Tips for Adhd in 7 Year Old

All I can tell you is that I had to put my daughter on medication. Even then it took a while to find the right medicine and the right dose. It was worth it. She no longer struggles. She is doing great in school. Hope you find an answer.
D.

Contact Diane Campbell. She has wonderful info about this and can also offer options. Her number is ###-###-#### her email address is ____@____.com her the "angel reflexologist" sent you!

K.- I agree with Donna H - I have son whois borderline ADD he has sensory issues and eczema and is very hypersensitive...he has friends but does require some social skills. there are plenty of therapy groups for this and as far as the meds- I personally would NOT do it. Iknow too many people who have and the side effects are worse than the disease. There is a place for medicine - but I think you can manage this with diet. whole foods, glyconutrients (such as juice plus gummies or another similar type) omega 3,6,9 supplement (you can get nordic natruals at whole foods) and a probiotic. Most behavior problems, attention problems stem from dietary problems. I have just started this week - eliminating gluten and dairy from my sons diet- Iwill keep you posted on what happens.
Sincerely,
Nikki

My granddaughter has the same and we put her on meds just during school time. It has made all the differences in her and has given her more confidence and she completes and stays focus much better on all the things she does. Diet did not work for us. I wish I could offer more, But this has worked for us.
D.

I admire you for trying a non-medication route first. My 8 yr. old daughter struggles with ADHD. I have tried the Feingold diet with limited success, but in all fairness I have to say I only did the best I could with what resources I had (i.e. I didn't follow it to the letter). I tried different things since preschool and finally tried the lowest dose of medication I could & was amazed with the difference. I am still doing what I can in terms of diet, making sure she gets enough excercize, routine, etc. and am hoping that she will "outgrow" the need for medication with maturity. I wish you all the best, I know how frustrating it can be when you love a child so much to see them struggle!! R.

Good Morning K., It sounds like your Granddaughter has
ADHD-Inattentive Type and school must be very frustrating for her. Before she loses her ambition and desire to learn please talk to her doctor about starting her on Focalin XR. It works quite well in children with ADHD Inattentive Type. I know you are against medicine but it sounds like see needs intervention in school and home. She probably will learn better in smaller groups which are less stressful. Focalin
will decrease her appetite so multiple small meals, healthy snacks like carrots, pretzels, fruit, granola bars, and smoothies will help. A little about me...I am a Mother of two children,and a Family Physician. My Katie is 10 and Gerald is 14. Katie has Autism, and Speech delay, and ADHD Inattentive Type. She has been on Focalin for almost a year and she has done well. She is able to focus and complete her work in school, and participate without getting frustrated.

I am an adult living with ADD, and my mother didn't do anything for mine as a child so I struggled through school. I am on Adderal right now and it does work and there is a new medication that my mother is on called vyvance. I also have a little brother that is on wellburtin. My mom did try the diet change and it did not work with any of my sibblings, I have 4 and we all have some form of depression/ ADD/ADHD combination. I tried it for my kids and it did not work, there was no difference in behavior when I elimated all red dyes and sugers , they already dont get any candy, coolaid,sugary snacks etc. but the additional subtraction of the dyes did not do anything, the addition of the omega-3 gummy vitamans did help a little with my kids, and I am now trying it on my self.
As you can see the diet does not work on everyone, but I would reglate her suger intake anyway cause for one its bad for her teeth and 2 its just empty calories.

Go to a CHADD support group here in the Atlanta area. They're held monthly (and yes, some grandmothers are there representing their grandchildren). Go to www.chadd.org to look up the Atlanta information. Joan Teach is the facilitator for this area. Also check out www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/print/760.html WWW.ADDitudemag.com has a great set of online resources and articles available. Also www.help4adhd.org, the National Resource Center on AD/HD. My son is only five and has a mild to moderate case. I do not and do not plan to medicate him. One of the things that they told us in the most recent support group is that you have to keep in mind that ADHD children are, developmentally about 30% behind their peers (in other words, your six year old is likely to act more like a four year old). Your granddaughter may require more hands on support than she's being given. Good luck.

From experience with a friend, I know there is an herb that is helpful in treating adhd. You can avoid the "tranquilized trama" that sometimes comes from being overmedicated for this situation. However, the medical community has made great progress in the area of medication for adhd children and my 10 year old niece WANTS her medication each day because she realizes how much better life is for her. Don't rule everything out yet.

