newbie question | ADHD Information
I was labeled a daydreamer growing up too. People told me I was flaky, disorganized, forgetful, etc. It wasn't until I was 32 that someone identified that as ADHD.
Putting a label on her daydreaminess doesn't change who she is. It does help you understand why she is the way she is. You want to teach her to work with her nature, rather than against it.
I'm really happy to hear you talk about her nature as a positive thing. That attitude will make a big difference for her in the long run.
That being said, it does help if you can remember appointments, keys, wallets, etc. and organize your school, work, and home life. Fortunately, you can teach someone to be organized. It's a little harder to teach someone to daydream.
Whether or not you choose to use medication, teaching her the skills she'll need in life is mandatory. Let us know how it goes!
if she's learning and making class goals
accomplishing acedemic milestones
then she's found a way to cope.
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on the other hand if not
at least youre aware that consulting a doctor to get a profession evaluation
it between you and the doctor.
some meds are only school hours
in addition an IEP can put her in class times that match focustimes.
if gym in the moning then thats not time to medicate but later during math,writing and reading.
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also some parents discontinue meds during school breaks .
some kids are just not as hyper as others
but are help with meds that focus .
still with teens that arent doing well even wiith the meds .
i would like to see them taken off and counseld about addictive meds and self medicating. too often i see meds kids self medicate in early adult hood hier 20s
the consensus is that the 60% of the adhd group would self medicate negatively anyway therefore early managed stimulants may help overcome educaton obstacles that would lead to self medicating.
i cant make sens e of it and my facts arent perfect for that im sorry.
ive seen some pretty severe cases as direct care staff and definately saw the need for intervention.
I feel like its should be up to a doctor that specializes in adhd
and ultimately up to the parent to consent to medication from there.
i also believe that schools should be informing parents of those behaviors .
better to discover it younger to minimize frustration with learning in grammer school than later .
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i know it sometimes seems if they were just challenged ore it could be more intresting to them , but were stuck with the teaching staff we get.
as my dd's preschool teacher would say
you get what get and you dont throw a fit.
lol
but its like that sometimes.one year a teacher has a good rapore and the next teacher is not so understanding to individual needs.
its a good bet that parent assisted homework can bridge some of the frustration.
just remember
meds have been in schools for 60 years now for adhd.
its worth exploring the schools view and how mature the schools staff is.
at my dd school the teachers in here grages are all under 25. so when they say
bla bla bla bla.
i aask what do they do differently to redirect it the next time.
when give me school nurse ' health department' bla bla bla.
i always respons with her pediarician advises us differently were not new to this and weve already made our decision.
i take away thier power to keep pushing for meds on the otherhand .
i take thier recomendations seroiusly and start working on coping skills and identifying distractions in here environment by talking about her day.
i invite the teachers to send home anything they think is adhd worthy .
most of the time its behaviors. not impulsiveness . so im in similar boat as you .
she's not medicated , but there is a family history.
i keep her focussed on being a good listener so that she is attentive to the teacher.
this summer we played alot of" school roleplaying
its easy top which nieghbor hod kids are being attentive and which get bored easily.
so i respect the teachers that do it 8 hrs a day.
i value thier opinions they may not be able to diagnois but they sure can spot the syptoms. its just i must remind them that its my spouses and I that has the final decision. but i invite them to keep documenting occurances and please be more detailed so i can take these to her doctor.
i didnt recieve anymore inquiries.
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i probably should edit this post but im tired sorry it so babbly
I hope this will not come across the wrong way and maybe I am just in denial - but I am having such a hard time believing that my dd might have ADD/ADHD. It was first brought to my attention in 1st grade, but then dismissed when she was dx with Type 1 Diabetes just before 2nd grade (insulin dependent - on an insulin pump). So now we are in third grade and what her teachers are saying all fit her - but I wonder - I don't know too many 8 year olds who can sit still for lengthy periods of time, who are always focused and who don't sometimes fidget. her main problems right now (and have been for years) are her inability to focus - shes a daydreamer. But I have often thought of that as her gift - she is not very organized - but she is also very creative, can sit and read a book for hours, and will do things that she WANTS to do. I sometimes feel like because she does not fit the mold that the school wants - it is easier to just slap a lable on her "make" her fit in . . .I read thru so many posts and have been doing a lot of research online and I keep seeing all the symptoms - which she seems to fit much of the time - but I have to wonder at what point are those characteristics not acceptable or to a point where a dx is made? I sometimes wonder if life demands way too much from children and we are expecting from them things that we should not. I am terrified to medicate her . . .don;t have real good reasoning for it - I just hate the idea of having to medicate daily. I have enough trouble with getting her to check her blood sugar 6-8 times a day, program her pump to deliver insulin 4-6 times a day, then to think we might need to remember pills too. . .
I also worry - so many of the drugs I hear mentioned here seem to suppress appetite - she cannot afford that - she is barely 50# and barely eats now . . . that will just wreak havoc on our ability to manage her D . . .
Sorry for the ramble . . .I am just so confused and worried about her future . . .
You are not rambling, you have every right to worry about your child. My wife and I feel the same way about the publis schools now and that they expect too much from kids today. Our son is in second grade and is making all A's and B's but since he has ADHD they give him a hard time about his focusing issues. I say. What normal 7 or 8 year old can sit still for more then 2 hours at a time? I don't know to many. I think they expect perfection form these kids and it is too much for them to handle. Let kids be kids.
