Since it's a huge part of my profession, I was just wondering where other people stand.

Are you for or against children taking medication for disabilities?

For example, ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, Bi-polar, etc......

i think in general long term medicating of children is a big no-no. i think also alot of adhd diagnoses are incorrect and the parents don't want to discipline their kids. also alot of kids are just bored in school and that's a big issue.

I think medication should be a LAST resort, not the first thing they go to.

I think medication should be a LAST resort, not the first thing they go to.

Parents or doctors?

Parents or doctors?

Both really. Mainly parents, though. They should be trying everything, but I know a lot of parents who go straight for the sedation or whatever it takes.

I have an ADD son (17) and an ADHD son (9). Oldest ds is no longer medicated as he can control himself and get through school on his own. My youngest ds is medicated now and will be until it is deemed that it is no longer necessary. Do I really want him to be medicated? No, but is it a necessity? Yes. He bounces off of the walls from the time he gets out of bed until the time he goes to bed without meds. He cannot concentrate or sit still in his desk at school when he isn't medicated and his voice volume is stuck on extra loud (and he doesn't realize that he is doing it). We tried behavior modifications and the works, but nothing worked for either of our ds. Since our younger ds has been on meds, he is doing much better at school and the other kids no longer make fun of him. On a side note, my dd is also ADD, but for now, is unmedicated... she has been having issues with concentration at school, but we are working on that so we will see where that goes.

Both really. Mainly parents, though. They should be trying everything, but I know a lot of parents who go straight for the sedation or whatever it takes.

well when you child gets kicked out of 2 preschools for the same type behaviors and you have tried behavioral changes and its not working and you have had the child tested and he has a severe case of ADHD then I think putting them on a low dose of meds is a good thing. I know I am on that road right now. I really dont care what people think of me putting my child on meds either and if its better for him and for everyone else around him then I am all for it. Now I wont be keeping him on it as he gets older and can learn to control himself better but for right now he is on it and it has nothing to do with us not wanting to discipline him because we do.

well when you child gets kicked out of 2 preschools for the same type behaviors and you have tried behavioral changes and its not working and you have had the child tested and he has a severe case of ADHD then I think putting them on a low dose of meds is a good thing. I know I am on that road right now. I really dont care what people think of me putting my child on meds either and if its better for him and for everyone else around him then I am all for it. Now I wont be keeping him on it as he gets older and can learn to control himself better but for right now he is on it and it has nothing to do with us not wanting to discipline him because we do.
Good luck, Cat... been down that road as well. :hugehug

I feel it should be used as a last resort. Medicine is great but I do not believe that any medicine truly works over a long term use.

well when you child gets kicked out of 2 preschools for the same type behaviors and you have tried behavioral changes and its not working and you have had the child tested and he has a severe case of ADHD then I think putting them on a low dose of meds is a good thing. I know I am on that road right now. I really dont care what people think of me putting my child on meds either and if its better for him and for everyone else around him then I am all for it. Now I wont be keeping him on it as he gets older and can learn to control himself better but for right now he is on it and it has nothing to do with us not wanting to discipline him because we do.

cat i know you and i've followed your story and you and your husband tried many things and didn't just shove robbie onto meds.

no I'm not against it. I was diagnosed with ADD 9th grade. My parents had me with all the right doctors and I did alot of testing to make sure ADD was really what I had. It took several months to make sure it was ADD and I then was put on meds that helped me greatly. My grades went up and I was able to pay attention better. So I think if the parents work with the dr.'s and do things right then I'm all for it. But to just jump the gun and assume a child has a disorder is crazy. I hate how just because a child is hyper people will say Oh he must be ADHD.

I have an ADD son (17) and an ADHD son (9). Oldest ds is no longer medicated as he can control himself and get through school on his own. My youngest ds is medicated now and will be until it is deemed that it is no longer necessary. Do I really want him to be medicated? No, but is it a necessity? Yes. He bounces off of the walls from the time he gets out of bed until the time he goes to bed without meds. He cannot concentrate or sit still in his desk at school when he isn't medicated and his voice volume is stuck on extra loud (and he doesn't realize that he is doing it). We tried behavior modifications and the works, but nothing worked for either of our ds. Since our younger ds has been on meds, he is doing much better at school and the other kids no longer make fun of him. On a side note, my dd is also ADD, but for now, is unmedicated... she has been having issues with concentration at school, but we are working on that so we will see where that goes.



well I just want to wish you good luck with them all. I know its not fun to have to medicate your child but sometimes its for their own benefit and its not for the parents or the teachers benefit either thats just secondary. our primary concern should be for the child and whats better for them to help them be able to learn.

no I'm not against it. I was diagnosed with ADD 9th grade. My parents had me with all the right doctors and I did alot of testing to make sure ADD was really what I had. It took several months to make sure it was ADD and I then was put on meds that helped me greatly. My grades went up and I was able to pay attention better. So I think if the parents work with the dr.'s and do things right then I'm all for it. But to just jump the gun and assume a child has a disorder is crazy. I hate how just because a child is hyper people will say Oh he must be ADHD.

:agree that's what is happening to a degree with my niece. she's in school this year and she comes from very very smart parents (graduated with honors--both did and her dad graduated with honors from dental school) and is bored in school already, she's 5 and her teacher is saying she needs to be tested for adhd.

cat i know you and i've followed your story and you and your husband tried many things and didn't just shove robbie onto meds.

oh i know you know whats going on. I just get upset sometimes when people say its a huge no no. I mean I know there are some parents out there who do put their kids on meds because they dont want to deal with them so I know thats true but its not like that for everyone.

As a last resort. If its the only thing that will help the situation. My brother was hyper-active bad, my Mom put him on a no sugar diet and did alot of calming exercises. It worked, medication was not nessasary. If it was the only thing that could help a child with a disorder, then it would have to be I guess. But im not a fan of meds in kids right off the bat.

oh i know you know whats going on. I just get upset sometimes when people say its a huge no no. I mean I know there are some parents out there who do put their kids on meds because they dont want to deal with them so I know thats true but its not like that for everyone.

exactly, you tried so many things and when parents are genuinely using it as a last resort i don't have a problem.

well I just want to wish you good luck with them all. I know its not fun to have to medicate your child but sometimes its for their own benefit and its not for the parents or the teachers benefit either thats just secondary. our primary concern should be for the child and whats better for them to help them be able to learn.
Amen...

thanks for the good wishes, I'm going to need them! ;)

i think in general long term medicating of children is a big no-no. i think also alot of adhd diagnoses are incorrect and the parents don't want to discipline their kids. also alot of kids are just bored in school and that's a big issue.

I think medication should be a LAST resort, not the first thing they go to.


I totally agree with both of these. Especially with ADD and ADHD kids. I really think the parents/teachers/and doctors really need to stress other options before resorting to meds.

Some children REALLY do need the medication. ADHD used to be over diagnosed. Now Autism is taking it's place.

Behavior therapy and intervention, I think, should always be a parent's first resort. But some children, like Robbie, it just doesn't work for.

I guess in defense of the teachers....not all teachers, not even the majority of teachers, spring for the child to be medicated. As a teacher I can't go to a parent and say, "So-and-so is having a problem in my class. You should medicate him!!" :lol If a teacher notices a problem with a child's behavior OR academics, it is his/her responsibility to bring it before the parents and before the guidance counselor and Child Study Team. In fact, the teacher has NO say in whether or not the child is medicated. The psychologist and the parent do. The teacher and Child Study Team figure out ways to help said student in school, for example modifications, accomodations, and interventions.

Some children REALLY do need the medication. ADHD used to be over diagnosed. Now Autism is taking it's place.

Behavior therapy and intervention, I think, should always be a parent's first resort. But some children, like Robbie, it just doesn't work for.

I guess in defense of the teachers....not all teachers, not even the majority of teachers, spring for the child to be medicated. As a teacher I can't go to a parent and say, "So-and-so is having a problem in my class. You should medicate him!!" :lol If a teacher notices a problem with a child's behavior OR academics, it is his/her responsibility to bring it before the parents and before the guidance counselor and Child Study Team.

well they actually can go hand in hand when used together too. put them on the meds after trying other things first and then if that doesnt work do the meds along with behavior modifications. Like Robbie doesnt do well if we are scolding him to loudly he will just shut down and not listen so you have to keep your voice low but firm and really mean business. spankings dont work to much on him and time outs sometimes work and sometimes they dont. he is a very very smart and strong willed child but he can be very hyper and impulsive too and not always think before he acts. thats why he got kicked out of 2 preschools. but the last preschool he was in was trying to work with us with his behaviors and obviously it wasnt working either. Believe me I didnt want to put him on meds but I just think its better for him for now to be on them.

well they actually can go hand in hand when used together too. put them on the meds after trying other things first and then if that doesnt work do the meds along with behavior modifications. Like Robbie doesnt do well if we are scolding him to loudly he will just shut down and not listen so you have to keep your voice low but firm and really mean business. spankings dont work to much on him and time outs sometimes work and sometimes they dont. he is a very very smart and strong willed child but he can be very hyper and impulsive too and not always think before he acts. thats why he got kicked out of 2 preschools. but the last preschool he was in was trying to work with us with his behaviors and obviously it wasnt working either. Believe me I didnt want to put him on meds but I just think its better for him for now to be on them.

