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[quote=Anonymous]My oldest was diagnosed with ADHD (primarily inattentive) in K (about 5.5 yo) but didn't start medication until the middle of 1st grade.  It was an incredibly difficult decision - excruciating, in fact.  But, three years into it, I have no regrets.  It's taken us a while to find a medication (stimulants did not work well) and while we don't see the amazing difference some people talk about, the medication does allow DS to slow down and have better emotional regulation.  These are incredible barriers to his education appear to be on top of learning disabilities.

We, too, participate in the NIH study and have seen the benefits of good structure and supportive teachers.  We've always had excellent structure at home and we've not seen many differences at home when DS is on/off the medication.  But, since he's primarily inattentive, I don't expect to see that much of a difference since sustained mental effort usually isn't required during the summer.  Every year, he's taken a medication break at the end of the school year and we don't usually re-start it until after a month or so into the new term so the teachers can get a baseline on him.  It's our way of determining whether the medication is effect and if he should continue with it.

Our youngest DS in in K and has develpmental delays.  He's not yet been evaluated for ADHD because we don't think, because of the delays, that testing would be accurate now and because he doesn't have behavioral issues.  He went into K with an IEP and an ADHD diagnosis would not change what anyone is doing.  Making a medication decision for him will be much easier than for our first because of the experience and knowledge we've gained.  It's sort of like having a baby for the first time.  You can learn about it all you want but it's not until you actually experience it that you REALLY understand it all.  Good luck.[/quote]

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