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[quote=Anonymous]I want to give you a more balanced viewpoint here, there are so many judgmental responses on this board and they are not helpful.

My kid was exactly like yours at that age (now 18). She still has pretty severe executive functioning issues but she's much more attentive and can function much better, particularly if she's interested in the subject.

We tried NINE different ADHD medications. We were and are not against meds (we began at 9 and stopped at 16), she just had side effects with each one so we discontinued (increased emotional dysregulation, or trouble sleeping, or it just wasn't effective). She was on one a few years that didn't have side effects but also didn't seem to make a big difference. She just got so tired of trying we gave up. ADHD meds will not really help with executive function but it will help him be more alert and not "space out" like you described, and maybe not miss instructions.

Maturity, exercise, and cutting sugar and processed foods (her own choice) has helped since she can't tolerate meds. I'd be more worried about SSRIs or other mood altering meds, which we also tried but were ineffective. But they can be very effective, and are necessary, for some people. She is now not on any medication and while she has a lot of anxiety and still has challenges due to ADHD, she'd prefer not to be on meds again and seems better off of them than she was on them. I'm still glad we tried though, and she's now considering trying ADHD meds again as she prepares for college because she thinks now with a more mature brain and no other meds - perhaps she won't have the same reaction.

I also have ADHD and I WISH I had been on ADHD meds in middle and high school. I did turn to other things to self-medicate and although I eventually succeeded academically in grad school, I would have done much better had I been on meds (I am on a low dose of meds now). Being on meds now I can say that they aren't the big scary thing I thought they were, especially ADHD meds. They don't change your personality, they don't fix your ADHD or change your brain, they just give you a little boost that helps you pay more attention and motivate better. They don't stay in your system long, so if they don't work or cause side effects, you can discontinue quickly. But I do understand the reluctance to giving them to an 11 year old. I was very scared about it but multiple doctors told me that ADHD meds are very well researched in kids and meds plus behavioral therapy are really the only effective treatment.

I can tell you, this will likely get worse before it gets better, especially if you aren't open to trying medication, and his self-esteem will definitely suffer. If there is one thing I wish I could go back and fix, for myself and my daughter, it is that. Feeling different and like everyone is annoyed with you, thinks your stupid, or thinks you are a problem in your formative years is very damaging. [/quote]

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