ADD and ADHD

Be very carefull. This is such an overused diagnosis. It seems to be a catch all for nearly every behavior problem, most of which are just normal kids being normal kids. I dealt with this with my youngest daughter when she was 5. The school was trying to push the issue pretty hard actually. I refused to go along with it or put her on meds. She was just a very active and bubbly 5 year old kid. Today, this same kid is now in her first year of nursing college, graduated high in her class and lives a very normal mentaly healthy life of her own, WITH OUT meds or fancy diagnosis. Don't let yourself get caught in that trap. Kids are kids and 99.9% of suposed ADHD diagnosies are just kids being kids. Kids misbehave, it's a reality of raising kids. I would especialy warn against meds of any sort for this. A lot of damage can be done with them. If you suspect there is something more at work, try a change in their diet. Very often, a lot of foods have ingredients that can activate certain behaviors. Things like MSG and such are notorrious for this as are sugers. My kids couldn't eat balognia or most brands of hot dogs when they were little, did horrid things to their behavior. But again, in most cases, thse issues are just kids acting like kids and it is nothing to be alarmed about but what ever you do, do not put your child on the crutch of an ADHD diagnosis. As far as I'm concerned, it's all nothing but a load of bunk. Again, don't let your self be too alarmed over this. I hope i didnt come across as too crass by the way, it was not my intention at all, just trying to put your mind at ease.

Kids are always kids. Some of them likes to explore in different ways. They probe, they smash, they shout maybe to get attention or maybe merely trying to get the reaction of every body around them. That is still learning. Most of the artist got ADD but they are diagnose late (they are still OK and living well). But of course as a parent we need to be ready to support them as they grow. On my opinion, expert advise could be necessary. It doesn't usually mean that all children with this disorder needs medications. Some may need our patience and understanding more than anything else. At least, you will know how to handle it.

I am another that agrees that these diagnoses are made far too often in children...but that is not to say that it does not exist. The diagnoses cannot be made based purely on behavior. Your child should be tested extensively by a neuropsychologist to make the diagnosis. A school psychologist may do testing, but they are not truly equipped or educated to test as thoroughly as a neuropsychologist can. That and a good medical doc will make the best assessment of your child. As for the meds, if they are truly needed, you shouldn't fear them. Those with ADD/ADHD are already 'wired' up so to speak...in their cases, the stimulant properties actually work to slow and 'calm' them down, as their systems are already hyperstimulated due to the disorder. It might take a while to find the right med, but if your child truly needs it, don't give up!

maybe this will help you http://www.adhd.com/index.html

I was actually talking about this with a friend the other day... how doctors and teachers are quick to "diagnose" ADD or ADHD in children who are really just acting out to get attention. I have noticed a couple of things about people who legitimately have ADD. 1.) they (we) don't use it as an excuse for bad behavior and 2.) they are able to see the signs of it in other people within just a short time. ADD and ADHD does not cause, or lead to, bad behavior. More than anything it leads to frustration and confusion, which, if left unnoticed, can ultimately lead to acting out but it is not the disorder that causes the behavior. I have gotten along fine without medication all my life. I grew up in a time before the terms ADD or ADHD even existed and I learned how to manage it on my own. I have good days and bad days, days when I can focus perfectly fine and days when my brain flits from one thought to another in a matter of seconds, sometimes without finishing the first thought. On my bad days, my short term memory is pretty much non-existent...you can tell me something and by the time you've completed the sentence I've forgotten how it started. I think the key, at least it has always been for me, is to find something to focus on. For me it's always been music. If I just have music playing softly in the background while trying to concentrate on something else the part of my brain that needs to focus on the task can focus while the part(s) that would otherwise wander about aimlessly, eventually taking the part that needs to concentrate with it on the journey, can focus instead on the music and be still. I just treat my brain like a candy-coated child and all is good

My son is nearly 7 and it has taken me over 9months to get him diagnosed as well as medicated for ADHD.My son used to smash the class room up aswell as kick the teachers,only had a 5 min attention span aswell as do not sleep.He has been given the low slow release of ridelyon and so far there has been no change in him at all.May i say that they do not wack medication in a high dose into a child,i to just like you thought that the medication was a bad medication but that was because years ago they put higher strength than what they needed in children where as now they build it up until they get it right.