| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/16/2006 6:37:37 AM | Hi agree with Packagedeal. Testing is the best way to be sure and three is a bit young but might shed some light. My son (now 17) hated Ritalin but has fllourished on Concerta. In raising my son I learned that routine was critical. Also learned that if you want them to do something, you can only ask for one thing at a time or it seems to confuse them and nothing gets done leaving them angry and frustrated. We had to give 1/2 hour. 15 minute and 5 minute warnings about bedtime (it was like a NASA countdown LOL).
In short, talk to experts, talk to others who have "been there" and dig deep for patience. My Dr informed me that when they have this young, them start to sort of grow out of it as they hit thier teens (personally I think they just learn to manage it better by then). By the way, My son inhierited it from me, so I really do understand the disease | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/17/2006 8:33:51 AM | If a kid can watch a 30 minute episode of their
favourite tv show ... they are not ADD/ADHD.
They might just be B-A-D.
Not just my humble opinion ... but scientific fact.
savage | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/25/2006 6:12:38 PM | Mr Happy 05: It's not a disease it's a disability big difference...
I got this in my email yesterday. Thought I would share it with all you guys.
Health Canada revises ADHD drug info to warn about agitation, hallucinations
21/09/2006 6 00 PM
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TORONTO (CP) - Health Canada is revising its prescribing and patient information for all ADHD drugs in Canada to add the "potential for psychiatric adverse events."
These have included rare events of agitation and hallucinations in children, spokesman Paul Duchesne said Thursday from Ottawa.
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurobiological disorder that is marked by poor attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Left untreated, children with the condition may have behaviour problems and trouble learning in school.
Up to five per cent of Canadian kids are believed to have ADHD. Last year, more than two million prescriptions for the drugs were written in Canada.
Government officials are conducting an ongoing review of ADHD drugs and are discussing updated labelling with manufacturers, which should be completed by December, Duchesne said.
"Canadians taking ADHD medication should consult with their doctor if they have any questions or concerns," he said, noting that patients should never stop taking ADHD medication without consulting with their doctor."
Canadian adverse drug reaction reports from 2000 to 2005 list about two dozen cases of mood, personality and psychological reports among ADHD drug users, but there is no way of knowing whether the drugs caused the problems. There were three suicides.
Dr. Umesh Jain, a child psychiatrist who is head of the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance, said Thursday that Health Canada is right in its message that doctors should "be cautious, be prudent" - but he doesn't think the advice is anything new.
A properly diagnosed patient on ADHD drugs, taking the correct dosage, would not have a problem with agitation and hallucinations, he said.
"Because what's happening is you're taking the patient to a normalization state with the medications. When medications are diverted and abused, they are potentially at risk for developing hallucinations, delusional beliefs, etc."
The new ADHD medications are long-acting, once-a-day preparations and have "low diversion potential," said Jain, who works at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Toronto Hospital for Sick Children.
"If you were somebody who was going to use an excess amount, well beyond that of the range of the ADHD profile, yeah, they can potentially cause those problems."
He said Health Canada is trying to be cautious in alerting the population about all potential risks - "partly I think because the medications are being so widely used."
Jain said the Health Canada statement will likely cause some patients to be worried.
"We have to find ways of calming our patients down and say 'Look, these aren't going to cause you hallucinations and delusions in the doses that we prescribe to you,' " he said.
It's the second revision to the patient information on ADHD drugs this year. In May there was a warning that identified heart-related risks associated with ADHD drugs.
At the time, Health Canada advised Canadians not to use Strattera, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Concerta, Attenade, Biphentin and Adderall XR if they have moderate to severe high blood pressure, heart disease or abnormalities, hardened arteries or an overactive thyroid gland.
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/25/2006 10:55:42 PM | ADD/ADHD is over-diagnosed in North America especially amongst young boys.
Opposition-Defiance Disorder can often times appear to look like these aswell. And I hear you about ritalin having tutored a slower child on that particular med.
1st steps you need would be consulting a medical doctor/pediatrician, and enroll in parenting classes.
That is not a jab at your parenting, you have to remember they are there as a resource, there are other parents with similar problems ..... and likely one or two ideas on coping with and correting the behaviour that you haven't thought of.
