Now What? Advice Please. | ADHD Information
Thank you all again...
I am going to go the homeopathic route until I can get in with a neuro. I have an appt. with a homeo doc today. The meds is not the result I am looking for.
I will let you know how it goes.
If his issues are mainly to do with hyperactivity, have you considered in having a look at his diet? What sort of foods does he eat? Is there any specific foods he just 'can't live without'? Also, how regularly does he eat? Does he eat breakfast? Eat a snack for recess? Eat a good portion for lunch?
IMO meds should be used as a last resort. I have yet to put my son on any and he's been dx with ADHD among other things. I have also put him on omega oils and magnesium. Since I've started this, his grades have improved all around in comparison with first and second term (kindergarten). His teacher feels that he's even smarter than most of the kids in his class and that she's generally not too concern over him at this point. He has a few issues that we're working on (language/auditory) but other than that, he's made a lot of improvements.
I'd request for an IEP meeting as well as another assessment done through a neuro-psychologist. They have a better handle on childhood disorders and can give you alternative methods to try first. I'd be a bit cautious with CHADD as they promote medications.
The first thing we did was check his diet. I cook breakfast everyday for them and dont expect alot from lunch as he usually just snacks and has no appetite. So...he eats a great breakfast and a great dinner and I am ok with that.
I would however love some advice on alternatives in regards to hyperactivity and focus as those are his only symptoms.
NichosMom38809.4208564815I apologize this is so long...
I need help. My son was diagnosed 2 years ago by a therapist and she said he has extreme ADHD with an IQ of 138. We were sent to a psychiatrist who prescribed Concerta and we have dabbled with that off and on from 18 mgs. to most recently 54 mgs. he is 8 now and weighs 57 pounds. We just started last Monday with Adderall 20 mgs. because I just saw my son in a "comatose" like state of mind. When he takes any med at any level I am unhappy. This is not my son. My son is happy go lucky and full of energy and cannot concentrate. Thats it. No rage no crying spells no violence.
Heres the problem...public school is not helpful. We just moved across the country and are having the worst time of 2nd grade. I went to class today to see for myself and he basically sat there looking off into space all morning then was punished for not doing his work and this was on meds. anything stronger and he seems depressed. At least he eats on Adderall.
How do I get the teacher to care? And show him in this most crucial time in his schooling that she cares? I am worried everyday about him and where do I go from here?
Thank you to anyone with ANY advice
My suggestion is to have him evaluated by a neuropsychologist, who can assess for many childhood disorders, including but not limited to ADHD. Staring off into space could be ADHD, but it could also be an ADHD mimicker. Since you're having so much difficulty with meds, in your shoes I'd want to make sure I'm dealing just with ADHD before putting interventions into place.
BTW, my 12-year-old son has an IQ in the highly gifted range and his "spaciness" and increasing anger as he hit puberty turned out to be bipolar disorder. I'm not saying that's what's going on with your son; I'm just making you aware that there are other dxes out there.
I agree with smallmom to have him evaluated if you haven't already. IMHO since everyone responds differently to different meds and doses, I would have prefered to try short acting methylphenidate than the long acting. Also because it is easier to fine tune Ritalin whereas Concerta cannot be tampered with. My ds is very sensitive to slight changes in methylphenidate. One mg. honestly makes a difference. One mg under the best dose and he notices the difference in his ability to concentrate. One mg over and he can be irritable and then on his way to a zombie. It took a long time to fine tune.Sorry I went on...anyway, being that you just moved, I would be happy to recommend a couple names of people for neuropsych testing or doctors that treat mood disorders. I left you a private message if you'd like to contact me. If not that's okay too.
Regards,
jfla
I don't think you can make the teacher care; however, is he on a 504 Plan or an IEP? If you have the Guidance Counselor involved, perhaps he/she can assist you in working with is teachers.
Although I work Part Time, I spend a lot of time at the school. I have found if you volunteer at the school, the teachers treat your child better.
