Anyone have an ADHD child?
 

I was just curious how many on here have a child who has ADHD? There are so many members that there has to be more than me. My son is ten, diagnosed when he was four, been on meds and behavior modification ever since. He has more than ADHD....ODD, Mood Disorder, Coordination Development Disorder. He's a handful to say the least!

I sure do though mine is grown now - he still has trouble keeping jobs and following a schedule ...he usually only hears half of anything said to him - it goes on and on - the worst thing is how upset with his own self he can get when he does something he knows he shouldn't - He's a great guy - just very impulsive and self destructive in small ways...no make that big ways.

I really think kids with Adhd really do have it a bit harder because most things just don't come easy to them. Sports do... but learning or comprehending don't......it can be ongoing for many boys following them all the way into adulthood. We stayed with only one medication and I saw changes in him right away....he even wants to try medication again now.... he's 25 years old.

WHOOOSSSHHHH... I have 5 out of 7 that had it :eek: I am one TIRED Momma Bear. I am totally against any meds since seeing what they did to my nephew!!!!!. So far 3 have out grown it ... and my youngest is outgrowing it early so YIPEEEEEEEE :D . Only one of my boys is still having alot of troubles and not seeming to grow out of it as quickly as the others did.

Do you know that where I used to to live they used to FORCE meds on the school children who's parents refused meds!!!! They would actually take you to court and they always Won!!! It was a small town. We moved when they started putting the pressure on me!!!!

I'm sure my son will be on medication all of his life. He truly cannot function without them. If the ADHD wasn't hard enough, he also has Oppositional Defiance Disorder......now THAT's even more difficult to live with. We laugh all the time that our Yorkie, Avery, has ADHD and ODD. He won't pay attention and he won't obey the rules! :)

I have two boys (18 years and 30 years) that both are ADHD.. grown but still has trouble..I can tell one of mine 3 things to do and he might remember to do one. I have to check and make sure he does certain things .. like feeding the outside dog.
and they both still remind me of 15 year olds with how they act.
the only thing mine does well is plays video games.

I TRULY don't know how parents manage with more than one child with ADHD. My son consumes all my energy and all my time. He's run off all my friends and prevents me from having new ones. You must be a Saint to have lived through them! I UNDERSTAND how tired you must be!

I just knew there had to be several on here with these children. I hope mine learns how to live on his own....right now it looks iffy! I can't get him to do ONE thing for himself.

My son is not ADHD but he is high functioning autistic and of course I worry about what kind of a life he is going to have as an adult. I accepted that he will probably always live with us or at least need our help with some things. I also worry about when we are gone, about who will look after him. He has some great first cousins and big brother so hopefully things will work out ok for him.

Does anyone else on here have an autistic child? Great thread by the way.

I was an ADHD child, but now Im an ADHD adult and so is my husband so we have a really good chance(like 99.9%) of having an adhd child. I know I was a major handful for my mother when growing up. My sister also has ADD (not ADHD) but she also has really bad coordination problems so school was always an issue that my mom was constantly dealing with. She was really good about trying to be understanding and patient about it though. She was always doing a lot of research on the condition. I have adhd really bad and Ive been on medication for 18 years. It makes a really big difference though and I dont think I would ever accomplish a single task without it.

I honeslty cant imagine the amount of patience and understanding it must take to deal with some of the difficulties in having an ADHD child. I only hope that I will be good with it one day. :love:

Yeah I know what you mean. ;)

My 12 year old and my 5 year old might be the death of me yet. I am wayyyy to old and tired to take it sometimes and I just sit on the floor and SCREAM...LOL..

I know alot of people swear by the medication but after seeing my nephew who went from hyper to a big zombie 10 times a day on it I swore I would never use it . He is grown and very messed up now!!!!!

My son is almost 6 and he has ADHD. He was tested for an autism spectrum disorder but everything seemed to be ok. He also may have some learning disabilities, he is going to be tested for for that in first grade. He started kindergarten this year and is on meds for the hyperactivity so he can at least sit in his chair for the most part. He has a helper come in everyday at school to help him learn his letters and numbers. He takes a lot of time but is well worth it! I love him to pieces!