That said at 3 1/2 years old not even in J/K he is swearring at your? Where the F**K exactly is he learning this language? Ya might want to examine the environment with a critical eye. | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/26/2006 12:19:03 AM | | well i havent been really following this thread but i have a 13 yrs old whos dianosed ADHD (medium) and was put on medication whenever he goes to school... it seemed to help him to concentrate at school which im really happy with.. but he told me lately that the medication doesnt work anymore... talked with the doctor today and he told us to stop the medication and see if he can keep up with hs homework.. if so.. he can stop it completley | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/26/2006 4:12:12 AM | | my son is only 2 and dose wat ur son is doing I got told to ry him on herbal medication its alot better for them than those other drugs | |
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KACE74
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Joined: 8/16/2006
Msg: 107 | |
| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/26/2006 4:25:42 PM | you savage obviously dont know anything about ADD/ADHD
kids with ADD/ADHD become in a word youll understand, almost hypnotized by the shows they are watching, thats why they will sit and watch them. One dr said its like the show they are watching is moving as fast as their brain is thinking and they almost cant take themselves away from it.
i am SO sick of people who dont know anything on the subject coming on this site and giving their opinion, i would wish a child with ADD/ADHD on you so you could learn the truth, but
it would probably just end up abused because you couldnt handle it. | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/26/2006 9:09:20 PM | | I read your posting and I had to write, see my son is 5 and was diganosed with ADHD at age 3 It was very hard to find someone to listen to me but after a lot of pushing I finally got the help,but I totally understand your frustration The reason I pushed is some of the same reasos you listed, my son was uncontrolablely hyper,most of the time he was what I can only discribe as going ninty miles a minute he never even slowed to see the resalt of his actions, which is very frustrating since as a parent your here to teach your kids but you cant because you loose there attention by just stopping them,while I was trying to disapline or correct his behavior he was already in the throws of a fit. I was at my wits end after at 2 1/2 my son was kicked out of daycare,My husband and I were sleep deprived because at 2 my son would not go to sleep he would sit in his room and either scream horriably or lye on the floor and kick the door and walls. Everyone was fast to give me advice, I tried everything time outs,ignoring his behavior, you name it I tried it! Nothing worked ,I was so depressed with the thought that I was a horriable mother because I could not control my child, but I do have to say after he started his meds I saw him slow down he could actually sit and do a puzzle,we could go out and have dinner as a family oh and the greatest we finally took a family vacation for the first time last summer. He still has his bad days and melt downs but they are less out of control and he seems to recoup faster from them. I hope this helps you to know your not alone! Good luck and if one doctor says your crazy he normal go with your gut, you are with him a lot more than an hr doctors appt. And keep a journal of those really bad days because when you have good days its such a great blessing that you want to forget the other days. but having that info for your peditriton is very helpful for them to see the big picture.:) | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/26/2006 9:32:46 PM | Typically kids with ADD or ADHD have specific symptoms beyond "not being able to concentrate". Examples are: impulse control (making rash decisions without considering consequences, quick-tempered), nail-biting, difficulty with motor skills (many many kids with ADD or ADHD have a very hard time learning to ride a bike, for example) and disruptive sleep patterns. I strongly recommend testing by a pediatric neurologist before proceding with any treatment. I have seen one child who happened to be extra-active given Ritalin at his mother's insistence and by a weak doctor, resulting in a zombie who had no interest in playing outdoors or in spending time with friends, and always had an upset stomach from the meds. He also lost a lot of weight in a short time and his growth slowed considerably due to his loss of appetite. Another child, related to him, was diagnosed with ADHD, was put on Ritalin, and flourished....she began to excel in school, moving from a pre-kindergarten reading level to being above grade level in reading, within 1.5 grades. She did eventually outgrow the ADHD, stopped taking Ritalin, and became an excellent student, interesting child (always was, actually), and well above average intelligence. For the record, many many children who test positive for having ADD or ADHD are well above the average IQ for children in their age group.
I do advocate the use, when deemed necessary after cautious diagnosis, of medications. I also acknowledge that there are other approaches to be tried seperately or in conjuction with medications. These include mainly dietary changes (severe reduction in sugar, in preservatives and food colorants/additives) as well as the inclusion of "quiet times" and routine in daily activities.
T | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/26/2006 9:56:56 PM | ^5 tmofedm1
Well said, and in a way something I meant to touch on but didn't. I personally fit into the higer IQ and extremely hyper active child while growing up ( I owe my parents for not throttling me being the handful I was lol). I to this day deny that I was EVER ADHD, at one point I was on valium by age 2 and in todays environment would have surely been popping ritalin like Pez. Thankfully my grandmother (an absolute genius with children) intervened on my behalf and shared several of her ideas with my mother. My mother experimented with those and between that and my mom having the patience of a saint I am today better off, having learned to channel that wildly impulsive thought pattern in an acceptable manner.
OP: seek out professional assistance, aswell as parental support groups (you are by no means the only parents having to learn the best ways to deal with this) Don't take the 1st word from a doc as god's own law either, they're as human as we are and can be in error. If something doesn't sit right with you pursue it. Best of luck with this, and try not to let the problems get to you too much, with the right help there is light at the end of the tunnel. | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/26/2006 9:58:42 PM | KACE74 said: you savage obviously dont know anything about ADD/ADHD
I do have training in dealing with children, FASD, Suicide Prevention and ADD/ADHD.
'Nuff said.
savage | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/27/2006 4:16:50 AM | Well Savage in this case you are wrong!!!
When my son was diagnosed with ADHD I argued with his pediatrician that it didn't make complete sense as he was able to sit and watch TV. Her response(and shes is a leader in her field) Watch these shows-they are fast moving-rapid scene changes that stimulate ADHD and ADD children especially with regards to how their brains pattern flows. Even Sesame Street has rapid changing scenes to hold a childs attention whether they have ADHD or not.
Training maybe-doesn't mean you have spent years and years studying and learning about the different levels of ADHD/ADD and how it affects each person differently.
My son FINALLY has his appointment today with his pediatrician-it has been over a year-way too long especially when his meds stopped working 6 months ago. His support workers and people from outside support groups have compiled a list of seen behaviours-what we've done to try and help him. I know his meds will change but so also will his most recent diagnosis of severe ADHD as with each birthday and failure to mature-new issues arise. Crayons HAVE to go in the crayon box a certain order-the school day HAS to go in a certain order-his clothes HAVE to go on and off in a certain order(and yes I know that is OCD) His meltdowns are fast and furious but with close attention to detail he has been able to avert many potential dangerous situations. The school is wonderful-he is brilliant in the classroom-his abillity to spell has put him at the forefront of the classroom-his artistic talent is awe inspiring. But one little slip up in his routine-one ounce of frustration at something not looking just the way he wants it to look and he blows. Deep tissue massages-squeeze ball to help him release his need for hard hugs and deep touching. He cannot handle the end of the day routine-too much energy-he will actually remove himself from a noisy room if possible-he wears earplugs to the car races. He comes home from school and collapses on the couch and sleeps for 2 hours. The teachers are ok with him doing his homework only on weekends because it is just too hard on him to do it through the week.
But he has finally started his riding lessons and is progressing 3X faster then other students(ok his biggest point is he gets led around bareback on my horses)-his athletisism is a huge part of his life and also has swimming lessons.
The one thing I see most on here is how much parents with ADHD and ADD children truly love their children even though there are times when I'd love to wish him on all those smart asses who think they can blame me for his behaviour he is my son. | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/27/2006 5:20:47 PM | Insults and Rude comments aside ...'cause I'm not going there.
My son FINALLY has his appointment today with his pediatrician-it has been over a year-way too long especially
Has the child been checked for Autism Spectrum Disorder?
The behaviour regarding the clothing and the crayons
remind me of something other than ADHD.
Just wondering
savage
'Welder heal thy self" | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/27/2006 5:44:33 PM | | Savage, autism crossed my mind as well, but I'm no expert by any means....just think it may be something to consider. | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/28/2006 5:44:04 AM | Darlin if i was you ignore post 7 "hes a brat that needs more disipline" how can you say that? this women has come on asking for some good advice and you say that? "sassilass" you parents did great! by the looks of you. 
My brother had ADHD when he was younger and they never gave him anything for it so i know how she is feeling. Go and get it properly Checked hunny because there really isnt any point ppl sayin "yeah hes got this and that" and you getting worried possibly over nothing.
Either way he's still your son Whatever it is ADD or ADHD things like that can be treated now and it gets better has they grow up!
