| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 10/19/2006 9:55:43 PM | | A good friend of mine has a 10 y.o son w/ adhd, and she seems to be in severe denial about the condition of her son. His teachers, counsler, and school physcologist are all in agreement that he has some kind of severe physcological issues i.e talking to inanimate objects, and extremley behind in his academics. She is very defensive believes they are out to get her son. Anyone have any suggetions for her to have an objective eye? I've suggested parental support groups, but the likelyhood that she'll follow through on it is slim. Her sons behavior is very overwhelming to the point where I try not to come around as much, because I just don't know how to react to it. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 10/20/2006 1:37:34 PM | it wos so comfortin readin ur msg my son is also adhd 12yrs old but acts like my husband after fidhtin for help weve finally got the diagnose that i new all along i have to suffer the abuse i wouldn.t from an adult and the furniture throwin . i have no knives in reach as this wos his weapon to use pointed at himself i tault myself the best way to deal wiv him wos to ignore him which is extremely hard but it pays of i myself resulted in ocurrin alopicia which i cope wiv as u do but seein this has made my son realise that he affects everybody not just myself the hardest part i find is even thinkin of havin a relationship wiv somebody as it would scare them of totally but my main concern in life is helpin my son who will always mean more than any man it just would be nice to be able to communicate wiv people similar to myself and like i said readin ur passage helped me tremendously so i have to say thank you  | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 10/26/2006 9:20:11 AM | Like I said liz, every time he went to a differant doctor he got a different diagnosis. But they all agreed, He knows what he was doing, he just doesn't choose to behave. After he spent 3 years in a institution, we kept him in line with you act up again, your in there the rest of your life. Not only is he not on any drugs, but he hasn't acted out since. Makes you kinda wonder if he played us all. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 5/9/2007 5:28:53 PM | I am raising a 12 year old boy who has adhd and odd....Aside from all the backlash ppl give u for medicating your child...my reason is it benifits his learning, because he wasn't diognised till late in grade 1 and got no help till gr 4 his reading and comprehension level is at a grade 3/4.....so yes I chose to medicate...now with his odd that is something I don't know how to handle...the Dr gives him Wellburtin, and I see nothing changing....all I see his him always fighting me, he doesn't show it to school or other ppl in the public which I guess I should b thankful for...but to me..he lets me have it, which makes it very hard to have a relationship with him that I want...
Does any one have any suggestions expecially on the odd part...and plz don't post something running me down for my choice to medicate...I just would like some advice from others that have children who have silimar problems...
Thanks | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 5/9/2007 10:34:14 PM | I am probably going to get a backlash from this. but having been through it and seen my kids go through it. The only true recommendation, other than what the drs tell you is to find something they enjoy, and start participating with them in what they want to do. Even add, adhd, bipolar or otherwise do have things they are interested in. Too many people tag them as stupid, or some other name. Having spent the past 2 years working with my son, I have found that learning and listening to them and finding out what hobbies or activities they like to do and then work with them on it. It is very frustrating, but if you work side by side and teach them logical skill, and perseverence skills just like a normal person eventually they will come around.
He is now 20, I am a car buff, we started out with cars, and I worked side by side with him and completely restored a car with him. To this day he is grateful that we did it, and abotu once a month I pull out the pictures and show him his accomplishments, and he is starting to get some self esteem, and appreciate it. He has since got into music, and has plunged in head first. He is doing very well with it and I am very proud of him. The biggest problem is when they get negative feedback from others. You ahve to help them learn to accept the bad with the good. They are acutally geniuses, but are mostly too hard on themselves, when someone gives them negative comments it tends to push them over the edge.
Dont get me wrong, this does not mean pamper them, treat them like any other child, but understand they walk to the beat of a different drum. If we can learn their beat and get in harmony with them we all win. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 5/10/2007 3:34:19 AM | Hiya my son is 8 and has been diagnosed with tourettes syndrome,adhd and ocd (50% of people with ts will also have adhd or ocd .My son tried clonodine last year and it had no effect at all,then he went on ritalin but it made his tics worse and he lost loads of weight ,at the moment he is on strattera but im waiting to see the dr to have him taken off this as it is not doing any good for the adhd and he is still loosing weight ,strattera isnt a stimulant like ritalin but it is still an appetite supressant and has also caused him chest pains and his heart to race.Meds work differently on everyone though its trial and error what works for one might not work for another,but if possible try to avoid them.My son also has melatonin to help him sleep on a night.
