OT - ADD Help Needed

[MickeyMom2Boys]

My 7 year old was recently diagnosed with ADD. He does not have any hyperactivity signs for ADHD and no behavior problems, but he can not stay focused on his school work. He gets the material and on days that he is focused you can really see that the material is not the issue, but on days that he is not focused, nothing you can do gets him on task. He can bring home a math worksheet one day and hammer it out in 10 minutes, then bring home a very similar worksheet the next day and take over 2 hours to complete it. He comes home almost daily with work from class that he didn't finish, in addition to his homework. Outside of school, you have to ask him several times to do something. He has to be reminded about specific daily tasks - for example, you can't say "go get ready for school". You have to say "go brush your teeth & hair and put your shoes on". His current teacher, while she is very patient with him and truly sees who he is and how he works, pushed to have him tested. My husband has been saying this for a while and I was hesitant because I didn't want to resort to medication. Now I see it affecting his grades and his confidence. We completed he Conor's scales and the Dr. diagnosed him. Our next step is a sleep study as he has a lot of allergy issues and I have often said that while he gets the appropriate quantity of sleep, I am not sure that he gets quality sleep.

So, I guess I'm looking for real world advice. Is anyone else dealing with this? Can you give me any information or advice on what can be done to help him. I really appreciate anything you can pass along!

 

[mjkacmom]

This is my ds13. When he was your ds's age, he had the hyperactivity also, but by 6th grade, that was gone, and he had no behavior problems, just focusing. It was also at this time that his grades started slipping, and his teacher said it was totally due to lack of focus.

We started him on focalin last spring, and it has made all of the difference. Does his work, gets A's, gets projects done on his own... He's also much happier, because he's not struggling with this anymore.

 

[dizneechic]

My 8 y/o (well will be 8 on the 20th ) was dxd with ADHD combined last August, we've known since he was 3 or so though that there was something up. He has many of the same symptoms your ds has, although struggled with school work all the time. We also had to spell out every task, not once but sometimes 10+ times until it was done, and he was just completely oblivious to things around him. Our older ds is also ADD but not formally dxd as his is not really effecting school work, it's mainly behavioral so we're trying to manage him without meds at this point due to several cardiac issues.

Anyhow, the one thing that I will tell you is if you do decide to go the medication route, do not expect it to be a perfect fit and for miracles to happen over night. Its a moving target and will most likely need adjusting of doses, times of day, or even a different medication all together. The first one we tried (Metadate CD) made my ds psychotic and violent (the child that wouldn't ever even step on an ant), he would just elbow or kick anything that came within target, that one lasted 6 days and we were done. Med #2 (Adderall XR ) we were on for several months (and had one dosage adjustment) but it eventually made him paranoid and he thought everyone and everything (were talking pictures in books!) was out to get him. Were on med #3 (Focalin XR)now and things are ok at this point, but we're always wondering if it's the right fit. All of the meds have made my ds not want to eat (a problem for ME since he's only 47lbs and 51", he's quite the bean pole) and also cause him to have issues sleeping. We can medicate for the sleep bit but I am not comfortable with that so we're just making sure to get the 1st med in him as early as possible so it can wear down earlier in the evening.

I will say the meds have made such a HUGE difference for him though. Without them he can barely read a page of a book, he says the words all jumble up and move around, but on them he reads beautifully. Without them he is in complete overdrive, runs, makes noises, constantly moves, on them he loves to do puzzles, write stories, plays team sports and sticks to his role!! Without them he was constantly instigating battles with anyone he could (over _every_little_thing_ ) vs now he can let the small stuff slide, but knows if it's important enough to him its OK to negotiate out the issue. Prior to meds I had never made it past the 6th day of school before getting a call from the principal, this year we have 30 days left and I have YET to get that call!

So my thoughts are meds aren't for everyone, and if you do go that route it isn't always a miracle. You'll still have frustrations, he'll still not want to do homework at times (what kid WANTS to?), and you may not see all of the benefits since most of the time the med is in his system he will be in school vs home with you. So communicate with whom ever he spends his day with to get feedback, see if they notice the changes (behavioral, academic, social, etc). If you try them, you don't have to stay on them if you decide it's not working. There are pros/cons to both sides and it's really an individual thing on how much they can help.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My DS was diagnosed with ADD (inattentive) in 4th grade. We tried Strattera and Concerta but neither one helped. In 5th grade we put him on Focalin XR and it helped tremendously.

He is VERY tiny and all of the meds suppress his appetite, so that's a concern. He does OK with sleeping.

This is his 5th year on Focalin and we have really lost A LOT of efficacy. We tried upping the dose, but that just completely wiped out his appetite and didn't help him focus. We started decreasing the dose in hopes of taking him completely off meds, but that didn't work, either.