I know you didn't Cat. But it was right for HIM. I meant just interventions alone didn't work for Robbie.

I think every situation requires different actions. Some children need the meds, others dont. I also know that the doctors i have seen for my son refuse to give meds(which I think is great) until they know 100% for sure what he has. I think if your dr tries to give meds immediatly, you should get a second opinion. It also depends on the childs age. But if you have never been put in the situation where your child may need meds, you shouldnt be so quick to judge others on what they do with their children. It isnt not an easy decsion for any parent and there is enough going thru their minds, they dont need the added stress of other peoples un-educated opinions. Its just like so many adults being put on meds for chemical imbalances, or depression. People are not as quick to judge that situation...

Now I do agree that their are a lot of lazy parents, but I think if you are going to criticize, you should make sure and have your facts straight before you start assuming. You are not dealing with that child 24/7 and you arent living thier life.

i also wanted to add that i think a child at the age of 4 or 5 shouldn't even be offered the diagnosis of add/adhd because they are still little and learning self-control

i also wanted to add that i think a child at the age of 4 or 5 shouldn't even be offered the diagnosis of add/adhd because they are still little and learning self-control

I see what you're saying. But a good doctor can tell the difference between a defiant "bratty" child and a child who shows true symptoms of ADHD. The longer you put off diagnosing a child, the worse it can get because you didn't start intervention early. This is especially true with Autistic children.

I think every situation requires different actions. Some children need the meds, others dont. I also know that the doctors i have seen for my son refuse to give meds(which I think is great) until they know 100% for sure what he has. I think if your dr tries to give meds immediatly, you should get a second opinion. It also depends on the childs age. But if you have never been put in the situation where your child may need meds, you shouldnt be so quick to judge others on what they do with their children. It isnt not an easy decsion for any parent and there is enough going thru their minds, they dont need the added stress of other peoples un-educated opinions. Its just like so many adults being put on meds for chemical imbalances, or depression. People are not as quick to judge that situation...

Now I do agree that their are a lot of lazy parents, but I think if you are going to criticize, you should make sure and have your facts straight before you start assuming. You are not dealing with that child 24/7 and you arent living thier life.



Thank you and you put that very very well.

well when you child gets kicked out of 2 preschools for the same type behaviors and you have tried behavioral changes and its not working and you have had the child tested and he has a severe case of ADHD then I think putting them on a low dose of meds is a good thing. I know I am on that road right now. I really dont care what people think of me putting my child on meds either and if its better for him and for everyone else around him then I am all for it. Now I wont be keeping him on it as he gets older and can learn to control himself better but for right now he is on it and it has nothing to do with us not wanting to discipline him because we do.

Right- you tried different preschools and had him tested and everything BEFORE going straight to medication. I didn't say you should NEVER medicate, I said it shouldn't be the FIRST thing someone tries. You didn't do that. You did everything else you could first.

I see what you're saying. But a good doctor can tell the difference between a defiant "bratty" child and a child who shows true symptoms of ADHD. The you put off diagnosing a child, the worse it can get because you didn't start intervention early. This is especially true with Autistic children.

that's very true that there is a difference.

Now I do agree that their are a lot of lazy parents, but I think if you are going to criticize, you should make sure and have your facts straight before you start assuming. You are not dealing with that child 24/7 and you arent living thier life.

I wasn't criticizing anyone. I didn't even ever say NOT to medicate, I said it shouldn't be the FIRST THING a person tries.

I see what you're saying. But a good doctor can tell the difference between a defiant "bratty" child and a child who shows true symptoms of ADHD.

most definitely and I wouldnt even call Robbie bratty either because he isnt bratty. he just has issues with impulsivity and he is hyper and sometimes he cant concentrate for to long.


besides to have ADHD it has to have an onset by or before the age of 7 years old. So alot of people way back when probably didnt get diagnosed with it that should have been. You cant just develop ADHD when you are older either.

Right- you tried different preschools and had him tested and everything BEFORE going straight to medication. I didn't say you should NEVER medicate, I said it shouldn't be the FIRST thing someone tries. You didn't do that. You did everything else you could first.

oh no you are right there we didnt just go and medicate him right after he was kicked out of the first preschool. We didnt know what was going on back then. so we definitely didnt want to put him on meds then. but when those behaviors showed up in the 2nd preschool then we decided we needed to see the psychologist first but they didnt even say for sure he had ADHD but said it was a very good possibility. It wasnt until we were referred to the psychiatrist for meds that we found out he has a severe case of ADHD according to what he said. I didnt think it was severe but more moderate but I guess thinking back on it he probably is severe if it got him kicked out twice. But at least we know whats going on and can deal with things alot better and know how to get things in place before he starts school next year and can get him set up with an IEP if he needs one. Which I am pretty sure he will. I can tell you one thing its not easy living with a child with ADHD and one thats smart too and also if you have it yourself like I do. Its very frustrating to say the least.

I think medication should be a LAST resort, not the first thing they go to.

I agree.

My son has recently been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. They also think there could be some ADHD in there, but we'll see. He's also ONLY 4. I am very happy that his psychiatrist and I are on the same page and believe we should wait to see if he needs medication or not. However I will not rule it out....if in the future it is something that will help him and enhance his life then perhaps we'll go that route. I also think you can't sum it all up and generalize all kids. They are all SO different in their behaviors and needs. So perhaps this also needs to be stated on a case by case basis.

It's a tought call, but personally whatever makes the quality of my son's life better is the way we'll go.

i also wanted to add that i think a child at the age of 4 or 5 shouldn't even be offered the diagnosis of add/adhd because they are still little and learning self-control


So then you think that an out of control 3, 4, or 5 year old should go un-diagnosed? What about when there truely is something wrong? you just wait til they hit 6 and then take them for a diagnosis. They have drs that specialize in this field for small children. NO parent just wakes up one morning and decides something is wrong with their child, there are events that happen and cause a parent to believe that their child may need help. I think that at any age if you suspect something is wrong you should have it checked out. I remember when my oldest was little it made me feel better to know that i was just being paranoid. when she had a cough and i took her in to make sure it wasnt something else. IF you start suspecting something isnt right, you check it out immediatly before it gets out of control. Early diagnosis is sometimes the best thing in any illness.

I don't have kids yet, and to each his/her own... do whatever works for your situation...

If I end up having children who are hyperactive/whatever... medicine will definitely be the very LAST resort.

Like someone said, I think a lot of "disorders" mis-diagnosed and over-diagnosed. I think a lot of it is simply lack-of stimulation. A lot of schools cater to the lowest possible level to ensure "success" for every student. I remember when I was a kid, I thought school was boring because it came so easily to me. Fortunately I went to a great school that took notice and put me into excelled learning programs, so I was able to channel that energy into something productive. Solved that problem!

I also grew up running around outside, and my parents encouraged creativity and using my imagination. I neeeeever watched TV or played video games as a kid (and I still really don't...)

I dunno. There certainly are legitimate situations that require medicinal treatments... but I think there's a lot of people out there who use it as a "quick fix," instead of making a few simple life changes to solve the problem. (In general, not talking about any of you). :)

Those are my two cents... :D

So then you think that an out of control 3, 4, or 5 year old should go un-diagnosed? What about when there truely is something wrong? you just wait til they hit 6 and then take them for a diagnosis. They have drs that specialize in this field for small children. NO parent just wakes up one morning and decides something is wrong with their child, there are events that happen and cause a parent to believe that their child may need help. I think that at any age if you suspect something is wrong you should have it checked out. I remember when my oldest was little it made me feel better to know that i was just being paranoid. when she had a cough and i took her in to make sure it wasnt something else. IF you start suspecting something isnt right, you check it out immediatly before it gets out of control. Early diagnosis is sometimes the best thing in any illness.

i think that in general a 3, 4, 5 year old is too young for them to be able to control their hyperness. yes have it checked out but be suspicious if a dr. pegs your 3 your old as adhd

well all i know that my Robbie is smart enough to know how to control it if he could. He understands when i tell him to calm down and sit still but it doesnt last forever either. I think kids today at ages 3-5 are a heck of alot smarter than they were when I was that age. like take right now as I am typing this he was sitting next to me and even with his meds in him he has trouble sitting still yet I dont want to have his meds increased unless its absolutely necessary. He is a good child that obviously has a chemical imbalance that doesnt allow him to control himself on his own like most kids can. Granted a 3 year old is still learning and I definitely wouldnt want to put my 3 year old on meds. but Robbie is 4 almost 5 years old and this year should be the year he would start kindergarten but since of his bday he misses the cut off and cant start until next year which thinking about it is a blessing because hopefully we can get a handle on his ADHD and make sure he is on the right dosage before he starts school. I would rather do this earlier than to have to go thru it when he is in school and is having difficulties. I have been down the road where we didnt have my older son tested until after he started school and I had really wished we had done it sooner too.

