To medicate or not | ADHD Information
Thanks for all the input and support
I am going on Friday to visit the class but I think we will be trying the meds. He has a lot going for him so I'd really like to focus on that. The shcool psychologist noted that these kids often only hear negative and it's really hard to bring their self-esteem back.
I sometimes wonder why this is happening especially since we had to have IVF to even have Gregory in the first place but having all your kind posts reminds me that we're not alone and we will get through this.
gregsmom-We started medication when ds was about 8 1/2 and the problems with adhd were affecting his self esteem. It has allowed him to realize his potential without the severe effects of adhd interfering. Chewing on his t shirts was common when he was younger and I'm not sure exactly when that disappeared. I do remember at ten being surprised that he had chewed on a shirt, becasue he hadn't done that for a long time. Maybe it mostly disappeared after he was on medication. I don't remember. He is now 18 and I am so proud of him. He is responsible and successful in many areas. It was a rough road for many years and even a year ago I was wondering if he'd be responsible enough to go away to college. I have no doubts now.
How interesting - I never knew that about the oral fixation! - any relation to thumb sucking? My dd was a finger sucker until the end of first grade. (I also, was a thumb sucker until about that age and have been wondering lately if I'm in denial about possible inattentive ADD in myself.) She also was a "chewer" but seems to have grown out of it now by 3rd grade. She would chew her shirt until she had a big sopping wet spot!
Here's a thought I've had for several years though - I have struggled with depression since childhood. I've wondered if there is any connection between thumb/finger sucking and depression. Could there be a deficit in neurotransmitters as an infant and toddler already, that we thumb suckers tried to "medicate" ourselves with the only thing we knew how to make us feel better? I know depression and ADHD have something to do with neurotransmitters. I know for infants, the sucking activity really helps them calm themselves - I wonder if it releases any sort of neurotransmitters? Oooo - I wish I knew a researcher who could take this and run with it! Or it would be even interesting to do a poll or something and see how many people with ADHD were thumb/finger suckers.
Ham... you might do a websearch. There's definitely studies and info out there on the connection between sucking/chewing and a part in the brain that needs to be stimulated in people dx'd with ADHD.I decided right away to medicate my child, otherwise the school was going to put him in the special class with kids with worse problems than mine, so I decided to medicate and they left him in the same class, why make it more diffulcult for them if they already know that something is wrong with them. My chld is another person it also depends how bad their adhd is, my ds is moderate he is just taking ritalin LA 10 mg, and at school he is doing amazing good. He is repeating kindergarten because last year he just learn 4 to 6 letters. Also ADHD kids are not that mature than kids with out this situation. So after all the testing they did to him at age 6 he was ready emotionally and mentally for kinder, I made the best decision he is doing so goodl and he loves to do homeworks.
I bought him 2 DVD of leap frog called the family wors and the letter factoty he wants to watch them every day. I love him so much.
Good luck, 
I am also struggling with this decision and will start doing more research on meds. My son has been in private kindergarten for about 10 weeks now. I've had his teacher implement a marble system to help motivate appropriate behaviour and she sends a journal home to me everyday with comments about his day. He struggles with meltdowns at least once a week at school. So today I went back to the psychologist to make sure I was doing everything (short of meds) that I could be doing for him and she said I was. Again she recommended looking into meds. I told her that I was more interested in supplements at this point and she gave me the same speech that my pediatrician did that it probably wouldn't work. Where are the open minded drs that are willing to help you find an alternative solution to help your kids?? I am going to give him a neurotransmitter test this weekend which will see if his body makes enough serotonin as my allergist says this could be part of his problems. The allergist also said that the neurotransmitter test would help us figure out which meds might benefit my son more rather than trying them out without succession (if it comes to that). Sorry to go on and on. Just feeling more than a little frustrated that I don't seem to be able to get suggestions from the drs on how to help my child other than meds. Just needed to vent a little bit.
Medicating is a personal decision and one that only you can make. My son is 7 and I have chosen not to medicate him at this point. We are using behavior modification, Focus and Omega 3s and he's also in a special ed class at school for his academics. Seems to be doing okay at the moment.
Good luck!
I'm a new one, but have 2 cents to put in. My 7 yr old was recently diagnosed, before that they kept talking about Asperger's, so a diagnosis of an actual physical issue was in a way positive. I've been reading everything and anything I can get my hands on regarding ADHD meds, and we've decided to give it a try. Although I initially was against meds, what really sent me the other way was talking to adults who were diagnosed older and stared meds where they could tell the side effects. I think the one that really got to me was a good friend's husband that was diagnosed at 30 and when I asked him how he felt, he said at first he was relieved to finally have a name for it and then he was mad, he had always considered himself a bad kid because he couldn't function like the others and he was made that his folks nor his teachers thought to get him tested and perhaps get help (either meds or therapy) and give him a chance at being just a kid and not struggling with his issues day in and day out. I think we're going to give Reed that opportunity, but I'm such a mother-hen that if ANYTHING looks out of norm, we'll pull him out. Here's to good luck!Hi, my 7 yr. old son has ADHD. I agree that it's always a very difficult, personal decision whether or not to medicate. I chose not to medicate him. We work hard on behavioral issues and he's doing fairly well. One day at a time. I want to try the omega-3 fish oils. Can't hurt.Ok, I have to throw in my 2 cents here. My Ds has the same oral fixation, I am not bothered by it and do not point it out to him. We got the ADHD diagnosis at 4 when he came home from school and told me he had no friends.