I can only give advice from my personal perspective because I have ADD myself and had similar struggles as a child. I survived without medication until I got to graduate school, but I had to figure out how myself. The key is to keep her rejuvenated, motivated, and to use aids that will stimulate her senses (ex: visual aids, movement, sound, etc.). Keeping her diet low sugar, low carb, no additives/preservatives with fish oil supplements will help. Daily exercise will keep her blood circulating well and will provide more oxygen to her brain for focusing. Scheduled routines and checklists will help her compensate for lack of organizational skills. You can work with an Occupational Therapist (OT) to help come up with some great strategies. Best of luck to you and the little one! Don't give up on her. It can be done! :)

Below is a regimen you can follow for helping her out with completing homework:

For completing homework, I would recommend breaking up her homework into tasks and giving her frequent breaks so that she can rejuvenate her brain for the next task. For example, if she has 20 math problems, have her do 5 at a time, after which she gets a 2-minute break to walk, stretch, or jump around (something she really likes). If she's truly ADHD, she'll need some "moving around time" to jog her brain back into refocusing. Use a visible timer for the breaks so that she can see how long she has. When she finishes her 20 math problems, then you can help her celebrate. Give her praise, do a little dance with her, sing a song, blow on a horn, whatever you can do to help her feel good about accomplishing that task. Whatever you do, don't give her candy or material prizes as a reward.

You can even have a reward chart on the wall to help her see how well she's progressing in her homework. For example, if she has a total of 5 homework assignments, the chart would have five squares drawn on it, and she would get to draw in a silly happy face or stamp a butterfly on one of the squares after finishing an assignment.

Break up each homework assignment as such, give her breaks, and reward her accordingly. Over time, you can stretch out the time between breaks to help her improve her focusing skills. Eventually, she'll be able to guage when she needs a break herself. Consistency is also vital to making this work. Everyone who helps her with staying on-task during homework will have to follow the same procedures.

I have a son, now 11 who has ADHD. For years we struggled & refused medication, but we didnt know what else to do. After seeing many different doctors & counselors though he is on medication. He is doing great! I was worried about the effects of the medicine, but I can tell now, he needed that boost. We have tried different ones throughout the years. It can take time, but you need to stay in touch with the child & the doctors. Of course, you can refuse medicine and see how it goes, but I found with my son it has improved his abilities to focus in school, he is better with his siblings, and just a well rounded good kid. ADHD kids are not bad, they just need a little extra help sometimes. It was to the point where he was sent to a special school, failing grades, and really bad moods & behavior. He is now making straight A's and is really pleasant to be around. Please dont get discouraged, there is hope. Just be open minded about medication & it does help for the child to have a counselor, someone with a bias opinion, whom the child can talk to alone. I have found that it helps with my son. I am a 29yr old mom of 5 and it has been a journey. Just dont give up!

Hi, K.!
I have tried to cut out a lot of sugar from my son's diet. I try to replace white breads, pastas, rice, and cereals with wheat. I have also switched to 2% milk, and sometimes (when I feel generous I buy the chocolate soy milk); but I do try to cut out the chocolate for the most part, too. You can also try one of the "focus" vitamins at any health food store, or GNC stores. There are a couple that we have tried. I have also used Fish Oil and the Vitamin B assortment. I have found that my son has grown out of some of the behavior as he has gotten older. I have always tried to make him understand that he is the only one that can control it; he has to make a conscious effort all the time to control himself and his actions. He did not like taking the medications, so I would always throw that up, too. ("If you don't do right, you'll have to go back on the medication.") I still wonder if I'm doing that right thing because he doesn't do well in school. He has started high school this year and is very excited. He is looking forward to getting his driving permit, and riding his dirtbike, and possibly getting some sort of scholarship for college/tech school. All of these things are constantly playing on his mind and he doesn't want to lose them. We will see how well he does at keeping his goals above his behavior.
I wish you the best of luck and God bless!