My DD takes medication for ADHD. I am not happy about it but it's what has to be done.

I am against medicating personally. I'm sure I'll get flamed by parents for that one :lol But I think there are a lot of things you can do without medications to control behavior... Such as cutting out red and yellow dyes in foods and other such alternatives.

There are studies that show that Ritalin has only a moderate affect on preschool age children and that medicating young children can be detrimental to long term health... Causing heart problems and such.

As a last resort then maybe but I'm the kind of person who doesn't want to put things into my body unless there are no other options.

Put simply, I think medication is acceptable, but only as a last resort.

I am against medicating personally. I'm sure I'll get flamed by parents for that one :lol But I think there are a lot of things you can do without medications to control behavior... Such as cutting out red and yellow dyes in foods and other such alternatives.

There are studies that show that Ritalin has only a moderate affect on preschool age children and that medicating young children can be detrimental to long term health... Causing heart problems and such.

As a last resort then maybe but I'm the kind of person who doesn't want to put things into my body unless there are no other options.


well I am not going to flame you because you are entitled to your opinion but I will tell you that they dont prescribe Ritalin to children under 5. There is only one medication they can give kids my sons age and thats Adderall. Depending on how he does on it he might only need it for a few years but nothing to long term. But you are right sometimes Ritalin doesnt work on some kids and I do mean some kids. It really all depends on their body chemistry because my oldest son was on Ritalin when he was 5 and he was on it up until middle school but I took him off because I really didnt see that it was doing him any good either. That was probably due to the fact that he had some learning problems too so it was hard to even see if the Ritalin was even working so we took him off. Robbie on the other hand is different he doesnt have any learning problems that we know of yet. He is a very bright child and his verbal IQ was tested in the 120's so I know he doesnt have any verbal issues. So the meds are basically for him to calm down so he can pay attention and concentrate.

i think that in general a 3, 4, 5 year old is too young for them to be able to control their hyperness. yes have it checked out but be suspicious if a dr. pegs your 3 your old as adhd

That's why the standardized testing for ADHD (and any disorder) is age specific. You can't look at the activity level of a 12 year old and compare it to a 4 year old. You compare the activity level of a normal 4 year old to the child you're testing.

I think that it's ok to use meds if they are medically necessary. I would try some other interventions first, but if they didn't work I would give a kid meds if the literature shows that it's effective.

I am not against the use of medications - I am, however, against abuse of the medications. I don't mean abuse in the typical sense that one thinks of when discussing drugs - what I mean is the over-prescription of medications, the situations where full diagnostics are not done prior to jumping to meds and where meds are the only approach tried in dealing with a situation in which alternatives may help just as much or more than the meds or meds alone.

I am against medicating personally. I'm sure I'll get flamed by parents for that one :lol But I think there are a lot of things you can do without medications to control behavior... Such as cutting out red and yellow dyes in foods and other such alternatives.

There are studies that show that Ritalin has only a moderate affect on preschool age children and that medicating young children can be detrimental to long term health... Causing heart problems and such.

As a last resort then maybe but I'm the kind of person who doesn't want to put things into my body unless there are no other options.

That's how I felt but in my case those things are cut out in addition to her being put on a low dose of meds for ADHD. She was diagnosed(sp) at 8. We got 3 opinions, that's how against it we are. She is on a med that does not have to stay in her system. I give it to her for school nothing more. Weekends I don't and the same with summer and vacations. After a long talk with her Dr we came up with a plan. My hope is someday she will be able to gain enough control over her ADHD to not need meds.

As a last resort then yes. But all other options would have to be explored first. Too many Dr's are just prescribing medication as a quick fix and there are alot of children out there who are on meds that probably do not need it. There are MANY other things that can be done FIRST to try and help the situation etc without medicating. Medication should be the last explored option

Some children REALLY do need the medication. ADHD used to be over diagnosed. Now Autism is taking it's place.

Behavior therapy and intervention, I think, should always be a parent's first resort. But some children, like Robbie, it just doesn't work for.


I agree with this. Prior to Jaxon's issues coming into play, I used to be one of those moms who said meds for ADHD and things of that nature were total BS. I didn't understand it or agree with it, I thought most ADHD cases were a crock of shit and parents who medicated their kids were just lazy and in need of a good parenting class (or kick in the ass).

After dealing with Jaxon's issues, my opinion has COMPLETELY changed. Sure, I may not be the best parent in the world and there are things I could do better BUT the root of his issues are not something that ANY amount of parenting could change. The fact that he can not focus on tasks and can not control the white noise going on in the back of his brain isn't something that I can control. We CAN do therapy with him to HELP but for a child that has a true issue like autism or ADHD, sometimes no amount of therapy will help them to the extent that they need to be helped and DESERVE to be helped. I feel that some parents who are against medication can sometimes be doing their child and injustice by not exploring that route. If medication will help my child focus on his tasks and be able to complete them, you can bet your ass I will give him the medication that he needs. How fair is it to expect him to complete a test or homework when he has a bazillion things racing around in his mind that prevent him from being able to concentrate?

These illnesses have been researched to a GREAT extent and I think it's fair to say that enough research has been done to prove that these illnesses are VERY real and are true imbalances that CAN be corrected with medication. It's really no different than medicating someone for high blood pressure or diabetes. If the meds help (And they've been proven to help many people), why not give them a try? :confuzzle

I wanted to say also that a lot of doctors actually do NOT want to prescribe meds as a first resort. Most doctors that I've talked to have wanted to explore other options like behavior therapy first. I think maybe doctors used to overmedicate but I do believe that the majority of doctors are trying to stay away from doing that these days, which I think is great as long as they don't try to avoid giving someone medication who could truly benefit from it.

Some children REALLY do need the medication. ADHD used to be over diagnosed. Now Autism is taking it's place.

Behavior therapy and intervention, I think, should always be a parent's first resort. But some children, like Robbie, it just doesn't work for.

I guess in defense of the teachers....not all teachers, not even the majority of teachers, spring for the child to be medicated. As a teacher I can't go to a parent and say, "So-and-so is having a problem in my class. You should medicate him!!" :lol If a teacher notices a problem with a child's behavior OR academics, it is his/her responsibility to bring it before the parents and before the guidance counselor and Child Study Team. In fact, the teacher has NO say in whether or not the child is medicated. The psychologist and the parent do. The teacher and Child Study Team figure out ways to help said student in school, for example modifications, accomodations, and interventions.


I believe that some kids do need to be medicated.. That being said...

There are many children that dont do well in a certain class with certain teachers. I know that these kids might do better put in a different teaching environment. Some personalities just clash and it doesnt work out.

I'm curious. For those who have children with diagnosed ADD/ADHD, what type of tests were run on them? How did the doctor convince you of your childs disorder?

If ADD/ADHD were actual disorders, then the child couldn't do ANYTHING without losing interest, even things they like doing. From what I've seen and heard, these kids can play video games for hours on end, watch a full 2 hour movie and play with toys until bed time. One of my brothers was diagnosed with ADHD and my mom, working two jobs and keeping up four growing boys immediately slapped him on Ritalin. He had to wait MONTHS to join the Army because of the medical waivers needed for taking this drug that he was never given an option of taking. There's a difference between doing what's best and doing what's best right now.

I'm curious. For those who have children with diagnosed ADD/ADHD, what type of tests were run on them? How did the doctor convince you of your childs disorder?

If ADD/ADHD were actual disorders, then the child couldn't do ANYTHING without losing interest, even things they like doing. From what I've seen and heard, these kids can play video games for hours on end, watch a full 2 hour movie and play with toys until bed time. One of my brothers was diagnosed with ADHD and my mom, working two jobs and keeping up four growing boys immediately slapped him on Ritalin. He had to wait MONTHS to join the Army because of the medical waivers needed for taking this drug that he was never given an option of taking. There's a difference between doing what's best and doing what's best right now.

