Teacher concerned with ADHD. What Next?

[ajwomic]

My 6 year old son's teacher is concerned that he might have ADHD and I am not sure what to do. I prefer not medicating unless absolutely necessary. Has anyone had success with diet therapy? He is very bright and makes all A's and does not get in trouble a lot, but figits all the time, falls out of his chair multiple times a day, talks and laughs really loud without realizing it, and has a hard time getting started on things like writing assignments.He starts about the time everyone else is finishing. At home, I often have to ask several time for him to do simple tasks like putting on pajamas. The teacher and I are in the fence on whether this is just immaturity and "being a boy" or a problem. Before I for out $$ on stuff I wanted to ask here. Thanks!
Alicia

 

[MinnieVanMom]

May I suggest you post on the DisAbility forum. There is a wonderful group there that deal with all kinds of issues included ADHD. You will get good advise and find a wealth of information.

 

[ajwomic]

I did not realize there was one. Thanks. I can imagine this could get expensive. That's why I posed here. I will try it there.
Alicia

 

[Deffenm]

Your 6 year old sounds like my 8 year old. We have been advised to cut out Red Dye. We are going to start there and see if that helps. It may help a little but I can't see it helping much. My kid gets good grades, is very friendly, he just can't sit still. I think if you made him sit still for 30 seconds he would explode. I would like to know what you find out.

 

[left210]

I just wanted to let you know that some kids are misdiagnosed with ADHD/ADD when it is really something else going on. My son did not have ADD/ADHD but has always been a fidgeter and had similar symptoms to ADD like hyperactivity, etc. We were at our allergist and they thought he had sleep apnea. We did the sleep study and he doesnt have sleep apnea but has another sleep disorder called periodic limb movement disorder. I did not realize that sleep disorders can cause similar symptoms to ADD and he also had an iron deficiency which after researching can cause similar symptoms. So you might want to check other options too before going down the medicated ADD road. Don't get me wrong - I know there are kids who benefit from the medication and I am not looking to get flamed but just offering our experience so that it might help someone else as we didnt know that sleep disorders and iron deficiency could cause the things that it does.

 

[HeatherAnn23]

Start with your child's doctor. I'm a first grade teacher and I always suggest that first. If your doctor does not seem knowledgeable or supportive of therapies other than medication, ask for a referral. I'd check out the other forum, for support and other ideas. This can often be a long journey, but talking with others who have been there can help!
FYI, my husband has ADD, which gives my kids a 50% or greater chance of having it too.

 

[h518may]

I have been in somewhat of the same situation this year. Our son is having a hard time in school with concentrating and being very impulsive. We know that our DS has sensory processing, but his teachers are worried about ADHD. So I was looking into both and found this

http://www.spdparentshare.com/ADHD Improves with Sensory Integrative Treatment Study.pdf

Basically it talks about Occupational Therapy with sensory therapy helping children with ADHD.

So for us we are trying OT for DS. He likes the therapy and I never worry about it having any bad side effects. He plays with a therapist and works on things he is having problems with like his fine motor skills. We even decided on Hippotherapy(horseback therapy with OT) he rides for 30 min. and works on other things for 30 min a session.

Just some ideas to think about.

 

[englishteacha]

I had good luck with some students (much older than your son, though) using a therapy ball to sit on. They can bounce to their heart's content as they work. It gives their body a chance to move so their mind can focus on the task at hand. There are lots of diet options out there, too. My nephew has autism, and his mom has found that certain foods really affect his behavior. Google "diet ADHD" and you'll find options. Finally, a teacher can't "diagnose" ADHD. It is a medical diagnosis. You might want to make an appointment to see your doctor after the new year. They can help you.

 

[left210]

I just wanted to let you know that some kids are misdiagnosed with ADHD/ADD when it is really something else going on. My son did not have ADD/ADHD but has always been a fidgeter and had similar symptoms to ADD like hyperactivity, etc. We were at our allergist and they thought he had sleep apnea. We did the sleep study and he doesnt have sleep apnea but has another sleep disorder called periodic limb movement disorder. I did not realize that sleep disorders can cause similar symptoms to ADD and he also had an iron deficiency which after researching can cause similar symptoms. So you might want to check other options too before going down the medicated ADD road. Don't get me wrong - I know there are kids who benefit from the medication and I am not looking to get flamed but just offering our experience so that it might help someone else as we didnt know that sleep disorders and iron deficiency could cause the things that it does.

