Anyone have.....

[redneck_woman]

a child that has ADD? Had a conference with my son's teacher yesterday and she believes that he has ADD. I agreed to let the school start the testing and I am also going to get a second opinion just to make sure. I do not want to have to medicate him if I don't have to.

He has a very hard time staying focused, but on the plus side is very, very smart. He is in 2nd grade and is already reading 90+ words a minute, spelling is out of the world, now math comes a little hard for him because it requires him to focus more. When doing HW at home it take anywhere between 10-20mins to get his attention. While doing his HW he often drifts off topic and starts talking about things that don't pertain to what he doing. So then I have to redirect his attention and get him focused again. While doing his HW we always do it at the kitchen table, no TV, radio anything that will disrupt him, complete silence. I also take the phone off the hook so that doesn't ring either. His teacher is seeing the same at school. I am just so upset over this, this may have something to do with the headaches that he gets. Everyone keeps telling me he is not being challenged enough, that he is bored. I just don't know and like I said the medication is the very last resort.

Any info that anyone can provide please do so. TIA

 

[4d2008]

a child that has ADD? Had a conference with my son's teacher yesterday and she believes that he has ADD. I agreed to let the school start the testing and I am also going to get a second opinion just to make sure. I do not want to have to medicate him if I don't have to.

He has a very hard time staying focused, but on the plus side is very, very smart. He is in 2nd grade and is already reading 90+ words a minute, spelling is out of the world, now math comes a little hard for him because it requires him to focus more. When doing HW at home it take anywhere between 10-20mins to get his attention. While doing his HW he often drifts off topic and starts talking about things that don't pertain to what he doing. So then I have to redirect his attention and get him focused again. While doing his HW we always do it at the kitchen table, no TV, radio anything that will disrupt him, complete silence. I also take the phone off the hook so that doesn't ring either. His teacher is seeing the same at school. I am just so upset over this, this may have something to do with the headaches that he gets. Everyone keeps telling me he is not being challenged enough, that he is bored. I just don't know and like I said the medication is the very last resort.

Any info that anyone can provide please do so. TIA

My oldest son does, He was tested years ago. Dont stress about it so much, I remember going thru the hassle of it all and I hated the fact of him being on meds but once the tests were done and we found a rx we could all agree on the difference was night and day.

 

[redneck_woman]

My biggest worry is him becoming a zombie once he gets started on the meds.

 

[Cowgirl]

Oh boy. :canofworms: I'd suggest doing a forum search. There have been several threads on this topic. Just remember he's your child, so you decide what is best for him and your family.

 

[4d2008]

My biggest worry is him becoming a zombie once he gets started on the meds.

No its not like that, the older my son got the more he hated the meds but the meds arent a life long thing either its just something to calm the body a bit for the youngins. The side effects he had were he didnt eat alot but that also could just be another thing Ive passed down to him (as the adhd) because I only eat like once a day. He wasnt a zombie or zoned out, he was fully focused and still had plenty of energy he was just able to focus more clearly on things that basically didnt interest him and he took his time more instead of trying to fly as fast as he could through work then being gossip central and class clown while everyone else is still working.

 

[Mousebaby]

My daughter has it. She gets Concerta in the morning and she gets ritalin at 1:00 at school everyday. She is doing great! Her grades are pretty darn good and she does her homework as soon as she walks through the front door without being told. I highly recommend this combination. Of course everyone is different. Good Luck!

 

[sanchezf]

My son was just diagnosed with ADD this summer. I also had the school telling me from an early age and my so was also very very intelligent. I went and saw Trevor Valentine in Calvert Co, he specializes in ADD and ADHD children, he will not force you into medicine however after talking with him I decided we would try it to see what would happen. No zombie effect at all, this year he does his homework all by himself and this child who last year was failing the 5th grade (all D's and F's) brought home his progress report A, B, A, B, C, B, B. Take it from me take him to see a specialist and get him help now, I wish I hadn't waited so long...

 

[Agee]

and this child who last year was failing the 5th grade (all D's and F's) brought home his progress report A, B, A, B, C, B, B. Take it from me take him to see a specialist and get him help now, I wish I hadn't waited so long...

Good for him and you!

and yes don't put it off and let it follow your child into adult hood! Can lead into addictions and undesirable behaviors

 

[redneck_woman]

My son was just diagnosed with ADD this summer. I also had the school telling me from an early age and my so was also very very intelligent. I went and saw Trevor Valentine in Calvert Co, he specializes in ADD and ADHD children, he will not force you into medicine however after talking with him I decided we would try it to see what would happen. No zombie effect at all, this year he does his homework all by himself and this child who last year was failing the 5th grade (all D's and F's) brought home his progress report A, B, A, B, C, B, B. Take it from me take him to see a specialist and get him help now, I wish I hadn't waited so long...

I have already scheduled an appointment with Dr. Saleh in Calvert....

 

[poster]

My biggest worry is him becoming a zombie once he gets started on the meds.

I had the same fear with my daughter, she is very mellow but was still having a focus issue. I have learned that "zombie" symptom of the meds means that it's the wrong kind or too much. My pediatrician explained to me that once on the proper meds the improvement would be immediate. He was right, the very first day I gave it too her she was totally focused.

Are his grades suffering?