Hi,
My name is J. and I'm 27. I am about to have my first child but I'm an aunt of about 5 nephews and 2 nieces so I've got a good bit of experience with dealing with children. None of them are adhd but they are very active. I however, grew up having ADHD. I was diagnosed with it at about 7 or around that age. I was in elementary school. I had a hard time sitting still and focusing after a period of time. My mama took me to a child psychiatrist and they put me on ritalin. Now I understand the concern of not wanting to put your child on medication but growing up taking medication through school, I feel like it helped me. There were times when I could tell as a young adult that I wasn't able to focus on certain subjects as well if I didn't have my medication in me. I ended up going through 3 different kinds of medication for it, and Aderall ended up working the best for me. People think it's crazy person medicine, well I"m here to say that it's not. I wasn't crazy and I'm not now. Even while on medication, I still had a difficult time with school work sometimes. You may also wanna try to some different ways of teaching your child the material. One way of teaching may be easier for your child to even if the other children learn it the usual way. Talk to the teacher and work with it at home. There are so many different ways of helping children with learning disabilites out there. I know there's something that will work for your child. It's understandable that children have a hard time focusing after a period of time b/c their minds get burnt out after too much information is put on their little brains. They get bored, their minds get understimulated and they need something else to hold their attention and it's not their fault. Anyway, I've never heard of trying different diets for children with ADHD but I haven't kept up with the latest research on things that can help it either. I would say keep researching your options, and if NOTHING else works, mild medication might be an option. But you do what you feel is best for your child. Whatever helps your child the most, that's what you do. I hope you find something that works for you.

My son is 9yo and has ADHD. We don't do meds either, never will. There are a couple of things that you can do. One is diet, as you have already mentioned. They thrive on protein and veggies with little carbs. Another thing you can do is put her on some herbs, etc. There is a formula called MindTrac at www.herbsfirst.com that you can use or you can get a few other things like Omega 3 Fish Oil, Primrose Oil, and something for concentration. We had also used 5-HTP for our son for sleeping (going to bed and getting up was quite hard until the 5-HTP). I would go to a local health food store (not GNC..they are not a health food store) and explain to them what you are needing and what it's for...they will help you. I love the 'GOOD NUTRITION' store off of Beaver Ruin Rd and McGinnis Ferry, but I don't know where you live.

Another option is getting her therapy. The herbs are great, but I never had my son officially tested until this summer. We go to Psychological Sciences Institute aka Mind and Motion in Duluth. They do not promote meds, but mostly non-medicated therapy. (Meds are a last resort with them and they'll definitely tell you the dangers with the meds.) It is so wonderful how technology and science have come a long way. My son will go through different kinds of therapy, one which he is starting first called Neurofeedback therapy. They did a brain mapping first and then he'll go through therapy to get his brain back to working 'normal' instead of like a ADHD kid. It's awesome! It will teach him what to do when he loses focus. In simple terms, it 'remaps' his brain. Then he'll go through some other therapy as well to eliminate those other problems associated with ADHD.

I just thought I'd mention those things. Good luck!

I have a son with autism (which has symptoms of ADHD many times). I have always been against medicating him unless it is completely necessary, so I can fully understand your feelings on that. However, I have a friend who has an ADHD daughter, and she is the poster child for ADHD. I always knew she had it, but my friend was not fully aware until she started taking hours and hours to get any task finished if it required concentration. Homework went from the time she got home from school until she fell asleep at night. Finally, my friend was totally exhausted and got her evaluated. They put her on medication and now she says the girl is totally different. They have moved away, so I can't see for myself, but I trust my friend has no reason to make it up. She said that her daughter breezes through homework, has improved all of her grades in school and is just different. She is so thrilled to have finally found help.

If I thought that medication would make my child's life better, I would certainly consider it. However, I don't think medication would change my son.

As for solutions aside from medication, I say that organization is the one and only key to success. That is what I have to do for my son. I have to make lists for cleaning his room and give him directions in short sentences and have him complete one thing at a time. If I give him two or more directions at once, he forgets it all. I have a check list for what he needs to do before school. I have a check list for what he needs to do after school. I have him go down his school agenda and check off the things he has done etc. I also have a basket for all of his school supplies so he doesn't have to wander around the house looking for a pen or whatever or he will forget what he was working on. It is a constant battle with trying to get things finished around here as well.

I will tell you, the older they get the harder it gets because they give them so much work and so many projects to keep up with in school. I just try really hard to teach my son organizational skills like buying folders for each subject rather than shoving all of it into his backpack. The ADHD won't ever go away, so the best we can do is to teach them how to cope with it.