 

[HayGan]

Your best bet is to speak with your child's pediatrician. His doctor should be involved in determining what type of treatment to go with. Every child is different and requires individualized attention.

As for medications, they have pros and cons. Make sure that before you start any course of treatment (not just medications), that you understand what the effects of that treatment may be. My son is autistic and has for many years demonstrated the hyperactivity traits of autism. I was dead-set against medications for many years. We work with a wonderful team of doctors and psychologists who just this year suggested trying medications to see how they work. We have found a medication that is very helpful for him and has greatly improved his ability to concentrate and focus during the day. There are some side effects which we have found so far to be manageable. Everyone continually monitors him and his progress. When it comes to expenses, our insurace covers a portion and we pay a portion. To us, the benefits far out weigh the cost! I am glad that I did my research and I am now comfortable with the decision that we have made for our son. It is so important to have the right people in place for your child's care.


Good luck to you

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I think alot of this is misdiagnosed. Just remember he is a 6 year old little boy with alot of things he wants to do. Alot of what he is going through could be normal energy. Winter is coming, kids are indoors alot, the holidays are here. I would explore this as well as diet first before medication. I agree with you about medication.

 

[princessmom29]

I am not coming down on anyone, but I really don't get the aversion to medication. I say if the kid needs the meds give them to him. I am seeing more and more of this here and on other family and parenting boards about medications in general not just for ADD/ADHD. Medication is not a bad thing. A lot of people tend to see it as a "chemical" but most medications actually were originally form plant sources. Asprin comes from willow bark. Digitalis is a flower, ect. As a teacher I have seen the difference medication can make for a child with ADD/ADHD. They are different kids when properly medicated. They are able to function in a classroom. Their social interactions improve. They get better grades. The list goes on. Please. please if you child is properly diagnosed with ADED/ADHD get them the medication they need. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain and not amount of "Diet therapy" can correct that. The only way it could is if the foods being consumed could actually regulate neurotransmitter levels and there is not evidence to support that. Most evidence for diet therapy is anecdotal "i've seen a change in my child" type stories. Just recognizing that the child has a problem and trying to correct their behavior armed with that knowledge can produce similar results.

 

[HeatherC]

Sounds like a 6 year old boy actually. Think about how hard it is for a little boy to sit still and concentrate all day. Before thinking he has ADHD, remember that schools require kids to all act and behave the same....if they don't...then many times they are considered to have ADHD. I think nowadays it is a big problem with schools. In addition, many recess times are shortened and gym is going by the wayside in a lot of systems. Kids are also eating junky foods on a regular basis.

I have a very active 10 year old boy. He does very well in school, but I know how hard it is for him to sit still all day. To counteract this, I do a couple things which I truly believe make a difference.

1. I make him absolutely eat a high protein, high fiber breakfast. No sugary cereals. Eggs and double fiber toast with fruit are a regular in our house. Definitely helps him get through the morning.

2. He takes his lunch. No junky school lunches. It consists of the same thing. Lots of lean protein and high fiber which will keep him filled and help him concentrate. It also prevents a drop in blood sugar which can greatly affect a kids behavior.

3. He goes out to play at least 1/2 hour before the bus comes every day as long as the weather permits. This works out awesome because we are on a cul-de-sac and the kids meet up to play kickball or basketball or something before the bus. He gets a lot of his energy out of his system before he even gets to school.

4. When he gets home, we have a healthy snack and do homework right away. Then he has the rest of the day to run and be active. For him to start homework after dinner, he's just too tired and has brain drain. He is still in the mode after school so that's what works for us.

Hope some of these ideas are helpful. Maybe your son does have ADHD. But...you are the mom and if you think he's just being active, don't let the schools convince you otherwise unless you see or know something from home. I truly believe this is their quick fix nowadays.

Best of luck to you!

 

[emh1129]

I think alot of this is misdiagnosed. Just remember he is a 6 year old little boy with alot of things he wants to do. Alot of what he is going through could be normal energy. Winter is coming, kids are indoors alot, the holidays are here.

Sounds like a 6 year old boy actually. Think about how hard it is for a little boy to sit still and concentrate all day. Before thinking he has ADHD, remember that schools require kids to all act and behave the same....if they don't...then many times they are considered to have ADHD. I think nowadays it is a big problem with schools. In addition, many recess times are shortened and gym is going by the wayside in a lot of systems. Kids are also eating junky foods on a regular basis.

I agree.


