ADD/Gifted? | ADHD Information
Hi Madi'sMom.... My advice to you is that your child would be best served under the care of a child psychiatrist while going through a trial of meds because pediatricians don't have the expertise and knowledge in terms of medication management and also making a differential diagnosis if the child has something going on beyond ADHD or something co existing with ADHD . A child psychiatrist specializes in the field of diagnosing and treating childhood disorders whereas for a pediatrician, this is not their field of expertise. A child psychiatrist is well versed on the protocols for ADHD medications when the child is first going through a trail of meds and once the child is on the right dose and the right medication, a pediatrician can go on to write the prescriptions in the future. Getting a definitive diagnosis and finding the right medication for the child can be tricky and frustrating sometimes so a specialist is qualified to monitor the child while going through a trial of meds because you don't want a doctor who is unsure of the protocols.Luvmykids0239019.9884143519Madi's Mom wrote:
I think the scary thing right now is that her pediatrician and psychologist have both tossed around different drug names and then I wonder, "how do you pick?!"
What medications do they speak of? For ADHD, there are stimulant medications and then there is straterra which is a non stimulant. For ADHD, its not about what you pick, Its about which medication the child responds best to. Regardless of what ADHD medication the child is on, the role of all these medication is to curb the impulsive behavior and eliminate the distractibility factor. Every child is different in terms of which ADHD medication works for them best. When first starting medication, the child is put through a trial of medication until the right medication and the right dose and theraputic level is acheived.
Also, is there a point in which these little ones grow into their special needs. I mean, do they learn how to deal with their issues eventually? I worry that her spirit, her innate goodness, is suffering.
With the right interventions and treatment, these children do go on to learn how to deal with their limitations and struggles. Without effective treatment the child's spirit will suffer. Medication should not change the child. The role of medication is to unlock the child's potential. When the child succeeds, it's the child that deserves the credit, not the medication. The medication allows the child to actuality bring out their creative side and meet their full potential in all areas of life because it eliminates the distractibility factor and the impulsive behavior. Off medication, these children are viewed as children that are risk takers that have a zest for life when in actuality, they are acting before thinking and just throwing caution to the wind.
While pediatricians and psychologists diagnose ADHD, a child psychiatrist is best suited to diagnose and prescribe treatment for ADHD because they have the credentials and expertise to do so. Below is a link that will give you more insight into ADHD, medication and the role of medication.
Medication Management for Children and Adolescents with AD/HD (WWK3)
Dear Luvmykids,
You noted that a child psychiatrist should prescribe the meds? Should this be the route instead of her pediatrician? Thanks for the info. I printed the info. from the last link you sent.
Madi's mom,
Yes, school can be more demanding than it was for us. I think however, that our kids will be so much better for it. Kids never stop amazing me. I guess that i is why I absolutely love my job as an educator.
Smiles
Dear 4myson,
Thanks for the message! I feel a bit more hopeful now. School can be demanding, can't it? Newsweek mag had an article not too long ago about how demanding first grade has become.
I wish you many happy days with your son
I have two children with ADHD - 15 year old girl and 13 yearl old boy.
My 15 year old was reading at reading and writing at 3. She was talking fluently in sentences at 12 months. She wasn't medicated until she was 11 when we couldn't handle her moods!!! We would not have hqad her tested unless it was for her younger brother. She would never finish things - had heaps of projects on the go - appeared creative eccentric!!! She would forget things all the time. Then when we medicated her, she calmed down!!!!! The teachers thought we were nuts - she was their top english / etc student! (maths was becoming her weak link because she wouldn't be able to stay focused to complete a set exacting procedure! But an amzing thing happened - her maths which was on the 65percentile improved in 1 year to the 97 percentile. Accross the board her scores were between the 97-99 percentile for kids her age. Now she's an independent student with lots of friends and a calm (most of the time!) composure. She feels "together". She's a brilliant musician and very mature. She's off at boarding school during the week and has to organize her life. There would be no way she could do it unmedicated!
There is a brightside!!!!!!!! 
