Have any of you parents had a child diagnosed with ADHD?

Question

I am curious of the symptoms and what to look for. I know doctors like to stamp children with ADHD like it is a fad sometimes and really like to weed out what is true and what isn't.

Answer 1

If a child has trouble paying attention to one thing for more than a couple minutes, or if they get really hyper for no reason, they might have some form of adhd. In my opinion drugs are not the answer. Kids eventually grow out of it, and they learn to deal with it.Trust me you would rather see your kid act hyper for a little bit,
than be doped up on rydilin.

Answer 2

I lived with an adult with ADHD, who refused to take medication. He was bright and athletic, but dis-organized, trouble with focus and concentration, very energetic (he was 60 and I was 40 and he would ride well over 30km/hr for 60km and go on rides longer than 100km) and I couldn't keep up with him. He has problems with memory, loses his keys a few times a day, palm pilot, and is a pack-rat. (clutter, clutter, clutter) I look at the clutter and think it is the way his brain fuctions. He has 4 of everything yet when he needs something, he can't find it and goes and purchases another. When he goes away he always leaves something behind. When your having a conversation...the subject changes a couple of times in a sentence, and it is hard to hold a conversation with him. He is easily angered and can become agitated over little things. Sometimes his thinking becomes irrational, and he will act on it. Socially he lacks the skills. Women are attracted to him, as he is good looking but once they get to know him they leave him within a couple of dates. He has been married 3 times, and he can't figure out why, and has trouble with relationships with others. In many ways he is like a 10 yr old in a sixty year old body, although he looks 40. If we go hiking he will be at the front of the pack, wondering why everyone is taking so long. He doesn't have any patience and he can't remain still. Even when he watches TV his legs are bouncing off the floor and constantly moving.

When he was younger, he grew up in a poor family. His mother fed him sugar sandwiches, and when he went to his grandmothers, she would give him upto 6 cups of coffee at 3 yrs of age. I think this may have contributed to his development and ADHD as these were his formative years.

I have heard that changing the diet of the child, cutting out sugar and sweets, chocolate, caffiene from pop, adding more vegtables and limiting carbohydrates helps immensley. So much of our processed food has sugar in the top five ingredients. I can tell when my friend eats chocolate as he will be binging off the walls, not listening and extremely hyper. I don't know any children with it, but I can imagine the symptoms would be worse as they have energy to begin with. I don't think medication is a bad thing, but you want to make sure they are still coherent and better off with meds than without. You will notice a change but it takes a while for meds to work. You certainly don't want the child to be over-medicated as they will not function well and be in a haze.

On the positive he is the most generous , kind and loving person I know and would give you the shirt off his back. As I mentioned very athletic(very quick and many athletes do have ADD or ADHD) he really is a true friend. Hope this helps

Answer 3

Before accepting a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, parents should rule out other conditions that show similar symptoms.

Malnutrition or improper diet
Lack of sleep
B-vitamin deficiency
Viral or bacterial infections
Iron deficiency
Lack of exercise

Allergies and sensitivities to food (dairy, grains, peanuts, food dye) and the environment (grass, pollen, animal dander), can affect behavior.
Exposure to toxins can cause hyperactivity, attention deficits, irritability, and learning problems. Children are more vulnerable to toxins than adults. Toxins include pesticides, gasoline fumes, herbicides, disinfectants, furniture polishes, air fresheners, synthetic rugs and carpets, and beds made of synthetic materials and/or dust-laden homes.
Mild to high lead levels, even in the absence of clinical lead poisoning, is the leading cause of toxin-induced hyperactivity. Research shows that children with even mildly elevated lead levels suffer from reduced IQs, attention deficits, and poor school performance.
Fluoride is a toxic chemical that has been linked with increased lead absorption, learning disabilities, attention disorders, hyperactivity, behavior disorder, mottled teeth, decreased fertility, bone loss, and decreased I.Q. Fluoride is found in most toothpastes and has been added to many area water supplies.
High mercury levels can be caused by mercury amalgam dental fillings. When children grind their teeth, they are at risk for high mercury levels in the body. Another cause is from eating large amounts of cold-water fish such as tuna and salmon.
Thousands of children each year are exposed to toxic levels and poisoned by carbon monoxide each year. Sources of this gas include heaters and other gas appliances, such as fireplaces, dryers, and water heaters

One of the main reasons why a child acts out and throws temper tantrums when they have a problem is because of their lack of understanding a problem and lack of expressing how they feel. This is one reason why any emotional or medical problem can cause acting-out behavior in children.

Spoiled and undisciplined children are sometimes labeled as ADHD because of their defiant and acting-out behavior. Children need structure and consistent rules to learn self-discipline. Labeling undisciplined kids as ADHD gives them an excuse for their misbehavior so that they do not learn to be responsible for their own behavior.

Some drugs (both prescription and illegal) can cause the brain to atrophy, leading to disturbed cognition and behavior. If your child routinely takes prescription or over-the-counter medications for asthma, hay fever, allergies, headaches, or any other condition, consider the possibility that the drugs are causing or contributing to behavior problems.