Have you had a conference with his teacher and explained the situation? I also have found that teachers make a huge difference and the way they interact with your child can have serious reprocussions.
I would first conference with his teacher. If you aren't happy with how he is being treated, I would then talk with the Guidance Counselor and if you are still having issues afterwards, then I would go to the Principal and request that your child be moved if you feel his teacher is lacking compassion. Your son needs a good teacher, especially since you all just moved and he is adjusting.
I can totally relate to the heartache you feel placing him on medication. I can't believe he is only 78 pounds, my guy weighed 90 in 2nd Grade. He is by no means fat or chubby, just a big boy.
He takes Clonidine to suppress the hyperactivity and it counteracts with the Ritalin LA, so his appetite is not suppressed by any means. In addition, he takes Celexa to help with the irritability from the stimulant and it helps with depression.
Make sure when you see his physician you share with him/her what you have witnessed.
Finally, it is extremely imperative to have a good psychiatrist. Children need additional medication if they are taking a stimulant, which is known to cause irritability.
Hope this is helpful!
My personal opinion is that anytime a child is being medicated, the child should be seen regularly by a child psychiatrist. I don't believe in taking a child to a therapist or other mental health professional and having another doctor on the side, who prescribes meds, though this is very standard practice and probably what happens most often in the treatment of ADHD. It takes some serious searching to find a psychiatrist who does both the therapy and the meds. I would imagine in some smaller cities, it would be very difficult to find one. I would suggest calling the closest CHADD office and asking for recommendations of psychiatrists who treat ADHD in your area, then call these psychiatrists and ask if they do both the medication and the therapy. I think with your son this is very important because he's having some seriously negative side effects to meds. I would really want to know why and have a physician closely monitor this. My son could not take any of the standard ADHD meds, but he has done very well on Tenex, which doesn't seem to phase other ADHD kids, at all. ADHD is not one thing. If it were, one drug would probably work. It is, instead, a group of behaviors and symptoms, and only a good psychiatrist can review the side effects your son is having and figure out a better med for him.
I wish you a lot of luck! Getting meds straight is often difficult and, unfortunately, "hit or miss."
I was just looking for somw supprt from the school, not in medicating just in everyday school life. I dont want him sitting there all day I just thought maybe the teacher could give him a little extra attention which it seems is all he needs in the class. I did not give him his meds one day and the teacher said he was out of his seat all day. He knows the school work just has no motivation to do it.
As I said the Concerta made him out of it, but calm. The Adderall is working better. I really think its just hyper activity. He does not have any other symptoms really, just cannot sit still.
My question is now what...he does not see anyone regularly except his pediatrician. Should he be seeing a psychiatrist? What does a neuro do? How do I find a good one?
Thanks again and again and again.
[QUOTE=NichosMom]I apologize this is so long...
I need help. My son was diagnosed 2 years ago by a therapist and she said he has extreme ADHD with an IQ of 138.
Extreme ADHD? What was his behavior?
We were sent to a psychiatrist who prescribed Concerta and we have dabbled with that off and on from 18 mgs. to most recently 54 mgs. he is 8 now and weighs 57 pounds. We just started last Monday with Adderall 20 mgs. because I just saw my son in a "comatose" like state of mind. When he takes any med at any level I am unhappy.
Then why are you medicating him?
This is not my son. My son is happy go lucky and full of energy and cannot concentrate. Thats it. No rage no crying spells no violence.
"Full of energy and cannot concentrate" is not severe ADHD. Why was he given this dx?
Heres the problem...public school is not helpful.
What do you want them to do?
We just moved across the country and are having the worst time of 2nd grade. I went to class today to see for myself and he basically sat there looking off into space all morning then was punished for not doing his work and this was on meds. anything stronger and he seems depressed. At least he eats on Adderall.
I wouldn't want my child on any drug that caused him to space out like this. Why is he being medicated, if this is the way he acts on meds?
How do I get the teacher to care? And show him in this most crucial time in his schooling that she cares? I am worried everyday about him and where do I go from here?
