my son has ADHD....help?

Question

I am the foster mom of a gorgeous 5 yr old who was just diagnoised with ADHD I am upset and scared someone talk to me ...serious responces please.

Answer 1

Don't be scared get a few more opinions. ADHD is the most over diagnosed ailment there is. I personally think it is a bunch of non-sense. Back in my day we were called active children. Now the medical community and political correct people want to put a label on it. The child will probably grow out of it.

Answer 2

Are you scared of the diagnoses or of the child? As a foster mother, you should have long realized that the children that come into foster care often need special attention -due to many different things.

So this boy has ADHD, plenty of kids have it and it can be a handful. Learn about it. Read about it. Find support groups. Get information and direction from his pediatritian. Talk with his school. Learn techniques that will work, and learn what definately will not work. Decide about medications.

Some kids are more severe than others, but in the end, he is still a 5 yr old boy, away from his birth family. Let your compassion lead the way.

Answer 3

ADD and ADHD are issues that are commonly dealt with, especially in boys. ADD and ADHD is more common among boys. ADD is usually diagnosed in elementary or middle school, whereas ADHD is sometimes detected earlier because of the hyperactivity component. Children are often treated with medications like Ritalin, Adderall, and Concerta. However, there are side effects to the medications. Some children experience headaches, insomnia, and loss of appetite. The loss of appetite has been circumstantially linked to decreased adult height in children who have taken very high doses of these types of medication. Additionally, there is new research linking these medications to an increased risk of cardiac problems. A parent should discuss the risk versus reward issues with their physician before using any of these medications. School counselours often have a great deal of experience in dealing with ADHD, and the school will offer programs and accomodations for children with a medical diagnosis of ADHD. However, beware that some counselours are quick to recommend medication before exhausting other options.
Please do not be panicked, you have caught the ADHD early enough that interventions can be made early in the school age years. I would recommend educating yourself on ADHD, and working closely with your pediatrician and your school system. Seek a second opinion if you are not comfortable with the feedback you are getting from your primary sources, and only trust information from reliable medical and educational publications. There are many resources for children with ADHD, and the school systems are very familiar with it. Please do not panic, just keep on top of the situation by becoming a strong, educated advocate for your child, and insure that they receive the appropriate interventions and accomodations from the school system. As a final note, ADD and ADHD children often posess a "hyperfocus" in certain subjects, and will demonstrate a gifted aptitude in them. Some of the most brilliant people in all fields have been diagnosed ADD or ADHD. Stay Positive.

Answer 4

ADHD isn't anything to be scared about. Lots of children are diagnosed with it and do very well, both socially and academically. My son was diagnosed in kindergarten and is now 17 and a senior in high school. He started off taking Ritalin and switched to Adderall, which keeps his attention span consistent for a longer period than Ritalin did. We also tried Stratera but it made him fall asleep.

ADHD was explained to us by the peditrician as occasional miscommunication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Ritalin or Adderal allows the communication to get back on course. Drug treatment should also be combined with consistent loving, fair discipline and therapy with a mental health worker trained to work with those afflicted with it. Some children as they mature tend to calm down a bit (they aren't as rambunctious) and can have medication adjusted or eliminated as they learn tricks to cope, others will continue to require medication in order to function.

Answer 5

I am not a mom ,I am sorry for you both.but honestly, the first thing is to calm down breathe you need to be this childs backbone give her strength.if she sees your fear how can she feel normal and accept,neverthless she is not in a stable situation in her mind ,she probably is going through emotional highs and lows .regardless if this child has adhd, or any other sickness she is blessed to have found a foster parent that cares. and you can start helping her by telling her she isn't going anywhere.then you need to read and understand adhd,you are not prepared but you can get over the fear when you educate yourself.This child is craving attention she needs tons of love,go to church and read your bible daily ask jesus to intervene in personal prayer get this child invovled in fun activitys don't show her your anger find ways to ventalate without her seeing,this will only trigger negativity in her.she needs jesus in her life she deserves to feel his security especially since she probably dosen't feel much trust which isn't her fault but the lord is my strength and many will testify through all my insecurities I found peace in knowing stability in the sense that jesus loves me.so give her the best of you all the time and keep her in a loving and positive environment .as time passes your prayers and her scars will heal.

Answer 6

You don't need to be scared. I work with ADHD children and while they have behaviors that can try our nerves there is help. ADHD children cannot multi-task. They need to be given one step at a time...only one direction. There is a great book titled "Meeting the Challenge". It is the same authors who wrote Parenting with Love and Logic.

Good luck to you.

Answer 7

I am for real on this my daugther and i both have adhd but my daugther also has odd you have to stick to a schedual on things to helpo her and remind her work with her on things try not to get mad it dose make things worse then before sometimes she might forget and she might really not rember doing things or saying things .....my daugther is 6 years old and they already have her on meds for home and at school we have found that to help alot but with my having it too it tends to make things more of a challange its like we are working with each other to keep things going.....stick in there talk to your docter, if al else like my daugther she sees a shrink.....

Answer 8

there is nothing to be afraid of....my son has adhd, and he is on adderall, i do not give him his meds during the weekend or in the summer, only during the school year to help him focus on his school work. of course there are different degrees of adhd, you have to do what best suits your son....best of luck to you, and don't worry...