You don't think they are actual disorders? So, I guess that would mean that something like Alzheimer's or Amnesia isn't real since some patients still have some memory? By that way of thinking, I guess most disorders wouldn't really be real. ADD and ADHD are very real and I think it takes someone having to deal with it to truly understand it. Like I said, prior to having these issues to deal with, I thought it was all the biggest crock of shit I had ever heard of, especially the medication. If you spent a full day with a child who truly has it, you would see that it goes much deeper than just an overly hyper child. There are serious impulsive issues that can go on and a lot of other things that can make it just as hard to function as someone with Parkinson's or any other disorder. Jaxon being hyper is the least of my concerns. Seeing how hard it is for him to function some days is what breaks my heart. The uncontrollable body jerking and fidgeting, the impulses that are truly out of his control, the desperation to WANT to focus on a task so badly and the frustration that comes with not being able to get the "fuzzies" out of his head so he can focus. It is soooo much more than just a behavior and hyperactivity issue.

You don't think they are actual disorders? So, I guess that would mean that something like Alzheimer's or Amnesia isn't real since some patients still have some memory? By that way of thinking, I guess most disorders wouldn't really be real. ADD and ADHD are very real and I think it takes someone having to deal with it to truly understand it. Like I said, prior to having these issues to deal with, I thought it was all the biggest crock of shit I had ever heard of, especially the medication. If you spent a full day with a child who truly has it, you would see that it goes much deeper than just an overly hyper child. There are serious impulsive issues that can go on and a lot of other things that can make it just as hard to function as someone with Parkinson's or any other disorder. Jaxon being hyper is the least of my concerns. Seeing how hard it is for him to function some days is what breaks my heart. The uncontrollable body jerking and fidgeting, the impulses that are truly out of his control, the desperation to WANT to focus on a task so badly and the frustration that comes with not being able to get the "fuzzies" out of his head so he can focus. It is soooo much more than just a behavior and hyperactivity issue.



Amen Brandi. I have read everything you have to say in your previous replies to this thread and I agree with you 100%.


Hatetank- My son has ADHD and he cannot sit still for long even when he is doing the things he likes doing for very long. If he is on the computer playing his games he cant sit there for hours upon hours and the same thing for TV, he will have it on but he cannot sit and watch the whole entire moving without having to get up and go do something else even being on his meds. he does do better when he is on his meds but when he isnt he is all over the house and cant sustain in an activity for more than maybe 10 minutes at a time which tells me that he definitely has an attentional problem plus he has a major problem with his impulse control as well and he doesnt realize the impact his actions can have on other people.

Dont sit there and say that ADD and ADHD arent real.

You don't think they are actual disorders? So, I guess that would mean that something like Alzheimer's or Amnesia isn't real since some patients still have some memory? By that way of thinking, I guess most disorders wouldn't really be real. ADD and ADHD are very real and I think it takes someone having to deal with it to truly understand it. Like I said, prior to having these issues to deal with, I thought it was all the biggest crock of shit I had ever heard of, especially the medication. If you spent a full day with a child who truly has it, you would see that it goes much deeper than just an overly hyper child. There are serious impulsive issues that can go on and a lot of other things that can make it just as hard to function as someone with Parkinson's or any other disorder. Jaxon being hyper is the least of my concerns. Seeing how hard it is for him to function some days is what breaks my heart. The uncontrollable body jerking and fidgeting, the impulses that are truly out of his control, the desperation to WANT to focus on a task so badly and the frustration that comes with not being able to get the "fuzzies" out of his head so he can focus. It is soooo much more than just a behavior and hyperactivity issue.

As I stated, my observations are from my experiences with people who have these disorders. As an objective person, I can't rule out that the conditions exist any moreso than I can argue that they do. I can, however, tell you of the significant financial gains doctors can earn by diagnosing certain disorders that advance their investments interests. Obviously, knowing human nature, disorders are going to misdiagnosed.

My brother who was diagnosed with ADD would also fidget, get bored easily and find it difficult to concentrate on things. He always seemed to be moving - leg, arms, head, even talking. To this day, he still shows these mannerisms, but we've found out the cause - he wasn't challenged enough. Now, this is the instance in his case, and similar results came from people I'd stayed in contact with after a brief stay in a teen psychiatric hospital. EVERY teen there that suffered from these symptoms were above average intelligence (or severely below average) and were heavily medicated.

I am absolutely biased in this topic, yet I will not degrade myself to point fingers. Medicating a child is the sole decision and responsibility of the parent, for better or worse. I will fight Kristi tooth and nail on this issue if it comes down to our children displaying these symptoms. I am extremely cautious of people who are in a position to earn money for their decisions without fear of repercussion. Especially when their decisions begin tinkering with my kids' brain.

As I stated, my observations are from my experiences with people who have these disorders. As an objective person, I can't rule out that the conditions exist any moreso than I can argue that they do. I can, however, tell you of the significant financial gains doctors can earn by diagnosing certain disorders that advance their investments interests. Obviously, knowing human nature, disorders are going to misdiagnosed.

My brother who was diagnosed with ADD would also fidget, get bored easily and find it difficult to concentrate on things. He always seemed to be moving - leg, arms, head, even talking. To this day, he still shows these mannerisms, but we've found out the cause - he wasn't challenged enough. Now, this is the instance in his case, and similar results came from people I'd stayed in contact with after a brief stay in a teen psychiatric hospital. EVERY teen there that suffered from these symptoms were above average intelligence (or severely below average) and were heavily medicated.

I am absolutely biased in this topic, yet I will not degrade myself to point fingers. Medicating a child is the sole decision and responsibility of the parent, for better or worse. I will fight Kristi tooth and nail on this issue if it comes down to our children displaying these symptoms. I am extremely cautious of people who are in a position to earn money for their decisions without fear of repercussion. Especially when their decisions begin tinkering with my kids' brain.

Ahh insert my name here... sounds like my dh...:scared

I definitely see both sides having a little brother with very sever ADD.. being the oldest and smart i was the first resort when he started having problems in school. i tried tutoring him and this one scenario sticks in my head and i can see why some teachers would want their students medicated!!....
me-ok so youre multiplying decimals..
jordan-whats a decimal? we havent learned that yet.
me-obviously you have because youre already multiplying them
jordan-nope
...so i start going over decimal places and such and all of a sudden i hear a smacking noise... i look over and his head laid back and hes staring at the ceiling and smacking on something in his mouth....
me-what are you doing???
jordan-i found a piece of leftover easter candy stuck in the couch! gah!!
me-:banghead

but he hated being on meds.. he was embarrassed about having to take it and school was an everyday overwhelming obstacle for him.. now he just takes it on test days and is on his way to graduating high school.. which i really didnt think was possible 2 years ago

I definitely see both sides having a little brother with very sever ADD.. being the oldest and smart i was the first resort when he started having problems in school. i tried tutoring him and this one scenario sticks in my head and i can see why some teachers would want their students medicated!!....
me-ok so youre multiplying decimals..
jordan-whats a decimal? we havent learned that yet.
me-obviously you have because youre already multiplying them
jordan-nope
...so i start going over decimal places and such and all of a sudden i hear a smacking noise... i look over and his head laid back and hes staring at the ceiling and smacking on something in his mouth....
me-what are you doing???
jordan-i found a piece of leftover easter candy stuck in the couch! gah!!
me-:banghead

but he hated being on meds.. he was embarrassed about having to take it and school was an everyday overwhelming obstacle for him.. now he just takes it on test days and is on his way to graduating high school.. which i really didnt think was possible 2 years ago

I'm not debating if the pills work - obviously they have some substantial effect. I'm more concerned about the way in which they're so easily prescribed.

I'm not debating if the pills work - obviously they have some substantial effect. I'm more concerned about the way in which they're so easily prescribed.

The pills arent easily prescribed. I guarentee you that depressions meds are prescribed a lot easier than these are. There are so many steps you have to go thru. Testing meetings with several doctors. My son was diagnosed with OBD and its geared towards women. He has bad episodes where he gets completlely out of control and there is NOTHING you can do to stop him. He has been kicked out CDC and is now on the verge of being asked to leave the FCC home he is in. Now, we are exploring other options than medication BUT the dr hasnt even offered it. We have gone to see another specialist b/c they think there is a chance he is bi-polar. They said that it is really early to diagnose it now, but he is displaying a lot of the symptoms for it. BUT agian they havent offered meds. At one time they might have been, but now they are not.

