How did you decide to start medication for ADHD?

[Anonymous]

DS is in third grade. There have been symptoms of ADHD since kindergarten, but he has not been formally evaluated or diagnosed yet. The school counselor conducted a standardized test last year, and he was way above the ADHD threshold. We decided to wait until third grade to take any action. Now half way through third grade, his teacher today suggested it is time to get him evaluated and consider medication. He is doing well at school – at or above grade level on various subjects. His teacher’s concern is that he is not where he should be given his potential. What should we do now? Obviously, we will get him evaluated and get a number of opinions from different specialists. We will also research, and learn about pros and cons of medication, if medication is recommended. Anything else? I would appreciate any suggestions you may have.

Do you have any phycologist/physiatrist recommendation? I would like to get opinions from thoughtful/careful specialists. I am not particularly against medication, but I am not comfortable with it, either. In any event, I just want to make an informed and thoughtful decision. This is a very hard decision. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

We medicated when the alternative was being asked to leave DC's beloved private school. The school is very much the right fit. We do a low level of medicine, we don't do it every day and we combined it with CBT and OT.

I would get names from your pediatrician for testing.

[Anonymous]

Location?

[Anonymous]

Get the evaluation first.

I would also see if you can observe in class for a couple hours. See for yourself how much your child is on/off task, how he relates to his peers and how they relate to him.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I would do a neuropsych exam. There could be many reasons why he isn't reaching his potential.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thanks all for your answers. We are in MoCo. DS is in a progressive private. He is doing well socially. He has friends, and have lots of playdates/sleepovers. His friends know him well, and accommodate his impulsivity/loudness, etc.

His teacher, whom we like very much, says "his body and his brain are always on the move."

I appreciate any psych/neuropsych providers you may recommend. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

No specific response, but I have to say that teacher sounds great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks all for your answers. We are in MoCo. DS is in a progressive private. He is doing well socially. He has friends, and have lots of playdates/sleepovers. His friends know him well, and accommodate his impulsivity/loudness, etc.

His teacher, whom we like very much, says "his body and his brain are always on the move."

I appreciate any psych/neuropsych providers you may recommend. Thanks.

We went to Expressive Therapy and saw Corinne Crowley for neuropsych testing and then went to a psychiatrist when it became clear that he would benefit from medication.
Why did we get testing? Because he was starting to feel depressed and anxious (nightmares, lots of nightmares) because he did NOT have a teacher like yours who was able to accommodate, and his relationships with his peers could sometimes suffer from his impulsivity and loudness even though he had strong friendships. He is on a low dose of medication and all the problems have simply vanished. It's like I have all the wonderful parts of my kid without any of the other issues. And his [different] teachers love him now, and he's had strong performances in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks all for your answers. We are in MoCo. DS is in a progressive private. He is doing well socially. He has friends, and have lots of playdates/sleepovers. His friends know him well, and accommodate his impulsivity/loudness, etc.

His teacher, whom we like very much, says "his body and his brain are always on the move."

I appreciate any psych/neuropsych providers you may recommend. Thanks.

We went to Expressive Therapy and saw Corinne Crowley for neuropsych testing and then went to a psychiatrist when it became clear that he would benefit from medication.
Why did we get testing? Because he was starting to feel depressed and anxious (nightmares, lots of nightmares) because he did NOT have a teacher like yours who was able to accommodate, and his relationships with his peers could sometimes suffer from his impulsivity and loudness even though he had strong friendships. He is on a low dose of medication and all the problems have simply vanished. It's like I have all the wonderful parts of my kid without any of the other issues. And his [different] teachers love him now, and he's had strong performances in school.

PP, what grade is your son?

[Anonymous]

I am in a similar boat and my child is in fourth. We have been kind of waiting it out. He is still above grade level in math but his formerly above grade level reading is now back down to totally average. He doesn't get in trouble at school--I think it is a combination of him trying really, really hard not to get in trouble and teachers these days being much more patient with fidgety kids--and he has plenty of friends. There is no doubt that he is not working up to his potential but I don't feel that it is time just yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in a similar boat and my child is in fourth. We have been kind of waiting it out. He is still above grade level in math but his formerly above grade level reading is now back down to totally average. He doesn't get in trouble at school--I think it is a combination of him trying really, really hard not to get in trouble and teachers these days being much more patient with fidgety kids--and he has plenty of friends. There is no doubt that he is not working up to his potential but I don't feel that it is time just yet.

Do you find it's better not to push academically even if they are 2E?

[Anonymous]

Just had my son officially diagnosed today. He just turned 11 and is in 5th grade but we have suspected since kindergarten. We adopted a wait and see attitude too because his grades were good and he had friends and was doing well.

The turning point for me was when he began getting frustrated at himself for being "a bad kid" or being "dumb" when he couldn't seem to stay focused during his teacher talking at school. Felt like he couldn't please his teachers because they were always telling him to focus. He began acting out more at home after keeping himself on top of things all day at school. Performing like an underachiever when basically he was putting in the effort of an overachiever.