My 9 year old son has ADHD! Help please

[rebajayne68]

Hi thanks in advance for your help and advice.

My son who has just turned 9 got diagnosed with ADHD yesterday. In a way a huge wave of relief hit me but i am also scared.
Im worried about medication. I have a meeting with the Doctor next week and they will answer my questions.
Does anyone have any advice on the meds or first hand experience. I want to do best by my son but its so scary knowing imgiving him DRUGS!!
Also parenting techinques would help,
And do computers make children with ADHD worse?
Thanks agian

[anneasquith]

sorry reba i cant answer your question, but i am sure there will be a support group who will be able to give you advice, try your library, for information. good luck

[jake-the-peg]

My son has ADHD he's 17 now and doing A-levels.

We could always tell - you get a bit of an instinct for the type after a while, lot of activity, uncordinated, trouble concentrating - even on things he likes - Oh and a bit of a familly history - myself and my uncle apparently were notorious.

Anyway - fortunately he wasn't the "naughty" type but there are other challenges - tends to be hightly emotional for example.

Used Ritalin for a while and that did help a bit, they moved him onto another which tended to give him mood swings so he decided he didn't want to continue with that.

As for computers, it's difficult to say. In a way they tend to do well with computers because they can have a bit more difficulty interacting with others and after a long time on line his behavior does seem a bit more marked.

But it can be a career that suits them too - he's looking at computing at University and has on-line friends all over the world who he'd probably not get on with face to face.

My advice with the drugs is to put him in control - he'll develop a feel for if they help or not - make sure he understands he doesn't have to take them and they aren't the answer for everybody but they help some people.

Go through the statementing thing with the school you may find he'll get things like extra time in exams and the chance to take them in a quiet room away from others - as distractions in exams can be a problem.

Don't panic - a lot of us have beem through this and it often works out well

[piggynose]

http://en.wikipedia.o...yperactivity_disorder

[piggynose]

http://www.nimh.nih.g.../complete-index.shtml

[maclarencat]

I have a grandson with ADHD and he took ritalin when he was first diagnosed. My daughter felt like you and didnt really want to give her child drugs but they really helped him. He was able to concentrate on what was being said to him at school and his work improved. They are medication if he had a physical problem and you were told a medication would help I dont think you would be going DRUGS. There is lots of help but you do have to fight hard to get it. I dont know how bad your child is but you should speak to the school about getting him statemented so he gets the extra help he needs and also you may be entitled to attendance allowance depending on the severity. One thing I can pass on, my grandson was always being branded as naughty by people who make instant judgements he is not ,he has an illness. He would get into trouble at school for not paying attention.which of course is part of his illness. My daughter always says if he was blind no-one would tell him off because he cant see so why do they tell him off for not paying attention! One good thing he is now 14 and he is settling down a bit and no longer takes any medication , this can happen when they reach puberty There are still bad days but they are less frequent. Most of all dont be scared some people DO understand and feel for you. Good luck

[maclarencat]

I forgot to add that we found he became reliant on the computer as he has few friends because of his difficulties but watch the games he plays as they made him aggresive and he has now made the decision himself not to play them anymore

[Answerprancer]

How does your son feel about the *offer of medication ?
If there is a discomfort about using medication, maybe you could discuss alternatives.
(*It's not mandatory)

[Shazza36]

My son was diagnosed aged 5, medication was offered but this was 13 years ago and I wasn't convinced about the long term affects so we just persevered with him. He had his moments but in the main he has grown out of it. He got 12 GCSE's garde C and above even though his teachers always acused him of not concentrating and being disruptive. He still has his moments and of course he's always right! His short term memory is really bad, he's always asking what day it is and has to ring his mate up to check when they are next due in college etc, but he does go to college full time, has a part time job, a girlfriend and a car so he does OK. I think nowadys a lot more is known about the long term affects and medication can be tried and stopped if necessary, but I think maybe like me now you have a diagnosis you'll find its easier to cope. Good Luck in whatever you decide.

[Ice.Maiden]

I agree with Shazza. Our eldest son was diagnosed as having borderline ADHD, and he was offered Ritalin. I did a lot of research on this drug and even wrote to someone in the US who'd developed the compound. A doctor contacted me later, and said that the effects of Ritalin can be noticeable, but that it can irreversably alter the personality. On hearing that, I refused it, and decided to persevere in my own way, showing our son lots of attention and finding hobbies/sports to keep him interested.
it was found that in our case, there were no allergies or food intolerance, and that the ADHD was caused by a faulty gene. Hearing that was horrendous, but the consultant said he felt that our son'd outgrow the symptoms.
He did, and is an extremely bright, confident young man today, so best of luck.

[welshlibranr]

Oh reb, b

[AnswersPls]

Hi I too was a very naughty & hyperactive child so I know first hand the strains it can have on the child & the family. I would recommend that you do not give your child any drugs as I fear that is not the answer, kids have been misbehaving since the dawn of time & it is quite normal believe it or not. Some cases are far more severe than others but I would recommend a councillor & basically make that little extra time for him also its going to take a good amount of patience from you. Children with behaviour difficulties often are just reaching out for more love & attention perhaps there is an underlined problem in his life which causes him to act this way? Talk to your son regularly & try to find out what he feels causes him to act this way whether it be emotional, perhaps neglect or in some cases maybe he just enjoys being that way. Do not dis spare just hang in there & persevere as your son will grow out of it if all else fails. It will be an emotionally tough journey for all partys involved especially you mum & siblings.

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