A sleepy/zombie child is on the wrong meds / wrong dose / wrong timing
I'm a teacher as well and a mother of a child with ad/hd. He has impulsive issues as well. Or at least did before we decided to medicate. We use a small dose 5mg for Foacalin and we follow a diet of high protein low carb foods as much as possible. The doctor recommended both. We have seen amazing changes in our son. He is loved by the kids around him now as he is now able to handle his impulsitivity and use his words ect.... He feels good about himself. He too demonstrates some gifted tendancies according to his teachers and doctor. We have yet to identify as he is not in public school until next year and I decided to put that on the back burner for now. He is currently in private Kinder due to age. He qualifies for public K next year due to age. We also have him in play therapy. I think/feel that you should look at the entire picture not just medicine. My opinion of course. Goodluck in making your decisions and with the right guidance I know your daughter will be able to get the help she needs.
Take care!
Madi's Mom wrote: Can a medication help with this impulsive behavior?
Absolutely.. Medication curbs the impulsivity and children begin to think before they act. It allows them to make a choice. Children with adhd live in the moment and don't see the consequences ahead of them. They are not premeditated because off medication, they are not consciencely making a choice. For those who chose to medicate, when medication is working at maximum benefit and in combination with behavior modfication, they do very well
Your daughter may be hitting because she may have very low self esteem and doesnt know how to express her feelings verbally so she lashes out. Children can be cruel and when children dont develop the coping skills necessary to deal with these situations, they lash out physically.
Fear is stifling and decisions about medication or any other treatment should never be based on fear but rather accurate knowledge. Medication is very safe when it is given under the care of a qualified physician and the child is monitored. If unacceptable side effects are seen, it is usually because the dose is too high, not the right medication or dose or the diagnosis is wrong or accompanied by a co existing disorder. For example, co existing bipolar disorder. The child with co existing bipolar disorder when given stimulant medication, the medication would tend to throw the child into a mania. Im not suggesting your child has this, just giving you examples as to why children react badly to stimulant medication. Hope this helps
Hello, I'm new to this forum. I have a 6 year old 1st grade daughter. She has been seeing a psychologist who recently dx her with add/gifted. Her struggles in school are behavioral. She is excelling with academics.A typical behavior issue with her is getting in trouble for hitting. She can lose her temper so easily in the middle of a great, playful situation. If someone calls her a name (which all little ones do, right?) she'll hit them! Why can't she shrug off the "little things" in her 1st grade life? We are afraid she'll keep hurting kids. Her teacher has assured me that she doesn't stand out from the other kids in class. I am a teacher too, and I can't help but worry that this is where she is headed.
What I'd like is feedback on meds. Can a medication help with this impulsive behavior? I've had students in my class literally fall asleep in during instruction. I'm scared to not medicate, and scared to go forward. Any thoughts would be much appreciated!!!! Love, Madi's Mom, Dad, and little Sis.
I'm fortunate..., I do not have a ADHD child myself, but I do have ADHD. So what would you do if she had a headache? See if it passes I guess (I would with a child). What if the headache lasts for a day? A month? A lifetime...., would you try "natural" remedies to help her? If they didn't work would you try to give her something "chemical" for it? My point is, ADHD will last, good days and bad days! But at the end it won't go away! Try meds..., see if it helps and then decide! Knowing what I know today at 40 (dx'd 2 months ago) I would have been gratefull having meds as a child! It would have made my life a lot easier....I have a daughter who is also gifted/ADD and was very afraid medicating--she is impulsive/inattentive, so unlike your daughter, her struggles in school stem from a whole lot of daydreaming. That said, I finally broke down and faced facts that we had to at least try medication with her, and it does control the 'always thinking in the here and now' aspect. It doesn't cure it 100% of the time, but she no longer stands out. Good luck! ok, that info. is reassuring. I think the scary thing right now is that her pediatrician and psychologist have both tossed around different drug names and then I wonder, "how do you pick?!"
I talked to the school psychologist yesterday and he is willing to jump in and help with behavior modification. Do you think with that comes the "coping skills" she is lacking?
Also, is there a point in which these little ones grow into their special needs. I mean, do they learn how to deal with their issues eventually? I worry that her spirit, her innate goodness, is suffering. I'm sure this concerns all parents.
Thanks again for your caring words.