Shana, thank you, you give me hope. We're having a really rough time right now. We got a definitive diagnosis from Texas Children's Hospital and the doctors there are helping with meds. (He's been on meds and had therapy since he was four.) We're also participating in an experimental therapy....S.M.A.R.T.......Short term Mentalization and Relationship Therapy. I saw no reason not to, nothing else has worked! (Our son is adopted and we know very little medically of his bio family.)

My husband was diagnosed about 40 years ago with ADD not ADHd and I think it has affected his adult life. Back in the 60's they didn't do much for it and he dropped out of high school had trouble keeping a job. He still has a hard time expressing his thoughts but has kept a job for a long time finally. It must be so hard on you as parents and for the kids. Good luck

No Kids with ADHD but I am. Have been a long time and also Learning Disabled in the area of dyslexia and fine motor, long and short term memory.
I went on to graduate College and take some University level courses.
Most of us have IQ's that are up there, so life is frustrating as we know a ton but we just sometimes can not get it out so it makes sense and others can understand us.
I understand why we sometimes come across as having short temper or emotional,... try someone telling you that you are wrong when you know it and you can pull the info but darn it you can not get it out the mouth or figures and spelled it right and string a sentence together so it can be understood.
We pack a disability that is unseen and there for we are not given the understanding that we sometimes need or for people to take things a wee little slower so we can process the info coming in or going out.
I was one of the first kids that was tested many many many years ago and had a Mom that was willing to make the system work for her kids all 4 of us learning disabled and three of us ADHD.

Joy ( 42)

It is my personal oppinion that when you go from hyper to complete zombie that its just too high of a dose and the wrong kind of medication. I know this because I have been there. Sometimes it take a lot of trial and error with different brands and different medications but once you find a comfortable dose it works great. I switched off of ritalin when I was about 20 because it starting causing bad mood swings(drawbacks of using it for 13 years) and I have been on adderall ever since and its truly helps me stay on task, as well as still have a personality and be social without being hyper-crazy. When I dont take medicine I talk too much, too fast, cant sit still, cant stay on one thought for more than a second....... I cant even get work done at all. I think its all in the doseage :)

Another good thing to think about is since schools are becoming very educate on ADHD and other similar learning disibilities they have all sorts of program and special aid for students with the condition. My sister got to be part of some of this. When I went to school they didnt have any of that yet. Its getting better out there everyday ;) !!!

Teacher
 

I don't have ADD or ADHD. I am a teacher and have lots of students who are diagnosed with those disorders and many others. I know right away without looking at a child's IEP if they have it or not. I can also tell who's on medication. We teachers do appreciate if child who is majorly suffering from the disorder is being given medication. Not only do their grades improve (most of the time), but so does their behavior. Just one student can make all the others riled up.
Now, I know there are many people who don't believe in medication. I do. I suffer(ed) from depression because my fiancé had canceled our wedding (this happened in June, we would have gotten married in August). For three months I suffered and tried to "get over it" without medication. I finally broke down, went to the doctor, and am now on Zoloft. I am so glad I went because I feel 100% better.
If a medication is going to make someone feel better, I think it should be given a try (it can always be stopped). Some children even say that they wish they weren't like this...they wish they could be different...get better grades...etc. If the child wants to change, he/she should be given the benefit of the doubt. If it is a serious diagnosed problem it will not just go away on its own.
Once again...this is my opinion, and I'm not trying to make people who don't believe in medication feel "wrong." :) I've seen different discussions get heated in here because some don't agree with others. Remember...if we were all the same this world would be boring! :animal36 Maybe things get heated because: #1 instead of JUST giving our opinion(s) we make it a point to disagree with others and #2 when we write/type, you can't hear how the person is talking (that's why I always put LOL or "not trying to be sarcastic") because I want people to know that I'm not trying to be mean.
Okay, I will stop "educating" now...school doesn't resume until Tuesday! :p

I have 2 nephews with it
 

I have 2 nephews with it. They are in their late teens now, they are doing so much better now. It used to be so hard for my sister. The medication they use has helped them in school and in life in general. I hope your children do better as they get older!

