They Gave my son Adderall at THE AGE OF TWO!

United States
September 14, 2008 9:31am CST
I have a son who was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two. I thought he was just a normal toddler myself. The doctor insisted he should be medicated with adderall to help him as he grows with concentration. My son is nine now and has been off adderall for a year. I took him to a check up with his doctor and he began to tell me my son was not Autistic. Thoughts began to enrage me! They had my baby on drugs from the age of 2 years old! I took him off this medication last year. He struggled every now and then with hyper active behavior. I spoke with his teacher about him no longer being medicated and it seemed to me at that point on she was constantly pokeing her finger at him! I recieved a phone call from his teacher two weeks later. This is the conversation we had. "Mrs. Anderson this is Phil's teacher Mrs. XXX, May I ask you a question?" I said sure. "Do you have a problem medicating your children?" I did not know what to say other then excuse me!!!! I later found out that both of her children are medicated with adderall as well. My son is a straight A student and has the highest scores on SOL testings in the area we live in. Non medicated! My daughter who is now home schooled told me almost all of her friends were on the same medication, and they even sold it as a drug to snort up thier noses! My question to everyone is... WHY ARE THERE MORE DRUGS GIVEN TO OUR CHILDREN IN TODAYS AGE BY PROFESSIONALS? I am upset with this because my child was one of them and he had to go through the withdrawls of not having his medicine in the beginning! What gives a teacher any right to ask me if I had a problem with medicating my children! She bullied him everyday about taking his adderall! Was she simply the laziest teacher I have faced? I sat and watched his behavior at an honor roll assembly and looked over at him and he was sitting on his hands? I took him out of school that day! He is now doing wonderful in his class this year.. I have had no problems with his so called behavior so far. The teacher has not been told about the sittuation we had last year. I am curious to see what the difference will be. Amy
1 person likes this
1 response
heavenschild
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
14 Sep 08
Hello Amy! I have a five year old with Autism (Diagnosed at 2years and five months) but it has never been suggested by a doctor or otherwise that he be put on any meds! I think when they are that young it is not right to do that!!! If it ever was suggested that I medicate my boy I would refuse it at any age because I have seen what it does to kids and I do not want a zombie for a son...I want his accomplishments to be his accomplishments! I applaud you for removing the meds! I agree, the less the teachers know the better...something like that is better to keep to yourself and I am sure your boy will have a much better year! So sorry that you had to go through all of that! what criteria did they use to diagnose your son as Autistic? How do you misdiagnose that!? Was his speech and everything normal? I am having a hard time grasping the thought of such incompetent doctors!! I knew my boy was not right but they all thought I was crazy and told me he would grow out of it...I had to fight and go from doctor to Doctor until I found someone who listened to me and saw something and sent us to the proper professionals! All the best to you and your children and thanks for the add as well! I truly hope you enjoy your time here at My Lot! ~Heavens~
Amywrites
@Amywrites (143)
• United States
14 Sep 08
When my son was diagnosed with AS I was young myself, 23. My husbands parents and Aunt came to visit and when they left we recieved a letter from them. Which by the way they are all in the medical field. The letter wrote they noticed he was different then other children. He had to have for example 2 cookies not one. Things like a sandwhich it had to be whole not cut or he would not eat it. He could do addition in the hundreds without a blink of an eye. When we took him to the doctor that diagnosed him with AS he observed him for an hour with certain toys one I remember being a train, and when the doctor took one of the pieces of the train and traded it with another piece my son did not like it one bit. The doctor also ran some tests with speech and pictures ect... Than that is when he told My husband and I he was Autistic. I wish I would have denied the medication then, but I felt so much pressure from family and doctors I felt it was best for him. I will keep updateing his progress with this school year. I appreciate your read and comment as well. Much Much Blessing to you and your family Amy
1 person likes this
heavenschild
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
14 Sep 08
Well, a two year old who can do addition in the hundreds is very brilliant and definitely gifted! When the doctor switched the train piece did he have an out right tantrum over it? Was he verbal at two years old? Could you dress him and bathe him and change his diaper without any confrontation from him? I understand the pressure and feeling you must be doing the right thing for him... I was twenty-five when my boy was born and so I was almost twenty eight when he was diagnosed and had a back ground in the education field so I knew what was normal and not normal and have already decided he will never be on meds! I appreciate the updates through the upcoming months... If you go to my profile you can learn more about my boy and his progress through my past discussions if you like! Many Blessings to you and your family as well Amy! ~Heavens~