We tried switching to Vyvanse and that was UGLY! He only took that for 12 days and I took him back off.

Now we are kind of stuck at a low dose of Focalin XR. I DO see a difference on days he forgets to take it, so even though his focus isn't as good as it could be, it is better than it is without meds. He doesn't take meds over the summer, so I might let him start school next year without meds and see how he feels.

It is difficult to find exactly the right balance. Good luck!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My DD is bipolar with comorbid ADHD. This presents a whole slew of issues since the medications for ADHD interfere with the BPD stability.

If your child can tolerate the medications, they can make a world of difference. I know the feeling of not wanting to medicate, but sometimes the benefits of medication outweigh the negatives. We had DD on Focalin for a few days and the difference in her ability to concentrate and comprehend her schoolwork was jaw-dropping. Unfortunately, the stimulant treatments caused her mood to become unstable and we had to stop the Focalin.

I've been doing research into non-pharmaceutical treatments for ADHD. There have been a few things that have shown success. The first is an omega-3 supplement. I've been using it with my DD with some success. The second thing that's been recommended to me is neurotherapy/biofeedback. In fact, I was just on the phone trying to reach someone with Ohio State University's psychiatry department on research studies they might be doing on this in relation to ADHD. DD's psychologist has strongly encouraged us to seek out this type of treatment.

Best of luck to you.

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

Your story sounds very familiar to my own. My DD7 started 1st grade this year. Sometime about the end of the second month her teacher asked for a conference. I knew that she had behavior issues. Nothing major - talking out of turn, not finishing her work, being disruptive. I have always been 100% against medicating. I listened to the teacher and we then in turn sat down with our pediatrician. he gave us a few options and we thought about it, did tons of research. I finally decided to give it a try. I realize these first few years of school are the most important and she needed to be able to focus. She was given 20mg of Vyvanse. The first 2 weeks were awful, she cried all the time, she was moody and hateful. They told us you have to give the medicine a chance to level off and the side effect would go away. I lost sleep , I cried, I wondered if we had made the right choice. About three weeks after starting the Vyvanse her life changed. By all means she isnt perfect she is still very much the strong willed child I love but she can sit still through class. She brought her F in reading up to a B and has maintained it there all year. She can focus on her work. We did up her dose to 30 mg but I did not like the way it made her act so we went back to the 20mg. If ever I doubt my decision it pull out her behavior calendar from school. I look back to when school started. Just from looking at the monthly calendar you can tell EXACTLY what day she started her meds. I am a believer ! It is not for everyone but Vyvanse has made a big difference in our lives. She still gets in trouble once or twice a day but its more in line of what I expect from a 1st grader. If you decide that medication is right for you please give it a full 2 weeks before stopping or switching meds. Good luck in whatever you decide, I understand how you feel.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

My ds13 has ADHD. He was put on meds at age 6, and we were able to take him off meds in 4th grade. He's been doing great since!!

Ds5 started kindergarten this year. He has really struggled this year, and I was almost 100% we would be repeating K. Right after his teacher mentioned some focusing issues, I pursued ADHD. This was right before Christmas. After the break, we tried putting him on Adderall, and had very little luck. We really didn't see a difference, even after upping the dose. After about 6 weeks, we tried Ritalin. What a difference!!! He is almost on grade level with reading, is completing work, etc. All of his teachers feel he will do just fine in 1st, so we are moving forward.

It's interesting because he never seemed as hyperactive as ds13 was, so I had pursued just the ADD part. We just did a trial over spring break with him being off meds, and OMG did I notice the hyperactivity. I guess I didn't pay attention to it before, but it was very obvious after being on meds, and then going off.

It really is all about trial and error when you begin medicine. You also need to have all of his teachers on board because they will be the ones noticing a difference. We did a "blind trial" with his teachers, and never told them when he was going on/off.

Good luck. I was very pleased when my oldest did outgrow some of the symptoms. He's much calmer now.

 

[Pastamom]

I have 2 ADD sons - one with the hyper component.

Meds have helped both of the tremendously. We have have had to try a couple different ones, but it has been worth the effort. Meds are not everything though - we also worked with a psychologist and have worked very hard to get them to be successful.

I have seen kids in my sons' classes who have ADD/ADHD and see how they struggle and it breaks my heart because I see what correct medication has done for my son. Younger DS was diagnosed at 4 ( I knew at 6 months) and could not hold a pencil. After being on meds for a bit he could write his name.

Older DS has more of the ADD without hyperactivity. It would take him forever to finish his homework. Now with meds, and much work on all of our parts, he is doing great (not perfect)! In fact, yesterday he told me he was ahead in the book they were reading in his class...some thing that would NEVER have happened without meds.