The tourettes is not so much of a problem for my son unless his tics are really bad its the adhd and the ocd which cause problems its hard work but i wouldnt change him . | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 5/10/2007 4:41:50 AM | | hi there l totally agree with getting them interested in some thing, my son has Autism and he love thomas the tank and trains in general, so we take himm on trains every now again when we can, also at the moment he is very into DSdogs it teaches him how to look after them instead of real dogs, he will play hours on it, also he is on no meds and goes to main stream school and doing well there, am dredding this month as he will be starting his states and l dont think he will do well because he cant sit still and loses interest in things quickly if he does not like doing them. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 5/10/2007 4:46:02 PM | I have four kids all with ADD and the youngest three are ADDHD, oldest boy is also bipolar. Most people seem to think the meds are bad but for my kids they were life saviors. One of my boys had been kicked out of school 4 times before he was even in the third grade and was pretty much flunking school. His meds took alot of adjusting before we found one that allowed him to be himself but stay is some resemblence of control. All three of my youngest are on meds but only during the school year and under close supervision by their pediatrician and myself. The other thing that has helped my kids a lot is a good amount of physical activity. Diet change didn't do much good for my kids or me when my mom tried the same thing. But being an adult with ADDHD before there were good meds to help, helps my kids alot too. I try to teach them the techniques I used to get through highschool and college. It is also my goal to teach them that as they grow this disorder can be a valuable asset in any job they choose to do, combined with the high intelligence they were given and they will do great things in life. Now if I can just get them through those teenage years.  | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 5/11/2007 11:34:42 AM | I come from a large family of ADHD people (I was officially diagnosed when I was 7, but we knew when my older sister was diagnosed 2 years before that) I can tell you that the best way to manage it is through acceptance (I have cousins with parents that don't accept it and the difference between my family and theirs is like night and day).
Being ADHD (when it is managed) is quite possibly the best thing in the world. I used to think I drew the short straw, but now I feel like I won the genetic lottery. Yes the medication can be expensive, but it is just so good.
1. Medication. ADHD is a neurological disorder (and the brain is just a complex chemical super computer) believed to caused by Low Dopamine Production or low Dopamine receptor site count and/or efficiency. Or some combination of those things.
Some medications (like Ritalin, which I've used since I was 7 except for a small break when I tried Dexatrin) act as reuptake blockers. The medication binds to the dopamine reuptake spots on the nerves (but not all of them) so that the neurostimulant has second, third, fourth (etc) chances to get its message across the synapse to the next nerve in the path. Think of it as playing skiball, but instead of having the "oops I missed and get Zero points" trap, the ball rolls back to you to try again.
1b. Medication will help stop the NEED for stimulant seeking behavior, but behavior turns to habit. So even with medication, some bad habits need to be unlearned.
2. Depending on how early it is diagnosed, therapy may or may not be called for. Therapy is much more necessary for those diagnosed later in life because every ADHD person self-medicates somehow. Forms of self-medication are: medication (prescription or other stimulants like caffine or nicotine) or stimulant seeking behavior.
Stimulant Seeking Behavior could be learning, day dreaming, arguing, running around (adrenalin is a stimulant), picking fights, working self into a rage. Whatever.
3. People who are ADHD tend to have very fast intellectually and have high IQ's (seriously, I scored a 148 on an IQ test before I started reading) because when they are stimulated and interested in something, they learn it fast. Medication can help stimulate the "interest"/"focus" part of the brain.
So make sure there are LOTS of new things for your child to learn. Do whatever it takes to get your child into reading. I started reading because I discovered Dungeons & Dragons when I was 10 (real "learn to read" programs were boring and annoying to me). Now (12 years later) I read like crazy.
4. Hyperfocus and Obsessiveness. Read up on it because your child will do it. Hyperfocusing is also called "In the zone." People that are ADHD are able to hyperfocus on anything they find interesting (it is a full-time job to drag an ADHD person from something they are into).
5. Master and Abandon. As part of the fast learning and mastery is that things get boring after they are mastered. The challenge goes away. So this goes back to Point #3, make sure the next part is always ready.
6. ADHD isn't bad. Unmanaged ADHD is bad.
7. Go out and get a book on it. Find one written by someone with a PhD.
-GG
P.S.: ADD and ADHD are the same thing. The name of the disorder is based on the readily identifiable (i.e. bad) symptoms of the disorder. Hyperfocusing is a major symptom, but when a child hyperfocuses on reading or math, no one thinks of it as bad. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/17/2007 6:02:45 PM | Yes, I have 2 with it.. One 12 and the other 5...
I had my older one on meds.. Tried a few and they didn't seem to help her much.. she got so thin that I was worried.. and she had no appetite... not good IMO to a growing child.. so I decided to take her off the meds... Now she is 12 she isn't as hyper.. she is behind in school but she gets help for that...
