Adhd?

[Moonqueen]

Hi there! My son is a 7yr old in the first grade. While, for a few years, he's been a scattered, slightly unfocused, extemely energetic boy, it seems to be becoming more of an issue lately - his teacher has called me in to observe him twice this month. He's very smart (an advanced reader and was just bumped up to a 2nd grade math book) but has an incredibly difficult time focusing (especially in a classroom setting). Several people (including teachers) have assumed that he is ADHD but I will not put him on meds so I'm not sure if getting him diagnosed is worthwhile. I would, however, like to find some helpful literature and resources on how I can help him succeed in school (without driving his teachers and classmates crazy). While he already has a pretty healthy diet (vegan, gluten free, almost sugar free), I would love to find some other tips to help him both at school and at home. Thank you for any suggestions.

[Blueone]

Driven to Distraction and Taking Charge of ADHD. A fair warning, Taking Charge of ADHD does have some controversial stuff and it did leave me angry at the end of a few chapters, but the discipline and management sections are good. It is more geared towards children with severe ADHD, but applies to those with not so sever ones.

My favorite was Driven to Distraction.

[RiverTam]

He sounds gifted, and it's a very common experience to have gifted kids misdiagnosed as ADHD.

There's a very good chapter about it in "The Mislabeled Child" by Brock Eide and Fernette Eide. They have information about symptoms of ADHD and giftedness and lots of recommended interventions for both.

I know people who've had improvements with ADHD kids by enrolling them in a martial art. Karate/tae kwon do/akido teach focus and discipline. Exercise in general helps, too. Excercise before class can be especially helpful, because it gets the wiggles out of the kid before school.

Drilling kids to help them learn to pay attention is also helpful. There are books of attention exercises/games which you can buy.

Some therapists use or recommend video games in moderation to improve concentration. There's been at least one small study that got good results from using an auto racing game.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703152

Fish oil supplements might help. There's been some research on using them to improve attention. In a kid with a pretty mild case of attention issues, I think it's a good idea to start with fish oil. It can't hurt much, at least.
There have been a few fish oil studies:

Australian study on ADHD:
http://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/Abst...turated.2.aspx

Another study on learning disabilities and improvement after
supplementation with fatty acids:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...act/115/5/1360

recommendation for fish oil for preschoolers:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/g183503303307587/

[*violet*]

subbing

[boobybunny]

Another vote for driven to distraction..

And anything really that thom hartman has written on the subject.


However, I have adhd and my oldest son has it as well. He is an intelligent fantastic human... who either has focus issues or hyper focus issues. I have watched him literally chase a butterfly on a soccer field and watched him so focused on his Lego's that he wet himself... at the age of 10.
After a round of "I'm so stupid I should just kill myself" We went ahead and gave him the adderall... and honestly it was the ADD meds or anti depressants.. and the ADD meds scared me less. This was after two years of supplements and behavioral reinforcements..diet modifications and the like. The meds have not been bad for him at all.... and honestly the meds he is on have been around and used widely in adolescence for decades.. with known consequences.. So we keep an eye out for those. Some of the newer drugs scare me much much more.

The good thing about having a ADHD dx is along with the dx, the school has to do a 504 education plan. You as a parent really have a lot of say in the education plan AND teachers have to follow it. If they don't, their jobs can be at risk. Even if you chose to never med up, the dx and 504 will help you advocate for him.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by boobybunny

Another vote for driven to distraction..

And anything really that thom hartman has written on the subject.


However, I have adhd and my oldest son has it as well. He is an intelligent fantastic human... who either has focus issues or hyper focus issues. I have watched him literally chase a butterfly on a soccer field and watched him so focused on his Lego's that he wet himself... at the age of 10.
After a round of "I'm so stupid I should just kill myself" We went ahead and gave him the adderall... and honestly it was the ADD meds or anti depressants.. and the ADD meds scared me less. This was after two years of supplements and behavioral reinforcements..diet modifications and the like. The meds have not been bad for him at all.... and honestly the meds he is on have been around and used widely in adolescence for decades.. with known consequences.. So we keep an eye out for those. Some of the newer drugs scare me much much more.

The good thing about having a ADHD dx is along with the dx, the school has to do a 504 education plan. You as a parent really have a lot of say in the education plan AND teachers have to follow it. If they don't, their jobs can be at risk. Even if you chose to never med up, the dx and 504 will help you advocate for him.

Same experience here.

[gingerstar]

Another good resource is Additude - they have lots of med/non-med info.

I am pretty sure my 8 yo DD is ADHD - I recognize it because I have it as well. Right now she is doing very well in school, so I have not sought a Dx or meds, but having grown up undiagnosed, struggling with being "stupid, lazy and crazy" I will not let that happen to her.

And I second what other mamas have said, that having an IEP can be a huge help for your son, even without meds involved.

I will also say that Ritalin worked wonders for me, although I have not taken it for over 4 years due to pg and nursing, but I will go back on it, because it makes all the difference in the world. Without it, my brain seems like there are 7 radio stations playing at once - with it, I can hear myself think, and follow one thought all the way to a conclusion.

All I really want to say I guess is don't rule anything out without doing your research, and finding what is truly best for your child. You are his best advocate.

ETA: also wanted to recommend anything by Ned Hallowell, who tells ADHD kids they have "Turbo Brain" - he is great.

[journeymom]

Thanks for the reference to Ned Hallowell's Turbo Brain! I hadn't heard of that.

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/2996.html

[jempd]

Even if he isn't on any drugs, there are many accomodations that can help a child focus in the classroom. You can either get it written into an IEP or bring it up with the teachers and the principal and see if they are willing to work with you on them.

[Moonqueen]

Wow!

Thank you all so much for the wonderful recommendations and advice. You have given a lot to think about and a lot of great places to start researching. I looked at a few of the links and know they will helpful. I added these books to my reading list.
In my son's school last year, they had "colors" (ie. yellow for good, red for bad, black for really bad) and seeing his color on black reminded me of everything I learned about the labeling theory in criminology. Way to start that in kindergarten. He possesses no malice and is the sweetest boy I've ever met. I hate seeing him labeled as the "bad kid".
Thanks again!

[PC Nicholas]

My question is this - Does he exhibit the same behavior at home?

[Moonqueen]

Yes, he does exhibit the same behavior at home.  It's very challenging to complete chores, homework and most tasks.  I started giving him ginkgo tea, spirulina capsules, and enzymes every morning before school and the mornings seem to go better in class...  

[Jenni1894]

Subbing!!!