Last year, he started to make friends and one child on the playground decided to give him a hard time. We used private kindergarten as a stepping stone. We tweaked his meds, learned how to relate to peers and got in step. As a result, this year he is in public kindergarten and I had my first pernt conference last week. The teacher told me nothing but good things and that there were several trouble makers in the class and that my DS was NOT one of them.
With the meds, he can sit still, follow directions, do his work. He is not the "odd" one out. He still has issues, believe me, but he is vastly improved. Without the meds, I don't know where we would be. He has a great "network" of friends now and is confident enough to start a sport this year, he chose football.
It is a big decision to medicate and when I first heard of medication and read all the junk going around I said "I would never medicate my child". Now after hearing a lot of positive things from this board and talking to my doctor my fears eased and I did not want my girl to be an outcast and tried the meds. low dose and she did awsome. The meds were a godsend and we were told we will try it for a year then see how she does without. Well this year she is in a study and in not on meds and doing terrible and behavior mod not working so back to meds we go. You could try observing him at school for a day, including recess and lunch. That might help you decide whether the social issue is really impacting him, and then go from there.He is just starting school? Give it some time before you make your decision about meds. Maybe the school has some way that may help. If he is doing okay academically maybe there is something else that you could do about his behaviour. You didn't really say what that was except for the "putting things in his mouth" part. I agree with "Notellin" about observing him for a few days if you can. Maybe he is just a very sensitive boy???My son, 13, and my daughter, 6, both have a strange fixation on putting things in their mouth. I used to think my oldest would grow out of it. I still find I'm always asking what's in your mouth. My son likes to keep gum or hard candy (sugarless) and I have started trying to keep some on hand for both of them. That seems to keep other things from winding up in their mouths.Chase used his beloved "fi-fi" (pacifier) until he was 3 and 1/2!! After he was 1, I didn't let him roam the house with it (though he tried)--I would throw (or have him do it) it down on his crib mattress before I would lift him out. Then he moved to a 'big boy' bed, and he would go and get one and I would catch him sucking away and retrieve it. I finally told him that if I caught him with one outside of his bed, I would throw it away (by now, he had accumulated MANY). After I tossed a few, he no longer brought them down stairs....but he would disappear at odd times and I or one of the older kids would go looking for him, and there he would be, laying on his bed, fi-fi in mouth, getting a 'fix'! Horrible way to put it but it seemed appropriate.
He finally gave up the pacifier at about 3 1/2 or so, but to this day I see him with something in his mouth(or just laying something next to his mouth) while he is watching TV for example. Never thought about it til I read this thread....interesting.
Putting your child on medication is a huge decision. I for one was totally against the idea. We tried behavioral counseling and anything else I could think of before we put him on meds. The only reason I finally relented was because of school issues where I felt like they were giving up on my child and he was out in the hall or the principals office more than getting an education. I was also very concerned how it was affecting his social life with his peers. He is also very sensitive and was feeling left out. After we started meds, the teacher commented how kids were commenting to her how he wasn't so annoying and misbehaved.
We are from a fairly small town, and until my son was diagnosed I didn't have a clue about the whole ADHD thing. I'm grateful I found this board and still haven't navigated around it all but I am going to check out the Alternatives area.
Good Luck!
Hi all,
My 6 yo ds was dx with ADHD about 6 mnths ago although we've had issues right from the getgo with daycare since he was 1.5. One centre even told us they were unable to deal with him full time but by that time he was ready for kindergarten.
I met with the school today and they are really recommending we try meds. He is okay academically but his big issue is the social scene. He is being excluded by the other kids and being very sensitive, his feelings are getting hurt. They don't feel there are any learning disablitiles and are actually willing to work with us if we choose not to medicate.
Also, he keeps putting things near his face or in his mouth all the time. He hit all his milestones way ahead of time but this is one thing he can't seem to get over. At least he is no longer biting the other kids.....
I'm just having real trouble getting my head around putting him on meds after all the negative things I've read about Ritalin etc.
I certainly would appreciate some of your success stories and if anyone else has had the oral thing happening. The school psychologist indicated it was not somehting she normally sees.
Moderate to severe ADHD
The oral thing is VERY common in ADHD -- there have been studies conducted that kids w/ ADD/HD are allowed to chew on something they perform better on tests vs. not being able to chew on something! It's a part of the brain that is stimulated by oral sensation.
The decision to medicate or not is a big one -- many medicate with success and I'd recommend you do your research. We chose not to medicate and manage the behavior successfully w/ supplements and diet modifications. There's more info on both on the Alternatives and Complimentary Meds section of this board....
They HAVE to be willing to work with you if you choose not to medicate -- it's not their choice! Welcome to the board, I think you will find good support here!
Thanks.
I've read so much about meds and naturopathic remedies. It's so hard to know what to do.
All I want (like everyone else) is for my son be happy.