Best of luck!

Read Healing our Childhood Epidemics, by Kenneth Bock. It is a good place to start.

As a parent of a recovered child who will be free of the root of the problem as well as the symptoms, I would urge her parents to get serious and find a great DAN! doc, as they are the one with the real experience. There is a doctor that practices in Cumming, GA that I like named J. Buckley, partner Jerry Cartzinel (spelling?). Yes, diet is huge, dealing with yeast and bacterial is big, but there are other factors as well. Having a medical doctor with the right training who does not believe the prescription pad treating the symptoms are the only option. We have used a great osteopath (Dr. Richard Armond in Swanee), a great homeopath in CA, and our wonderful doctor, Dr. Rachel West in Santa Monica, CA. Each of these layers has been big in our treatment. Our major turnaround came from doing a genetic based protocol by Dr. Amy Yasko (Maryland?). Dr. West led us and Dr. Amy provides guidence and tons of education on her parent discussion group.

Yep, healing a child with these symptoms requires absolute dedication. Now is the time, so you don't have to deal with the after of effects as they reach teenage and adulthood. Recovery is real and ADHD is perfectly treatable, but each individual child is different and there is no cookie cutter treatment. My motto is "If it cannot hurt them, do it, if it does not work after diligent effort to educate and attempt, move on and try the next set".

My biggest hope for your grandaughter is that everyone in her life get on board in order to eliminate this from her life, not cope with it. The science is there, however, most of our GA docs won't catch up. But those great docs are out there, and more than that the education for us is there, and much of it we can do for our kids.

J.

I'd start with diet, check for allergies to milk, gluten, etc. I have at least one friend whose son's milk allergy masquerades as a behavior problem.

And make sure to cut out the processed foods, a whole foods diet is best for the body.

My friend ended up having to put her son on meds and they really didn't to either. I can't remeber what they put him on but it is the lowest dose possible and it seems to work very well for him. The DR did try to up it and it made him very zombie like so the parents dropped it back down and he's been fine. If you'd like to know the name of it, I can find out for you if you'd like.

S.

i have a 7 year old daughter who has ADHD. it was a very difficult decision to put her on meds. there are so many different views and ideas about what is best for our kids it's a very confusing process. it's one that you must make for yourself. talk to people. do the research yourself so you can make the right decision for your family. there is a great web site my dr. recommended. CHADD.ORG they are nation wide but they have local support groups plus they do parenting classes that i highly recommend. go to the web site and look around. i took the class and it was worth every penny. lots of brilliant information. i decided to try meds because i went to the school and saw how my child struggled with every aspect of her environment. she could not cope with the teachers, the materials, the other students. coping at home was an issue also. we tried 3 different brands and different dosages before we got the right one. there were times that i wanted to give up on the meds but i was assured it was the best treatment so i kept trying. we also do behavior therapy. my child does not sit like she's in a comma. she's full of life all the time. now she can comprehend the information she's receiving from the teachers and her parents. we have learned so much from the CHADD classes and the behavior therapist. there is most certainly nothing wrong with feeding our kids good clean healthy food but i found little results myself. every child is different and what works for one may not work for another and that's what makes this process so hard. good luck to you and your family.

Hi K.,

I can only share my experience and hope it will help you. My son is in kindergarten and is adhd and I also did not want to use traditional meds. I have been using (with great success) Attentive Child Chewable wafers by Sousrce naturals/Bio Align and a liquid "calm child" he gets it in the am and I drive to his school everyday to admin 1/2 through the day. I have friends that use it and they admin in the am and right after school so they dont have to drive to school everyday. My son wont make it through the day w/out it. He is bringing home good marks most every day...diet and excercise is also very important, even with the meds we still have to find creative ways to burn his energy.

Good for you to try to avoid medications.

Many ADHD kids respond well to introducing routines and organization to their daily lives. Are you familiar with the Flylady website? While their main focus is on helping people organize their homes and lives, they also have a LOT of information for helping children get organized, and MANY MANY people write back and say how well their kids with ADHD respond to the routines and how they take their ADHD kids to therapists who recommend a number of the same techniques.