The pills arent easily prescribed. I guarentee you that depressions meds are prescribed a lot easier than these are. There are so many steps you have to go thru. Testing meetings with several doctors. My son was diagnosed with OBD and its geared towards women. He has bad episodes where he gets completlely out of control and there is NOTHING you can do to stop him. He has been kicked out CDC and is now on the verge of being asked to leave the FCC home he is in. Now, we are exploring other options than medication BUT the dr hasnt even offered it. We have gone to see another specialist b/c they think there is a chance he is bi-polar. They said that it is really early to diagnose it now, but he is displaying a lot of the symptoms for it. BUT agian they havent offered meds. At one time they might have been, but now they are not.

I agree with you SarahJ.

and if a child has been kicked out of preschools, daycares because of his behaviors and after testing them and after you have tried behavioral changes and the child is still having issues then medicating is the next step. There is no harm in trying meds to see if they will help.

Would anyone want their child to be labeled a bully, bad kid, etc.. because of his or her behavior when they really arent a bully. Robbie was getting blamed for things in his last preschool that wasnt even his fault, and it was because his was like a scapegoat as you will because he was already in trouble for doing things. My son is not a bully and I surely didnt want him pegged as one too. I know kids that are bullys and dont even have ADHD and that it comes from just bad parenting. But anyway my point here is that medication is not the first things Drs prescribe first. Maybe in the past they did and maybe some still do but I think in this day most Drs are being a bit more leary about putting kids on ADHD meds until they are sure they have it. They may also have to try different meds to find the right one that will work for each child too since no two ADHD children are the same.


I am very passionate over this topic as you can clearly see and I also have an older son that was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5 but he also had some verbal processing deficits too so his problem wasnt because he was bored either.

Maybe at some Dr's. But at others they are. I do not doubt that ADD/ADHD is out there. But I would be willing to bet that out of 100 kids diagnosed maybe only 20 have actual ADHD or ADD. This of course is my opinion and I have no facts ATM to back that up. But I do know it IS over diagnosed. My nephew was diagnosed with it. And guess what? He actually doesnt have it. My SIL changed some things after he was diagnosed like cutting out sugar, limiting tv and such and there was a dramatic improvement. In about 2 years nada. He is fine. No meds. And in fact he is a straight A student!

Dr's are over medicating MANY MANY things. And ALOT (not all) do not do proper testing for alot of disorders and things. 20 years ago how many people were on anti-depressants? Not many. Today I could ask 100 people and I am willing to bet ya at least half take some sort of anti-depressant medication. Todays quick fix is medication on ALOT of things. And while medication can be extremely helpful it can also be harmful. The ONE med not over prescribed ANYMORE. Is antibiotics and thats simply because bacterias are growing resistant to them because of being over prescribed.

IF my kids are diagnosed with something then I will explore all options and use meds as a total last resort. I will also get 2nd and 3rd opinions because I am not going to go off just 1 diagnosis for something that huge. Thats just how I feel. I do not like medicating myself let alone my kids. My mom was a pharmacist so I know alot about alot of meds and side effects. I research evereything prescribed and decide if I want my children to have it. This includes something as simple as tylenol. I only give it if really needed.

If your child is diagnosed with anything at all I would hope that you do research it as much as possible. And if you want to medicate as a first step thats great. Its your family! (your is general) But for mine that isnt right. If mine got diagnosed with that and I explored all other options etc then yes I would medicate. Because yes the medication CAN be helpful. But only for those that TRULY have the disorder. FOr those that do not it can be causing more harm then good...

I'm curious. For those who have children with diagnosed ADD/ADHD, what type of tests were run on them? How did the doctor convince you of your childs disorder?

If ADD/ADHD were actual disorders, then the child couldn't do ANYTHING without losing interest, even things they like doing. From what I've seen and heard, these kids can play video games for hours on end, watch a full 2 hour movie and play with toys until bed time. One of my brothers was diagnosed with ADHD and my mom, working two jobs and keeping up four growing boys immediately slapped him on Ritalin. He had to wait MONTHS to join the Army because of the medical waivers needed for taking this drug that he was never given an option of taking. There's a difference between doing what's best and doing what's best right now.

From what I was told by a therapist, people w/ (severe) adhd are very good at video games or anything that requires your full attention like that. They hyper focus on things that keep their mind active. Once they have something they like, they can hyper focus on it. The game stimulates the craving for the rush that the brain needs...so it's like their drug. They can't multi task, etc. Until you've been w/ someone who is like this or you have a child w/ this, it's hard to understand and it seems like any of the behaviors can be just part of the personality. But there really is a difference.

I believe my husband has something wrong with him. He was diagnosed w/ adhd as a kid but also had some learning disabilities growing up b/c of his birth experience. They say though that birth experiences (lack of oxygen for a period of time) can lead to adhd. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I do see something is wrong. It's VERY VERY frustrating living w/ him at times and if this is how a child acts, than I can understand how a parent feels at their whits end and tries medication. You can only do so much but like Brandi said, at the basis, if there's a problem- then there's a problem. I have never seen a guy who acts like my husband about things. Drives me absolutely insane and requires me to have a lot of patience. I used to think he was just lazy, inconsiderate, etc but I started to see that wasn't the case when we started therapy. His parents feel he needs help with it also. The last therapist we seen had him fill out a 3 page paper asking if he has these signs. Then said to have a pychiatrist call him to get his recommendation for medicine....Um, I don't think so. I'd like him to be fully evaluated before being put on a med.

If my kids show signs of this, I'd try to do everything first before trying a medication. I do think some kids can be just absolutely rambuctious but there comes a point that when it's disrupting their lives, something has to be done. And like I said, if kids act, in a sense, how my husband acts, than yes, you can totally see a difference in just normal, crazy kid behavior to an add/adhd child.

i dont' think anyone is saying that as a last resort meds shouldn't be used or shouldn't be considered. i think in general putting a child on meds before trying all other options is wrong.

My DH and alot of his male family members have ADD or ADHD...DH was on medication and it helped him out alot, if our son happens to get it then he will be on medication as well.

Hatetank,
To answer your questions about testing, there are many standardized tests that can be used. The person completed the evaluation should use one of these, one that has been proven to have reliability and validity. They have tests to administer to the parents, and to the teacher if the child is school age. They will observe the child and take a thorough medical, family and biopsychosocial history. Parent report of the behavior is also taken. Some people will also do cognitive testing to see if that is affecting the results. I don't have any training in cognitive testing, so I wouldn't do that. Psychologists are more apt to do that type of testing.

Or...that's how it should be done. Some people just give ADHD because you HAVE to give a diagnosis right away for the insurance to pay for it. Even when you're in the assessment phase, sometimes you still have to give a diagnosis sooner than you'd like.

I agree, a lot of kids who have been diagnosed with ADHD really have more what I consider to be lifestyle issues/bad parenting. However, there are kids that legitimately have ADHD. You will know one when you see one. And yes, a lot of them can't even sit through a preferred activity, nevermind a non-preferred activity.

Also, there are several types of ADHD (ADD is no longer a diagnosis). There is predominately inattentive type, predominately hyperactive type, combined type, and NOS (not otherwise specified). The type of ADHD will affect how the person is presenting.

As an aside, the more I work with kids that have special needs, the more I learn about how parenting affects their behavior! There are so many kids I want to diagnose with bad parenting. :P

Here is my view on the subject of giving children medication. I have a child that finally at the age of 5 years and 8 months was diagnosed with having ADD. I as a parent actually fell BAD for not pushing sooner for my child to be evaluated. I have know since he was about 3 years old that he had ADD. It finally took me, his teacher, and his daycare provider at the time asking the dr to evaluate him. No matter what you did with taking away sugar and changing activities he has never been able to focus on anything. He was placed on meds in January and is doing 100% better then he ever has. Now since my dr did not want to do anything about it earlier when I had told her for almost two years I thought something was wrong my son is now having to repeat kindergarden. He didn't learn a single thing the first half of the year before being put on meds. He did great the second half after being on meds, but couldn't catch up because he was too far behind. So as a parent I feel like I failed my child. If I would have pushed the dr sooner or gotten a second opinion my son would be going on to first grade instead of being held back. I am not a lazy parent and I did not want to put my child on meds, but after doing so I feel so bad for not doing it sooner. Personally until you are in the situation I don't think you should say firmly that meds are wrong

I have to agree with just about everyone who has responded.....
Yes medication is ok, but trying other things first and going to meds as a last resort is ok too.

