Any advice about ADHD? Should a 7 year old receive medication?

Answer 1

irrespective of what all ignorants think and say
ADHD is not a disease.
it is a mental disorder from which I personally suffer
I can imagin what you are probably going through as his behaviour is irratic he acts like he's dosed up on cafein etc.
First of all i'll say that the diagnose of ADHD is thrown around way to easily these days.
To explain in brief ADHD is a mental disorder which can be best described as the brain runnning in overdrive this causes the front lobe responsable for controlling the brain functions to lose control
(try to compare it to driving on a 50MPH road at 150 i'm sure you'd miss a few signs and side streets to)
As for the meds BE VERY CAREFULL doctors these days are throwing around prescriptions for Ritalin or Concerta like they were candy!!! These are very serious drugs and any one thats ever used them will tell you the same STAY THE HELL AWAY from them i've taken them and a few of the fellow sufferers I know feel exactly the same they are basicly amfetamines and have very harmful side effects something I wouldn't expose a growing child to. Believe me when I say feeling the symptoms of heart failure is no laughing matter for anyone. IT totally alters the brain chemistry and makes you feel hollow inside. As I said if you've never taken them you could'nt possibly know what it does but it does no good!!! Best bet would be to take him to a homeopathic doctor they can prescribe you herbal preparations
that will probably help him get along in life a little better without ruining(my neice takes them and gets along fine can't remember the name though) I can only wish you good luck and please be understanding on the little guy/girl because it can get tough
PS if you need some advice on some one who's been there done that don't hesitate to contact me always happy to help fellow sufferers

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

My nephew has been on medication since he was 6 and he is now 12, it helps a lot. He was on ritalin but is now on a new type but I do not know the name. This one has less side affects than ritalin, and works just as well.
My sister uses the time out method alot o calm him down when he gets too over excited and that works really well. In fact he now knows when he is getting too much and takes himself out of the situation to calm down.

Watch diet too, sugary drinks and, E numbers should be avoided at all costs!!

The hard thing also to deal with is the ignorant people that think ADHD is so overrated and that it is just a label for naughty children. I get so cross when people think it's a label, obviously they have no experience of a child with ADHD. There is a huge difference between a naughty child and a child with ADHD. It is sad that children have to live on medication, but if it helps them to fit in then surely it's for the best. my poor nephew has been bullied so many times because of this disorder, he is desperatley unhappy becuase of it. His teachers can't be bothered with him so his education is suffering. Is this fair for a child?
A good thing to do is get involved with help groups, and Connexions (if in UK) they are great, they work with the families and run activities for the children. My sister also contacted Social Services and they arranged for my nephew to go into respite care once a month (only for the weekend) so that she could have a break and spend time with her two girls.

Answer 4

You've had all the grief about e numbers, but just try observing e numbers and additives, u think ur giving the best with sugar free things but often loaded with artificial colourants try and reduce these, replace. Also stuff like chicken nuggets etc what children love but full of additives/preservatives try fresh stuff if possible and fruit/veg. Also give omega 3 fish oil for kids they come in orange/blackcurrant etc and asda/tesco do cheaper own versions, won't be instant see if change improvement over several weeks/a month. If not medication may b the only option as children get so easily labelled as bad/naughty/parents no control-it will stick all there life. But please try other suggestion 1st without rushing for the Ritalin. Good Luck

Answer 5

It really depends. First and foremost, the child needs a complete evaluation done by a medical doctor who treats children with ADHD (NOT from a teacher's recommendation!!). Some pediatricians do it, others prefer you to see a pediatric neurologist. They will do the evaluation and then discuss with you the treatment options. Some kids can get away with some lifestyle changes, others need medication. The point is to make the decision with an educated professional to determine what is right for your particular case.

Answer 6

ADHD is so over rated!! I'm tried of so many kids being diagnosed with it and put on medications. Kids need to be stimulated not sedated. Every child who's a little hyper (which kids aren't) has to be labeled ADHD. Give me a break! If THAT'S the case, the whole world should have ADD, after 30-60 minutes of the same thing I get bored, that's normal. Do I have ADD? No.
Your kid is 7, try some good old fashioned discipline. It's the best medicine and you'll kid will thank you for it later.

Answer 7

The drugs are powerful enough to knock an adult into lala land, do you really want to medicate y our child without at least a second opinion? Did you know that every two out of three kids who get drugged up because of ADHD do not really have ADHD and did not need the drugs? What do they need? Tey need correct nutrition and effective parenting. When we were growing up, no one ever heard of ADHD and we weren't medicating our children...so what is up these days? That should get you into calling around and finding a better way than controlling your kid via narcotics and dooming them to a life of addiction and behavior problems. If you love your child you will seek every alternative before surrending your child to a life of drug addiction.

Answer 8

You should seek advice from your local Child Mental Health Team. You know your child better than anyone else, and will know how having ADHD impacts on your lives on a daily basis. The decisions that are needed are yours to make, but make them in an informed manner, get as much info as you can. Effective parenting based on consistent responses and CBT techniques seem to be effective. Medication can be effective, but masks the symptoms and has side effects and long term impact. Your call?

Answer 9

My daughter was diagnosed with severe ADHD at the age of 6 she has been on medication which is monitored closely by her Doctor. She is now 8 I choose to keep her on medication because with out it the teachers labeled her a bad child, also thought her behavior was because of problems at home. They were amazed after she was put on medication and apologized to me and said she was a complete different child. She in 1st grade was reading at a kindergarten level and three months on medication was reading at a 2end grade level and her grades improved dramatically. Every situation is different I also have my daughter in therapy to help with her behavior because the medication helps her slow down but it is not a cure, so to help her understand her behavior and how to keep in focus and calm.


I also want to note that I have 4 other children and they are not ADHD, I have seen people talk about diet etc. I have tried everything for her and the Doctor explain it is a chemical imbalance. Every case is different you can't cluster them together.

Answer 10

My son was diagnosed with severe ADHD when he was 9 years old. At first I tried to deal with it without the use of medication but he was becoming much worse and he was also becoming violent towards myself and my daughter. He was way behind at school even though he was statemented. He had no friends due to the symptoms of ADHD which I am sure you are aware of. It got to the stage where I would dread him waking up in the morning and I just wanted him to disappear. With a lot of support from the child psychologist I decided to give ritalin a try. Almost overnight he became this loving boy who could organise himself in the morning, tried hard at school and started for the first time in his life to make friends. He is now nearly 15 years old and studying for his GSCE's. He is no longer statemented as he has not only caught up with his peers but in some subjects is flying above them. I thank god everyday that I decided to give him the medication as it has totally transformed not only his life but mine and my daughters who have to live with him. His main goal in life now is to become an architect and I truly believe he will succeed. I suggest you try your child on medication, it may not work, but if it does it will make such a difference to you and your family. Good luck with whatever you decided - DON'T GIVE UP.