dealing with son with adhd
By yang_peralta
@yang_peralta (73)
Philippines
March 13, 2007 11:28pm CST
my son, a 9-year old, has been having difficulties with his studies. he's in grade two right now but i doubt if he'll pass second grade. he's hyperactive, inattentive at school, disorganize. i haven't let him diagnose yet with a psychologist or any behavioral specialist because it's too expensive here in the Philippines. But basing on what i have read regarding ADHD, i presume my son is suffering with this condition. i still need to confirm until i got enough funds to let him be consulted with a specialist.i am having a hard time dealing with him not to mention my husband's indifference from him. i tried to educate my husband regarding my son's condition but still he cannot comprehend that much. maybe, they both have the same condition, i suspect.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@bloomoonjada (5)
• United States
18 Mar 07
I also have a 9 year old son with ADHD, he also has learning disabilities. Here in the states we have the Department of Family (or social) Services. You might check to see if there is some thing like it where you are at. Here if you are low income you can get medical insurance for your children and sometimes for yourself that would help with the cost.
Also, again this is for here but, if you request for the school to do a Independent Education Evaluation on your child at their expense they have to do it. They dont like to but they have to. You might try to find a parent/child advocate orginization that specializes in childrens education. They would be able to help you with your son and the school.
If you lived here I could help you even more. I will try to do some research for your situation and get back with you as soon as I can.
Good luck.
@yang_peralta (73)
• Philippines
19 Mar 07
thank you for your response. it is just so disheartening that our government has not yet implemented programs for this condition. however,here in our place - Cebu, Philippines- there is one non government office who has aprogram for special children like autism, down syndrome of which ADHD is being included. but, they have recommended me first to let my son see a specialist which really would cost me a lot. you are lucky because you live in a country who gives special attention to the specific needs of the children. so as for now, what i can do is to do some researching in how to deal with my son's condition. all i really need is a school that specializes ADHD. there are some but the tuition is so expensive that i could not really afford. the public school near our place does not have any specialization for ADHD. children with ADHD are being included in a standard class which just only let them feel more indifferent. teachers are not well-informed or well-educated with this condition. it's so disappointing.
@pointlesspunk (100)
• Canada
14 Mar 07
You seem to be in the situation I was in when I was a kid. If medication is not an option you just need to be very, very, patient with your son. As a kid my mom supported everything I did, despite my dad's indifference towards me and my ADD. Your son will forever be high maintenance, I'm 20 now and I'm still a pain in my mom's butt:) Without medication, your son will probably be regarded as a below average, disruptive student. For the love of God, don't think of him as a bad kid. You're going to need to do a LOT of research and you're going to get a lot of conflicting opinions. Experiment a lot with all different kinds of methods of learning and teaching. Methods for "normal" kids will not work on an ADHD/ADD kid. You just need to be patient, read a LOT (my mom's got about 50 books on the subject). Most of all, be patient and loving with your son. Also, just a quick fun fact, ADD/ADHD people usually have a higher IQ that the general population. My grades in gradeschool were sub-par, yet i retained a 98 percentile in terms of my IQ. If you have any questions or need anything else about this feel free to message/add me. Cheers.
@yang_peralta (73)
• Philippines
16 Mar 07
thank for your advice. i have been researching lately regarding ADHD. and i was enlightened by some of the publications in the net. i want to be a full time mother to my son so I can really take care of him. but you see i am a working mom and it is very hurting for me that I can not attend fully to my son with ADHD. when i get home, i feel so tired and sometimes i overlook him. i feel guilty for what he has become. there are times i cannot help him with his homework because of time constraint. when i get home it would be too late for us to study. and i do go to work very early because of the travel time I have from home to work. much as I want to resign from my work, but it would be difficult to meet both ends without me going to work. i pity him because he told me that he doesn't want to go back to second grade. but what can I do? he really has low grades and a very slow reader. he also has difficulty in his math. i really want him to send him to a school that caters ADHD children wherein he can also feel that he is not different from the others. for now, his self-esteem is very low. and i feel sad for him.
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Is there anyway the school can help you? Do they have a school counselor? Also when you take him to the doctor have you explained to the doctor his behavior. Maybe the doctor can give you some medicine until you can take him to a specialist. I feel for you as I know it is very difficult raising a child with ADHD.
@yang_peralta (73)
• Philippines
16 Mar 07
the school he is in don't have any school counselor. and still i haven't gone to the doctor yet. i am planning to him to a school that deals with ADHD. i still haven't seen one, too. but i am researching and have asking some schools that deal with ADHD children.
@atramesil (685)
• United States
22 Mar 07
Oddly enough, my mother when she was teaching would let ADHD kids that did not have their medication drink a coke or coffee. I have an ADHD boy who is twelve. He acts like my other two when they are tired or sleepy (stands on his head, wiggles, makes noises, bounces, ect.) all done in an attempt to keep himself alert. The medication he takes is a stimulant. Because it makes him more alert he can then concentrate more on his school work or other tasks. He will also tell you that he likes to go to the in scjhool suspension program, because there are fewer kids and it is quieter.