The 5 year old is smart but can't sit still long enough.. lol She starts kindgarten this fall and I will see what recommendations are offered... She is in full gear all the time.. I do keep them on a schedule.. Structure does seem to help... I try to watch their diet but that isn't always easy.. with them going to friends houses.. and activities and all....
I see other people children and how calm they are.. I think to myself'"Wow I wouldn't know what to do with myself" lol | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/18/2007 3:33:46 PM | hi there, i have 2 children 10yr old was diagnosed ADHD 4 yrs ago and 7yr old has ODD. it is hard but all the love u can give and definate set boundries and routine really does help. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/18/2007 4:08:48 PM | | My Son's doctor says he may have a problem with ADHD, in all honestly I refuse to believe such a thing as I see nothing wrong. He only acts bad when he his with his Mum but that could also be the fact that he lives with her and not me. When I ask him to settle down or behave he does exactly that, yet again in all honesty, before my recent relocation I saw my Son every weekend for two years and I think I had to raise my voice once! Remember this is a boy of 6/7 whos doctor wants to diagnose him with ADHD - I think it is all rubbish (IMO!) | |
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di3sel
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Joined: 6/19/2007
Msg: 138 | |
| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/19/2007 1:36:57 PM | My son is 12 and was diagnosed with ADHD 6 years ago, generally he is a loving, sweet child but when he is at school, all of this goes out of the window. The structure in school.. going to lessons, doing homework, generally fitting in is very tough for him, academically he is not too bad at all, its just he has massive lapses in concentration which hinder his progress dramatically. I look after Luke as a single parent which i find tough as well as you always dread when the phone rings wether its the school suspending him again.
I have lost all faith in the UK as i have tried 3 or 4 times trying to get him statemented as everyone, from Therapists to Senco say he needs a specialist school where its alot less structured but even though these professionals state he should be in a different school, every time the board who do the statement say he is borderline and do not issue it, which is so frustrating not only for me, but mostly for Luke as well because its just a matter of time he will get suspended again due to "school rules". | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/19/2007 7:21:38 PM | | I am helping rais my gran child thet is ADHD you need as rutine and alot of love we got a comp for mine she loves it i keeps her come she has had one since she was 3 she is 14 and doing alot better for real it dues get better as they grow older | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/19/2007 7:44:37 PM | | I dont have any suggestions neccessarily,but I do know that I feel your pain.My sons doc said that he feels more 'comfortable' with me,therefore he can not do the perfect act,and then 24 hr meds helped too so that after trying so hard all day,he wouldnt crash with me.I dont discipline often,but I do discipline hard,keeping him occupied and burning off all that energy is good too,picking your battles,I could go on and on... | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/20/2007 7:16:05 PM | | i have a 7 yr old son that has been diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, OCB, Learning Disablities, and Aspergers, his IQ is 124 they are brilliant children. My word of advice is finding one thing that they find fascinating...my son enjoys pokemon collects the cards, goes on the learning website, plays the games, and everything is about Pokemon, but I have learned it actually keeps his attention for more than 5 seconds. I am a single parent with no help from family and no friends cause most people cant stand being around a kid that is hyper. So find something they like, try starting a collection with them. something that you can do together and he/she can so alone. | |
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Pucks
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Joined: 10/14/2006
Msg: 142 | |
| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/20/2007 7:20:58 PM | ^^^^I agree focus on the child's likes and their abilities. Often times persons with autism or some type of learning disability have a skill there really good at. Could be numbers for instance.
I have worked with people with people with disabilities with IQ of 70 or under...The most severely developmentally delayed. It takes patience, understanding and lots of repition to teach skills but it is doable and very rewarding. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 8/2/2007 7:14:36 PM | | I have two girls. The oldest is three and the youngest is one. My oldest was first diagnosed with ADHD when she turned two. They are very hyper and can't focus on things for long periods of time. YOu may try to sit down with her and read a book.... teach her something. I know that my daughter craves the attention and soaks up everything she can! Usually those with this disorder are highly intelligent but aren't quite sure how to plug into it... just help her see what she is capable of and stick be her side no matter what. If it is still out of control and she is having trouble in school then maybe a mild dose of medication used in moderation would be suggested. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 8/3/2007 1:47:20 AM | I work with these children, what is truely needed is a good team of workers and the family. You can get good results if all support each other. Yes postive behavoural tecqhics can work as long as all are on board with the same thinking. They are smart children and will play one person to the next be it at home or school.
