I wonder how accurately the true cause of ADHD has been contemplated.

I wonder if it has anything to do with far too much stimuli at an early age from an everchanging source... the television, perhaps?

I wonder if it has anything to do with the parent/child dynamic from birth until the ages of 4 to 6?

I wonder if it is accurately treated or just a band-aid on an un-identified cause.

Wow,, Hard subject and in my own Opinion,,

I dont believe in medicating,, I do however believe in activites to structure the body, soul and mind,,
be it sports,, reading,,, exploring,, anything to keep there minds active and learning how to focus on what makes them happy what gives the child that calm in there lives,,,

I believe society today thinks pills are the answer to all that is wrong,, ,, Sad so very sad,,,

Structure and strength...and a whole lota love..... Builds a balanced child,,, filled with dreams and desires to achieve in life,,

Based upon my personal experience...


Equipped with what I was at an early age as a parent, I was pursuaded by the school and the school's child psychologist to have my children evaluated while they were in Kindergarten.

The concerns were expressed as though the children would be at a disadvantage because of their inability to focus for extended periods of time. As a result of this, it was also stressed, they would stand to risk not grasping the important building blocks of their education and their grades would surely suffer.

The result was an ADHD diagnosis, and the required prescribed medication... Aderrall.

After six years of medication, their grades never really improved. Their behaviours really did not either, at least not in my opinion. The school was frequently asking if the medicine had been being given, which led me to believe that in school their behaviours were not great either. Of course this was completely confirmed during conferences also. At times the suggestion to increase the medicine dosage amount was given, and after a visit to their pediatrician, was so done. Based upon testing and daily life, I knew the ability was there in my twins. Clearly the medication alone was not a fix for the expressed concerns which initiated the diagnosis to begin with.

So I began to investigate, and research more, and record things concerning the kids' behaviours and such.

When faced with something which they were truly interested in they could focus intently for hours on end.

The behaviour became more manageable after the affects of the morning dosage had worn off. They were more focused during this time, which completely contradicted the way that it should have been, according to what I had understood.

As a result of invasive self-examinations as a parent regarding the family dynamic, researching the condition, and carefully observing the kids, I decided to remove the medication from them during the summertime. This decision was made at that time because I never really had that many issues with their behaviour anyway, so summer was good for their withdrawal period which I knew would come.

The next year, their grades improved tremendously. After two quarters had passed their was an issue woth behaviour which initiated a meeting. In the meeting the notion of medicine came up. To their surprise I informed them that the boys had been off of the Aderrall for nearly a year.

Wow!!!! What a reaction I received. Concerns and questions and insinuations... Phooey!!!

After nearly six years on that medicine I clearly stated, I witnessed low grades and the same 'ole behaviour as mentioned by each teacher every year. Now this year(at the time) the boys have brought home the best grades ever... in their life... and their behaviour was much better on a whole.

I spent the next two years re-teaching the basic concepts which were not grasped in earlier years, and were now causing serious issues as the understanding level was being built upon those.

Their continued improvement and self-worth is amazing...

I am very grateful for the opportunity to recognize and the ability to help...

well my son will be going this week to a counselor and a child psychiatrist because I feel he has been misdiagnosed and I want to find the right med or therapy so we can both be at peace.

Hiya Jax:

I feel as though the medication was more for behavioural control rather than educational concerns in our case, at least. The behavioural issues I have taken responsibility for, and since have completely changed certain aspects of the family dynamic.

More daily parental involvement on a regular basis with consistently explained expectations of behaviour and consequences and/or rewards thereof has been an asset.

I made time where there was little or none to be made, and set aside that which had taken that time away from my ability to provide it.

That was just our individual set of circumstances.

Dr. James Lehman(sp.) has a course called Total Transformation which gives different aspects and/or approaches. That course I found helpful in several ways and it porved to be another valuable asset in parenting techniques.

Stay on top of it, it can get better...

thank you:)

I really hope no one is suggesting that everyone that is on Ritalin has a behavior problem. My son has been on it and even before he was, all of his teachers thought he was polite and didn't disrupt class. It is not just a behavioral problem that can be fixed by changing parenting techniques. My son is a VERY good kid. he isn't into the bad things that alot of 17 year olds get into. THAT is because of parenting. He is not able to focus and if I can do anything to help him with that...I will. He is not a behavior problem and never has been. If anything, when he has problems fcusing, he gets quiet. He has dealt with a lot of "grown ups" saying he's faking or his parents need to do more etc. He is old enough to understand more and more about it and he knows everything we tried, just didn't work. He is much better off now. he's not a zombie. he is doing better in school because he can now focus and is looking forward to going to college and becoming a cop now. IMO he is proof that there is a problem and some are real

yellowrose:

I intended nothing but to reflect on my own personal involvement with my children in this thread. If this information can and/or has helped another in some way, shape, or form, then I am more than grateful for that opportunity and ability.

