ADD/ADHD
Posted By: Patti on 2006-09-28
In Reply to: Parents with ADD/ADHD kids....sm - Mom
I transcribe for two psych's that do 90% ADD/ADHD consults for schools, etc. There are a lot of "natural" supplements and other recommendations that can be used and made before the trial of a stimulant medication is used. Especially at that early age. I also have two nephews that went to one of my docs and both have been on medication and it made the difference between D's and fighting about getting things done to B to A's with getting the work done with no struggle. One went off when he went to high scholl the other is still on in the eighth grade. But again testing is the only way to go before doing anything and pick a specialist in that area. Good luck, again my docs try the natural supplement, LOTS, LOTS of exercise especially across the middle, book called Brain Gym, calcium/magnesium to help sleep, etc. But again get testing you will feel better knowing that what you are treating. If your child had diabetes or thyroid problems you wouldn't feel bad about changing diet and exercise and taking some medication if necessary -- true in this case also. Good luck. Find a good psychologist/psychiatrist. Patti
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ADHD/IEP
Our son had a tough time in kindergarten that they labeled as behavior problems, not true, the teacher told me he did well in cleaning the classroom, but horrible time doing his tasks, well that should have turned the light on. Luckily, I have a special needs teacher who is my sister and a speech pathologist who is my sister also. They set up a meeting that we went to for my children with the teachers, got an IEP and got him all of the resource room and extra help he needed. He is on Adderall now, in college and still procrastinates, but is a good kid and not into any trouble. Our other son was reading in the 5th grade at a 2nd grade level and the other town we moved to thought that was okay, so another IEP, the school had to hire a tutor that came to our house during the summer and he was receiving resource room help here also. Some of these teachers cannot be bothered with ADHD because, they don't want to take the time or they think they don't have the "budget" for it. My sister told the head of special needs she did not want to hear the words "no money in the budget" again, because she knows the laws. Get the IEP and they have to by law work with your child. I even was told by a teacher "you don't want to get an IEP or services", it is a waste of time, how wrong that person was. Fight for everything for your child. Americans with Disabilities Act will inform you and if necessary will get you a liaison person to go to these meetings with you. My sons were tested in the school system and also outside and the schools had to pay. Good luck, but get your IEP it is your right as a parent.
ADHD
It is just absolutely amazing how many people do not understand ADD/ADHD and how it affects your work. Our son was told in Kindergarten he had a behavior problem, had him tested and he certainly had ADHD. The concentration on school work was the most difficult. You need to get your hubby a book about ADD/ADHD and have him read it. I went to a seminar about this, by a doctor, last name is Holloway I believe. I learned so much to help my son. He could not concentrate, was depressed, had no friends. After medication trials (the other person is right, meds take 3-4 weeks to show any benefit), he has gone from a D student in college to getting A's and B's, studying criminal justice. I helped my son as much as possible, never yelled at him. He would start many projects and finish few. You do need support from your husband. Give your meds another three weeks. The expense of gas is probably why your husband is not supportive. But, if you cannot do the commuting, then find another job working at home. Get into a routine and schedule and stick to it. I bet you will do just fine. You just need encouragment. Yelling and cursing at you will not help. Do find a book on line or at a store for your husband to read though about ADD/ADHD, maybe it will sink in and help you too. Good luck.
ADHD is real! sm
I cannot believe as a teacher and an MT that you think ADHD is bull. I happen to have 2 children who have ADHD. When they were both in kindergarten and could not sit still for even 5 minutes at a time, I told myself, "They're just 5." However, each year, it was the same thing. My children happen to have been seen by at least 6 different physicians, facilities, specialists, psychiatrists, pychologists (as I tried everything to not put them on medicine). They all kept telling me the same thing. Now, I have 2 straight-A students who can stay in their seats and pay attention and get their work done. Yes, I believe it is WAY overdiagnosed; however, I do not believe it is bull. When my daughter was 9 years old, if she did not have her meds for a day, she would need anywhere from 20 to 30 reminders per day to get back to work and pay attention. JMO. No flames intended!
ADHD diagnosis
When our son was having trouble in school, we brought him to an expert in the field of ADHD, and after hours of testing he made the diagnosis, and, then after that got an IEP at the school. Every state is different in their different programs, but they all have to provide help for children with special needs. Our son was at a college at another state, they had his IEP and went there for two years, came back home and is at another local college and they told him he never should have had a full load of classes and he is given extra time for testing, etc. The school system should have a special needs department, like they do here in my state and you can contact them about extra help for autism, learning disabilities, etc. It makes a big difference in getting the kids all the help they need to succeed and not fail in any of the schools. Also, I believe the Americans with Disabilities web site can help also.
My son is also ADHD, but we brought him home
in third grade and he is now in 10th. He is no longer medicated. He was in therapy for 2 years because he was bullied, had horrendous teachers, and had low self-esteem because of various school issues. He came home 3 days after starting K saying his teacher yelled at the kids. I should have taken him out then, but didn't think I could do it. I fought the system for so long and continue to fight it today as I help other parents advocate for their children, but at least now my son isn't caught in the middle.
Lots of parents bring their kids home for the high school years, at least for a year. There is no law that says they can't go back for whatever reasons. I know lots of parents who have homeschooled K-11th grade and then their kids want to go to high school for their senior year. If your son is failing and miserable why send him to school.