Learn to speak there launage
Take away to many bosses over the child
Show choice for right and wrong
Never be angery day to day, each day is new
Be firm and never say anything your will not hold to no matter what
Never let the adhd become a excuse or excape from things, it is like any other disorder just take control over it and it not control you | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 8/3/2007 3:49:56 AM | | I have 4 children and raising to boys that are disabled with ADHD and one of they also had ODD!I can offer quite a few ideas and support.Just email me.I now have 19 yrs personal experience in.Sounds like there is more than they're telling you.Do be sure you check all medications carefully and keep notes .So many doctors just want to shove you pills without dealing with their behavioral issues.i can suggest Focalin XR.It has been god sent to my second son!And I also liked concerta but the irritability was hell!Start getting all caretakers ,parents and teachers involved and on same behavioral disciplinary regiment .Use behavioral charts or calendars and positive rewards for positive behaviors and grades. always stick to your deals and promises always kept be it time out,restrictions,or rewards! be sure when u make the promises you can stick with it.Visual cues really bring it home,Do start the 123 Magic Program!Do get out away from all the chaos to have me time! A nust!Do not feed into their arguments say what you need to ,carry out plan and move on.REmain calm or this will feed the raging inferno of assorted issues and drama .Removing the child from the area and distracting him or her will help and restore peace.There is just a few.also allow them to have some choices but only give a limited amount say only 3 that way their have some sense of control and individuality.Less chance of a major melt down and struggle, | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 8/3/2007 3:57:24 AM | | Institution is never the answer unless he is really sick! I had too for my oldest but it was a last resort to save his life and i was there every time i could visit I did and was supportive as well as I got myself some classes and shadowed all his programs then got an IEP placed for his school career and we stayed in contact with care providers through a communication log .If need be they were instructed call me I will be right there and I did But if I needed I took him home and dealt with him and took him back to school but if truely a medica;l issue he reieved medical attention or a trip to his therapist.REally 9-15 was a living night mare.After that my son has done fine. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 8/4/2007 6:04:40 AM | Hi juslilme!
I have 3 children, ages 13 (boy) 15 (boy) and 18 (girl)
My 13 year old was diagnosed with ADHD about 6 years ago.
My 15 year old was diagnosed with ADHD and Tourettes about 4 years ago.
And my 18 year old has ADD and ODD
It definately is not an easy thing to work with, but I am proud to say, they all have awsome grades (A's and B's), and as you know ADD and ADHD are difficult diseases to have children concentrate with, due to the fact the chemicles in their brain arent functioning quite the way they should be.
My kids are all on a medication regime. I know alot of parents are against meds, but since the meds are regulated, and controled. Medication definately makes a big difference.
for the ADHD my one son takes Concerta and Melatonin
My son with ADHD and Tourettes takes Resperidol
I have notices quite a difference in behavior when they don't take it, agression, anger, very tired.
I found information from my local ped to be most helpful.
But with the meds and changes of diet, they are the calmest, most polite and SMART :)
Dont know if this will help you or not, but... | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 1/21/2008 1:12:13 PM | Anyone who wants a better understanding of the causes of ADD/ADHD what it is and some helpful therapies should read Scattered Minds by Dr. Gabor Mate, he has it and 3 of his 4 children have it, naturally he has devoted his life to this and his children and helping those that suffer from it and those that have to cope with it, lead a productive life.
Another book is You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo.
I was diagnosed at 40, I did well in school, because I had an insatiable appetite to learn, but if I wasn't interested in the subject it was hard to pay attention. Every morning I would loose my comb or brush for 15 mins, if I don't put something in the same place everytime I have no idea where it is.
Once I was diagnosed a lot of things in my life made more sense, I had a better understanding of who I was and why I did things and how I reacted to things. I took ritilan for a few months but didn't notice any real change. I don't take any meds I workout hard 4 days a week and eat healthy and that has helped.
I found this thread on someones profile and this is the only thing I've ever posted I'll try and check back from time to time if anyone has any questions I'll do my best. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 1/23/2008 8:26:02 PM | | I have a son who is 5 and very newly diagnosed with ADHD and a mood disorder. So any support or information my way would be great! I thank you for posting this on here so that it opens some doors for communication. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 1/24/2008 5:01:38 AM | you really need to discuss your options with a professional..sometimes special diets work,but not always..this usually involves elimination or minimal foods with red dye or sugar.
my oldest had adhd and diet did very little for him.it also depends on the severity of his conditon..mine could not focus in a classroom atmosphere,running around,disruptive and his grades were not good at all.
i did eventually have him put on ritilan and it did make the world of difference for him.it allowed him to settle down and focus..his school grades also skyrocketed.i don't regret medicating him for one minute....good luck | |
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