teaching the ADHD child?

[kittie313]

Anyone got anything that may help me on this one? I'm finding it increasingly hard to work with Melissa this year, she has literally no attention span (her 2yo sister focuses better than she does) and its spilled into all areas of her life. Its at the point now that she asked us yesterday to take her to a doctor to fix it so she can pay attention during soccer games (she said it at halftime for her soccer game and was almost in tears because she missed stealing the ball several times because she got distracted or wasn't paying attention to start with, she lives for playing soccer so we know that she's dead serious) I'm taking her to our ped but wondered if there was anything that you could offer us for information on how to naturally manage it better (we tried dietary changes and had a little improvement, I'm not too sure what else to try other than omega-3 supplements, which I'll pick up tomorrow on my way home from taking dd2 for her K testing) Our ped is a more homeopathic doctor, she uses traditional natural remedies as much as she does modern medicine treatments and lets the parents dictate which route to follow in any treatment (meaning my 3yo could live on antibiotics for her lung problems, but we chose natural herbal remedies instead to minimize her exposure to those medicines so that they actually will work when she is seriously ill, so far its working GREAT) Also, how can I approach it better as an adhd mom myself? Yep, I have it too, if she's adhd then we may have a genetic link.

[PGTlatte]

There is a supplement I get at the Vitamin Shoppe called Attentive Child. It's a chewable wafer and seems to help. I also have our son on a low dose of Super Nu Thera and Amino Support from Kirkman's. These definitely help. When he was not on any supplements his focus was very scattered and it was difficult to do anything with him.

I read a few books that seemed to recommend letting the child fiddle with something in their hands during lessons, letting them move around, jump on a mini trampoline, etc. What has worked better for our son has been the complete opposite. I make every effort to remove all distractions during his lesson time. Sometimes he plays his pencil, breaks the lead off, etc and I take that away until it's time for him to write. He distracts himself by letting his eyes wander all over a page - I cover everything except the part we are working on right then. He does things with his hands to distract himself....I have him hold them in his lap. Since I started doing things this way he is making much better progress, and with this practice in being focused, he is getting better at focusing on his own. The amount of time he can keep his mind on what he is doing is increasing and he doesn't need as much help to do it.

[kittie313]

I have to keep our manipulatives away from Melissa. I did a math lesson with her today (making up for a missed day this past week) and she was using the linking cubes as castles, pretending they were people, trying to juggle them, making them dance................. I finally got tired of it and confiscated them from her until it was time to use them for hands-on practice of the concept (I had the total number I needed out to use for demonstrating and explaining the concept, which took about 40 minutes because she wandered off once, fell off her stool a couple times, interrupted me to tell me a story she was daydreaming up, and sang a song to Jordan, and this doesn't count the looking around and only halfway listening because she saw a fly moving or the trees out the window swaying in the breeze or whatever) DH watched me trying to teach her and realized how hard it is to work with her, and he said that just maybe we should be calling the ped after all. He was undecided and not willing to give any input before since he's almost never home when I teach (I do Saturday lessons but he's usually napping when I do them, this was the first Sunday I had to do lessons and he was wide awake and shocked at her inability to last more than 2 seconds without my completely losing her attention)

I'm doing the best I can, its just so trying with her. She asks for lessons and does well when I can get her focused, but getting her to focus and stay focused is so difficult. I just want to do the right thing for her, and I have no freaking clue what the right thing is with this. I'm half tempted to take her in and get her evaluated, and then when it comes back as adhd have them write a prescription and see how it helps her. I'm blessed to have a great ped, one that's willing to work with us, so I'm sure that if we try meds that she'd be willing to take Melissa off them after a fair trial with them to see what happens. But then, I'm not sure I want to put her on meds, we work so hard to limit the potential toxins in their bodies as it is. I am unable to join the military because of being on Ritalin as a child, and I don't want to have her facing limitations like that as well because of meds we chose to put her on.

See why this is such a hard choice for us? We're not against medicating, but we want to do it in the RIGHT situations, not just every situation that meds are an option.

[NightOwlwithowlet]

My seven year old son was on ADHD medication. We recently stopped it because of adverse reaction when combined with antibiotics.

