Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you "try something else" if he was prescribed eyeglasses or anticonvulsants? It's a medical problem though it does have behavioral ramifications. I have watched so many parents go through the "we won't medicate" routine and end up medicating. Why? Because its the gold standard treatment according to the Academy of Pediatricians. If there was a different options, we would be the first to recommend trying that first.
I wholeheartedly disagree with the "it's a parenting decision " above. A relative (who's also an antivaxxer) refused to medicate and now has a senior student who has reading problems, is barely passing his classes, has no interests in anything, has depression and is on track to go work at the grocery store upon graduation. Total waste of a lovely child who had tons of potential

NP. Thankfully, that's not true.

Medication can be life-changing for some kids. And for others, not. This board is very pro-meds, others are the opposite. One of our kids takes meds, the other doesn't. And for the one who takes ADHD meds, it seems like it's two steps forward, one or two steps back.

The reason that this board is pro medicate is because the posters are are generally well educated- though there are certainly exceptions.

Even the cdc says the standard of treatment for children above the age of 6 includes medication.

"Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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My Child Has Been Diagnosed with ADHD – Now What?
When a child is diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), parents often have concerns about which treatment is right for their child. ADHD can be managed with the right treatment. There are many treatment options, and what works best can depend on the individual child and family. To find the best options, it is recommended that parents work closely with others involved in their child’s life—healthcare providers, therapists, teachers, coaches, and other family members.

Types of treatment for ADHD include

Behavior therapy, including training for parents; and
Medications.
Treatment recommendations for ADHD
For children with ADHD younger than 6 years of age, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends parent training in behavior management as the first line of treatment, before medication is tried. For children 6 years of age and older, the recommendations include medication and behavior therapy together — parent training in behavior management for children up to age 12 and other types of behavior therapy and training for adolescents. Schools can be part of the treatment as well. AAP recommendations also include adding behavioral classroom intervention and school supports. Learn more about how the school environment can be part of treatment."

But some mommies know better than the cdc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you "try something else" if he was prescribed eyeglasses or anticonvulsants? It's a medical problem though it does have behavioral ramifications. I have watched so many parents go through the "we won't medicate" routine and end up medicating. Why? Because its the gold standard treatment according to the Academy of Pediatricians. If there was a different options, we would be the first to recommend trying that first.
I wholeheartedly disagree with the "it's a parenting decision " above. A relative (who's also an antivaxxer) refused to medicate and now has a senior student who has reading problems, is barely passing his classes, has no interests in anything, has depression and is on track to go work at the grocery store upon graduation. Total waste of a lovely child who had tons of potential

NP. Thankfully, that's not true.

Medication can be life-changing for some kids. And for others, not. This board is very pro-meds, others are the opposite. One of our kids takes meds, the other doesn't. And for the one who takes ADHD meds, it seems like it's two steps forward, one or two steps back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you "try something else" if he was prescribed eyeglasses or anticonvulsants? It's a medical problem though it does have behavioral ramifications. I have watched so many parents go through the "we won't medicate" routine and end up medicating. Why? Because its the gold standard treatment according to the Academy of Pediatricians. If there was a different options, we would be the first to recommend trying that first.
I wholeheartedly disagree with the "it's a parenting decision " above. A relative (who's also an antivaxxer) refused to medicate and now has a senior student who has reading problems, is barely passing his classes, has no interests in anything, has depression and is on track to go work at the grocery store upon graduation. Total waste of a lovely child who had tons of potential

FWIW, my parents refused to put me on Ritalin when I was diagnosed with ADHD and they and my school proceeded to severely berate and punish me for my entire school career for not doing what I was supposed to yet couldn't. They said something about it stunting growth. And now when I read about medications for ADHD for me as a 46 yr old, it seems they can affect the heart. So while yes, I understand your point, I understand being wary of side effects too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's nothing you need to "make sure you try". It's a personal parenting decision and there aren't rules about it. Medication is not some reward for checking all the therapy boxes.

Those are things that you can try to treat with therapy and it might work, or it might not, and meanwhile he may fall further and further behind academically and the damage to his social relationships will get more and more entrenched.

This. So much this. I wish I had understood this and not waited so long. There is nothing as effective as an effective med and it's nit as hard to find an effective med (for most people) as you think.