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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 1/24/2008 11:39:24 AM | Ruby,
I have a son who was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 4. I worked for a mental health counseling facility and it was suspected early on that he had it but I waited until he started school to medicate him. Here are a few things that I have learned along the way.
1) Pay attention to your child and their moods when they are not medicated. Be honest about it too. Keep track. Note the differences when he is medicated. At some point in time medications usually have to be adjusted and in some cases the medication is changed completely. You will want to be aware. Case point: My boy is the wild and crazy type when he's not medicated, when his meds stopped be effective and they switched him they new medication made him suicidal, homicidal, depressed etc...I'm sure you get the picture. You don't want the medication to change your child, you just want it to change the behavior...not bring new "bad" behaviors.
2) The best book I ever read is called "The Wonder of Boys".
3) Structure- I have found that structure does wonders.
4) Lists, lists, and more lists. This helps everyone but is especially helpful to ADHD children. Have a list for morning duties, afternoon duties, nightly duties. Read it with him, reward him for remembering...just little things.
5) Cub Scouts- He's the perfect age to start. It takes a lot of parental involvement though so it's a huge commitment. My son is crossing over to Boy Scouts next month, he was a Cub for 3 years, I wish I would've thought of it sooner.
There's lot's more, readingrockets.org and familyeducation.com and really good sites. I hope this helps. By the way, you will soon learn what a bright and exceptionally smart child you have, be proud of yourself and your son.
Venus | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 2/18/2008 10:18:17 PM | | I agree with Venus about medications. My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 5 years old. She was having trouble focusing in kindergarten and they recommended that I take her to her pediatrician to have her looked at. She prescribed Adderall XR and started her at 10mg and then increased it as she grew bigger. The problem recently is that my daughter is now in 2nd grade and she has been showing signs of anxiety. So she is not doing well in school. She's been making animal noises in class, sneaking away from class to go to the bathroom, plucked all her eyelashes out, etc...so I took her back to the doctor and she said the dosage and/or meds were too strong. She was up to 30mg. Now they switched her to Focalin. Hopefully this will help. She just started this so I don't know how long it will take until she gets normal in school again. She's been seeing the school counselor and still acts up during those sessions. She also goes to Brownie Scouts and she seems real normal when she's hanging out with the girls. But in school and at home she's hyper as hell. Does anyone have any suggestions what else I can do? | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 2/19/2008 4:22:50 AM | I am raising a child whom is ADHD and bipolar.He has been suspended from school because of it.He is SEVERELY bipolar and ADHD.He is in the exceptional childern program at school and has behavior plans in motion but nothing seems to work for him.I could help you with anything you need help with.I have been through anything you are probably going through right now! | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/7/2008 4:40:45 PM | There are many ways that you do things with that type of child. I am doing all types of things to improve my sons health. I make sure-he's out and about to run the energy off, but he's also on medication. I had to go back and forth from Doctor to Doctor trying to find out what I could do. One medicine didn't work, another didn't work alone. Now they have him on a combination of 2 and it's working good. His appetite is shaky and sometimy-but we got it licked. I have to be really firm with him. I have heard his crying and whinning-I ignore it when it comes to study time. I make him and his brother study daily for an hour each. I give them breaks too. Then on wednesday-I do something I call the "Mid-week" break. They are allowed to play their playstation-2. That is so they will not feel too stressed out.
My son is 11 and will be 12 in less than 3 months from now. His grades are steady at the B's and C area. They had fell to the D's and F's in some of the subject since entering Jr High school (middle school). Stern and solid approaches can work You have to be able to bend the rules at times. The cgild will still exibit much of that behavior-but at a smaller pace. Make sure you are not hat couch potatoe person. Trust me-my 2 boys make me active on a regular basis. I am a single dad who is going to be 51 in 3 months. My kids are now 11 and 9...I was that "Mr Couch Potatoe" for a long time. Last year this time-I had weight loss surgery and now-66 pounds are gone and I am at a firm 217 and looking to at least make that 176 pounds...Trust me-my energy has soared tremendously.... | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/8/2008 7:56:07 PM | I've have 3 kids who have all at some point been diagnosed with ADHD. My middle son is actually early onset bipolar with autism. My youngest son has Central Auditory Processing Disorder. My oldest son's behavior was the product of trauma of being in a home with a violent, abusive brother who was misdiagnosed for years.
