ADHD - Break it down for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harden my heart? I hear you, I really do, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't hurt. I'm not particularly good at stoicism. And I don't care so much for me, but I care for my son. I can take it. But when you hurt my kid, you hurt me.

OP - I'll give you some cheery news. DH has what was then called ADD - didn't like ritalin and stopped using it. Highly successful in his field. I just have to be more alert and work harder at getting things done than the average spouse. DC no. 1 we thought had ADHD, turned out much later to be Aspergers/ADHD/Anxiety (that's not the cheery story). But DC no. 2 got the ADHD diagnosis and we moved to a SN school for ADHD kids where DD succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. Did the standard retesting every three years. Guess what? Earlier testers were wrong, DC no. 2 doesn't have ADHD. Yes, some exec. function issues, but no ADHD. Note that DC no. 1's diagnosis changed too. This may not be a permanent diagnosis. Just remember to keep testing every three years and use different testers each time. Your child is young. Much will change. And boys get the diagnosis far more often and quicker than girls. They may have it wrong. Also change psychiatrists or psychologist or counselors freely if you don't think the treatment is working. There are a lot of nuts out there who have been attracted to this relatively young field and suck us parents dry. You know your child better than the therapists. If something doesn't feel right to you, move on. Ask for help a lot on this board. Usually you will get good, kind recommendations on SN. Jeff tries to keep it snark free. I wish I had had access to it 15 years ago when we started down this road.

Is there a school specifically for ADHD children in the DC area? Things at home are starting to get out of control and I'm debating whether to stay home or switch to private with a smaller class. He is getting lost in public school with such large class sizes and comes home many days barely absorbing anything. We aren't rich, but would like to look at different options for him.

Currently I work out of the house and get home with him by 6:00, but thought perhaps being home after school from 4-6 pm would be better for him than aftercare. He needs the social skills too though which for him are easier to get at aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These unproven meds change the brain development of such young children.

Anecdotes do not qualify as scientific proof. This is a very HIGH profit market.

BEWARE.

Oh, stop. They've been studying the effects of ritalin for DECADES.

No, ADD was only "discovered" 24 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harden my heart? I hear you, I really do, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't hurt. I'm not particularly good at stoicism. And I don't care so much for me, but I care for my son. I can take it. But when you hurt my kid, you hurt me.

OP - I'll give you some cheery news. DH has what was then called ADD - didn't like ritalin and stopped using it. Highly successful in his field. I just have to be more alert and work harder at getting things done than the average spouse. DC no. 1 we thought had ADHD, turned out much later to be Aspergers/ADHD/Anxiety (that's not the cheery story). But DC no. 2 got the ADHD diagnosis and we moved to a SN school for ADHD kids where DD succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. Did the standard retesting every three years. Guess what? Earlier testers were wrong, DC no. 2 doesn't have ADHD. Yes, some exec. function issues, but no ADHD. Note that DC no. 1's diagnosis changed too. This may not be a permanent diagnosis. Just remember to keep testing every three years and use different testers each time. Your child is young. Much will change. And boys get the diagnosis far more often and quicker than girls. They may have it wrong. Also change psychiatrists or psychologist or counselors freely if you don't think the treatment is working. There are a lot of nuts out there who have been attracted to this relatively young field and suck us parents dry. You know your child better than the therapists. If something doesn't feel right to you, move on. Ask for help a lot on this board. Usually you will get good, kind recommendations on SN. Jeff tries to keep it snark free. I wish I had had access to it 15 years ago when we started down this road.

Commonwealth Academy. Too far for us, but we'd go in a minute if we could work it out.
Is there a school specifically for ADHD children in the DC area? Things at home are starting to get out of control and I'm debating whether to stay home or switch to private with a smaller class. He is getting lost in public school with such large class sizes and comes home many days barely absorbing anything. We aren't rich, but would like to look at different options for him.

[Anonymous]

*Commonwealth Academy. Responding to PP, but lost in the quote.

[Anonymous]

I'm 12:31, not 13:06, but, yes, it was Commonwealth Academy that changed our DC's life.

[Anonymous]

Also, ^^ I should add no meds. On the other hand I have another child who is on meds so am not meds-averse. DC just didn't like them and didn't think they helped.

[Anonymous]

If your child has ADD/ADHD or EFD -- seriously consider an OT or AT assessment. Both of the aforementioned assessments can identify many tools, devices and supports to ensure your child's success in the home, at soccer and in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, 6 is very young to start medication. We suspected my son at 5-6, but waited until he was almost 8 for a diagnosis and medicine.he takes staterra, the only non addictive ADHD medication.
Second, six year olds are not meant to sit still. Learn to channel his energy and enthusiasm. There are many books on this topic.
It's hard. Many days I have yelled at him. But really, I need to learn how to deal better.
Fwiw, my son uses a stress ball at school. He squeezes it when he starts not paying attention as a way to bring him back into focus.

That's a bit loaded, PP. Stimulants are not addictive in the way we think of, say, heroin, except in extreme cases (like among people who don't have ADHD but use stimulants as a performance edge).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These unproven meds change the brain development of such young children.

Anecdotes do not qualify as scientific proof. This is a very HIGH profit market.

BEWARE.

Oh, stop. They've been studying the effects of ritalin for DECADES.

No, ADD was only "discovered" 24 years ago.