My big concern was lessons, but I found a couple of things that helped. One is having him chew gum, another is putting a tiny bit of glue from a glue stick on the finger of his nondominant hand. I also let him sit on an exercise ball. Okay, I realize all of those sound a bit odd, but really do help. I also let him jump on a mini trampoline and let him do mental math or spell words. He seems less frustrated if we alternate between written work and oral work. Unfortantely, written work is where he is the weakest. I keep the lessons short and do them early in the morning or right before bed.

It is still very frustrating some days for both of us. I usually limit his screen time, but he has a math computer game that he can do for hours unlike written work.

The fish oil and a good vitamin have really helped and so did removing milk from his diet (he's allergic).

[scheelimama]

Originally Posted by NightOwlwithowlet

My big concern was lessons, but I found a couple of things that helped. One is having him chew gum, another is putting a tiny bit of glue from a glue stick on the finger of his nondominant hand. I also let him sit on an exercise ball. Okay, I realize all of those sound a bit odd, but really do help. I also let him jump on a mini trampoline and let him do mental math or spell words.

We just saw a developmental ped. last week for a full evaluation for my dd whose the same age as yours. Aside from the glue stick recc., these were her exact recommendations to us. She said MORE sensory input helps her brain to organize better. So far, I can't say it anything works for us, the appt. was just on Thursday. But I did buy a pack of gum when I was at the store today, so we could try out that theory this week.

[Leersia]

I don't think that my son is ADHD, but he IS very right-brained, dreamy, distractable, and he has a hard time focusing. Keeping the lessons very short is important. He needs me to be right with him to stay on task if he has to complete something written, sometimes in my lap (he's 7). When I read books without pictures, I let him play on the floor and listen, with Legos, or moldable beeswax, whatever - I agree that allowing the child to have sensory stimulation helps them to focus. Hang in there!

I'm wondering about the glue - what is the point of that? Intriguing. . .

[UptownZoo]

First, I suggest you pop in at the special needs forum with this question. Next, try some weight - heavy lap pads are great for schoolwork. I don't even own a real one; I just have a pillowcase, half full of plastic pellets and tied shut. It helps my extremely hyperactive/inattentive boy focus a little better. No help on the soccer field, I'm afraid.

[craft_media_hero]

Check out "The LCP Solution" from the library. If you don't want to read it, the book basically puts forth that mega-doses of fish oil are a boon to ADHD/ADD/dyslexia/dyspraxia kids (it's really an interesting book, though, so if you have time, then do check it out).

We don't do mega-doses, and my kid's not diagnosed, but she takes "Learning Factors" which has plant and tuna oils, as well as the full dose of a children's chewable everyday. Her dad and I notice a huge difference when she skips her vites.

Do you do long read-alouds? For my LO, reading non-picture books that she's interested in (like Harry Potter) has really helped her exercise her attention span.

I also second giving the kids something to do with their hands while we introduce a concept, and keeping the lessons short and sweet---we can get A LOT done with five productive minutes, versus an hour of struggling when the child is not engaged.

Good luck, and good for you for being pro-active for you daughter.

[kittie313]

Funny you say that about mega-dosing fish oils. Melissa is the same child that we suspect has dyslexia on top of ADHD. I'll have to look into that book and see if my library has it for me to read. THAT might be something that definitely helps my family for me to take the time to read.

As for read-alouds, she doesn't listen if there aren't pictures to look at, so chapter books are pretty much out. I own a TON of picture books about all different topics (Sonlight cores P3/4 and P4/5, plus enough additional books that I want to have a room dedicated to just books, maybe when we can afford a bigger home)

[blessedmum]

We have been using Enki teaching methods and they are helping alot!!

I can't really explain it all because it is so different. But I will try to summarize.
Enki uses movement and body mapping for comprehension, an awakening/ sleep cycle when scheduling subjects, all of the movement activities are separated into different sections for sensory integration.
For example..
When we tell a story we also do a comprehension verse(a short verse made up that summarizes the story) with actions BEFORE telling the story. We do it for a few days to memorize it let it sleep for a day and then tell the story. It is amazing to see the child realize that it is the same story and actually start listening. You then let the story sleep overnight. The next day you ask the child to tell you about the story.

I don't know if any of this is making sense.- You might want to check it out at enkieduation.org and there is a yahoo group enkiexperience.