My first advice is to research the diagnose, ADHD is usually the first and easiest diagnoses when a child has behavior issues.
Central Auditory Processing Disorder is sometimes mistaken for ADHD here is a link about it http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/ears/central_auditory.html
Sometimes a history of trauma or a lack of consistent parenting is the root of the problem and behavior therapy is needed to get them back on the right track.
I had to research a lot to learn how to manage and modify my sons behavior. Books like "the explosive child" by Ross Greene was a great tool. "The bipolar Child" by Dr. Papolos
had excellent information, it's not only about bipolar children, it's a resource for all behavior issues.
Behavior modification does work, if you find the right technique for the child.
Best wishes and good luck | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/14/2008 4:51:14 PM | yes adhd/ocd/rls
nami classes - a good shrink - a great peditrition - and a wonderful therapist - to start
then an extended IEP or 504 plan and talks with teachers and principals
nami.org
check the site it has helped greatly with understanding the disease and living with the condition  | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/15/2008 5:38:52 AM | My boyfriends son is on numerous medications for ADHD and Asbugers syndrom(sp?). He spends alot of time here and dosen't have difficulty following the rules of our house or what is expected from him..even when he forgets to bring his medication.
I am concerned about this little boy...he is underweight and has no appetite when he is medicated. He spent the week with us for march break with no meds (as a trial) and he was fine.
I think that parents should know that here in Canada, the school a child attends have them diagnosed with ADD, ADHD and several other learning disabilities, they can recieve up to $16,000 for that one child. That dosen't mean that a kid who has been identified will reap the rewards of those funds.
Does anyone else think that this is a condition that is grossly misdiagnosed?
My feeling is that the quick fix and hasty diagnosis, not only hurts the kids who are really ADHD with less resources available...it also limits the kids who are misdiagnosed with this condition.
Some kids clearly need some help with this condition...but it seems like it has become a epidemic of kids that are afflicted with ADHD these days. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/15/2008 7:23:50 AM | I would advise parents to be careful. Yes ADHD does exist but sometimes the education system is quick to blame a child's behavior on it. Let me explain:
When I was 6 years old I was bullied a lot at school. I have cerebral palsy in my left side, I do not have much physical strength so when the bullies grapped my right arm I was defenseless other than to bite. The school basically concentrated on me biting and told my parents I must be put on retalin (spelling?) due to having ADHD. My family doctor talked to me and felt that I would be a zombie as I did not need it and was sinmply defending myself. The school countered that I could be kicked out of school or should change schools as they had many other students to think of who did not bite.
I know today bullying is handled differently but parents should check with professionals just to make sure their child is not being told this because the school system wants every child to be the same. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/15/2008 12:25:41 PM | Well, my daughter is 4 going on 5. I have put her on medication recently. She is a special needs child. She was premmature baby. She has been diagnosed with Sensory Intergration Dysfunction SID, OCD, ADHD, ODD, Severe Anxiety, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Onset of being Bi-Polar,and she has some health issuse including FTT. So it has been a battle trying to help her in every way possible. I have taken her to all the specialist here in town and she has seen every pediatrician recommended. She has had 7 different medications in the past 8 months. It was hard for me to decide that she should be on med's but after she attacked me I didnt know what else to do. She is involved in several therapies and it is tough! I am changing the way I handle every little thing... I mean everything. It is something that is constant and you cant give up. Even now she is rearing up against me destroying things but I have to stay strong and keep a straight face when all I want to do is pick her up and hold her while she fights me..... I thought that if I just loved her even harder it would make it all go away.... Turns out it made the situation worse. But I think if you continue what the doctors and therapist say is best then you will see results... I know it takes so long but even when you see your child shine for only 5 seconds.... your then one that gave them the strenght to do so......