What do you want her to do? Your son is sitting all morning and not doing any work. What do you think her reaction should be? How can she help your son?
Thank you to anyone with ANY advice
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Hello! It appears from what you have written that the problem your son is having is that he is being improperly medicated. If meds change his personality to this point and make him zone out and become a zombie, then the drugs aren't working for him. I am not sure what the school can do, for it does not have anything to do with medicating your son. I guess you can ask them to let him sit there all day and zone out and not do any work, but I don't know why you would want to request this from the school. It seems to me that you should be talking to the psychiatrist and explaining the reaction your son is having to ADHD meds.
lillian38808.3323032407Wow, lots of great advice and input. Thank you.
I spoke to the teacher and the principal before he started school here, btw the principal has a son the same age with aspergers as well as ADHD so I thought they would place my son appropriatly. I was wrong. This morning when I was there observing him stare distracted I asked the teacher if she could stand by his desk and check on his work a little until he gets the hang of it and she said she cant "cause she has 20 other kids to handle". NICE!!
I dont know what 504 plan or iep or imho mean.
I would love any names of neuropsych in my area, I dont about any of this or what they do even. His new local pediatrician seems to be very knowledgable with ADHD and meds. I have learned more in the last 3 days of reading this site than I have talking to his doctor and reading alot of books in the last 2 years.
Again, thank you all. I learn something everday from all of you.
An IEP is an Individual Educational Plan which is given to children with a special ed diagnosis. Your son could qualify under OHI or other health impaired since he is ADHD. That would give him accomodations and any material needs he has to enable him to learn. This is covered under IDEA.
If not, he should qualify for a 504 which would provide him with accomodations that the teacher would have to do.
Click on this link and it will explain both for you. There are several articles there which are easy to understand. http://schwablearning.org/resources.asp?g=4&s=5
IMHO means in my humble opinion.
Good luck and keep us informed. This is just the starting point. Your son does not have to suffer. There are laws to protect him and to guarantee him a FAPE or Free and Public Education.
You may also want to consider counseling for him to help him adjust. We moved my son in 4th grade and the teacher and school staff seemed to resent having another child, especially one who didn't fit into their little preconceived mold of the perfect student. We didn't stay there for the entire year and leaving was the best thing we could have done for our son. If I could have gotten him into therapy, I think it would have made a big difference.
NichosMom, keep in mind that if you choose to medicate, it may take some time to find the right medication. When we were trialing meds for my DS, we had appointments with our child psychiatrist every week until we got the right med and dose. The right med for your child will allow him to focus and be calm, not make him zone out like you're describing. Find a good child psychiatrist in your area and start a medication management regimin with them. Also, start thinking about what classroom modifications you think would help your son, develop a written list and have a parent teacher conference, possibly involving the principal, where you discuss how the school can best help your child. If they are resistant to helping you, you'll need to apply for formal accommodations. graciepoints38809.7717708333The 504 Plan is what you are requesting without even knowing it. It can give your child classroom based accomodations. Example: being able to get up ever hour to do something...deliver school mail...notes etc... having a teacher assistant nearby to redirect your child when he gets off task...special class placement with a teacher who is familiar with and good at handling ADHD children....classroom placement of his desk to cut down on distractions....use of other materials to assist in limiting distractions. Look into the504 plan. To intiate the process you only need to send a letter requesting a meeting to discuss one for you child. you can also ask them to do a battery of tests including Academic Acheivement etc... I would specifically say you want the meeting to discuss both a 504 and IEP plan for your child. Always push them one step further. By asking for an IEP, they will usually be happy to get it down to an IEP. With the 504 you will meet regularly with his educators and discuss problems issues and ways to solve them. Once you give the school the letter of request..they have 30 days to send you a date for a meeting. you may also want to consider usingan Advocate. You can check your area for Advocates and at least talk to one before you go to the meeting. They can help guide you on the right way to go or what to request.
Good Luck!