My kids are comprehending more, concentrating longer and actually asking to "do school" Something that NEVER happened before-

Beth gives personal consultations every month when you have the full curr. and will do a pre-purchase for free to see if enki will work for you.

Blessings on your journey

[LilMamiBella]

I just ordered learning factors to use with my 10 yo son. We have used nordic naturals dha but he would give me a hard time taking it and I didn't see a difference. I was reading online how kids need more than clo but gla as well. It was cheap and we'll see if it works. I also have an appt with a doctor next week. He isn't quick to medicate which is a good thing. Its so hard to teach my son. He constantly interrupts, gets up and walks around, fidgets, hits, sticks his finger in the baby's eyes , etc. I've tried the feingold diet and didn't notice a difference.

[Luckiestgirl]

If you haven't yet read Lucy Palladino's book The Edison Trait (which I believe has been re-titled Dreamers, Discoverers, and Dynamos), I suggest that you do so immediately.  It has completely changed the way I see my daughter (and dh).  Divergent thinking--which in its more extreme form is associated with ADD--is associated with high levels of creativity, and you'll want to proceed with caution in order to help your daughter optimize the strengths that come with this way of thinking.  A traditional school environment--or a homeschooling environment that is too school-like--may not be the best way to facilitate learning in these children.  I don't know what pedagogical approach you're using, but Palladino's book is a great help in understanding how to maximize the learning environment for divergent thinkers. 

[tankgirl73]

Quote:

I have to keep our manipulatives away from Melissa. I did a math lesson with her today (making up for a missed day this past week) and she was using the linking cubes as castles, pretending they were people, trying to juggle them, making them dance................. I finally got tired of it and confiscated them from her until it was time to use them for hands-on practice of the concept 

While I know how ANNOYING that can be, it's actually recommended to let ADHD/sensory kids have something to fiddle with.  It seems counter-intuitive but it actually HELPS their concentration.  They need extra sensory stimulation and will seek it out at the expense of everything else.  If they HAVE that stimulation, then their brains can relax and focus on other things... otherwise their brains are just focussed on "MUST FIND STIMULATION!  MUST FIND STIMULATION!"

So rather than her math manipulatives, you can have a specific object that's for fiddling with.  My son went through a period where bracelets helped him a lot -- he had hair elastics, rubber bands, anything at all he could fit around his wrists.  I swear they went halfway up his forearm!  He was able to fiddle with those whenever he needed to and it did seem to help his focus.  We've also used weighted lap pads and blankets which he LOVES.

And yes, schedules, routines, and checklists are often essential.  ADHD kids often lack "executive function" - internal self-organization - and so they need EXTERNAL organization laid out for them.

We ended up medicating my son when he was 12, and we're glad we did.  It's made a world of difference.  But we're also glad that we tried everything else FIRST... diet, supplements, all these fiddley things and blankets, different routines and pedagogical approaches, etc.  Along the way we learned what sorts of things work best, what things help a bit (exercise first thing in the morning and protein with breakfast make a big difference)... and we also learned that all those things weren't enough.  He was miserable.  For me, the red flag is not that they "can't sit still for traditional lessons".  That's a big "whatever" for me.  For me, the red flag is "they can't even concentrate on something they love and really want to do, and are frustrated with their own inabilities to follow through on their own wishes and desires and interests."

So if your daughter is noticing that she can't pay attention EVEN IN SOCCER which she LOVES and is really TRYING HER BEST and really WANTS to do well, then *to me* that's a sign that it's time to do something more drastic.  And by all means, do all the non-drug stuff FIRST!  Let her know that you're working WITH her to find the best way to help her become the person she wants to be.  

In hindsight, I wish we had started meds at, say, age 9 or 10 instead of waiting until 12.  But we are 'catching up' now (he's 13.5).  He has no serious suffering from the meds... he's no 'zombie', he still has loads of energy.  He has low appetite and is quite skinny (the #1 side effect, but he's very athletic too and was always skinny as a rake) and has some minor tics, and this has persisted as we've tried various different meds.  But we take the tradeoff.  Occasionally we'll have a day where he forgets to take his pill in the morning and the difference is so painfully clear.  He vibrates.  He babbles.  He's just not "present".  Lesser of two evils in our case.