Princessmom29- I don't think that anybody is saying not to medicate if it's deemed necessary, just that there are different avenues that might be worth exploring first.

 

[mom2boys77]

My 6 year old is in 1st grade and at Parent Teacher Conferences, she said the exact same thing to me about him. She was suggesting adhd but I had to tell her that I have ZERO problems with this son at home. All of the behavior she says is occurring (and I believe her) is only occurring at school. My mom said something that made sense to me..he has no friends outside of school and my other son is 13 so when he goes to school he is doing lots of socializing. I am going to get him into an activity outside of school and see if this helps. I hate that people are so quick to say Adhd. Talk to your dr. they will know what to do.

My 6 year old son's teacher is concerned that he might have ADHD and I am not sure what to do. I prefer not medicating unless absolutely necessary. Has anyone had success with diet therapy? He is very bright and makes all A's and does not get in trouble a lot, but figits all the time, falls out of his chair multiple times a day, talks and laughs really loud without realizing it, and has a hard time getting started on things like writing assignments.He starts about the time everyone else is finishing. At home, I often have to ask several time for him to do simple tasks like putting on pajamas. The teacher and I are in the fence on whether this is just immaturity and "being a boy" or a problem. Before I for out $$ on stuff I wanted to ask here. Thanks!
Alicia

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would suugest reading this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Healing-New-Childhood-Epidemics-Groundbreaking/dp/0345494504

It has a lot of information and is an excellent source of information. Good luck!

 

[kleubanks]

I agree about misdiagnosis...

We have a VERY bright 10 year old. She has been tested with a high IQ and thinks outside the box a LOT. When she was in preschool, the teachers recommended having her observed by the school district's psychologist. Before the psych ever laid eyes on her...she described her as ADHD. My husband and I had a fit (I'm a special ed teacher and despite what everyone tells you...those labels STICK).

PLEASE look into the possibility that you have a gifted child. Our daughter's mind runs at 90 mph all the time. She is getting better about fidgeting but her little mind just takes her to a million distractions.

I've included a website address that has a lot of good articles on giftedness. One article describes how these kids are often misdiagnosed as ADHD.

Best of luck. Here is the website:http://www.sengifted.org

 

[Local_Girl]

My DS was in kindergarten when we first suspected ADD/ADHD, as did his teacher. We had him evaluated at the school and they said at that point that he basically fit the criteria, so the next step was to have him medically evaluated.

Well, the school year ended and we moved to a new city, and ended up going for 3+ more years before having him further evaluated. He had a weird 1st grade year (the teacher was out most of the year with a high risk pregnancy and we had subs); his 2nd and 3rd grade teachers were terrific and worked very closely with him to keep him on task. By the second week of 4th grade he was already behind and extremely distraught...his teacher suggested we have him evaluated for ADD, so we again had him evaluated in school, and this time by a pediatrician. The verdict: yep, ADHD. We also balked at medicating him, but decided to go ahead and he ended up responding well to the second med we tried.

He is now 15 and has done very well in school...until this year. We took him off the med over the summer, and decided to try school without it this year. It was mostly his choice, but we were on board with it too. Freshman year of high school, what were we thinking??, lol! He went for a couple of months, kinda limping through and his grades tanked! He realized how much the med had been helping him and decided he wanted to get back on it. So, he is back on the med and doing better, but he's got an uphill climb to get his grades back up.

 

[pweyl36]

The only person I let to dx my son was a ped nureologist. Thay are better qulified to do so.

 

[shelly3girls]

My 6 year old is in 1st grade and at Parent Teacher Conferences, she said the exact same thing to me about him. She was suggesting adhd but I had to tell her that I have ZERO problems with this son at home. All of the behavior she says is occurring (and I believe her) is only occurring at school. My mom said something that made sense to me..he has no friends outside of school and my other son is 13 so when he goes to school he is doing lots of socializing. I am going to get him into an activity outside of school and see if this helps. I hate that people are so quick to say Adhd. Talk to your dr. they will know what to do.

I truly believe as a parent, that if you educate yourself about the signs of ADD/ADHD then you will know in your gut if the child should be tested. Some teachers really jump to say a child should be tested and use ADHD as an excuse for behavior. Others are very hesitant. A thorough medical evaluation will help you get a true diagnosis. Children who truly have ADHD need intervention. As with any disability, parents should research all possible options and determine what is best for their child. For some this may mean medicine and for others it may not.

There are some online resources where you can answer a bunch of questions about ADHD. They of course never replace a professional opinion but it is a start.