A typical example is to set a timer for 15 minutes (10 or even 5 if they are younger) for homework. Then, since it's a short period of time, it's easier for them to focus on a task for those few moments. When the timer goes off, STOP, move around, do something else for a little while before returning to the task.

Go to these pages and do a "Find" ("control" "F" in windows) and type ADHD and you'll see comments that will be particularly helpful.

http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyBaby_Children.asp
http://www.flylady.net/pages/fly_newschoolyear.asp

Hi K.,

Sorry to respond so late. Just a few things that I haven't heard from others.

1. Its a group effort. Teacher, school counselor (if necessary), parents, close family friends.

2. Seeing a specialist will help you teach others how to help your granddaughter succeed and feel confident in herself.

My 6 1/2 yr. old son is starting to see a psychologist in Marietta Square. I received her name from several social workers and clinical therapist. Dr. Shari Siegle ###-###-####. She is very thorough. If you leave her a message she will talk to you directly over the phone. She's very personal, has decades of experience. Gives recommendations/referrals for all the talent she sees in your child and ADHD.

For us she's someone we're very comfortable with. Good luch to you and your family.

I am also a grandma of both ADD and ADHD grandsons. Both were on restricted diets and medication. The ADHD grandson began having terrible temper tantrums at school and struggled for a grade better than a C until he was almost 9 years old. Finally his mother allowed the doctor to prescribe Concerta for him. It was a true blessing for the child. His grades improved dramatically within the first grading period after he started to take the medication. It is non addictive (a big deal for the whole family) and he does not take it on weekends or during vacations. Only on the days he is in school. His doctor has been very good about explaining to him that the medication is not permenant, only to help him learn how to deal with his condition until he is able to control it by himself.

My grandson has not gained weight, or had any adverse side effects except a mild headache the first week. He is now 14 years old and (I think) a wonderful young man. It is still apparent to the family when he has not taken his medication but he has learned himself when he is getting out of control and how to bring his actions down. Also, caffine will help to bring them down some temporarily - a cup of coffe and flavored creamer or a soda - if we're away and need the extra help.:-)

I wish you luck on your search for answers. Obviously every child is different but we were afraid of medication for years and my grandson's self esteem took an unnecessary beating because of it. Care in choices and a good (one you know and trust) doctor are essential ingredients of course.

God bless you both!

Thank goodness you're going to try alternatives before jumping right to mediation! Diet is so important. Junk in, junk out, and your granddaughter may very well be allergic to dairy, gluten, soy, and SUGAR. "Little Sugar Addicts" was an enlightening read. I encourage you to look into homeopathic options as well, but taking allergens away can make a huge difference, and it can take a few weeks or more to see the difference as they're out of the child's system. Are there enviromental toxins? Try naturaly cleaners (get rid of the Lysol, bleach, synthetic perfumes in air fresheners). One child I know was registered as Autistic, but when his home was rid of all sorts of chemicals, he was removed from the registry! So, once you take away the stuff her system is not tolerating, you may see a nice difference in her behavior. Good luck!!

(I didnt realize when I started to respond that this was going to be so long- so I apologize)
In kindergarten, they said my son was ADHD as well, I do not medicate my child. he is 9 years old now, and attends a special school for the gifted. His problems with attention seemed to disappear when I took him off all processed foods. If it comes pre flavored, has dyes, chemicals, additives, etc. I do not let him eat it. He is especially sensitive to red dye #40, which causes him to turn into a bit of a hyper demon destructive combative child. unfortunately, red dye #40 is in almost everything manufactured for children (including WHITE icing).
read the labels, see for yourself how many products it is in, then go look at how many countries in the world have banned it because of how it causes excitability and attention span issues in children. organic foods are a big help for me because they have no chemicals or dyes.

Try to stay away from medications- as I feel there has not been enough research on long term effects. They can not yet prove that these poor children that are dropping dead from "previously undiagnosed heart problems" in high school sports were not on adderal or ritelin (because when you drug a child with stimulants, it causes their heart to work harder, which can lead to an enlarged heart), so do not medicate if you don't have to.
I feed my son a whole grain natural diet with tons of fresh fruit and fresh veggies, and his issues with discipline/attention in the classrom have all but disappeared. (however he IS a boy, and boys can just be trouble because they are boys)
He went from getting suspended 3 or more times a year (for stupid things like getting out of his chair, or walking backwards in line) to attending a school for the gifted, holding a straight A average. All from diet change.

