the best bet. hope this helps

Angela - posted on 03/10/2010

Not that I have anything against anyone's opinion on here, Sharon let me tell you. My son has ADHD and started meds when he was 5. I tried changing diets, counseling, everything that people who DON'T deal with ADHD in their children suggest and yet it was affecting his schoolwork. My ex didn't want to put him on meds either so I sweetly suggested that he then become a stay at hom dad while I went to work. Then he could deal with the non-meds. My son is currently on Strattera which is the only NON-stimulatory med approved by the FDA for ADHD. I know there are possible side effects but with my son I've only seen an improvement and his teachers can tell if he has missed a day or has gone without for awhile. Before I put my son on meds, I was depressed, suicidal and felt like I was literally losing my mind. Now, although he is still challenging every single day, it is not like living with the love child of an auctioneer and the Energizer bunny. For anyone who has not had to deal with an ADHD child, you have no idea how hard it really is, how exhausting and how much patience you really need. Also Sharon...I've just learned that if your child is diagnosed with ADHD, the school system (from kindergarten thru college) can put him on a 504 program in which the school HAS TO make accomodations in lessons, discipline and behavior modification for your child. Once the school counselor begins the program, your child is then legally protected under the disability act. Just a few things to consider. Add me to your circle if you have any questions or just need to rant to someone who completely understands!!

Mellissa - posted on 03/10/2010

First thing to do is talk to the teachers. Have they mentioned add or adhd? Have you taken her in to a doctor to be tested? There are other things that can cause behavior that resembles add and adhd than just those things. Maybe your child is bored. Have you had her tested to see where she is academically? If you do take her to a doctor to have her tested and she turns out to be add or adhd there are alternatives to medication. They have behavior specialists that have had as many good results in just working with a child and teaching them how to manage their hyperactivity without putting your child on medication. This way you don't have to be alone in your concerns and your husband can be satisfied that you have at least tried a solution that doesn't involve medication. Good Luck, and just remember she may just be smarter than the rest of her class! :)

Michelle - posted on 03/10/2010

We were just told my 6 yr old has AD/HD.I am like your husband I don't want to put my son on meds. The person that evaulated my son for AD/HD told me we have alot of options.We just recently found out that my son has it so we a checking into the options.So my first thing I would do is have your child checked and weigh your options.

Stephanie - posted on 03/10/2010

I too have a 6 yr old (now 8) who has ADHD and my husband was not on board with medication. I can only tell you from my personal experience the situation you described above was my story exactly!

We did get a diagnosis, put him on meds and he is a totally different child. He went from failing in school, having no friends (b/c he was "out of control"), and hating school to loving school, has tons of friends and is the kid everybody wants to be around!

Meds vs. no meds was not a choice for us b/c my son could not function at school or home for that matter. He would have major melt downs and was driving me crazy to the point I was becoming a mother I didn't want to be!!!

I had my husband attend all the doctor's meetings, conferences with the teacher and principals so he could hear what my son needed from another perspective (not the wife who can't control her child). This was when he reluctantly said ok to meds and currently has no regrets!

It's a hard journey but you will get through it!

Julie - posted on 03/10/2010

What about things she eats. Have you tried go no preservatives or msg. This has helped kids with this problem.

Marsha - posted on 03/10/2010

In the school I work in, you can get special help if your child is diagnosed by a dr. with
ADHD. You might want to get testing just so you are legally able for some help at school. Meds are really the easiest, best help, but a special diet and a behavior plan
can also help. Your pediatrician and a behavioral therapist (throught schoool?) would
be able to provide you with those two things.

CYNTHIA - posted on 03/10/2010

HI SHARON, I AM PRAYING FORYOU AND YOUR FAMILY. I HAVE A 4YR OLD AND THOUGH SHE DOES NOT HAVE ADD/ADHD BUT HER CLASS DOES WORK WITH THE KIDS AND THEIR FEELINGS, AND SHE GAVE ME THE WORK THEY DID, FOR THE KIDS WORKING WITH THEIR FEELINGS IN A POSITIVE WAY. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OR YOUR DAUGHTER. 1.STOP;LEARNING TO STOP HELPS THE CHILD AVOID SAYING OR DOING SOMETHING HARMFUL. 2.STEP BACK;THIS HELPS THE CHILD MOVE AWAY FROM THE PERSON OR SITUATION THAT MAY DISTURB OR ANGER THEM. 3. CALM DOWN;HELP YOUR CHILD TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND TRY SLOWLY COUNT TO 5 TO CALM DOWN. 4. THINK; TO REMIND THE CHILD TO THINK BEFORE THEY ACT.
THIS MAY BE FOR ANGER, BUT SOME OF THIS MAY HELP . GODS BLESSINGS TO YOU, CYNTHIA ROUSE-BUFFALO,NY

Trish - posted on 03/10/2010

You have gotten lots of great feedback already but I thought I'd add my experience too. My now 11 year old son was diagnosed with adhd at age 4.5 by way of a full neuro-psych evaluation often that age is too young for an accurate diagnosis but when we did a full neuro-psych evaluation again at a different facility when he was 9.5 years old the results were exactly the same across the board. We have tried many natural approaches in addition to and in place of meds. At this point we have found that the right combination for him is to take medication and also be on a modified diet (absolutely no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or corn syrup and no chocolate because that clearly sets him off) and a number of natural supplements including Omega 3 fatty acids. By modifying his diet and adding the supplements we have been able to reduce the amount of medication he needs by half and he is doing better than he was at the higher dose. We have tried a number of times to take him off of the meds entierly simply because we would prefer not to use them but without the small amount that he is on, he has an extremely hard time functioning at school and socially. He has no apparent side effects...as a matter of fact when we first started him on ritalin he actually gained weight because he could sit long enough to eat...before that he was underweight because he never sat still long enough to get more than a few bite into him at a time.

There is a great yahoo group that is entirely focused on treating ADD/ADHD without medications that would be a wonderful resource to you right now while you are waiting for an official diagnosis. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ADH... You can get lots of ideas for things that you can try now, when medication is not yet an option. At the very least it should help you to find things to make a difference now...and perhaps it will allow you to get to the point that you do not need to consider meds after all. If not then you and your husband will both be able to feel better knowing that you have tried natural options before considering medication which should give you more peace of mind and more unity on the topic.

I had been very concerned that my 7 year old daughter might have adhd also though more mild than her brother...however when we discovered that she has celiac disease and put her on a completely gluten free diet most of the adhd type behaviors went away or reduced to the point that she is just a very active but typically developing little girl. So in her case the dietary change essentially "cured" what looked a lot like adhd.

Good luck!
Trish

Carrie - posted on 03/10/2010

I Sharon. My daughter is 6 and I found out that she has ADD. I don't use any meds but I do neuro feedback. She goes in for a session for about 18 min (that's all she can handle). For the child, they are playing a video game. It has helped my daughter a great deal and it may help yours as well. To get more info, go to eeginfo.com Hope this helps and good luck!