BTW - I accidentally sent both boys to school without their meds one day. Both said they noticed the difference and had a hard time at school.

PM me if you want to talk please!

 

[Order66]

My 11 year old has been on meds since kindergarten. I knew by 2 he had "issues", but nobody will diagnose a child that young with ADHD.

ADHD IS a medical condition. You probably wouldn't think twice about medication for any other medical condition so just remember that this is one too.

I'll second the PP who said that meds can take time to find the right one and the right dose to work for your child. We started out on FocalinXR. Worked great for years, until it started to loose lasting effect. He'd be fine for school, but by the time he got home (and needed to do homework) it was worn off. Switched to Vyvanse. Lasted 10 hours, but made him moody and mean. Switched to the Daytrana patch, which is a transdermal dexmethylphenadate (the medicine in Focalin) and we've had a winner for 2 years. Good symptom control and lasts almost 12 hours. He does have to take a Focalin pill in the am before school because the patch takes 2 hours to build up in his system. We skip those on weekends/school breaks.

My son can also focus on what he wants to just fine. That's part of their condition. It was explained to me once like this. Turn on your TV, your radio, run the vaccuum and talk on the phone while reading a book. Can you do it? That's an ADHD kids life. All the stimulus and no ability to pick out one thing and block out the others. ADHD kids are not "not able to pay attention". They pay attention to everything!

My son also has difficulty sleeping. For most kids it's not the stimulants they take........it's the inability to shut off their brains and relax so they can sleep. My son also takes clonadine at night to help him chill out. It's not a sedative at all, but it helps ADHD kids slow down so they can fall asleep better. Appetite is also a concern for us. Never a great eater anyway, the meds do suppress his appetite. Offer healthy meals and that's all you can do.

Without his meds, my son wouldn't be able to function in school and he certainly wouldn't be able to have friends and do the activities "normal" kids his age do. He still struggles with it. He's very intellegent......most ADHD kids are above average intellegence, but has problems with directions, impulse control and organization. Just being an 11 year old boy that's a problem anyway. He's magnified 100X!

Good luck

 

[mb_uh]

Medication has been a life saver for my child. Sleep is a huge issue a lot of ADHD kids do not sleep well and this s big part of the problem.

If he was tested he should have made 504 or SPED and his IEP may need something that stays 1 one instruction at time- and work on him adding to that.

 

[toesmom]

deleted post

 

[Pastamom]

My 11 year old has been on meds since kindergarten. I knew by 2 he had "issues", but nobody will diagnose a child that young with ADHD.

ADHD IS a medical condition. You probably wouldn't think twice about medication for any other medical condition so just remember that this is one too.

I'll second the PP who said that meds can take time to find the right one and the right dose to work for your child. We started out on FocalinXR. Worked great for years, until it started to loose lasting effect. He'd be fine for school, but by the time he got home (and needed to do homework) it was worn off. Switched to Vyvanse. Lasted 10 hours, but made him moody and mean. Switched to the Daytrana patch, which is a transdermal dexmethylphenadate (the medicine in Focalin) and we've had a winner for 2 years. Good symptom control and lasts almost 12 hours. He does have to take a Focalin pill in the am before school because the patch takes 2 hours to build up in his system. We skip those on weekends/school breaks.

My son can also focus on what he wants to just fine. That's part of their condition. It was explained to me once like this. Turn on your TV, your radio, run the vaccuum and talk on the phone while reading a book. Can you do it? That's an ADHD kids life. All the stimulus and no ability to pick out one thing and block out the others. ADHD kids are not "not able to pay attention". They pay attention to everything!

My son also has difficulty sleeping. For most kids it's not the stimulants they take........it's the inability to shut off their brains and relax so they can sleep. My son also takes clonadine at night to help him chill out. It's not a sedative at all, but it helps ADHD kids slow down so they can fall asleep better. Appetite is also a concern for us. Never a great eater anyway, the meds do suppress his appetite. Offer healthy meals and that's all you can do.

Without his meds, my son wouldn't be able to function in school and he certainly wouldn't be able to have friends and do the activities "normal" kids his age do. He still struggles with it. He's very intellegent......most ADHD kids are above average intellegence, but has problems with directions, impulse control and organization. Just being an 11 year old boy that's a problem anyway. He's magnified 100X!

Good luck

Great post!

OP - It is great that you have a teacher who has recognized this. With ADD that is not always the case. I remember emailing a teacher because i thought (based on home behavior) that his meds needed to be upped. She told me he was doing fine, except she noticed that he wasn't paying attention as much, forgetting his pencil, folder, etc, taking longer to do his work...but he was fine(her words) I thought to myself he's not fine and she doesn't get ADD....

