Anonymous wrote:I knew well before DS was diagnosed he had ADHD. As soon as we got the diagnosis at 6.5 we started medication. Instantly made a huge difference, I can’t imagine how he would be now, at 10, if we hadn’t addressed it then. Especially socially.

How often does the child need to take meds? Once a day?

I knew well before DS was diagnosed he had ADHD. As soon as we got the diagnosis at 6.5 we started medication. Instantly made a huge difference, I can’t imagine how he would be now, at 10, if we hadn’t addressed it then. Especially socially.

If you has asked me before I had kids that I would be meditating a 7 year old, I would have said a hard no.

We also tried therapy, and diet changes (not to the extreme some people go to). Nothing helped.

Child loves dancing, she had a really hard dance class due to behaviors. Child had to sit out for being impulsive and distributing class. This is child’s favorite thing in the world. I cried that night and told my husband we need to help child. Then we also learned how bad things were day at school.

The medication was a life changer, child is not getting in trouble for impulsive behaviors. Every thing improved, grades, life at home and social life.

We are lucky because child has minimal side effects (not hungry during the day). You can always stop, but I would try if I were in your shoes.

We started medicating in 2nd grade. When we stayed, DD wasn't reading at all, not even CVC words. Within a few weeks of starting meds, she was reading (simple) chapter books. She wasn't able to calm her brain enough to learn to read until she was properly medicated.

we started in 2nd grade, they helped her behavior so much. She was doing so well in school when she took them. 8 years she a sophomore and is not taking them as she should, and her gpa is way down and not doing as well as she could. We are going to test to she what other meds can help her. The shortage isn't helping.

We medicated our 1st grader and it's been a game changer. He finally has friends, is slowly improving his grades at school, and is building a better relationship with his sibling.

Asked my 7 year old today if he likes his meds. And he enthusiastically said yes. As an adult who went undiagnosed and unmedicated for the first 25+ years of my life, it's almost painful to recall and think that it did not need to be as difficult as it was.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely move this to the SN forum. We did EVERYTHING else first. Finally agreed we needed to try meds and it was a game changer within days. Yes, do therapy and read all the parenting books and make sure they get enough exercise etc. But if you're thinking about it, it's probably time.

+100

Definitely move this to the SN forum. We did EVERYTHING else first. Finally agreed we needed to try meds and it was a game changer within days. Yes, do therapy and read all the parenting books and make sure they get enough exercise etc. But if you're thinking about it, it's probably time.

We started my son on meds in 3rd grade. No regrets at all. Diagnosed in 2nd grade and we delayed meds for a year while we tried OT and other strategies. They helped somewhat, but he was still struggling in school and socially.

After meds he went from testing in the 30th percentiles for reading and math to testing in the high 90s for both. He stopped calling himself bad at reading. We stopped getting calls from the school about behavioral problems. No side effects other than decreased appetite at lunch (makes up for it at breakfast and dinner.)

Here are the threads I mentioned that I found very helpful:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/691973.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/964020.page#19713797

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/811344.page

Hope this helps. It is an agonizing decision. I totally get it.

Sorry, I should say my child is 7 and as I said - yes, it helped very much.

Crazy responses op, highly recommend moving this to the special needs forum and you will get a response from parents who also have kids with ADHD and had to wrestle with this decision.

We chose to medicate even earlier and I have never regretted it for a second. Best decision we have made for our child if I'm being honest. We tried everything - diet changes, neurofeedback, therapy. None of it even remotely touched things and medication SIGNIFICANTLY improved life for our child and us. It is the first line treatment for ADHD for a reason, it is helpful for most and most other treatment is frankly not that effective from what I've read and experienced.

Consider the side effects of not medicating, your child's sense of self worth, confidence, sense of self can all be impacted and that is worthy of considering too.

Medication should be taken seriously, it is not without side effects as well but for us they have been minimal (first med had more, switched and second has been great) and it is worth considering.

I read so many old DCUM threads when trying to decide and there are some where people asked if anyone has regrets and almost all the responses were either no or my only regret is not starting sooner.  

Change their diet first.

How old is your child and has it helped? The thought of starting medication for a 3rd grader seems terrifying