Growing increasingly impatient with adhd kid

[Anonymous]

At 6? This board is medication crazy, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to those who provided helpful resources. He likely also has anxiety, so meds are not a good choice. He is above grade level in reading and math, so not struggling. I will look into testing for over summer break.

It sounds like his behavior (at home? At school? Both?) is challenging and you don't know why. It could be ADHD, it could be anxiety, it could be both, it could be something else. You need to figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every expert at the research university I consulted said that medication is not the way to go. It tends to wear off in efficacy and has a number of risks. They said to wait as long as possible or don’t medicate if possible. I have chosen not to medicate my child, OP, and it is working well for us. I have pursued outside therapies (reading specialist good with ADHD kids, parenting techniques). It is a lot of work but my kid is doing much better. I agree with keeping them active!!

That is not the standard guideline of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends medication and therapy.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2011/10/14/peds.2011-2654.full.pdf

There are also risks to not medicating. As with any medication, you must weigh benefits vs. risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At 6? This board is medication crazy, OP.

Lot's of people medicate at 6. Behavioral therapy might be worth a try, but if your kid is severe enough, it probably won't work without medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every expert at the research university I consulted said that medication is not the way to go. It tends to wear off in efficacy and has a number of risks. They said to wait as long as possible or don’t medicate if possible. I have chosen not to medicate my child, OP, and it is working well for us. I have pursued outside therapies (reading specialist good with ADHD kids, parenting techniques). It is a lot of work but my kid is doing much better. I agree with keeping them active!!

That is not the standard guideline of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends medication and therapy.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2011/10/14/peds.2011-2654.full.pdf

There are also risks to not medicating. As with any medication, you must weigh benefits vs. risks.

US practices are behind the best research according to my friend who is an expert in the field. It is so much easier to medicate than to devote the time and money to therapy. OP should at least start there and see if she can help her child without medication.

OP, we also considered carefully the learning environment. Some schools are far more ADHD friendly than others. It can make a world of difference to attend a school your child can thrive in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to those who provided helpful resources. He likely also has anxiety, so meds are not a good choice. He is above grade level in reading and math, so not struggling. I will look into testing for over summer break.

Great job making this all about you and your convenience!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to those who provided helpful resources. He likely also has anxiety, so meds are not a good choice. He is above grade level in reading and math, so not struggling. I will look into testing for over summer break.

Great job making this all about you and your convenience!

Like medication?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every expert at the research university I consulted said that medication is not the way to go. It tends to wear off in efficacy and has a number of risks. They said to wait as long as possible or don’t medicate if possible. I have chosen not to medicate my child, OP, and it is working well for us. I have pursued outside therapies (reading specialist good with ADHD kids, parenting techniques). It is a lot of work but my kid is doing much better. I agree with keeping them active!!

Please link to this research.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/877438

There is one showing reduced height and no long term reduction of symptoms. There is also research indicating negative impacts on the part of the brain controlling motivation, the heart, and cardiovascular systems. There is also indications it can lead to drug use later in life. These meds have real risks for long term use. It is a last resort.

Get with the times, pp:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml#part_145449

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every expert at the research university I consulted said that medication is not the way to go. It tends to wear off in efficacy and has a number of risks. They said to wait as long as possible or don’t medicate if possible. I have chosen not to medicate my child, OP, and it is working well for us. I have pursued outside therapies (reading specialist good with ADHD kids, parenting techniques). It is a lot of work but my kid is doing much better. I agree with keeping them active!!

Please link to this research.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/877438

There is one showing reduced height and no long term reduction of symptoms. There is also research indicating negative impacts on the part of the brain controlling motivation, the heart, and cardiovascular systems. There is also indications it can lead to drug use later in life. These meds have real risks for long term use. It is a last resort.

Get with the times, pp:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml#part_145449

Your link is nonresponsive. My 2017 study which is one of the first long-term available highlights numerous risks. Your link does not address the risks at all. Keep burying your head in the sand about this if you want. My Harvard Ph.D. Specialist friend doesn’t medicate his ADHD son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every expert at the research university I consulted said that medication is not the way to go. It tends to wear off in efficacy and has a number of risks. They said to wait as long as possible or don’t medicate if possible. I have chosen not to medicate my child, OP, and it is working well for us. I have pursued outside therapies (reading specialist good with ADHD kids, parenting techniques). It is a lot of work but my kid is doing much better. I agree with keeping them active!!

That is not the standard guideline of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends medication and therapy.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2011/10/14/peds.2011-2654.full.pdf

There are also risks to not medicating. As with any medication, you must weigh benefits vs. risks.

US practices are behind the best research according to my friend who is an expert in the field. It is so much easier to medicate than to devote the time and money to therapy. OP should at least start there and see if she can help her child without medication.

OP, we also considered carefully the learning environment. Some schools are far more ADHD friendly than others. It can make a world of difference to attend a school your child can thrive in.

I don't disagree that the US is probably quicker to reach for the pills than some other countries, but that doesn't mean they are right and we are wrong. Every parent has to decide for themselves.

OP needs a diagnosis first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every expert at the research university I consulted said that medication is not the way to go. It tends to wear off in efficacy and has a number of risks. They said to wait as long as possible or don’t medicate if possible. I have chosen not to medicate my child, OP, and it is working well for us. I have pursued outside therapies (reading specialist good with ADHD kids, parenting techniques). It is a lot of work but my kid is doing much better. I agree with keeping them active!!

Please link to this research.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/877438

There is one showing reduced height and no long term reduction of symptoms. There is also research indicating negative impacts on the part of the brain controlling motivation, the heart, and cardiovascular systems. There is also indications it can lead to drug use later in life. These meds have real risks for long term use. It is a last resort.

Get with the times, pp:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml#part_145449

Your link is nonresponsive. My 2017 study which is one of the first long-term available highlights numerous risks. Your link does not address the risks at all. Keep burying your head in the sand about this if you want. My Harvard Ph.D. Specialist friend doesn’t medicate his ADHD son.

That’s an anecdote. Not data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to those who provided helpful resources. He likely also has anxiety, so meds are not a good choice. He is above grade level in reading and math, so not struggling. I will look into testing for over summer break.

Great job making this all about you and your convenience!

Like medication?

Like getting an eval and understanding the issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to those who provided helpful resources. He likely also has anxiety, so meds are not a good choice. He is above grade level in reading and math, so not struggling. I will look into testing for over summer break.

You should not wait for a diagnosis. You don't have to medicate right away. You can begin with therapy. But it is important to know what you are dealing with.

[Anonymous]

Get him diagnosed so you are at least addressing the right issues - there is a long way from diagnosis to meds - though if severe adhd the research shows therapy doesn’t help and meds and meds plus therapy have similar outcomes. Research supplements and vitamins - adhd kids are chronically low in ferritin, magnesium, vitamin d and those can all cause behavior issues. Omega 3 seems to help with adhd as well. They also need high protein breakfasts -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to those who provided helpful resources. He likely also has anxiety, so meds are not a good choice. He is above grade level in reading and math, so not struggling. I will look into testing for over summer break.

Great job making this all about you and your convenience!

That’s in 10 weeks. He is exceling at school (in 1st grade and outperforming those redshirted). I have received no concerns from the teacher, so yeah it can wait until June so I don’t have to pull him out of school. You all are too much.