Good luck hunny!
Libby x | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/28/2006 3:59:02 PM | I live in ontario and here most doctors wont consider the testing until they have been to school and a teacher recomends it
My son was diagnosed at 5 because he could not sit longer than a few second with out running off to do something else, he had to ittlerally sit bnext t o the teache during every circle time. He wouldnt try with his school work because his lack of concentration frustrated him so much. He did have some anger issues but not as early as 3 late 4 to 5 years of age. If he was doing something we would have to call his name a min of 10 times to get his attention and forget normal child play he would only play with one toy for 5 minutes at the most and then on to the next. Now that we have cought it he is a total different person yes he still cats out as most children do but he focuses now he wil even play for hours now with one toy.
I say keep an eye on it and make sure you document what is going on.
Maybe even seek help with volunteer program such a public health nurse resource teachers community children workers. I even tries integrated services with the Childrens Aid before he was diagnosed
Good luck to you it wil get better | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/28/2006 4:14:45 PM | | question. what punishment does he recieve for doing these things. Is difficult to diagnos add adhd before school age. when he trows his fit does he recieve what he was wanting? could be a case of behavior modification needed. | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/28/2006 7:12:23 PM | In my sons case he was in daycare and his outbursts and random unexplained bouts of violence got him kicked out of 3 daycares before the age of 3. So yes in some extreme cases it can be a starting diagnosis that usually progresses from there as they get older.
And as per the results yesterday with the pediatrician-Asperger Syndrome(which I suspected in July) and Tourettes Syndrome tendencies-but more testing is coming to see the extremity of both.
I would love to go into detail about the conversation with the Dr-but I doubt the "haters" out there would agree with anything he had to said(and him with the degree WTH??). You know what though-with this diagnosis we can finally get a whole new grasp on how to best work with him to his benefit. | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/28/2006 7:32:19 PM | I have raised three kids with adhd and it sounds like he may have it
I know of a doctor who works outa sick kids in toronto in whitby his name is Dr Khattak
Please dont put your child on Ritalin until you have had a phsycometrist and physcologist also look at him and also call a public health nurse who can put you into contact with agencies for relief and advice there is help out there it just isnt advertised
Your son may also have a condition called central auditory process disorder which can easily be pinpointed with a specialized hearing test
My kids are 21 and 19 now and doing well though they had other difficulties than adhd they seem to be leading normal lives and were in special ed in school to get through the difficult times
dont feel down everyone in life has challenges some just have more obvious ones than others
My friend has a two year old with adhd and the only thing that can get him to sleep is coffee go figure
Good luck | |
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smcld
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Joined: 9/1/2006
Msg: 121 | |
| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/28/2006 8:11:07 PM | Hi Sweety,
I'm a mother of an ADD son (now a teen) and also have a masters in special education. I work with ADD/ADHD kids and autistic, LD, FAS kids every day.
Ritalin is generally not used until school age. It is meant to help children concentrate in school (my son is on slow release). My son didn't start meds until grade two and it took until grade 6 to get the meds and the dosage right. I was very reluctant to use them, but by grade two it was clear that for him, nothing else was working.
That said, there is no evidence that your child is ADD/ADHD or any other diagnosis. You will need to see a doctor or other specialist. He could well just be a normal three-year-old, going through the "terrible twos" a bit later. The doctor will ask many questions and do a physical exam. You might also ask for an allergy check (especially food allergies).
In the meantime, make sure you are firm about rules and consistent with applying them. For example, "We don't hit" and give him a short time out (3 minutes for 3 year-olds). It helps to get down to his eye level, use a calm but firm voice and few words. He's intelligent--he'll learn what you won't accept.
It's also good to do what you are doing now and talking to others. Support is a great way of coping and single parents are often isolated from support systems. Try to establish an early bedtime for him (if you haven't already) so that he gets the sleep he needs and you can have some down time.
I know what you are going through--I have two sons, although only one was like you describe your son. It is stressful, but you are on the right track by reaching out for help.
