My 7 year old nephew (dn) was diagnosed with adhd 1 1/2 years ago. They started him on low levels of medication and he responded well and quickly, without losing his personality. But, they had to keep upping the med. dose. Last week, he saw a psychiatrist, and during testing they found that he had thoughts of hurting himself and even of killing himself. They've put him on much stronger medication and my mom reports to me (I haven't seen him) that he's really lost his "spark." 
They've also recommended counseling, thank goodness. They've recommended family counseling, too, but my little sister (his mom) prefers to wait on that.
He comes from a loving home, but has had a tough life so far -- his parents divorced bitterly when he was 1, my little sister loves him but he parenting style is to yell back at him "no you won't", etc. He has a dvd player and tv in his bedroom, and access to violent programming.
I am very positive that he would benefit from some lifestyle changes -- change in diet, less tv, family counseling, the opportunity to run free a bit (they live in an apartment with no outside space), the chance to have friends over, a gentler parenting approach.
The thing is, I havent' been home in 3 years, so I haven't seen any of this first hand since he was 4. Also, I don't have a 7 year-old, so what do I know? And, I tend to fall into the role of the "good daughter" and any suggestions I make may be seen as interfering, not helpful. I've broached the topic of diet, and the response is, "he doesn't eat that much sugar," and the dvd player, and the response is, "he doesnt' watch that much tv."
My question(s): Are there any good books that I could send my sister about adhd and these issues? Can you think of non-judgemental ways to express any of these things to my little sister? Am I totally off-base??
Any advice would be really appreciated. And I hope I am posting this in the right place-- health and healing didn't seem appropriate, but maybe he is a special needs child?
They've also recommended counseling, thank goodness. They've recommended family counseling, too, but my little sister (his mom) prefers to wait on that.He comes from a loving home, but has had a tough life so far -- his parents divorced bitterly when he was 1, my little sister loves him but he parenting style is to yell back at him "no you won't", etc. He has a dvd player and tv in his bedroom, and access to violent programming.
I am very positive that he would benefit from some lifestyle changes -- change in diet, less tv, family counseling, the opportunity to run free a bit (they live in an apartment with no outside space), the chance to have friends over, a gentler parenting approach.
The thing is, I havent' been home in 3 years, so I haven't seen any of this first hand since he was 4. Also, I don't have a 7 year-old, so what do I know? And, I tend to fall into the role of the "good daughter" and any suggestions I make may be seen as interfering, not helpful. I've broached the topic of diet, and the response is, "he doesn't eat that much sugar," and the dvd player, and the response is, "he doesnt' watch that much tv."
My question(s): Are there any good books that I could send my sister about adhd and these issues? Can you think of non-judgemental ways to express any of these things to my little sister? Am I totally off-base??
Any advice would be really appreciated. And I hope I am posting this in the right place-- health and healing didn't seem appropriate, but maybe he is a special needs child?