Good Luck to Everyone
Sherr'ee | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/15/2008 1:06:38 PM | Sherr'ee....my heart really goes out to you....God Bless | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/16/2008 3:09:05 PM | As the mother of a now 18yr old, my journey with ADHD has been a long one. As a pediatric nurse, I realized my son was more than a 'difficult child' when he was just 2. Back then, diagnosis wasn't valid until after age 5. Seeing a lot of (in my opinion) misdiagnosed kids who were zombies, I was really reluctant to do the medication thing. After discussing it with our pediatrician, we decided to medicate with caffeinated drinks on an as needed basis (like right before church) And I did the behaviour modification thing. Starting then. Mostly "appropriate and not appropriate" We got used to his little quirks.
Starting school, all the way thru to 4th grade, we struggled. Continued the behaviour mod., continued Mountain Dew in his lunch box (because the afternoons were harder for him. He mostly was not disruptive, but easily distractable, and because bad behaviour was 'not appropriate' away from home, school personnel rarely saw the temper tantrums we dealt with at home. When they did, I got a rap over the knuckles ' you need to teach your son not to throw pencils'. (did they think I taught only one child to throw pencils??? - his sibling was a model child) However everytime we met for a team meeting for this kid who was not performing well, the answer was 'there is nothing wrong with him -he just needs to learn to do his work'
Finally, because we really were at a stalemate in what we could do by ourselves, we did an independent eval, got a diagnosis, and started meds. He was 9.
It was still a struggle. He has never had an IEP (not bad enough to need one), and despite it being on his school record, none of his teachers are ever aware until I tell them. He will never be an A student (although he has the capability), and I never accepted his diagnosis as an excuse for behaviour issues. As a single mom, I just didn't have the time or the energy to fight harder for services that he was entitled to. He is a determined character, and no amount of pushing or shoving was going to change the speed with which he progresses through life.(and homework) Criticize all you want - I did what I could!
BUT... Now, I am proud of the happy, polite, young man that I see. fact that this kid is happy, and relatively well adjusted. Despite his quirkiness, people speak of him as a 'nice' kid. And as we face the step of the real world beyond high school - I know that he has made it this far by himself. I did not get him here, the school did not drag him here. He is making it through school by himself without special exceptions, and unmedicated (his choice) for the past 2 years. And I will not have to hold his hand through life. Encourage, remind, set expectations maybe. But he has done it and will do okay by himself. He is a survivor.
My message to other parents - trust your instincts, set limits, seek help, but accept them for who they are. Love them unconditionally. Kids with ADHD (along with other diagnoses) all have their quirks that only you may understand. I'm not saying there isn't a place and need for services. I was fortunate to have a child who needed them less than others do. I was armed with knowledge and resources not readily available to everyone.
And next time you sit down to watch Happy Feet (because that is the story of your child who just didn't fit in), pray that your child too will find his happy feet, and remember you are not alone. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 3/16/2008 7:27:41 PM | I have a son that has a series of problems. (Bi-polar, RAD, PTS, MR, sleep apnea, incontinence, obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistant, gasteoporisis and misc)
I am currently going through IBI and PSR with him. Therapy can help. Even if it does not help your specific child at least you tried. This is my last resort to help him and then I will look into a group home. But when I do make that decision I know that I tried everything to help him. That is all you can do. I have been dealing with his issues for 8 years. It is a slow process. Keep moving forward. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/1/2009 7:19:05 PM | Welcome to the club!
My son was finally diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, and PDD this last year after six years of struggling for a diagnosis. My advise for you is to do what you can for the child ... therapy and doc visits, activities etc. But make sure you take care of yourself too!!! Lack of diagnosis stressed me out beyond belief. Join a support group if you can and get a good friend to be a "life line" to call when YOU need a time out. Finding the right meds will take time too, but so worth it... my son couldn't interact at all with other children till we got him on the right dosage and now he's one of the most popular kids in the neighborhood. It's a rough ride but can only get better and the results are worth it. | |
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| ADHD children anyone?
Posted: 7/2/2009 7:06:55 PM | Hello!
Have you tried contacting http://www.chadd.org/ ? I've browsed their materials and resources and found good stuff - book, classes, conferences, etc.
All the best! | |
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