I would like to share my experiance with the medication however:
I did try the medication route in the beginning and it made him lay on the couch and cry all afternoon, and he lost most of his appetite, and that was on the lowest dosage of adderal that they make. It was horrible and heartbreaking to see him cry for no reason.
The teachers would ask him when he got in trouble "did you take your medicine today?"- that infuriated me. (it was obvious he wasnt doing any better on the meds, but all of a sudden- if he answered yes, they wouldnt send him to the office, if he answered no they would send him home) so after 3 months on the adderal (and a 3 total days forgetting to take it) I took him off it. nothing is worth seeing your child cry every day and having to almost force feed him. Also, as a side note, the adderal was time release, so I had to remove it from the capsule and sprinkle it on a spoon of applesauce- the doctor said "make sure he doesnt chew it, because it could cause him to have a heart attack" and boy, that was scary, every morning I would say "dont chew it" and hope he didnt.

If something can be fixed without medication, then that is the answer. Try the diet change, and see if it helps.

good luck.

My brother was diagnosed with adhd at about the same age. My mother had to do alot of research about the disorder,and there is no way to have a child fully function without the proper medication. I know that with my brother, if we gave him a soda, it slowed him down a little instead of bouncing him off of the walls... Something about caffeine having a reverse effect on those with adhd. It wasn't until he was in his teens that he was able to teach himself how to cope without the meds. Aderall is what he was taking, and what a lot of doctors are turning to now as treatment.

One thing about those with adhd, they usually have a higher IQ than most their age, and their brains work at a higher rate of speed. They have to have something to slow their brains down for them to be able to be successful in the classroom.

In all the material read, my mother never read anything about a diet working for those with adhd... Especially in the books written by those who have lived with being adhd all their lives. I would consult your granddaughter's physician and go from their. I can only share with you the knowledge that I have.

Are you open to homeopathic & natural herbal supplements? A co-worker friend of mine recommended BrightSpark made by Native Remedies. She swears by it. She says that the teacher can even tell if she misses a dose with her child. The reviews that I read (off their website) were mostly postive. One woman commented that it worked with one of her children, but not the other. I started BrightSpark as well as Focus Formula over the summer, but haven't been through enough of the school year to give my full whole-hearted recommendation; although, we did see some promising improvements over the summer.

Anyway, if you'd like to learn more about these 2 supplements, you can read here:

http://www.nativeremedies.com/products/brightspark-hypera...

http://www.nativeremedies.com/products/maintain-concentra...
(The Focus bottle lasts longer than the BrightSpark.)

But the best place to buy them is here (cheaper & free shipping):
http://www.supplementbay.com/

Take a holistic approach. I've also heard that some kids have sensitivities to food dyes that can cause them to show the same symptoms, so you can do some research on that online as well. And of course, make sure your child gets plenty of sleep!

You can check out some books at the library. I cannot remember the names of the ones I had, but something like "The Ritalin-Free Child" and "Ritalin is Not the Answer." Just search ADHD at the library.

Here were 2 other sources that I found that I was looking into (but haven't ordered):
http://www.treatadhdnaturally.com/
http://www.feingold.org/

Maybe we can get some opinions from others that may have tried it!

When I found out my son had adhd first thing I tried was the diet thing. That didn't work for us so we ended up going with meds, if you have to do that it will take awhile to get them just right.

What we did do was started taking him to karate, let his instructors know he has adhd and they worked with him. The concentration required helped alot. We also go him into piano lessons and it really calms him down when he plays.

Good luck

Hi K.,
Good for you for being so concerned for your grandchildrens health! Please take her to a family chiropractor, look for one that specificly advertises for children. This would be something you could do for all 3 of your grandchildren! ADHD can be very hard on the child and family. You will be AMAZED at the results you would get with chiropractic! If you combine this with a clean/whole food diet, you will most likely get the results your looking for. Keep in mind too that ADHD is highly linked to vaccines. This may be helpful for prevention in the younger children. If you want to research this, go to childhoodshots.com or just google the dangers of vaccines. You will find a lot of information. The website offers a dvd that is wonderful, very resourcful and indepth. If I can offer anymore information, please just ask. Best of luck to guys!