What I disagree with(not w/ anyone here) is when the medication is not given properly. If you are at that point where your child needs medication then it needs to be given as prescribed or you have made no headway. I see A LOT of kids in my chair on any given day and you can really tell when their medication is given improperly...there is just no balance at all, not to mention how dangerous it is to the patient and to me when they are bouncing all over the place and not listening to my instructions....I use some pretty sharp tools in my job. I was told by a very good friend whose 2 sons are ADHD that the meds have to be given everyday and preferably at the same time to keep balance(correct me if I am wrong)...and it irks me to no end when mom or dad says, "oh, we forgot to give him his meds...I hope he behaves for you."

Had I known way back with my son what I know now he would have been medicated after a while. I tried a million and one different things, even going to see a counselor and medication was never mentioned by the docs or a thought in my mind. He had grown out of a lot of his ways, or I should say matured, but there are still little things here and there....I just can't see medicating him now though at age 11 as things are starting to get better.

Good luck to everyone who is dealing with these situations.

I have to agree with just about everyone who has responded.....
Yes medication is ok, but trying other things first and going to meds as a last resort is ok too.

What I disagree with(not w/ anyone here) is when the medication is not given properly. If you are at that point where your child needs medication then it needs to be given as prescribed or you have made no headway. I see A LOT of kids in my chair on any given day and you can really tell when their medication is given improperly...there is just no balance at all, not to mention how dangerous it is to the patient and to me when they are bouncing all over the place and not listening to my instructions....I use some pretty sharp tools in my job. I was told by a very good friend whose 2 sons are ADHD that the meds have to be given everyday and preferably at the same time to keep balance(correct me if I am wrong)...and it irks me to no end when mom or dad says, "oh, we forgot to give him his meds...I hope he behaves for you."

Had I known way back with my son what I know now he would have been medicated after a while. I tried a million and one different things, even going to see a counselor and medication was never mentioned by the docs or a thought in my mind. He had grown out of a lot of his ways, or I should say matured, but there are still little things here and there....I just can't see medicating him now though at age 11 as things are starting to get better.

Good luck to everyone who is dealing with these situations.




I agree with giving the meds at certains times throughout the day like they tell you to give the doses at breakfast and at lunch or noon time because most of the non time released meds only last for 4 hours. We can tell a difference when Robbie is on his meds and when they have worn off and let me tell you there is a difference. Also when they put a child on meds they start out with the lowest dose possible and give it a month before having to up the dosage because you just cant start out giving them a huge dose first. Not every kid is the same and therefore they have to start low and adjust accordingly. For right now 5 mg at breakfast and lunch and then 2.5 mg at late afternoon seems to work fine for Robbie but when he starts Pre-K in a few weeks that will be the real test to see if he can pay attention and focus and then we will know if its definitely the right dose for him. I really hope it is going to be because I will hate to have to have it increased but if its for his good so he can learn then so be it.

I think medication should be a LAST resort, not the first thing they go to.

Very good point & I agree! I do feel that a lot of parents jump straight into the meds because they don't want to do the extra work it would take to try to find other alternatives. They want that instant fix!

And then there are some parents who have tried exercise, diet changes, behavioral modifications, therapy, etc & they still don't work. Amd have to chose the meds.

There are some children that definately benefit from meds just as there are some that do well with changing the family eating habits & exercise.

From what I was told by a therapist, people w/ (severe) adhd are very good at video games or anything that requires your full attention like that. They hyper focus on things that keep their mind active. Once they have something they like, they can hyper focus on it. The game stimulates the craving for the rush that the brain needs...so it's like their drug. They can't multi task, etc. Until you've been w/ someone who is like this or you have a child w/ this, it's hard to understand and it seems like any of the behaviors can be just part of the personality. But there really is a difference.


You're absolutely right, rach. :) There is a misconception that TV and games are usually the cause of ADD or ADHD... that is simply not true. There have been studies showing a link between kids that play a lot of TV and games and ADHD/ADD but there is absolutely NO proof that TV or games are the CAUSE. The more research that is done on the subject, the more it looks like children who are born with ADHD/ADD naturally migrate to these things because they are some of the only sources of constant and intense interaction that can keep their minds busy. It's what their brains crave, it's a source of calm for them, in a sense. It's one of the only things that engages their brains in a way that leaves no room for the fuzzies (as jaxon calls them) in their brain to start making all kinds of white noise to distract them.

Jaxon's preschool teacher explained it to me in a way that really made me think. I was talking to her about how hard it is for me to get him to follow through with the most simple tasks. It is a VERY difficult struggle for me b/c nearly half of my day is spent just trying to get him to follow through with simple things like putting on socks, shoes, sitting for breakfast, etc. She said that a child with ADHD obviously has 100% of their brain but when you factor in just regular distractions like a TV or one of their favorite toys laying on the other side of the room or just really the normal things that children think about all the time, you lose about 10-20% of their full focus when giving them directions. Which is why kids sometimes have a hard time following through :giggle BUT when you take a child who has ADHD, they lose that 10-20% of focus, plus the white noise as they call it (that causes the distraction) takes as much as 40-50% more of their focus. She compared it to making you read an article from a magazine or newspaper while having a TV on FULL Blast with white noise, plus music blaring at the same time full blast. Some children who have ADHD have that kind of distraction CONSTANTLY. That is something that therapy can not correct a lot of times. I know a lot of illnesses are overdiagnosed but how sad would it be for a child to not be able to get properly diagnosed and have to spend so much of their life living with something so difficult to deal with? It's like someone with a horrible, debilitating migraine not being able to take any medication for it. As much as I would hate for a child to be misdiagnosed with it when they don't truly have it, I would hate it even more for a child to not be diagnosed and treated properly who is desperately in need of help.

You're absolutely right, rach. :) There is a misconception that TV and games are usually the cause of ADD or ADHD... that is simply not true. There have been studies showing a link between kids that play a lot of TV and games and ADHD/ADD but there is absolutely NO proof that TV or games are the CAUSE. The more research that is done on the subject, the more it looks like children who are born with ADHD/ADD naturally migrate to these things because they are some of the only sources of constant and intense interaction that can keep their minds busy. It's what their brains crave, it's a source of calm for them, in a sense. It's one of the only things that engages their brains in a way that leaves no room for the fuzzies (as jaxon calls them) in their brain to start making all kinds of white noise to distract them.

Jaxon's preschool teacher explained it to me in a way that really made me think. I was talking to her about how hard it is for me to get him to follow through with the most simple tasks. It is a VERY difficult struggle for me b/c nearly half of my day is spent just trying to get him to follow through with simple things like putting on socks, shoes, sitting for breakfast, etc. She said that a child with ADHD obviously has 100% of their brain but when you factor in just regular distractions like a TV or one of their favorite toys laying on the other side of the room or just really the normal things that children think about all the time, you lose about 10-20% of their full focus when giving them directions. Which is why kids sometimes have a hard time following through :giggle BUT when you take a child who has ADHD, they lose that 10-20% of focus, plus the white noise as they call it (that causes the distraction) takes as much as 40-50% more of their focus. She compared it to making you read an article from a magazine or newspaper while having a TV on FULL Blast with white noise, plus music blaring at the same time full blast. Some children who have ADHD have that kind of distraction CONSTANTLY. That is something that therapy can not correct a lot of times. I know a lot of illnesses are overdiagnosed but how sad would it be for a child to not be able to get properly diagnosed and have to spend so much of their life living with something so difficult to deal with? It's like someone with a horrible, debilitating migraine not being able to take any medication for it. As much as I would hate for a child to be misdiagnosed with it when they don't truly have it, I would hate it even more for a child to not be diagnosed and treated properly who is desperately in need of help.



Oh Brandi that is so very very true. Does Jaxon seem to have trouble if you are in a crowded place with people talking very loudly, does it seem like when you are trying to talk to him that he cant hear you? I know with Robbie when he is around alot of loud noises I dont think he can filter it out to even pay attention, I was just wondering if Jaxon was the same way or not. I know that when I am in a very noisy room and someone is trying to have a conversation with me that I cannot focus myself to hear them very well and I am finding that I am paying more attention to the louder noise then the person trying to talk to me.

My son is on a medication for his meltdowns. Going on this medication was the last resort for us and his doctor. One of the components of him having Aspergers is he will have these violent meltdowns when he is over stimulated, or sometimes they have happened at the drop of a hat. This medication was the only thing that would help him, and it has. It has minimized the meltdowns, and they don't last as long at all. He isn't a zombie or out of it when he's on it. He's still the same sweet boy. Also, the medication isn't a quick fix either. We still work with him when he has his meltdowns, and we hope to ease him off of it as soon as we feel he's ready.

it's pretty much a part of my profession too, and i strongly encourage a combo of therapy and medication...i would try therapy first for my family, then both if need be.