First of all, 24 years IS decades. Secondly, medicines like Ritalin have been used since the 1960's for hyperactivity or other diagnoses used prior to the addition of ADD or ADHD to the lexicon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harden my heart? I hear you, I really do, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't hurt. I'm not particularly good at stoicism. And I don't care so much for me, but I care for my son. I can take it. But when you hurt my kid, you hurt me.

OP - I'll give you some cheery news. DH has what was then called ADD - didn't like ritalin and stopped using it. Highly successful in his field. I just have to be more alert and work harder at getting things done than the average spouse. DC no. 1 we thought had ADHD, turned out much later to be Aspergers/ADHD/Anxiety (that's not the cheery story). But DC no. 2 got the ADHD diagnosis and we moved to a SN school for ADHD kids where DD succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. Did the standard retesting every three years. Guess what? Earlier testers were wrong, DC no. 2 doesn't have ADHD. Yes, some exec. function issues, but no ADHD. Note that DC no. 1's diagnosis changed too. This may not be a permanent diagnosis. Just remember to keep testing every three years and use different testers each time. Your child is young. Much will change. And boys get the diagnosis far more often and quicker than girls. They may have it wrong. Also change psychiatrists or psychologist or counselors freely if you don't think the treatment is working. There are a lot of nuts out there who have been attracted to this relatively young field and suck us parents dry. You know your child better than the therapists. If something doesn't feel right to you, move on. Ask for help a lot on this board. Usually you will get good, kind recommendations on SN. Jeff tries to keep it snark free. I wish I had had access to it 15 years ago when we started down this road.

Thank you. This is great advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harden my heart? I hear you, I really do, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't hurt. I'm not particularly good at stoicism. And I don't care so much for me, but I care for my son. I can take it. But when you hurt my kid, you hurt me.

OP - I'll give you some cheery news. DH has what was then called ADD - didn't like ritalin and stopped using it. Highly successful in his field. I just have to be more alert and work harder at getting things done than the average spouse. DC no. 1 we thought had ADHD, turned out much later to be Aspergers/ADHD/Anxiety (that's not the cheery story). But DC no. 2 got the ADHD diagnosis and we moved to a SN school for ADHD kids where DD succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. Did the standard retesting every three years. Guess what? Earlier testers were wrong, DC no. 2 doesn't have ADHD. Yes, some exec. function issues, but no ADHD. Note that DC no. 1's diagnosis changed too. This may not be a permanent diagnosis. Just remember to keep testing every three years and use different testers each time. Your child is young. Much will change. And boys get the diagnosis far more often and quicker than girls. They may have it wrong. Also change psychiatrists or psychologist or counselors freely if you don't think the treatment is working. There are a lot of nuts out there who have been attracted to this relatively young field and suck us parents dry. You know your child better than the therapists. If something doesn't feel right to you, move on. Ask for help a lot on this board. Usually you will get good, kind recommendations on SN. Jeff tries to keep it snark free. I wish I had had access to it 15 years ago when we started down this road.

Thank you. This is great advice.

You're welcome. And post back and let us know how things are goind.

[Anonymous]

2/3 of kids diagnosed with ADHD will lose their diagnosis by their mid twenties once their frontal lobe wiring catches up so just bc your child has ADHD now does not mean that they will have it their entire life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2/3 of kids diagnosed with ADHD will lose their diagnosis by their mid twenties once their frontal lobe wiring catches up so just bc your child has ADHD now does not mean that they will have it their entire life.

I would be cautious about this - yes, people may mature out of ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity, but what I have read is that often executive function deficits remain. In fact, I personally think that the extreme physical impulsivity and hyperactivity is why so many boys are diagnosed early and many girls with ADHD suffer undiagnosed and without appropriate services. Just because the "in your face" symptoms aren't present, doesn't mean that a person doesn't have ADHD--adult or child.

We are treating ADHD as a lifelong diagnosis and getting our son concrete therapies in social skills, planning, and organization. We are working on strategies with him to adaptively address strong emotions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2/3 of kids diagnosed with ADHD will lose their diagnosis by their mid twenties once their frontal lobe wiring catches up so just bc your child has ADHD now does not mean that they will have it their entire life.

I would be cautious about this - yes, people may mature out of ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity, but what I have read is that often executive function deficits remain. In fact, I personally think that the extreme physical impulsivity and hyperactivity is why so many boys are diagnosed early and many girls with ADHD suffer undiagnosed and without appropriate services. Just because the "in your face" symptoms aren't present, doesn't mean that a person doesn't have ADHD--adult or child.

We are treating ADHD as a lifelong diagnosis and getting our son concrete therapies in social skills, planning, and organization. We are working on strategies with him to adaptively address strong emotions.

[/quote]



Wise advice. DH certainly has it. I would like to think that both my children will grow out of it @ 26 but hubby certainly has not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These unproven meds change the brain development of such young children.

Anecdotes do not qualify as scientific proof. This is a very HIGH profit market.

BEWARE.

Oh, stop. They've been studying the effects of ritalin for DECADES.

No, ADD was only "discovered" 24 years ago.

I was diagnosed with it as a child and I'm 44, so...

No meds (weren't commonly used then) and I have a child also diagnosed (other kids do not have it) and meds were not successful for him, at all-several kinds. They don't work for everyone.