My son is 6 1/2 and he struggles with ADHD. It was clear from the time he was very young that he had something going on and I took him to therapists and psychologists and psychiatrists. Each time I was told he had ADHD and that they strongly recommended medication for my son.
Each time I would leave the office frustrated because I didn't want to my son on medication. I tried managing it at home with diet and exercise and sleep and routine and with keeping him busy and interested and engaged however no matter what I did, he was still struggling inside.
I always felt like there were children out there who legitimately needed the medication but then there were also far too many that were medicated that were being given this medicine to make their parents lives and or their teachers lives easier and not because it was what was best for the child.
After 2 years of trying to manage it on my own at home I finally relented and decided to try out the medicine to see if there was a difference in my son's behavior and feelings. The one piece of information that helped me make this decision was knowing that the medication is instintanious and he doesn't have to be on it for weeks on end before he starts noticing a difference. I liked that. I liked that there were immediate results and I liked that if I didn't see my son responding well to the medicine then I could take him off of it and he would be back to normal the next morning.
We started the medication on a Saturday because I wanted to monitor my sons behavior and mood throughout the day and I can tell you it was amazing to see him slow down and concentrate. He began processing things before reacting and he began putting extra effort into his art work and asking to help with a puzzle. He could never sit down to do a puzzle because he just didn't have the concentration level for it.
My son has been on this medication for over a year now and we have gone back and forth on different medications and different doses and I imagine it will take some time for us to get it all exactly right but he takes an active roll in his treatment and he tells us when he isn't feeling right and when things are better.
We don't just use medication as the cure all. He works with a tutor during the week to ensure he doesn't fall behind in school because there are days that he struggles with concentrating and staying focused. He sees a therapist that helps him work out his feelings and frustrations. Most children with ADHD have a very low tolerance for frustration which will often times will come out as anger. He has very low self esteem so we work every day to build him up and we control his diet closely. He thrives on his routine and we are consistent with his rewards and discipline.
Not all children need medication. You know your grandson better then most and as a care giver it's very difficult to know if you're doing the right thing by not medicating him versus medicating him. I would suggest that if your sons psychiatrists and psychologists are asking you to consider the medicine that you try it. By trying it your not committing to him taking it regulalry. You're simply seeing if the medication is of any benefit to him. If not, then don't give it to him and get him into some therapy and read up on ADHD. Knowledge is power. Not every child with ADHD is the same and you can't compare your grandson to the kid down the street with ADHD that runs around like a maniac. Every child is different and every childs struggles are challenges are different.
I would suggest you pick up a book called, "Parenting a child with ADHD." My girlfriend bought it for me and it's been a tremendous amount of help to me.
It can seem overwhelming at times and at times I feel as if I've done something wrong or not good enough or haven't made the right choices for him but that's just part of loving a child with every ounce of yourself. You take ownership of their struggles and pain and when you see your child hurting and you can't seem to help them no matter what you do it can be a very isolating and depressing experience.
There are mothers and grandmothers out there just like you and I who work everyday to help our children and grandchildren and we are not alone.
I have chosen to give my son his medicine only during the school week because he needs it to concentrate and focus in the classroom but I don't give it to him on the weekends because he doesn't need to concentrate and he doesn't need to stay focused when he's home with me.
It would make my life easier on the weekends if he was taking his medicine because my home wouldn't be so hectic and crazy but that medication isn't to make my life easier. It's to help my son and my son doesn't need help playing and being a child. He does that perfectly.
My rules that I live by in parenting my young son with ADHD is to stay consistent, to keep with the routine, keep my son engaged and busy because he will behave better when he's got something going on and only when he doesn't have this structure does he run wild and make bad choices, stay firm but loving, hold my son accountable for his behavior and words, set realistic expectations, stay in control, monitor his diet, and remind him everyday how much I love him and how proud I am of him when he makes good choices and does well, and build up his confidence and self esteem by talking up his achievements.
I read up on this disability regularly and I've educated myself on his rights as a child in the public school system with a disability and I advocate for him and I ensure that he is given every opportunity to succeed.
I wouldn't suggest a team sport yet. I put my son in soccer and it was a nightmare. One day he will be ready for that but for now he needs something more individual which is why I signed him up for Karatte. They do say that Karatte is a great sport for children with ADHD because it teaches discipline and control and they are able to work out that energy and agression that often times they have stored up. It's been a great success and outlet for my son so far!
These children are little blessings and I've learned more from my son over these last 6 1/2 years then I ever imagined I would and although it can be exhausting, I know that the work and effort I put into helping my son, the better off he will be when he gets into his teens and early adulthood. Children with ADHD have a higher risk of alcohol and drug addiction as well as dropping out of school. I will not let my child be a ADHD statistic.
Good Luck. I know you will do what is best for your grandson. Just remember that medication isn't the answer for all children but that for some, it's made an amazing difference in their lives.

