8 year old son my have ADD | ADHD Information
Hello and welcome to the board. You've found a great place for information and support. I also have an 8 yr old boy. He was diagnosed last spring, and I was diagnosed a few months later. Don't feel guilty about not seeing the problem earlier. If you don't know a lot about ADHD then it can be hard to realize the behavior is more than "just a boy being a boy".
If you're looking for more comprehensive testing then you should look for a neuropsychologist or a child psychiatrist. We saw a neuropsych, and he was very thorough- the testing took several hours and looked at a range of possibilities.
Hello Everyone!
I am new here and thought I would share some of my thoughts with you about my son. His teacher has mentioned she thinks my son may have ADD. I was a bit shocked and scared when she said this about two months ago. I did not want to believe it. After that I started really looking at my son and realizing she is most likly correct.
It is funny how you won't see something you don't want to see. He is stuggling now in the 2nd grade with behavior and focusing, consitration and learning. I just thought he was not behaving and I needed to be stricter with him. Unfornately I was wrong and it makes me feel sick inside I did not try to get him help sooner.
His doctor gave me a survey for myself and husband to fill out as well as his teacher. We have all completed them now and are waiting for the results. It seems incredible we have all suffered through the fustration and wearyness a child with ADD can bring to a family. Hopefully we will be able to find a solution for my son and he can have peace with learning and himself.
Wish us luck and any suggestion are greatly welcomed.
Gail
Thank-you
You are right when you say Journey. I have a feeling a long one has just begun.
My best wishes to you and your son.
My son is not on meds.......there are days he is GREAT! And days I wonder why I ever had a child. I think that is normal for everyone, including US!
Welcome to the board! I have been there too. It was very difficult for me to admit that my son had a problem (adhd). But after I actually admitted it, I feel happy to know that I am doing all I can to help him.
You have to make sure that you have a complete set of tests before getting an actual diagnosis bcause there are many behaviors that may resemble adhd. In my case, I was also given those surveys you talk about. Then, my son had blood tests to see if there was any thyroid problem that could have been causing those behaviors. He also had psychological tests that were performed by two different psychologists to see if both of them came to the same conclusion. He also had a brain imaging test and a EEG to see if there was something abnormal in his brain to be causing those behaviors. Fortunately, there was nothing wrong with his brain or thyroid, but the other tests met the criteria for my son to be adhd.
So, as you can see, it is a long trip to get the most accurate information you can to reveal adhd.
I wish you luck, and keep us posted!
Thank you all for the support and information. It feels much better not to be alone.
Did your children have days when they acted fine before the meds? Today my ds was normal and calm. But I know most likely tomorrow or the next day the same old behavior will return. I used to think maybe the problem is gone and it was just a phase. I still want to believe that. Oh well.
Take care,
Gail
If the sole method of diagnosing is for the pediatrician to look over Conner's Rating forms completed by the teacher and parents, then you will probably get an ADHD diagnosis. That method is 100% subjective, and other conditions mimic ADHD. Also 50% of children with ADHD have a co-morbid condition which is not detected using that diagnostic tool alone.Hello No tellin,
I am hoping the test is just a starting block. My husband and I are trying to educate our selfs through the internet and what not. If you have any suggestions please let me know.
Thanks,
Gail