As many have said meds are not the cure-all - but can help a lot. We also have a lot of routines in place to help everyone remember. Shoes go in one place, homework is done right after school, etc....

Sleep and eating can both be issues. Meds have not affected older DS's appetite - but he has been a big eater since birth. Younger DS has always had eating issues - food is just not a priority for him (as a baby I had to sequester him to take a bottle), but he is healthy and very active.

Both sleep ok - but it is hard for them to turn off their minds - kind of like when we wake up in the middle of night with thoughts running through our head.

 

[Celidh]

Oh the things I could say about this topic, schools, teachers and kids, but I don't have all night and I'm sure neither does anyone reading this.

So, my oldest was diagnosed with ADHD and a non verbal learning disorder, despite being very smart. He has been on Concerta, Adderall and Strattera. All three medications totally ruined his appetite and since he is quite skinny, a few lost pounds makes a difference. Right now he is just a few inches short of 6 feet and weighs 130 lbs. The Strattera turned him into a nasty moody person so he didn't stay on that long. He is now 13 and in grade 8. He struggles at school but isn't failing but says that he "zones out" in class. I'm assuming that is his description of the attention deficit part. He is not on medication anymore because he doesn't like how it makes him feel and that he has no appetite while on it. He said "mom, I like to eat, I want to eat". He hates that it almost makes him feel ill to eat while on medication. I felt that at 13 years old, he deserves an opinion on this so I went with his wishes and took him off it it. I'm sure there are people who will disagree with me letting him make choices about meds but he made a valid point, talked rationally to me and since this is something he has to learn to deal with throughout his life I guess me might as well start now. I can't force a pill down his throat if he doesn't want it and I won't. This isn't a life threatening issue, otherwise I would say too bad take the meds. None of the three meds he was on really made a big difference in him at school either. The pediatrician he was going to said there were no other choices for him. Going to another doctor isn't a possibility because you need to be referred to one here and there is a long waiting list and nobody else within my area.

My 11 year old has Aspergers with an attention deficit component. I am told by professionals that a person can't be diagnosed with Aspergers and ADHD but can have attention problems, so he is on Strattera. It has made a big difference. He still struggles with paying attention and speaking out instead of waiting his turn but he is better than he was. Funny thing to me is that all three meds affected my older son's appetite but doesn't affect the younger one at all.

My biggest problem is fighting with his father who thinks they shouldn't be on any medication, there is nothing wrong with his children and that schools and teacher are just pill pushers (I don't totally disagree with the last one since I have had more than one teacher tell me to take my younger son to the doctor and get medication without suggesting any testing).

I also feel that schools really aren't friendly to active, imaginative children who aren't happy sitting at a desk all day. It is hard for any child who is active, not necessarily hyper, to sit all day long. Let's face it, they have less than one hour of gym two days a week and not much playground time in elementary school. Alas, that is atopic that i will leave for another day.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

Thanks to all for the replies. Your information has really helped in many ways. One - it's just nice to talk to people who are going through the same thing But you have also given me some background info on the drugs available, possible side effects to work on, how the medication process works, and how to work with the schools & teachers. I really wish I had addressed this earlier in the school year as this particular teacher really seems to see my son for who he is. Everything she said to me when she explained him was the same as I would explain him to someone else. Unfortunately, with a new baby and trying to wrap my head around the whole thing I am starting the process a few weeks before school is over. But I am starting the process and I will work with the school to place him with an appropriate teacher next year. We are scheduled for a sleep study on June 1 and I am going to call the school today to find out about a 504 plan. Thanks again for all the help & support and I'm sure I'll be back with more questions as this process continues.

 

[Celidh]

Well, even if it is late in the school year, better late than never.

One other thing, I can't speak for your school as I am Canada, but here in my area the schools decide at the end of the school year which students will be getting extra services the following September. So, if the same is true for there, at least he is on the radar and maybe they will be able to have some plans for him. I just participated in a meeting with my younger son's school to decide the game plan for him next year and set up his individual plan and goals.

Oh yeah, with respect to your comment:

"go brush your teeth & hair and put your shoes on"

You're lucky you can give him those instructions. My kids would all get lost half way through and get none of it done. I have to tell them one thing at a time quite often. Not so much now as when they were younger. Then they are cranky with me because I keep giving them instructions. They say "Am I done yet?" as they roll their eyes. My daughter is not better and she hasn't been diagnosed with anything. I think part of it is just being a kid and having better things to do in their opinions.

Good luck, keep us posted and feel free to ask any questions you like.

 

[Pastamom]

A little OT here but I just filled DS's concerta and it is now generic. Saved some money on that