Nicole, it's good to hear the viewpoint of a teacher, thanks. SO FAR my son's teachers have been very understanding and helpful. It's one of those disabilities that many don't think they have because it isn't visible. Busting their buns does NOT help. My son's ADHD is very severe. I knew there was trouble before he was two, but nothing could be done to help him till he was four.

Good luck on this one ..I have both of mine home right now...I cut the apron strings at 18 but both of mine refuse to grow up.

AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!! Say it isn't so!!!

Young
 

Yeah, even though parents can notice early on, doctors don't like to give a definite diagnosis until they are older. Especially when children are in their terrible 2s anyway! I hope that whatever you decide to do, your child gets better. :) For both of your sakes! :animal36

PS-Most teachers are very understanding of this disorder...but many are not! Make sure that you keep in contact with the teacher to make sure they are doing all they can. I presently have a student who's in 8th grade (I teach Spanish). He's been failing practically all subjects for years! EVERYDAY after school he comes in with me and I keep him organized. We go over his assignment pad, all his homework, and I help him when he needs help. I talk to his mother all the time and all his other teachers. It's midmarking period now, and so far he's not failing anything! He even said, "can you imagine if I make honor roll?" I'm so proud of him. :)

You are one of those rare, really wonderful teachers. We could use alot more like you. The fact is.....our children are at school seven hours a day and there's not much we, as parents, can do about their behavior when they are away from us. We've had more than one child psychiatrist tell us to LET IT GO! The teachers can do their job! So, I try to do that....and work with him at home on home problems...(we have plenty, lol).

Age
 

Thanks for the compliment! :D I've decided that I'm going to teach until I'm burnt out. I REFUSE to be a teacher that is just there as a job and still does things she did 30 years ago (not flexible to change). I'm not talking about "old" teachers and saying they are bad...I'm talking about teachers (any age) who hate their job and are worn out. I received my master's degree in 2004 in advanced curriculum and teaching so that I can do "behind the scenes" work in a public school when that time comes (if it ever does).
Oh and sorry if I didn't catch this before, but how old is your son?

My son is 10 and was diagnosed with ADDH and borderline ODD in kindergarten. I knew there was more to it than "he's just a little boy".... :rolleyes: He's been on Concerta ever since and it has made a world of difference.

Nicole, my son is ten. We've really been through the mill and he's not much better after all these years of treatment. He must be medicated or he can't sit down even to eat dinner, but there HAS to be times in a 24 hour day that he's not medicated and boy, is that a bummer for ALL of us.

I do! My youngest, 4 1/2, has been on meds about 3 months now. ADHD and Sensory Integration. We have seen a world of difference with the meds, and he receives OT once a week for the sensory issues.

My 6 year old is mild ADD, only on meds when in school to help him focus better. Been a month now..but after only 2 weeks, his grades and reading improved!

This all comes from my husband who wont admit he has adult ADHD...so its a busym non stop household here!!!!!

I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but I think way too many children are diagnosed w/ ADD or ADHD when they are just happy-go-lucky energetic kids. My niece was on medication and it depressed her completely. She was great at home - very helpful, happy and energetic. At school she had a hard time paying attention. Her teachers demanded she go on meds or they wouldn't teach her. They hindered her personality and she was like a different person. She transferred schools and went off the meds. Turns out she was bored in school because she was ahead of the class. Anyway, I'd just warn people to be careful and get 2nd and 3rd and even 4th opinions. Maybe your kids just need more stimulation and challenges because they're ultra bright and bored.

I just looked through the thread. Isn't it a little scary that all these small children supposedly have it? I have a hard time believing that it can be this common.