I do not want to assume that you were referring to my post, so if you were or not this post still applies.

Being a parent of my children only, of course that is the only position from which I can speak.

There have been other elements which have been contemplated also.

For starters, it is widely known that ADHD is overly diagnosed.

In addition to that, I believe that the schools also receive additional state funding for each child which has been diagnosed. Perhaps someone else can confirm or correct, but I have been led to believe that the dollar amount is $2,000.00 per year, per child.

If that is the case, and the school initiates the investigations, does that not lead one to question the true motive? It sure had me wondering. That obviously was not the only consideration, however, it was one of them.

If my post is read as it is written, it states several times that what I have described is our individual set of circumstances. Keeping that in mind, I speak only from which I know, as we all do.

On a final note, my kids are great kids, and I am thankful for that and many other things.


Peace!

lol no creative...my computer isn't working too well right now. I was referring to anyone that thought it was merely a behavioral issue. I know it is VERY over-diagnosed and puts a bad light on those that truly need help. I never took it lightly and just said give him meds. we tried everything from diet, tutoring, handling things different. my son is a great kid and his teachers love him. so many people think discipline is the only answer. my son didn't need discipline for something out of his control. i taught him to NEVER use it as a crutch or excuse. and no one should. the meds are just to help him focus more but the rest is up to him. the meds aren't a cure all and too many parents think it is.

That is good to hear... all the way around, and as so many times before, we once again walk away feeling good about this conversation...

Thank you for that confirmation!



Love and Light to you my friend

My bad

lol creative...you should know me better by now. I usually speak from my own personal experience. I know everyone is like a snow flake....some (like me) are flakier than others lol but everyone is different and even with kids in the same house...1 way of dealing with the child may not work for someone else

I have to say that the last 3 years of my son's schooling has been hell. A nightmare for him and myself. I am fortunate to have a doctor who has tried along with me, everything and anything to not put my son on medication. Then this year it became clear that he would not move on to 2nd grade unless something was done. so now he has been on medication for 4 months. he is reading better can sit and listen to his teacher, and do his school work. OH, and guess what he is still my little boy. he hasn't changed, and he is not a ZOMBIE.

cav...no worries...some people don't get that true cases aren't about behavioral problems or the parent stepping up. i will challenge anyone to say i am not a good parent or that i am slacking when it comes to my son

to add...i NEVER had any behavioral issues with hailey. VERY polite, sweet...an absolute angel. we haven't had a single argument, literally. she's the best thing that ever happened to me.

hers is ADHD withOUT hyperactivity...she just can't concentrate. loses the thought train...and the medication was a life-saver, removing her frustration and allowing her to process the information.

well mine has more than adhd and now i am going the counseling and psychiatrist root to find a true diagnosis and a good med.adderal did nothing and frankly I think my son has been taking the wrong medsHe has behavorial issues,very defiant,anger issues,hyper,manic.I am very strict but he is not good in a school enviroment and even at home has issues with chores and things.very stressful.

Very well put. My youngest is ike your brother. If he misses one days worth of aderal, you know it. normally, if he misses his sleeping pill you know it (his mind is so active he literally can not go to sleep most nights, until he is so exhausted he literally passes out). And OMG the one time I mixed his daytime meds (aderal) with his sleep pil, lol. I was up all night and day with him.

His attention has improved tremendously in school, as well. Even though he is still going to end up failing kindergarten, he has imroved drastically enough that we are not worried about wether or not he will fail a second time.

Now we just have to find a wat got past the obsession compulsion, which anyone who has adhd or knows someone who does, will tell you goes hand in hand the majority of the time with the adhd.

I do believe a lot of kids are being diagnosed and treated simply in order to "take care of it quickly", and not neccesarily properly. In a lot of cases, yes the child simply needs a good arse beating (ducks from all the liberal minded people who dont agree with corporal punishment). But in a lot of cases, the child also simply needs a proper amount of attention.

so true rose, so true...

I dont know how many times I have had protective services come around because someone made a sugegstion about me and my son(s) medical issues, and every last time, it has been cleared within the first two visits, max. It is a big shame that some people cant just but out and let the parents do their job.

I have stepped up every time, and I have shown just how good a parent I am, and that my son needs his medications, for several different reasons.