Parents with ADD/ADHD kids....sm
Does your child's school work well with you on educating them or don't like having to give your child extra attention?
My 1st grader is having problems staying focused in class with her 24 peers in the room and being asked to stay on task for an hour at a time. At home she does just fine when things are broken down into 15-20 minute intervals. The 2 teachers she has don't want to spend extra time with her or eliminate distractions so I've now officially requested an IEP meeting to force this with them. She had no problems at the same school last year in kindergarten because her teacher had worked with other kids like her in the past and was able to teach her on her level using the techniques recommended.
We met with her 2 teachers yesterday and they actually had the audacity to suggest that we work extensively with her at home on the areas she's struggling in. I'm not home schooling this kid just because they don't want to help her stay focused when my taxpayer money is being paid to support the schools and federal laws require they meet her needs.
Interestingly when I had a prior foster child that had ADD this very same school and teachers were very accommodating and worked very well with me on meeting her needs. Not sure why her current teachers don't want to but we're going to have to work on that.
What about you and your child? Did you have to go to the extremes of getting an IEP and forcing them to do what they're required to do or did you get immediate cooperation? I'm not going to put my child on ADD/ADHD medication just because they don't want to deal with it.
Anyone have ADHD/ADD and do medical transcription?
If so, how do you keep focused? I have a really hard time with this. Are you being treated? If so, what has worked or not worked for you? TIA
ADHD is bull. Just maybe try to spend some time
working with her (not pushing her but just introducing new things). I am sick to death of the ADD/ADHD diagnosis of kids. I do not believe in it. Some kids DO have a little harder time adjusting to school and again there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just talk to them every day, help them in any way you can but most importantly be there for them no matter what. It will all work itself out but DO NOT stress yourself out over what some teacher says. Most of the time they are wrong and can be proven wrong. I am a teacher, although I teach adults/teenagers in college and really..... I truly believe elementary teachers try to make it easier on themselves rather than try to work with a child that needs it.
Although I'm sure there are legitimate cases of ADHD and autism out there,
I find it hard to believe that all the kids who are pigeon-holed into either category actually do suffer from either condition. They seem to have become a catch-all excuse for "my kid doesn't pay attention," or "my kid doesn't behave the way I'd like him/her to".
Our society has come up with so many lame excuses for so many things, and tends to need a "name" or a "title" for everything.
Maybe this child is just one who matures later than others, maybe she needs to have someone sit down with her and take the time to help her focus better instead of immediately labeling her with the condition du'jour.
Definitely real. Anyone who believes it isn't can borrow my ADHD kid for a while.
nm
you're wrong, I type for an MD w/ADHD...nm
MT doc to the rescue; ma'am, i think you have ADHD or hypersensitivity. sm
maybe we should prescribe you some meds for that. it will make you perform better on your job and help you greatly. now, i need you to follow up with me weekly so we can draw some labs and keep a check of your status to make sure we don't need to adjust your meds any. that will be $250 for today's consult. yep, and $75 for your RX. oh yeah, and when you come back weekly, expect to pay another $100 per visit plus lab fees. sorry, having a boring, working night. had to spice something up, lol.
There are at least three objective tests now to show ADHD objectively...sm
PET scans, TOVA, quantitative EEG's and the UK just came up with a new one that has to do with the eye following a red light. So much for your bull theory. Maybe you should get out the chair once in a while.
I'm in nursing school and doing a paper on ADHD...here's what I found...what an eyeopener...
Peter Jensen, who is head of psychiatry at Columbia: At least half the children who fit the criteria for ADHD are not diagnosed. Half of the kids diagnosed are not treated (parents get too much flak for "drugging their kids"). ADHD is in 3-5% of population, found in some third world countries too though their survival skills are different from ours so testing doesn't always translate into another culture. Taking sugar and food additives out of diet (i.e. Feingold diet) only makes a difference for 3 months- then no difference (placebo effect). Interestingly, if ADHD is not treated, those kids have a much higher risk of accidents, drug and other substance abuse, drop out of school, and being arrested for a felony. Oh and one more note for all the folks who say it's from being overstimulated...we don't have a TV in our house and my boy still has ADHD - it's genetic. Plus after an appropriate evaluation by a pediatrician who specializes in ADHD, a social worker and an audiologist, he has been treated with medication and behavior modification since second grade. In the challenge program in every subject possible now (middle school) including Algebra II. Reads at post college level.
Bottom line is 4 years old is too early to make a diagnosis. Keep her home another year and let her develop at her own rate, but keep an eye on how she is able to compensate at school later. As I said, ADHD is a genetic disease and it could be possible for her to have it. It could also be possible that you tend to be negative towards whatever your ex says, so don't let that sink your daughter's ship...
A good place to get reasonable, objective info regarding ADHD is CHADD
just keep it in mind for the future. www.chad.org. Also there are some informative videos at coolnurse.com. About 10 videos regarding ADHD. you will have do a search on the site but it's worth it. If it's in her father's family it could be possible that she has it, and if so, you needed to get educated about it and be her advocate. School systems respond very well to confident, well prepared parents who come in to meet for a plan that allows for reasonable accomodations. I've been doing it for years.
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