Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused why you are doing this to your child, his teachers and his peers. It’s incredibly selfish and pointless and I’m sure medication has been on the table for a long time. So unfair to everyone involved.

In OP’s defense it sounds like she has gotten extremely poor advice on appropriate behavioral interventions to get to this point. But yeah, even I (who have a documented record of believing kids are overmedicated!) would be fully in favor of trying meds - as long as OP understands the limitations. They are highly effective for disruptive motor behaviors, but you’ll still need to make sure he is learning.

What behavioral interventions should be implemented?

A behavioral plan that rewards on task and in seat behavior rather than letting him get up and wander around. Walking around in the back of the classroom is not an appropriate accomodation for a 4th grader.

a) accommodation is the spelling
b) NO AMOUNT of rewards is going to help an unmedicated kid w/ severe adhd sit still. None.

Maybe - but reinforcing the getting up constantly is not going to help either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused why you are doing this to your child, his teachers and his peers. It’s incredibly selfish and pointless and I’m sure medication has been on the table for a long time. So unfair to everyone involved.

In OP’s defense it sounds like she has gotten extremely poor advice on appropriate behavioral interventions to get to this point. But yeah, even I (who have a documented record of believing kids are overmedicated!) would be fully in favor of trying meds - as long as OP understands the limitations. They are highly effective for disruptive motor behaviors, but you’ll still need to make sure he is learning.

What behavioral interventions should be implemented?

A behavioral plan that rewards on task and in seat behavior rather than letting him get up and wander around. Walking around in the back of the classroom is not an appropriate accomodation for a 4th grader.

a) accommodation is the spelling
b) NO AMOUNT of rewards is going to help an unmedicated kid w/ severe adhd sit still. None.

Meds are needed. I am always shocked by the number of parents who refuse meds bc they fear addiction, when not medicating makes them more vulnerable to addiction due to being stigmatized at school and more impulsiviity.

Definitely try meds. In addition, there may be other diagnoses as well, like ASD

Yes meds. I have a 4th grader that was missed for ADHD initially because rather bright and was effective at masking. The meds have lowered the intensity and this boosted confidence and made many things much easier.

Time for medication. Also, no, it cannot be expected for a teacher or a teacher's aide to provide disproportionate 1 to 1 support to a student. (We were told this directly from our school re our then unmedicated ADHD DC).

Obviously it’s time for medication. Re-read your post.

Time for medication. It won’t solve everything - pills don’t teach skills. But if he can’t learn the skills, no behavior modification will help until you get the brain chemistry under control.

Time for medication.

Also, does he have activities he's good at for building up his confidence and self-esteem? Mind found his ADHD "superpower" through specific activities where he can be successful, and because of that, he doesn't act out like he did when he was little and felt like the world was against him. You'll have to find your path, but my ADHD kid is really good and can hyperfocus when playing music, chess, and some sports. So, school may be a little more challenging for him, but he knows he's intelligent, musical, and athletic, so if he has to work a little harder at school because he doesn't learn well in a traditional classroom environment, he doesn't take it so hard. He works with me or a tutor as needed and powers through what he missed at school. But all this came in addition to medication.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused why you are doing this to your child, his teachers and his peers. It’s incredibly selfish and pointless and I’m sure medication has been on the table for a long time. So unfair to everyone involved.

In OP’s defense it sounds like she has gotten extremely poor advice on appropriate behavioral interventions to get to this point. But yeah, even I (who have a documented record of believing kids are overmedicated!) would be fully in favor of trying meds - as long as OP understands the limitations. They are highly effective for disruptive motor behaviors, but you’ll still need to make sure he is learning.

What behavioral interventions should be implemented?

A behavioral plan that rewards on task and in seat behavior rather than letting him get up and wander around. Walking around in the back of the classroom is not an appropriate accomodation for a 4th grader.

Time for medication.