ADD or ADHD??

Question

I would like your opinion and help feedback. My daughter is 4 years old but will be 5 soon. She have been terrible behavior, stubborn, and refuse to listen. Does that mean she is ADD or ADHD? This is normal for behavior kids? Is this appropriate or inappropriate? She listen daddy more than mommy. We love my daughter so much no matter what! We want do best for her. Doctor said it normal and nothing wrong with her behavior. They said not relate to ADD or ADHD.

Answer 1

I think she's normal.
I also think that ADHD and ADD are mostly culture-created conditions that involve trying to fit square pegs into round holes.

Answer 2

Maybe you are right in that it is overdiagnosed. A recent article in the New York times said that the drug industry had done a marvellous job in marketing ADHD. Doctors paid as consultants who gave glowing reports of the drugs used for ADHD and so on. It is quite an eye opener that article. I can well believe your story about the girl on Ritalin. These drugs are addictive and have some nasty side effects like losing appetite, insomnia and lots of other things. A much safer bet would be to use a natural remedy.

Answer 3

Not ADHD (ADD doesn't exist anymore). Behavior problems doesn't mean she needs a diagnosis or medications. Honestly, most cases of ADHD are actually cases of bad behaviors & not so great parenting. If she had ADHD she would have different bhevaiors (stubborn & refusing to listen aren't even close to being symptoms), & the behaviors would be consistent. Meaning, she would act like this with you, your husband, grandparents, friends, etc.

Sounds like you need to be more strict, pick your battles, & follow through more than anything else.

Answer 4

This is not related to ADD or ADHD at all. You have a child with some behaviour problems! Time for the two of you parents to step up and become more disciplined with her. Go for positive discipline, rather than negative reinforcement. Make sure she is not getting attention for her negative behaviours, but praise and recognize her good behaviours and actions. She's going through a period where she is testing both mom and dad, and your limits - as well as her own, and what she can "get away with". Don't let this get out of control, nip it in the bud. It's normal that she's "trying" to get to you!

Answer 5

Does dad enforce the rules much more effectively than mom? Moms usually tend to be more lenient with their kids. More talking and less actions/consenquences. Kids that age tend to do a lot of testing of boundaries as well. I just responded to another question a while ago and really recommend "Setting Limits with your
Strong-Willed Child". It's a parenting book. Parents sometimes are reluctant to seek advice/help and only do so when they feel the situation is out of hand. This book really has clarified a lot of my concerns with my kids that I had thought to be ADD/ADHD related.

Answer 6

Ok i understand how some people feel about giving children meds to help with there add or adhd. My son is on ritalin and has been since he was 4 years old. I am not giving my son drugs i am giving him medicine to help him with his add/adhd/anxiety. Noone that does not have a child with adhd can imagine the things we go through. Giving my son meds was the last thing i wanted to do. But in order to help my son thats what i had to do. I took him to his doctor and of course he couldnt diganose him with anything. My son had done put his head through 2 windows by the time he was 4. You know what the doctor told me. The worst thing he will do is knock his self out for a little while. Sorry i dont think so. The glass could have come down on his neck or head and killed him. He was also head butting walls and sidewalks to. The real sad part after he done it he didnt realize what he had done. Now a kid that is just acting out would know what they had done but a child with adhd dosent. I dont want to upset anyone but i get terribly mad when people say awww they just want to drug them kids and crap like that. If you dont have a child that has been diagnosed then dont run your mouths about it. I personally hope your child does not have adhd. It is something that takes alot of patience to deal with. I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy. But if your daughter does then just try to have ALOT of patience with her and believe me it is not easy. I had to go through 3 doctors and and medical hospital to have brain wave scans done. So if you honestly think the child has it get more then one opinion. And i wish you the best of luck. I can honestly say i know how you feel.

Answer 7

ADD and ADHD is not so much bad behaviour, but the inability to concentrate. Some kids have a hard time concentrating, others have a hard time concentrating and are hyper.
Basically what it ADD/ADHD is is the brain falls asleep, that is why these conditions are treated with stimulants.

Answer 8

Sounds like a normal 5 year old to me. Don't be so eager to have your child diagnosed with some word that's got some heavy sigma to it.

Young kids always like their opposite sex parent more for awhile. It helps them to define themselves as a person. If little girls didn't rebel against mommys then the wouldn't be happy people later on.

That being said, enforce your roles as parents all the way through it. Your daughter will turn out just fine.

Answer 9

Typical american thought...and i'm american. IF i my child is misbehaving they must have ADD, oh such a simple solution to a normal behavior of a child and a nice soluction to parents who don't want to be parents or discipline their child appropriately...I now live in Europe and did u know that no one here has ever even heard of ADD. CHildren are children. Let them be without drugs. It's not the answer to everything.

Answer 10

My son is 5 going to be 6 in Oct and it sounds as if he acts like your daughter. I sometimes cry because I don't know what to do. He gets upset easily, won't listen all that often, etc. I will be watching what people tell you for advice.