I know a lot of illnesses are overdiagnosed but how sad would it be for a child to not be able to get properly diagnosed and have to spend so much of their life living with something so difficult to deal with? It's like someone with a horrible, debilitating migraine not being able to take any medication for it. As much as I would hate for a child to be misdiagnosed with it when they don't truly have it, I would hate it even more for a child to not be diagnosed and treated properly who is desperately in need of help.

They should definatly diagnose it if it is truly ADHD. BUT. My feeling is I would HATE to put my child on medication and then find out he didnt have it nor need it. Which is why I would explore all the possibilitys. I actually truly believe that medication shouldnt be given unless a child is over a certain age or enough time has been given to help try other possible ways.

An example of just prescribing meds (which was to my benefit but it is a good way to see) I had been having migranes after Ethan. To the point of vomiting and the like. I made an appointment and went in. Without doing any testing he asked me a few questions and popped me on medication.

I just try to not take Dr's for their every word. But thats cuz I have been burned. I was sick for a full YEAR when Rod was deployed on the Lincoln. EVERY Dr on the military base kepts saying "well your nose is a bit red inside but thats it" And they tried to throw me in counseling saying it was stress and cuz my husband was deployed. Asked me how many deployments I had done, insinuating that was all it was. After going back every 2 weeks until I got a referral a referal was given finally. I went to an ENT and it turned out I needed surgery. My turbinates in my nose were so swollen they were touching the other side and my nostril couldnt drain. It sat in their festering. I ended up with strep, pneumonia and a variety of other things while the Dr's insisted it was stress and because rod was deployed. The ENT was FLOORED that I wasnt diagnosed sooner. On top of that my septum up top was twisted. I had the surgery and am fine

I do believe there is ADHD. And I do believe children suffer from it. I do not believe tho that as many as Dr's say have it, have it. I also believe they should have stricter testing and not be so quick to prescribe medication. But thats just me. Like I said if Ethan were to be diagnosed I wouldnt throw it out the window. I juist would explore all other options first and try a variety of other things and use meds as an absolute last resort. Ethan has trouble concentrating on 1 thing too. But I "personally" believe it is a child thing. Before age 5 they are just really coming into their emotions, learning how to express them etc.

I think this debate probably falls into the category like ALL other parenting debates. Your not a bad parent if you do 1 or the other, you are just a different parent. For my family medication would be used dead last while for others it wouldnt ;)

They should definatly diagnose it if it is truly ADHD. BUT. My feeling is I would HATE to put my child on medication and then find out he didnt have it nor need it. Which is why I would explore all the possibilitys. I actually truly believe that medication shouldnt be given unless a child is over a certain age or enough time has been given to help try other possible ways.

An example of just prescribing meds (which was to my benefit but it is a good way to see) I had been having migranes after Ethan. To the point of vomiting and the like. I made an appointment and went in. Without doing any testing he asked me a few questions and popped me on medication.

I just try to not take Dr's for their every word. But thats cuz I have been burned. I was sick for a full YEAR when Rod was deployed on the Lincoln. EVERY Dr on the military base kepts saying "well your nose is a bit red inside but thats it" And they tried to throw me in counseling saying it was stress and cuz my husband was deployed. Asked me how many deployments I had done, insinuating that was all it was. After going back every 2 weeks until I got a referral a referal was given finally. I went to an ENT and it turned out I needed surgery. My turbinates in my nose were so swollen they were touching the other side and my nostril couldnt drain. It sat in their festering. I ended up with strep, pneumonia and a variety of other things while the Dr's insisted it was stress and because rod was deployed. The ENT was FLOORED that I wasnt diagnosed sooner. On top of that my septum up top was twisted. I had the surgery and am fine

I do believe there is ADHD. And I do believe children suffer from it. I do not believe tho that as many as Dr's say have it, have it. I also believe they should have stricter testing and not be so quick to prescribe medication. But thats just me. Like I said if Ethan were to be diagnosed I wouldnt throw it out the window. I juist would explore all other options first and try a variety of other things and use meds as an absolute last resort. Ethan has trouble concentrating on 1 thing too. But I "personally" believe it is a child thing. Before age 5 they are just really coming into their emotions, learning how to express them etc.

I think this debate probably falls into the category like ALL other parenting debates. Your not a bad parent if you do 1 or the other, you are just a different parent. For my family medication would be used dead last while for others it wouldnt ;)



Hey can I send Robbie out to you for a month LOL then you will know how difficult he can be at times. He isnt as bad as some kids are though even without being on meds but the low dosages of meds just help to calm him down so he can function better all around. I would never want to medicate my kid to the point of being a zombie. thankfully Robbie hasnt lost his personality or has been having any other problems due to the meds he is on.

Hey can I send Robbie out to you for a month LOL then you will know how difficult he can be at times. He isnt as bad as some kids are though even without being on meds but the low dosages of meds just help to calm him down so he can function better all around. I would never want to medicate my kid to the point of being a zombie. thankfully Robbie hasnt lost his personality or has been having any other problems due to the meds he is on.

Cat,

Sending me your child wouldnt change my views ;)

ETA:
My nephew was "diagnosed" with it. And I lived with them and helped with them for quite awhile. I use the term diagnosed loosely tho because instead of medicating my SIL changed his diet, cut out sugar, restricted tv and the like and did a whole slew of other things and he was fine. He didnt truly have it. So in that sense I am very glad she didnt put him on meds. Now she woulda as a last resort but wanted to try all those things first. But I DO know what it is like to be around a "difficult" child.

I do believe there is ADHD. And I do believe children suffer from it. I do not believe tho that as many as Dr's say have it, have it. I also believe they should have stricter testing and not be so quick to prescribe medication. But thats just me. Like I said if Ethan were to be diagnosed I wouldnt throw it out the window. I juist would explore all other options first and try a variety of other things and use meds as an absolute last resort. Ethan has trouble concentrating on 1 thing too. But I "personally" believe it is a child thing. Before age 5 they are just really coming into their emotions, learning how to express them etc.

I think this debate probably falls into the category like ALL other parenting debates. Your not a bad parent if you do 1 or the other, you are just a different parent. For my family medication would be used dead last while for others it wouldnt ;)

The thing is though, I really don't think doctors over prescribe anymore. Not that I know of anyhow. I've never known of any child that was just popped onto meds as a first resort. In all cases that I have known of, it was an absolute LAST resort and truth be known, I don't even know of many kids on meds period. It really is not that common of a thing anymore, even if it was more common 10 years ago. Things have changed a lot and I really don't think meds for ADHD are prescribed as a first resort in any case, at least not by a decent doctor.

And there is a HUGE difference in a child that can't concentrate on 1 thing and a child who truly has ADHD. It's nowhere near the same. I know you know that but I'm just saying that there is usually no mistake for most children who truly have ADHD. In most cases, its VERY obvious... at least that I know of.

ETA:
My nephew was "diagnosed" with it. And I lived with them and helped with them for quite awhile. I use the term diagnosed loosely tho because instead of medicating my SIL changed his diet, cut out sugar, restricted tv and the like and did a whole slew of other things and he was fine. He didnt truly have it. So in that sense I am very glad she didnt put him on meds. Now she woulda as a last resort but wanted to try all those things first. But I DO know what it is like to be around a "difficult" child.

And most doctors will work with the parent to do all of those things first. Like I said, I really do not know of any doctors that just write out scripts for pills without trying all sorts of other avenues first. In the cases where that does happen, the parent is usually pressuring the doctor for a diagnoses or lying to the doctor about trying the other things at home. I really don't think docs just write out rxs for pills without exploring every other avenue though.

And most doctors will work with the parent to do all of those things first. Like I said, I really do not know of any doctors that just write out scripts for pills without trying all sorts of other avenues first. In the cases where that does happen, the parent is usually pressuring the doctor for a diagnoses or lying to the doctor about trying the other things at home. I really don't think docs just write out rxs for pills without exploring every other avenue though.

Awww but his wouldnt. They wanted him on meds asap. My SIL denied it and went her own right. So it does happen. And I dont disagree with medicating at all like I said. I just do know it happens. And in my own personal belief.... out of 100 kids diagnosed and on meds prolly only 1/4 actually have it. But thats just me. I actually have seen ALOT of kids on it. But then again my mom was a pharmacist and I really am into meds, side effects and the like. I RARELY take meds or give my kids meds unless they need it. It just isnt for me. Last night I had to take a migrane pill and rod was PISSED I waited so long :rofl

I think those that have it can greatly benifit from the medications. But I think they are handing out the title of ADD and ADHD wayy to easy to a kid who is curious and spunky.