Good luck! | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/28/2006 9:21:57 PM | | Uaually that disorder can not be diagnosed until they are a little older than that, sounds to me like a high strung tempermental TYPICAL 3 year old to me, and a smart one too if he knows he can throw a fit in public and get away with it. Kids do not know how to vocalize what they are feeling and when they are upset, so they just explode! I would see what your specialist has to say but also persue other avenues as well!. Kids are a handful they are unbelievably tempermental and unfortunately parents now days let the kids run them and enentually the kids end up RULING the roost - don't let it happen and don't let it coninue any further...watch SUPER NANNY - you could definately incorporate her techniques in to your daily life with him and his behavioral problems. Nutritional also could be looked at as well as the diciplinary issues...I have read in many nutritional articles that lack of omegas can contribute to restlessness and disruptive educational learning...lack of concentration. My son was an aweful 3 year old and with firm dicipline, consitant/repetative schedules in the home, and nutritional evaluation he has done so much better now in the last few years it's amazing about the change.... a lot if it was just the age and the fact that I allowed him to push it as far as he did, but redesigning our dicipline techniques, day to day schedule, and nutritional intake - we have made wonderful progress in the last few years! | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/29/2006 12:50:58 PM | Reading all these posts last night left me with a really bad case of insomnia. I have a nine year old boy who was finally diagnosed with ADHD two years ago. From the time he was 3 he was a real handful. Go go go all the time and I couldn't get him to slow down no matter how I tried. When he started school the notes from the teachers were coming fast and furious almost on a daily basis. I did have him tested for ADHD when he was 5 and was told by a psychologist who came highly recommended that he didn't have ADHD he just needed more discipline in his life which was the last thing I needed to hear. I had been told the same thing my family, friends, teachers and even strangers. I was constantly being made to feel like the "bad mother" because I just couldn't control my child. After leaving the psychologists off I cried non stop for 24 hours and then decided to start disciplining my child more even though in my heart I knew that there really was some other problem at play here.
After a couple of months of not giving in to anything and punishing every wrong, my home was officially a war zone and my child was totally depressed. Depressed to the point where he would sometimes ask me questions about the best way to commit suicide. He said he was so bad and so tired of being in trouble he didn't want to live anymore. He said "no matter how I try, I'll never be good and I'll always have people mad at me so I may as well die".
I phoned the children's hospital in Ottawa in desperation and told them I needed help and needed it right now. I was put on a list to have my son re-evaluated by a psychiatrist there and the evaluation came back as severely ADHD. He was put on Ritalin and for us it was like a miracle drug, his behavior totally changed, no more notes from the school, his marks went from C and D to A and B within months. He loves school now, I can enroll him in different sports activities without him being kicked out for being so disruptive, he has lots of friends and we can go out and do stuff together, go on trips together. The transformation has been totally amazing. He is definitely not a zombie, he still has that little spark in him that I've always loved but now he has control over his impulses and it makes things a lot easier for everyone, especially him. He still has a lot of energy but at least he can channel it in the right direction.
All this to say that I'm glad that I followed my heart and kept pushing on my son's behalf when I felt something was truly wrong. Sweety, listen to your heart and do what you have to do in the best interest of your child. One of the hardest things for me was so many people, including professionals telling me it was a lack of discipline and making me feel like such a terrible mother.
Another thing that has come up in the posts ... he was always able to watch tv or play video games for long periods of time while tuning everything else out. I could stand beside him when he was watching tv and scream as loud as I could and he wouldn't even hear me. It's called hyper-focussing and it's quite common with ADHD kids. | |
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| does my son have ADD or ADHD?
Posted: 9/29/2006 1:11:47 PM | Wondered when one of these threads would come up. Im not an expert on whether a child is ADD or ADHD but my youngest son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 4 and put on ritalin (not a request but a suggestion by a Pediatrician).
My son is also Developmentally Delayed so he doesnt always understand what danger is, so having him controlled gives me a peace of mind when he's not in my care (meaning school). He's very impulsive, a runner, has behavioral problems (pulling of the hair) which im glad he doesnt do to any other kids anymore, and short tempered.
I hope that he will someday grow out of this and i can get him off the ritalin but for now its doing him a world of good to be on it. When he's home with me on weekends i sometimes forget to give it to him but im used to him being hyper so it doesnt bother me that i forgot.
Just one more thought if the author is still reading her postings is that some kids have allergic reactions to certain food colors, for example purple or red popsicles, freezies and other type of foods that may have food coloring in it. Also some fruits can cause hyperness too such as oranges or any fruit with acid. | |
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