Hi. I just found your site while searching for help. I am adult diagnosed ADHD - textbook case (Other than graduating from college with my master's and keeping a similar job for years, I am straight out of every journal I've ever read) My problem is that now I am seeing the inattentive side in my 7-year old daughter. She has a wonderful upbeat personality, everyone loves her. She is very bright, but she has struggled for the last 2 years (kindergarten & 1st grade) completing her work. In kindergarten, I was able to create a check sheet for her, and the assignments were so short, daily schedule so busy, that we got through with just a little bump here and there. This year, she has gotten through fairly well, but in the last month, it has gotten progressively worse. She is not completing tasks at school, is sitting out of reward free time, etc, because of it. At home, homework is a NIGHTMARE!! This is not because she can't do the work. She just can't concentrate. She has no hyperactivity WHATSOEVER, so she is never considered a behavior problem, but were it not for a very attentive teacher, she could very easily fall right through the cracks. I am rambling at this point, but I am just looking for some help. I am just beginning this search, so I don't want to immediately go to prescription meds, but does anyone have any suggestions for me on what approach to take?
You need to have a real good evaluation done. My 8yr old started meds midway through first grade. We struggled with "does she" "doesn't she" have adhd. She was always cheerful, loving, curious, loved school and learning. But she was unable to finish classroom work (ended up missing recess frequently) and homework took hours! Verbally she had an above average vocabulary and expresses herself at an advanced level. But sit her at a desk with a pencil in hand - ugh!
I went to a free program at our library by a noted adhd pediatrian & psychiatrist. Did you know that girls with adhd tend to present somewhat different symptoms than boys. Boys tend to have more learning disabilties and more physical symptoms (i.e. so the're caught sooner). Girls tend to have higher IQs and less "hyperactivity".
Quite frankly medication has changed my daughter's life for the better. We kick ourselves for not addressing it sooner. She should not have had to suffer like that!
My daughters' elementary school just has started "motor mom" program which is a little exercise program for all lower grade students directed by volunteer moms. Those little excercise first in the morning may help youngster's brain get moving. My ADD daughter naturally take a break from her homeworks by going outside to get fresh air.too.
I myself am going the route of therapy then if necessary natural vitamins. Omega 3 and someone mentioned attentive child from GNC store. Also watching the diet helps lower carbs more protein, stuff i have read about in books.