Controlling ADHD without medication????

Question

My son has not been diagnosed with ADHD, however, he is having trouble in school. He is in 2nd grade. His grades are good but he is having behavior problems. When it is quiet time to do his work, he is singing, grunting, looking around and talking to the kids. The teachers don't know if he should be tested for ADHD or not. We are at our wits end as to what to do with him. We feel we have tried everything from grounding, cutting out sugar, making him run laps. Help????

Answer 1

You should have him tested. It's not painful to be tested, and it just may benefit everyone concerned. My granddaughter is this way too. The school had to have a little "time out" room for her at one point so as not to disturb everyone else. Your son probably can not help what is going on with himself! He may be just as confused as you are about what's going on with him. Little ones just do not understand. It's not their fault. Punishing him will only make him rebel even more. He may be getting punished for something that just isn't his fault!! If he is diagnosed with ADHD, putting him on the proper medication will greatly help him. There IS NO way to properly control ADHD without the proper medication, unless you want to continue going nutso yourself and possibly putting him through his own little world of torture. After the testing, if he is found not to have ADHD, have him tested for autism. If he doesn't have that either, then maybe you'll have to come up with some ground rules and be very consistent with keeping them. It'll have to be the same for the school as well. Good luck with whatever happens. I hope everything works out well for you. Remember Mom, he may not be able to help what's going on inside him! Bless his little heart.......

Answer 2

Find someone who'll take the time to diagnose him properly. Your school counselor is probably your best source of info, b/c they deal with this all the time. Whatever you do, DON'T let him hear the word ADHD or anything else that will make him feel labeled. He can't help it and he may need either behavioral or medical help. He's too young to have the pressure of being labeled. Even if he goes on meds, he doesn't need to know all the details.

Answer 3

I have Adhd(I'm an adult) there are good medications out there, it seems that different ones work well for different people. I take one called"Strattera" it has really made a big diffference in my concentration and"behavior". I was on "Concerta" too, but it made me too"agressive(I got into the first fights since high school 0_0). It made me"feel good, but wasn't for "me". Talk your concerns with your son's doctor and work out a program you all can be happy with. Punishing your child for something that isn't his fault won't help either, it just "frustrates" him further, because at heart, he really wants to please you. What has hellped me alot...and I mean alot, is having my GBA (game boy advance) game with me (hand held game) so that I don't get bored. believe it or not, it has also cut down on alot of "negative" behaviors.

Answer 4

Now is the time to do it. If you wait any longer, it's very difficult. ADHD is about impulse control. You have to teach him to think things through before he acts. When he has the impulse to get up,he needs to think about the consequences, and choose to stay seated. It might not be controllable without medication. It only gets worse without treatment. It's not just about medication when it comes to treatment. It's also about behavior modification. Definitely have him tested and don't be against medication. You have to be consistent and he has to be willing to accept and make changes in his behavior.

Answer 5

You are in a difficult spot. I have been there both of my kids have been on meds for add. We tried everything on the market. The only one they did not have side effects for my kids was straterra. MY kids did a 180. But my pediatrician decided to take them off because of possible liver problems. some doctors will prescribe it but you have to have liver enzyme test done every 3 months. Other meds caused them to feel bad , headaches and moodswings. good luck

Answer 6

Test asap. My son has it and so does my husband. These days there are many ways to work with it. You just have to know first what it is. Teachers should have an insight. However do test as soon as you can for his sake.

Answer 7

my daughter has ADHD and we took her to therapy...not thinking she was crazy but to help us learn her habits and issues. they taught us how to deal with her and we did not feel alone. They also taught us a very important lesson with the schools..IT IS THE TEACHERS JOB TO LEARN AND KNOW HOW TO GET THROUGH TO THEM! That is what they do...it is there job to find a way to get through to our kids and find what works to help them learn and get their attention. Punishing our kids for behaviors they can't control is not fair.(and no ours is not on medication either)

Answer 8

the best thing to do is to set up a classroom situation home, try to get him to sit down and have quite time, find out why he does not want to sit still. if could be a lot of reasons, one is he might be nervous or just bored with the work or maybe it could be that he is not challenged enough.

just sit down with him and talk with him alone, try that..

Answer 9

The simple answers....No refined foods, No sugars, No caffiene, & No red dye. Keeping him active and burning off excess steam works well too. Good Luck!

Answer 10

My son is now 11, your son sounds just like mine did at that age. The teacher could try to sit him near her desk so she can manage him better. I know it's hard, mine is now again off meds, he is doing good though controlling it himself, so far.


Good Luck!!