 

[redneck_woman]

I had the same fear with my daughter, she is very mellow but was still having a focus issue. I have learned that "zombie" symptom of the meds means that it's the wrong kind or too much. My pediatrician explained to me that once on the proper meds the improvement would be immediate. He was right, the very first day I gave it too her she was totally focused.

Are his grades suffering?

His grades are very good, his spelling tests that he has had so far this year he has gotten 100% on, Math once focused he does great! He is only in 2nd grade, so he doesn't receive A, B, or C's yet. Next year he will....

 

[lbreder]

I have already scheduled an appointment with Dr. Saleh in Calvert....

Both my kids see him! Both my kids have ADHD. The thing is there are soooo many different ways of carrying it. My oldest has to take two meds in the morning. It last all day, but one of them controls the outburst. He does so much better in school and has brought his grades up.My youngest is not on meds cause it didnt work out for him but he uses writing as a way to control himself and this isnt effecting his grades. Have you ever been tested? In school I was tested and I have ADD. One thing I will def. reccomend is do lots of research and learn about the meds and the side effects. I did so much reading that when I went to see Dr. Saleh I told him I wanted to try my son on this cause of all the reading i did and it wouldnt effect his heart. You will notice a different and you will be so pleased with everything. Keep getting different opinions from other parents cause you are most def. not the only one and surely wont be the last! There are millions of kids out there that have it and dont even realize they got it. Hope things work out!

 

[redneck_woman]

Both my kids see him! Both my kids have ADHD. The thing is there are soooo many different ways of carrying it. My oldest has to take two meds in the morning. It last all day, but one of them controls the outburst. He does so much better in school and has brought his grades up.My youngest is not on meds cause it didnt work out for him but he uses writing as a way to control himself and this isnt effecting his grades. Have you ever been tested? In school I was tested and I have ADD. One thing I will def. reccomend is do lots of research and learn about the meds and the side effects. I did so much reading that when I went to see Dr. Saleh I told him I wanted to try my son on this cause of all the reading i did and it wouldnt effect his heart. You will notice a different and you will be so pleased with everything. Keep getting different opinions from other parents cause you are most def. not the only one and surely wont be the last! There are millions of kids out there that have it and dont even realize they got it. Hope things work out!

I have never been tested for it and really can't say I show any signs of it. His father doesn't have it either. I am going to print out a bunch of info for me and my family to better understand what it is and if he does have it how to deal with him.

 

[lbreder]

I have never been tested for it and really can't say I show any signs of it. His father doesn't have it either. I am going to print out a bunch of info for me and my family to better understand what it is and if he does have it how to deal with him.

Good luck with it! Dont feel so overwhelmed with it all. It is a alot to take in, but keep telling yourself you are not the only one dealing with this. He (the Dr.) is good at trying things if it doesnt work out. Most people who do have ADD dont realize it and most people learn to live with it. My son takes his meds very well and once it kicks in I have my baby back! I dont know if there are any supports groups in dealing with children with ADD or ADHD. We had one before I moved back here. Im sure if there was a support group people would want to learn from other parents on how to deal with the ADD/ADHD.

 

[lbreder]

Also, I would recommend to get your child a full physical before just to make sure your child is healthy for any of the meds he may be put on. My son has a heart condition so we have to monitor him close with his meds and he has to see his cardio. often to make sure things are going well.

 

[Nickel]

I just don't know and like I said the medication is the very last resort.

Do some research on the connection between diet/certain foods and ADD/ADHD. You may be able to correct the "problem" by eliminating the triggers rather than medicating.

 

[IntegritysDream]

I had/have anxity with possible ADD and have been going to therapy for 6 years, im a teenager. I was on meds for a while, and meds didnt do anything for me. They always made my situation worse. My mom changed my diet some (eliminating alot of sugar products), and i got involved in horses and got a job and stay busy from 445am-600pm between school, riding, work, homework, by 730 im too wore out to worry.
I work before school to help get some of my extra energy/flustrations burned up, so i can focus and be relaxed in school. With your son since hes so young, i would just try to change his diet gradually, and go to a theripist to get him evaluated. They can also give you some tips on how to handle it and work with him to see what the best options could be for him. I mostly grew out of mine within the last 6 months surprisingly. Meds might help him or might not. Maybe put him in a sport or find him a hobby he loves doing that will help burn that extra flustraition or energy.

 

[lbreder]

Its gonna be all in a matter of whats best for you and for your family. Like I said my two boys have two different degrees of it and is on meds and the other isnt. Just do the research and talk to the Dr.

 

[ocean733]

I haven't read all of these posts, but there is scientific uncertaintly as to whether ADD actually exists.

If he's doing well in school, then I wouldn't worry.

I had a student last year that used to not (appear) to pay any attention to me, but excelled academically. I don't know how he did it. He was so funny. I just adored him. He would make up stories and not listen during lesson time and then ace the paper work.

 

[poster]

His grades are very good, his spelling tests that he has had so far this year he has gotten 100% on, Math once focused he does great! He is only in 2nd grade, so he doesn't receive A, B, or C's yet. Next year he will....

If his grades are fine then why is the teacher concerned?
Is he disruptive? If he's not then I would question the teacher further.
What county school are you in and have you gotten the counselor involved?