Anonymous wrote:I'm meeting with the pediatrician this week to discuss some concerns about my rising 2nd grade son regarding ADHD. I've been speaking to a few other parents and while I find it comforting that this isn't all in my head, I am a bit alarmed at the volume of children who are on stimulant meds. I don't object to the meds as ADHD is an illness that requires treatment, but for them to be the first course of action is a bit alarming to me. It would be so helpful for me if you could answer the questions below about your experience. First grade was so challenging for him and I just want to do whatever I can to help him succeed this year.

At what age did your child receive a diagnosis?

What initially made you think it was ADD/ADHD?

Is your child on medication? If so, was it immediate or did you try other techniques and accommodations before introducing meds?

What have you found to be most effective in treatment of the condition?

2nd grade

As school and social expectations increased, he began to show the classic signs of inattention, distractibility, and lagging social skills

I suspected before age two- extreme emotional intensity (meltdowns), excessive energy, hyperfocus and obsessive behavior even at 18 months

No meds so far-- we're starting to see some oppositional behavior and emotional intensity is returning at high levels. We will consider medication if/when DS can no longer keep up with school/homework or his emotions get in the way of his functioning (on this second point, we're nearly there)

We use social skills group, one on one speech and language therapy, and behavioral therapy (a lot of therapy). CBT is beginning to show the most promise in areas of emotional control and impulsivity. Social skills group is helpful for understanding other people- DS had almost no clue about other people and how to "read" them before social skills group.

If you're not considering meds- I would recommend finding a good behavioral therapist - the other therapies are supportive, but this kind of therapy has proven to be the most effective for our family.

21:10, 21:31, and 00:10 - Would you share the name of the dr. you worked with on medication? We have the full diagnosis from a neuropsych, but our ped was totally useless in finding someone to work with about the right meds, and I really want the process at least started before the school year begins. Many thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in spring of 1st grade. We didn't do anything different after the ADHD diagnosis, but did get a reading tutor. Going into 2nd grade, DC was still not reading, not even CVC words.

We decided to medicate for the ADHD because the teacher was very much underestimating DC's abilities because DC was too distracted to do the work. We started meds on a Saturday; DC was barely reading CVC words. The following Wednesday, she was reading chapter books.

The professionals claim that it was a coincidence, but I don't believe it. I think that everything she needed to learn to read was rattling around in her brain but she needed the calmness that came from meds to put it all together and start reading. All the behavior modification in the world wasn't going to help that.

This sounds like my DC, without the quick reading miracle. But same timing and same issues. We had lots of strategies and accommodations but ultimately it was the meds that made a difference. We were reluctant at first, and resisted for a while, but that turned out to waste 6 more months of not reading and falling behind in school.

We had the same experience as well. It was like our son's brain was locked until he was medicated.

Anonymous wrote:My child was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in spring of 1st grade. We didn't do anything different after the ADHD diagnosis, but did get a reading tutor. Going into 2nd grade, DC was still not reading, not even CVC words.

We decided to medicate for the ADHD because the teacher was very much underestimating DC's abilities because DC was too distracted to do the work. We started meds on a Saturday; DC was barely reading CVC words. The following Wednesday, she was reading chapter books.

The professionals claim that it was a coincidence, but I don't believe it. I think that everything she needed to learn to read was rattling around in her brain but she needed the calmness that came from meds to put it all together and start reading. All the behavior modification in the world wasn't going to help that.

This sounds like my DC, without the quick reading miracle. But same timing and same issues. We had lots of strategies and accommodations but ultimately it was the meds that made a difference. We were reluctant at first, and resisted for a while, but that turned out to waste 6 more months of not reading and falling behind in school.

See how year starts but if it's not going well you can ask teacher to fill out the Vanderbilt scales. You can take that to pediatrician and get a diagnosis. With that you can get a 504 which is helpful regardless of what treatment or further diagnosis you decide to seek.

OP here. DH has significant challenges reading. He's not below grade level, but behind where he needs to be. It's so frustrating for me, working with him. He often sees the first letter and guesses at the rest of the word. First grade undid everything he learned in K in regards to reading. His teacher was a first year teacher and without the experience, she just didn't recognize that his problem is more than "acting up." She even took recess minutes away from him as a punishment for poor behavior in the morning, which made me livid. With recess being as limited as it is already, to take any time away is just asinine. Towards the end of the year, I worked with the counselor to implement some accommodations and visual reminders, but overall, it was just a really hard time for him.

My child was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in spring of 1st grade. We didn't do anything different after the ADHD diagnosis, but did get a reading tutor. Going into 2nd grade, DC was still not reading, not even CVC words.

We decided to medicate for the ADHD because the teacher was very much underestimating DC's abilities because DC was too distracted to do the work. We started meds on a Saturday; DC was barely reading CVC words. The following Wednesday, she was reading chapter books.

The professionals claim that it was a coincidence, but I don't believe it. I think that everything she needed to learn to read was rattling around in her brain but she needed the calmness that came from meds to put it all together and start reading. All the behavior modification in the world wasn't going to help that.

Mine was diagnosed with "near ADHD." Not really a diagnosis, but his behavior was so challenging at school. For it to be considered ADHD, symptoms have to be present across settings (at home too) and they weren't, not to a clinical extent.

Things that have really helped:
1. A behavior plan at school (no longer needed)
2. Counseling / coping strategies
3. visual schedule and timers
4. martial arts.

Meds were not the first line of defense for sure. Not on meds and hugely improved. Maybe they will come. He's still young.

Meds in most cases should not be the first treatment. DD has been doing play therapy for one year and we do parent counseling once per month but she just started on Meds. We all determined (parents, psychologists, pediatrician and psychiatrist together) that her brain needs some help accepting the behavior modification. We also wanted her to be able to start the school year off fresh.

Your ped also shouldn't diagnose but instead should give you a referral to a psychologist to do an evaluation. Best of luck. It's tough stuff.

I'm meeting with the pediatrician this week to discuss some concerns about my rising 2nd grade son regarding ADHD. I've been speaking to a few other parents and while I find it comforting that this isn't all in my head, I am a bit alarmed at the volume of children who are on stimulant meds. I don't object to the meds as ADHD is an illness that requires treatment, but for them to be the first course of action is a bit alarming to me. It would be so helpful for me if you could answer the questions below about your experience. First grade was so challenging for him and I just want to do whatever I can to help him succeed this year.

At what age did your child receive a diagnosis?

What initially made you think it was ADD/ADHD?

Is your child on medication? If so, was it immediate or did you try other techniques and accommodations before introducing meds?

What have you found to be most effective in treatment of the condition?