Don't resist the meds. you don't have to feel guilty about putting your 7 yr old on meds, because they work! It's night and day, and you're only increasing her frustration, self esteem issues, etc. Honestly, it is a neurological / biochemical problem and requires a chemical solution. There are suggested diets, such as eliminating refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, food coloring, etc., that are certainly worth investigating. Also, some kids turn out to have wheat / dairy or other food sensitivities. You'd have to do an elimination diet and or blood testing to determine if that's the case. But as one who has been through it, the meds have changed our family's life! Good luck. D. D

Hi K.,
I have a 10 year old with adhd, what has really helped me alot is getting him seen by a chiropractor it really helps our body functions through our nerves system and when they start getting adjusted it's so good for their health in general try doing that I really don't recommend medication it's not good for their little body.

Hi K., I'm the director of a public children and adolescent behavioral health organization, and we treat many, many children with ADHD. There are several forms of treatment, from behavioral intervention with the child AND parent, to medication and sometimes modifications in the diet (although diet modification is not going to improve symptoms by itself). If you look at the research, the best and most proven treatment is medication. There are several different classes of medications on the market today. However, other interventions, such as teaching social skills, behavior management, classroom management with a skilled teacher and teaching effective parenting techniques to manage the symptoms is very, very helpful. The parents must be on board and must be consistent in their response to the child's behaviors. Positive praise is also a big part of an intervention plan. If you google a couple of websites, Love and Logic and Boy's Town Press, you will find some great ideas for parents/grandparents. Please also find a good psychiarist and therapist to assess your grandchild so you know your options! I encourage you to leave the door open for medication, you may be surprised at the options out there today that can make a huge difference in your grandaughter's ability to cope with this disorder. Your grandchild is lucky to have you on her side as a wonderful advocate! Best of luck, F.

My daughter is 11 and she is adhd, she has been on medicine for a few years. Just as you I did not want to go to that point, but after looking into my child's eyes and seeing that she cannot follow a simple comand without getting distracted, or not even know what i said, something had to change. Since medicine she has brought up and sustained her grades, she gets along better with other children, she can read or even watch a tv show now. She knows that she can't function at school without her medicine and will ask for it, if I forget. There are downsides, such as her appitete is not what it is without the meds. But to look at the whole picture she is a more rounded, caring, and supportive child. Please before you just rule out meds, please look into something like stratta, that is not a controlled substance.

I myself have a 7 yr old with ADHD. My child is a boy though. We have struggled since he was in Pre K. He is now on medication and is doing wonderful. What I wanted to say to you is that I was also a medicine skeptic. I took my son to an ADHD specialist who had to show me that this is not their fault. This is a defect in their brains and just like any other illness, it needs to be treated. The doctor I went to is in her 70's and suffers from ADHD herself. I have seen my son on and off the medicine and have realized that he can't help it. It has nothing to do with discipline or the way we have raised our children. Keep your chin up and do what is best for you and your child. I just wanted to share my experience with you. God Bless and take care. K.

Hello K. R.

My name is S., I have a 2 sons that are ADHD and my 7 year old and 6 year old are on med. it them so sooo mcuh in school and they are now focus, complete work and follow up with teacher and it help them learn more than you know. I am single mom and i cant do it without it med for them but i do keep my eye on them to be sure it dont affect them, but it had not. My 7 year old is in 2nd grade and he had A and B in his school. I had to do what i can to help them do well. YEs the med will wear off around 6 or 7 pm before bed. so it dose make a big different. i do see your concern of the med but just talk to the doctors and ask what best for her. Every med work on certain child but it depend on how it work for them.