Oh Brandi that is so very very true. Does Jaxon seem to have trouble if you are in a crowded place with people talking very loudly, does it seem like when you are trying to talk to him that he cant hear you?

This is PHil...He hates crowds and loud noises. He talks very loud too. I used to think he just wanted attention, but like you said...goes hand in hand.

I don't know much about many disabilities... but I think my son has UNdiagnosed ADHD... and I am totally against medication for that. I think it's just typical childhood behaviors to act out in any way possible to get attention. Shame on me if I ever tried to change that for my own sanity. But that's just my personal opinion and no judgements to those who do... I also speak from lack of information regarding true ADHD...

Cat,

Sending me your child wouldnt change my views ;)

ETA:
My nephew was "diagnosed" with it. And I lived with them and helped with them for quite awhile. I use the term diagnosed loosely tho because instead of medicating my SIL changed his diet, cut out sugar, restricted tv and the like and did a whole slew of other things and he was fine. He didnt truly have it. So in that sense I am very glad she didnt put him on meds. Now she woulda as a last resort but wanted to try all those things first. But I DO know what it is like to be around a "difficult" child.



well thats why I put the LOL in there because I was joking. but I wasnt saying you have no idea what its like and I am glad that your nephew didnt truly have ADHD. But when a child gets kicked out of 2 preschools because of his behaviors is it because of the ADHD or is it just because the teachers didnt want to deal with it? Its not because of bad parenting either. But see just to clarify something we didnt just go and put him on meds first thing either we had tried different behavior modifications and even had the preschools doing the same and he was still having problems and we were going to the psychologists office every week for several months before even getting him an appt with the psychiatrist and he was the one that told us after hearing everything that Robbie does have ADHD and he said it was in the moderate to severe level because of the things he was doing and therefore the need for meds. Remember I had to quit my job to stay home with him because of all this so if his behaviors were that bad to get him kicked out of preschools and me having to quit my job then thats another reason why he was put on the meds. Now I have no plans to go back to work until he gets into kindergarten next year and we see how he does and make sure he is on the right dose and once we feel that he wont be having anymore behavior issues then I will go back to work. But I just wanted people to know that we did not just up and put him on meds the very first thing. Believe me I wish that he didnt have to be on the meds and I do understand parents who say that they are totally against it too and want it to be as a last resort which is what we did. I have been down this road with my oldest son but his was more than just attentional and now thinking back on it I dont think my oldest son had true ADHD but more like the effects of ADHD but he also had Verbal Processing Deficits too which I believe would fall under the Learning Disorders to a degree because my oldest was on Ritalin until he got to middle school and I really couldnt see it helping him much because of the learning problems so I just took him off of the meds altogether. But Robbie doesnt have any learning problems or at least none that we can detect yet. Robbie is a very bright and smart boy and he isnt a bad bully kid or anything either but I can tell there is a distinct difference between Robbie and my oldest son when he was Robbies age.

Anyway sorry to ramble on like that. I just kinda feel that I am being somewhat judged for putting my child on meds but I may be wrong on that too.

I don't know much about many disabilities... but I think my son has UNdiagnosed ADHD... and I am totally against medication for that. I think it's just typical childhood behaviors to act out in any way possible to get attention. Shame on me if I ever tried to change that for my own sanity. But that's just my personal opinion and no judgements to those who do... I also speak from lack of information regarding true ADHD...

:( If you seriously think your child has ADHD, you could be doing him a serious injustice by not having him evaluated and given the proper attention. Kids with ADHD sometimes need behavior therapy. A lot of times, they don't learn the same ways that other children learn and it could be very unfair to him for you to not at least look into it, even if you are against medicating. Typical childhood behavior doesn't equal ADHD but if you think he is truly showing signs, you really should have him evaluated. ADHD doesn't typically go away, even into adulthood... or at least some cases don't. So, ADHD is something that some children will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. It would at least be worth looking into.

As far as medication goes, I'm not totally for or against it. I won't sit and suffer or make my child suffer just for the sake of not wanting to take medicine though. I've never heard of anyone dying any earlier or being any more screwed up from taking medicine. I guess my thoughts would change if there were more documented cases of tylenol making people have heart attacks or motrin shortening your lifespan by 10 years, but I really have never heard of most medications causing any harm so I'll take them and give them when I feel it would be beneficial.

Anyway sorry to ramble on like that. I just kinda feel that I am being somewhat judged for putting my child on meds but I may be wrong on that too.

Cat,

I really wish you wouldnt feel as if I were judging you..

I dunno how many different ways of saying that I am not judging those whom put their child on meds. Obviously YOU felt that was right for YOUR kid. MY kid wont be tho because I have a totally different view on it. My view would be a total and absolute last resort. I would explore diet changes and all other aspects. But thats because that is who I am and my beliefs. Its a difference in parenting. Period.

I am not saying you are wrong for putting your child on meds. I am also not saying he doesnt have ADHD. What I am saying is that I believe some Dr's are quick to jump the gun and prescribe meds right away. And of course a parent is going to accept them. I mean most trust their Dr's right? And then the parents are given the medication and of course it calms them down. I mean if you take vicoden, regardless if you are in pain, it'll make ya feel all nice, warm and fuzzy... So the parents have no choice but to believe their Dr. And although I do trust alot of Dr's I don't trust alot. I research the hell out of stuff but thats because, like I stated, I have been burned.

I am also saying that I think ADHD is over diagnosed. I am NOT saying you are wrong, that your child doesn't have it nor am I judging you. I am simply stating that I feel it can be overdiagnosed and that I feel alot of Dr's and yes even "some" parents do the meds as a quick fix. I never once said you. In fact I have stated over and over again that this is only my belief, that for children that truly do have ADHD that medication probably helps them out tremndously....and that like any parenting debate there will be a differing opinion because everyone parents differently ;)

oh no I do understand where you are coming from and I do happen to agree with you that some Drs do jump the gun to prescribe meds to kids who may not need them. Also i agree with you about it being overdiagnosed as well. I also believe as you do that they do need to be tested and it sure doesnt hurt to get a second opinion if its needed. I realize that you personally arent judging me personally either. So I just wanted to let you know that.



Cat,

I really wish you wouldnt feel as if I were judging you..

I dunno how many different ways of saying that I am not judging those whom put their child on meds. Obviously YOU felt that was right for YOUR kid. MY kid wont be tho because I have a totally different view on it. My view would be a total and absolute last resort. I would explore diet changes and all other aspects. But thats because that is who I am and my beliefs. Its a difference in parenting. Period.

I am not saying you are wrong for putting your child on meds. I am also not saying he doesnt have ADHD. What I am saying is that I believe some Dr's are quick to jump the gun and prescribe meds right away. And of course a parent is going to accept them. I mean most trust their Dr's right? And then the parents are given the medication and of course it calms them down. I mean if you take vicoden, regardless if you are in pain, it'll make ya feel all nice, warm and fuzzy... So the parents have no choice but to believe their Dr. And although I do trust alot of Dr's I don't trust alot. I research the hell out of stuff but thats because, like I stated, I have been burned.

I am also saying that I think ADHD is over diagnosed. I am NOT saying you are wrong, that your child doesn't have it nor am I judging you. I am simply stating that I feel it can be overdiagnosed and that I feel alot of Dr's and yes even "some" parents do the meds as a quick fix. I never once said you. In fact I have stated over and over again that this is only my belief, that for children that truly do have ADHD that medication probably helps them out tremndously....and that like any parenting debate there will be a differing opinion because everyone parents differently ;)

Interesting topic, I actually did a speech for my public speaking class on the topic of ADHD medication and I think that for this specific condition that the risks far outweigh the benefits. For one thing the medications that are used have only been tested on adults, so nobody really knows for sure how different dosages effect small children. The medications also have not been around for very long, and there have been no studies on their long-term effects as of yet. In addition, there is an argument that ADHD is not a mental illness at all but just a different way of being, similar to being shy or outgoing, athletic or artistic, etc. There are certain extreme cases where medication is necessary, for example any time the child is hurting him/herself. But most mild cases respond well to alternative treatments, such as exercise, dietary changes, music therapy, and even behavioral therapy. Just my 2 cents.

I think medication should be the last resort, and used ONLY if the diagnosis is certain. I have a pal who's younger brother who was diagnosed as ADHD when he was younger and has been medicated all his life. Shortly after his 17thr birthday, they found out he was ACTUALLY autistic and the medication he had taken all his life made it worse! I think that therapy and behaviorial control will go alot longer then medication and have better long term effects.