4 yr old son just got diagnosed | ADHD Information

We began meds at the age of 4. We had a QEEG completed along with observations by teacher, doctor, and us. We started with a low dose of focalin xr- 5 mg and are currently on 10 mg.  He has never had sleeping issues, eating issues, or any other symptons you hear about with some.  We also use a high protein diet, low carb diet in conjunction with exercise, and play therapy.  All recommended by our doctor who did not believe in just medicating. 

 I'm so glad we decided to go this route.  It is never easy to make these decisons, but I know in my heart that this was the best for my son.  By the time he started kinder he was well on his way to making better choices. He was diagnosed for impulsive issues and some inattentiveness.  More impulsive.  He is now almost 7 and in first grade and we are doing quite well.  We still have moments but they are few and in between.  We've had a beautiful school year.  His teacher says she sees him as a hard worker, cooperative, and kind to others.  What a blessing that was to hear.  The only times we still have some and I mean some issues...are in the evenings and when he gets really tired.

I'm a teacher and I have seen so many kids go undiagnosed or parents denying their children the opportunity for help.  This truely saddens my heart.  I will never regret my decision.  My son is going to do just fine because there was help for him and he is one of the children that started at the age of 4. 

I am also new to this board and have ben lurking.

My son is 4 1/2 now and has been medicated with fast acting Ritalin for a
year now. He is clear cut ADHD with impulsivity. It has changed our lives
and his life completely and I wouldnt have done it any other way.

He was impulsive and that was always very dangerous. Also, we just
brought home a baby and her life was in danger. He wasnt trying to hurt
her, but he would try to play with her and it would get severely
dangerous. I couldnt let them be in the same room to even throw
something in the garbage. It was terrible and very stressful on me.

My son was feared by everyone in his class because of his hyperactivity
and his impulsivity. He was almost thrown out of his class because of it.
His esteem was hurting because he was being yelled at often and things
taken away or put n many time outs.(which he never stayed in)

He also never responded to an kind of bahavior modification, discipline,
consequences didnt phase him. It was a never ending battle.

We did start with a bahavior therapist when I got pregnant and nothing
seemed to work. He was so 'wild' i had been in the hospital a few times to
check if the baby was ok. It was very scary. After the baby was born, he
only got worse, no matter what attempts I made to make him the center
of attention. My poor daughter was ignored or only really attended
to/held if she was crying or if my son was out of the house for the first
few months. Its a good thing she was a good baby.

Now that he is medicated, he responds more to consequenses, he
understand rules and understands there are rewards (good ones) if they
are followed. His self esteem is better because his friends want to play
with him. etc. It is still a struggle every day, but its definatelly easier than
it was before. Plus, our family life is much better. My relationship with my
husband got better because there was less stress in the house.

Unfortunately, from what I see, as they get older it gets harder and worse.
They become better thinkers and more manipulative. I believe that when
they are medicated, they will be able to have the tools to be able to listen
and understand what you are teaching them (no knocking down other
people blocks, sharing, sitting in circle time, etc) If their mind is racing
like an ADHD mind, they cant grasp it and its harder to get through to
them.

Thats my 2 cents.

We started our son on meds when he was 5, and in 4K.  His 4 year old year at daycare/4K program there was terrible.  He was aggressive, he couldn't sit, couldn't do what the teachers wanted, other kids were avoiding him, etc.  The wakeup call for me was one day when I picked him up and he shuffled out of there, head hung low, hands in his pocets and he was so darn sad - I knew we needed to get him help!

It was not easy...not even one part of it, but fast forward to age 7, first grade and he is doing so well.  He is doing well socially and pretty well academically.  I think that we may had to do some meds adjustments and that scares me. 

There have been a few times where I wonder if we did the right thing, but then I think back to how much he struggled for that year and a half, and I know we did the right thing for him and for our family.

Deciding to start your child on ADHD meds is a huge decision, and I encourage you to really think hard about what is best for your child.  Whatever that is....just remember that it is about your child.

Good luck.  It is great that you found this board, there is so much information and support here.

 

Hello fellow adhd mommies,

 

I am new to this site and to this whole world of adhd.  I knew something wasn't right when my son was first born.  I picked up on it right away but couldn't quite pinpoint what was wrong.  I got so sick of hearing people tell me how "hyper" he was.  God I hate tha word so much now.  It makes him sound like some wild flailing animal.  But in some ways he can be.

We have chosen not to do the medication route as of yet.  He is a bit young.  The neurophycologist said that he is on the mild side as well.  I'm hoping if its mild at 4 then maybe it'll be really mild at say 10?  Maybe i'm being to hopeful or even naive.  I have changed his diet some and it has helped a little.  Last 2 days have been especially hard.  We try to work with him.  We try to give him more "structure".  We try to work on writing or recognizing shapes and the like, but the minute he gets one wrong, he buries his face in his hands and says " i cant do it, it's to hard for me" and it just breaks my heart that a 4 year old is alreayd saying things like that.

My question is to those of you who did start your children off younger on meds like sayd 5 years old, how did this impact you?

Welcome,

My 5yr old son was diagnosed adhd march of this year. He was "hyper" to the point that other children were getting hurt because gabe couldnt sit still. We started with daytrana and I was amazed by the child that had been hidden inside. Gabe sat down and had a real honest conversation with me for the first time ever.

I could not go back to the way it was before, but thats just our story. I know everyone feels differently and has their own insights to all of this. I wish you all the best.