As for meds, yes there are many out there that have bad side-effects we have learned that first hand. So you will have to do your research to find the right one. her Dr will more then likely tell you the same thing and start her on a small dose of something and work from there. Remember meds are not the only way to go. You can treat this with diet and vitamins. There are many vitamins that help with ADHD kids. Also watch for what she is eating. Red dyes can cause adhd symtoms and if eliminated it can help her. We are just in the starting stages of trying this, and so far our son has shown a little improvement on focus, but it is just the start of a long road. Go to you local health food store, vitamin world or gnc for more info. Also check out Dr. Doris Rapp's site and read her books. Sometimes whatyou child can be going through is just an allergy to a food or chemical in the house. Look into it.
Just know you are not alone in this. There are tons of parents out there going through this.
Willowsmom your post makes perfect sense! Is your daughter making good grades and having success in school? I need to go back to your original post.
Medicine doesn't have to be evil. It can mean bringing back good self-esteem as your daughter succeeds if that is the problem. Sounds like you need a professional diagnosis and not just what teachers are saying - though they can see clues. Don't be afraid of a diagnosis.
My older son has type 1 diabetes so I know where you're coming from with the eating, but your daughter does still have her insulin for the basal needs with the insulin pump. A second diagnosis - or sometimes a third or fourth can just be overwhelming, but if indeed this is what you're facing, medicine can be very helpful and what is needed. As she grows to be independent with her type 1, being focused is going to help her remember to bolus when out with friends eating, remembering to have her supplies, etc... too.
Just my opinion, but you need a good professional evaluation as to whether she has ADD or not. You could be right maybe it's age-appropriate behavior? I don't know - just don't be afraid of the diagnosis. My younger son has ADHD (and takes Concerta) - actually so does my son with type 1, but he has been able to succeed without meds. Thinking of you!!
willandgrace40096.2760648148
Welcome to the board :)
Some children are diagnosed as Inattentive ADHD which is ADHD without the hyperactivity. Its hard to diagnose because the child is not bouncing all over the room. In order for ADHD to be diagnosable it must be present in two setting....ie....school and home and the behaviors must interfere with the child's ability to function normally on a daily basis. As far as appetite supression eventually the children catch up. All meds could have bad side effects so its important that the child be monitored by a professional. Sometimes diabetes symptoms can look like ADHD which is why it is critical to have the child tested by an expert in the field of diagnosing neuro-biological disorders.
As insulin saves lives so does ADHD med for the child who has limitations and issues that could potentially bring grim outcomes to their futures socially and emotionally and render them with labels far worse than ADHD.
Because as a parent you have serious concerns, start with having your child tested to find out whether there is a problem and if there is then a treatment plan can be discussed with the professionals. Find out what's wrong first and then you will be advised how to treat the problem. Good luck and please keep us posted.
Luvmykids0240096.3840972222Yes - I realize that I have so many questions because I am still awaiting our appt. Its odd - i would have thought this would have come up for our middle child. She has always been sensitive to dyes, had lots of night terrors, was very colick-y even though I nursed her for 22 months. She is full-on from the time she wakes until the time she passes out when she fall asleep and to be honest she wears us out. But we have never thought of her as ADHD - more just spirited. She is very passionate with her feelings - especially at home - but seems to be doing fine so far in school - although we are only just past the 1st month of school for her. She is just a very determined and active . . .anyhow - thanks for listening - this board has been very helpful - I have read thru many of the older posts and who knows you may see me around here as a regular soon! :)
We have our first appt with pediatrician this week, then I have already begun seekiing out referrals for psychologists and psychiatrists . . .so we will see - I guess this is just the beginning
Willowsmom, All your questions and concerns are normal and understandable. I must admit that when my daughter's preschool teacher first mentioned concerns about her lack of focus and attention, I thought she was crazy! My DD was three years old! But the thing is, experienced teachers have worked with many, many children and can often recognize what is out of the norm for children at that age. When a different teacher at a different school made similar remarks the following year, and then the same thing happened again in kindergarten, we knew that we needed to get her checked out.
I also understand your concerns about medication, especially given that your daughter has another medical condition. My daughter has asthma (and allergies) and is on a number of medications for these, so we also were very concerned about adding another medication to the mix. So far we have not used medications for ADHD, although for many people the ADHD meds are so valuable and make a huge positive difference in their lives.
My daughter is diagnosed with inattentive-type ADHD, so her issues are with focus, attention, and organization, not hyperactivity or impulsiveness. She was diagnosed back in kindergarten and is now in 8th grade. She has a 504 plan at school which allows her some accommodations such sitting near the teacher/front of the room, extra time for tests, and extended time for homework. She doesn't use any of these a whole lot, but they are helpful to have in place if a problem arises. She attends a charter school for grades 6-12 that focuses on performing arts; this has been SO positive for her. She is able to do the things she loves at school and use her creativity and be around other creative kids. She also takes some supplements (PS, omega 3s, and multivitamin)--you can read lots about these in the "Alternative and Complementary Meds" forum if you're interested.
Best of luck with your appointment, etc. Let us know how things go!