My six yr old may need meds for his ADHD. Is there anything else besides meds to help him w/ that?

Answer 1

My son also suffers from it but diagnosed without "H". So he's got ADS. Later on he also got an extra diagnose called Asperger Syndrome.
Well, he firstly got Ritalin, then Concerta, now he's on Strattera and Risperdal. He also has therapies with a psychologist.
We are living in Germany but I suppose medications have similar names.
I wish you lots of power to get through - you'll need it. And - there won't be a cure of this diagnose. Your kid and you have to learn to live with it. It's about like suffering from diabetes which you also can't cure but you must learn to live with it.
I have to admit that I nearly get crazy as well cause I have the feeling not to manage all this.
But be absolutely sure that your child really has received the RIGHT diagnose because many docs are rather fast with it and get kids taken all the chemistry. If in doubt ask another doc.
Most important: show your child that you love it!

Answer 2

God girl, don't put a 6 yr old on meds. I know the teachers would like it.
I have two boys that were suggested to takes meds. I refused both times.
The first boy just graduated from college and got a GREAT job the second one is entering High School with an A average.
Every child is different. Keep your child active and focused.
Search for alternatives on the web instead of pills.

Answer 3

Okay people, ADHD is not just about hyper children. Yes, all children can be hyper especially when they eat alot of sugary foods. However, ADHD also has to do with the child's ability to pay attention to things and can affect his/her schoolwork. If a child can not sit and listen to instructions long enough to be able to do the work then the child will fail in school. Yes, some of these things can improve through behavior modification and counseling, but sometimes it becomes necessary to medicate in low doses in order for the children to function and get what they need. I feel 6 is a young age for meds until you have exhausted all other resources. One could also get a second opinion or have him retested. Please do not immediately assume parents medicate out of laziness. Some of us do it to keep our children safe, because without meds they do not have the ability to think about the consequences of their actions.
My suggestion is to get as much information on ADD/ADHD as you can and make a decision based on what you believe will help him function. If you decide meds are the way to go, remember they are not all equal and will not all have the same effect for your son as they do for other children.

Answer 4

This is certainly an issue that gets people stirred up, isn't it? There are many conflicting opinions about the decision to medicate or not to medicate. Your best option is to ignore the ignorant people who tell you are a bad parent or a loser if you choose to allow your child medication, ignore the people who tell you it is the only possible option and every child with ADD/ADHD must be medicated. Do research on your own, and talk to doctors and teachers and nutritionists and psychologists, and make an educated decision on your own that will best suit the needs of your child and family.

That said, I can share with you my experience with you. My son was diagnosed with ADD as a first grader. At that time, we chose not to medicate him. We worked with his diet, sleeping patterns, exercise, etc., and spent time working with his teacher tracking ability and behaviors (I work in his school district, and had daily contact with staff). When he was almost 8, we decided to medicate him on a trial basis. He took Strattera, which is a non-narcotic medication to treat ADD. This worked well to help him focus in school, and had only one side effect - he lost a great deal of weight very quickly. He cried when we told him he could no longer take the medication. We waited another year and a half, watching him struggle and seeing his frustration, then tried the Strattera again. This time, we had success with no adverse affect - he is growing normally, eating well, and brought home his first "all A's" report card as a 4th grader. This time, the tears were from happiness. We do not give meds on weekends, school breaks/holidays, or in the summer. If I forget to give him his med with breakfast, he reminds me. This has been quite successful for him, and we are content with our decision.

Treating ADHD can be quite difficult, and may require a great deal of trial and error - whether through nutrition, behavior modification, or medication. Don't be afraid to ask many questions, and to try many different things before using meds. Best of luck to you.

Answer 5

Talk with his pediatrician, and do some research on your own.

Recent research indicates that the majority of ADD/ADHD diagnoses are probably the result of not the disorders themselves, but the body's reaction to the children's lifestyle-most importantly, diet and excercise.

Eliminate sugar, artificial colors, etc. from his diet. Offer water rather than soda or sports drinks, offer fresh fruit instead of candy and cookies, etc. Check the ingredients on the food items you purchase.

Reduce or eliminate time spent watching television, playing video games, or spent on the computer. Instead, get him outside! Free play is good, or try to get him involved in an activity that would interest him (baseball, etc). The studies mentioned above indicate that not only the excercise will be good for these children, but the fresh air.

I would definitely try alternative methods before putting him on any psychological medications.

Answer 6

Talk to a dietician before starting meds. Alot of times if you take away certain things like red dye #40 (which has been linked to ADHD) and obviously sugars you will have great results without medicating. Try it... what have you got to lose. There is a great book called "Potatoes not Prozac" written by Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. I I strongly suggest that you try diet changes first... make the meds a LAST resort.

Answer 7

my son was dx with add and put on stratterra and was told that he needed a behavior counselor. we started the meds and they made him worse so they took him off once the month had passed. The counseling actually did not help at all. he still bounced off the walls. I changed his diet, that didn't help. I really think that kids with ADD or ADHD just need to do their own thing as long as they are not hurting themselves, etc. I feel sorry for my son as he has alot of friends, bt sometimes he just can not get along with them. Just try to be patient and loving and in time it will all work out.

Answer 8

Wow, you have so many answers, I couldn't read them all! My son had ADHD, and I used the diet modification to help. Many foods affect the behavior, attention and activity levels of children. Peanuts and peanut products which are so readily used, can negatively affect children who are sensitive to them. They can affect behavior. Sugar can affect activity. Other foods can affect attention levels. Although we cannot limit everything, we should be educated and aware of what is going on. If a diet is followed to begin to help with ADHD, sometimes the offending foods can be reintroduced on a rotating basis. Being that your son is six years old, you have more control over what he eats than an older child. This is a good time to asses how his diet may effect his behavior and attention levels. There are many books available on this subject. One is called, "Allergies and the Hyperactive Child," by Dr. Doris Rapp. An allergist sensitive to this subject can be of great help. Other information is available in online searches for: "ADHD and food allergies", "ADHD and candida". Patience, love and structure will also help, but even the most patient parent who cares deeply and loves their child can get frustrated. Educate yourself for the best results and relationship with your son. ADHD children are usually quite intelligent, but they get frustrated with all the negative feedback which usually comes from various places in their lives. Be as positive as you can, and help him with your love.

Answer 9

When my daughter was five, her school teacher, school counselor, and pediatrician all suggested meds to help her "calm" down. Thankfully, we got another opinion and she never started them. Now she is seven and well-adjusted and behaves quite well. I'm not saying the meds aren't needed in certain cases, just please, get another opinion before you medicate your child. We took my daughter to a gymnastics class once a week for an hour and sent her outside to play more. It is amazing the difference it made. Hopefully, your child will benefit from whatever decision you make. Good luck.

Answer 10

My brother, although a little older than your daughter has adhd
but wasn't diagnosed until later in life. It was suggested that he go on medication but my parents were against it. He now takes deep sea fish oil capsules 3 times a day and is a different person. We can tell if he stops taking it because he gets short tempered and his whole persona changes. I dont know if it comes in liquid for as a child of her age wouldnt be able to take capsules as they are quite big. Hope that helps.