Children with ADD?

[Laura]

Hello- I saw some threads somewhat related to this elsewhere but thought I would be more specific. I have a 9 year old son who has "focus" problems. I don't think he has ADD based on what I have read and his actions. Yet, I wonder if I am not wanting to label him. He is very smart. He generally has straight A's and is pretty much off the charts on the Otis-Lennon school ability tests. He LOVES science and anything to do with sharks, wolves, big cats, and space. He struggles with writing and reading (he is a very good reader just doesn't like to do it) unless it has to do with science. For example, last year he spent 2 hours reading his sister's 6th grade science book. He is very good in math, but if you ask him to sit down and complete a series of math facts in a certain amount of time he just doesn't do it. He is quite talkative, but generally gets get good marks from his teacher for being obedient in class.

I am very anti-Ritalin but only because I have heard some scary stories and not many good results. He is being evaluated by an educational specialist this weekend.

So, why am I posing this question? Last year when he was in 3rd grade his teacher (after having him in his class for all of 2 weeks) told me he was ADD and needed to be on medication. I agreed he had focus problems but he did not seem to meet the criteria for ADD based on what I had read. Plus I was ticked that after 2 weeks she wanted my son on medication. She is a much older teacher and I just felt like she wanted him medicated, so he would get his work done. (One of her examples of his "acting out" was that when in line coming back from the library, he swatted his friend with his book - 1 time; I told her that he was being 9)

I really don't want him placed on medication, and want to try behavioral modification techniques. The place I am taking him specializes in that. I was just wondering what experience any of you have as a teacher or parent. Thanks in advance. Laura

[sneezles]

Laura,
Let me just say that you are right to be angry at this teacher!

My youngest was exactly as you described your son. We took him to be evaluated, had a family session first and then he was tested. He was 'boderline" ADD. The therapist said that while he could be put on ritalin, he could also learn "behavior modification". She was absolutely wonderful! She would come to school and observe him in class, meet with him once a week and then me once a month. he learned to control his impulses, completed all his work in a timely manner, social skills improved dramatically and as a result never has had a teacher suggest ritalin ever again.

He did however return to Montessori school after 3+ years in a traditional classroom. My children all attended Montessori school from 2 1/2yrs old through the second grade. I moved him at first grade (finances were a big part of it at the time). Big mistake! I moved him back during 4th grade but the therapy started at the same time and lasted for almost 2 1/2 years. Until he told his therapist that he didn't need to come anymore and she said she agreed. He's still not a perfect child and/or student but he accepts responsibilty for his actions, misbehavior and missed assignments without excuses, anger or whining. He is 14 now and a very nice kid who still makes Honor Roll but still makes mistakes.

There is a wonderful book that I bought years ago called the "Little Boy Book". The best sentence in the entire book was one that said "If you asked a teacher to describe the perfect student he/she would start off by saying, "she"..."

Most teachers don't want to hear that a student is bored in their classroom! Most teachers won't take the time to teach a child how to keep himself busy. The easy way out these days is to medicate!

I do have one bit of advice for behavior modification techniques...Stay far away from the reward for good behavior technique!!!

[Melman]

I completely agree with the right to be angry at the teacher. She's a teacher...not a doctor, not a child psychologist, or anything remotely related. I have a belief that many (thank heavens not all of them) teachers use "get Ritalin" as the one solution to a kid's lack of attention.

Before I start my ranting, if YOU think there's a problem, find the best person in your city who works with this problem and have your son tested. In my town, the school system wants to abuse the term ADD; even some of the pediatricians will want to abuse it. See if there's a specialist. We're lucky here...we have a terrific group that's affiliated with our largest hospital here. My sister has taken her 6-year-old there. She's very pleased with the way they're handling everything.

Ok...my soapbox edition of ADD/Ritalin. For those of you old enough (I'm in my early 40's) think back to your childhood. Do you remember hearing about friends who were on ritalin or medication or hyper or whatever? Yeah..sure...I'm sure it happened. But it's not an every day, every friend, nearly every "boy child" occurrence like it is today.

My son's 3rd grade teacher had signs on her file cabinet with the names of all the kids in her class. HA....girls were on one list...boys on another. These lists kept up with the daily "goodness" count (whatever she called it...who gave her trouble and who didn't). It was PAINFULLY obvious that she favored the girls. Stars all over the place....not on the boys' list. That was when I first started noticing that it was the SONS of my friends who were typically targeted with ADD possibilities.

Now...back to that years ago issue. Do you remember being outside all the time, riding bikes, running, playing tag, climbing trees, playing ball, etc. etc. etc.?? Think about what many of these kids do in this day and age. While many kids (boys and girls) are involved with sports or cheerleading or other organized activities, think of how many times you see tons of kids outside playing in someone's backyard or riding bikes in your neighborhood, etc. It just doesn't happen. We're all so much busier dealing with life issues that I have a hard time believing that many kids even understand the phrase we all heard "go outside and play!"

I honestly believe that's a piece of it. There's no outlet for their little creative and growing minds. What do many kids do instead?? Watch television, play Nintendo/Gameboy, or stay on the computer. HA! My son is in that group of computer games and Playstation games. (And, yes, he played baseball for 10 years, soccer for 5, etc.) What's the problem with this??

Ok...back to the "bored in school" theory. My son is smart...he ALWAYS was above level in everything he did. He loved school in the beginning...thought it was fun. Around the 3rd grade or so (hmm...remember the teacher from above?) he started getting incredibly bored. It's a fact...teachers HAVE to teach to all levels in their classes!! If they have a couple of slower students, they still have to teach those students as well. The faster kids just sort of sit there, finish whatever work they've been given, and then daydream. I KNOW my son spent tons of time in his classes thinking about what the next move he could do in his playstation games or whatever he was playing at the time. He was bored to tears in his class. No challenge. Nothing exciting going on. Face it...if you're 8 or 9 years old and you have a choice to think about what the next major move is you'll make in your game when you get home, or sit there with stacks of paper in front of you while the teacher is working with the slower kids, what would you choose??? CREATIVE thinking!!

Before anyone might get upset with my "teacher scenario", I do NOT lump all teachers together. Heck! I'd love to be a teacher!!! (OK..I work at a college and get to work with the faculty and staff...but no classroom work for me!!) They have my utmost respect!!! BUT...I could NEVER be faced with what they have to do on a daily basis!! There are so many rules...so many numbers that must be met...so many tests that have to be given (for the state, for the city, for pick-a-reason). But, my son did have his share of teachers in the 'let's blame it on ADD' category.

I've seen this whole scenario replay over and over and over with my friends and their children. Yes, it's almost always the sons who the teachers complain about. I've seen many of my friends go along with the system and their kids are on Ritalin....I've seen just as many sort of buck the system and go further with their research. One friend picked up book after book to read from the library, from healthfood stores, anywhere she could find them. She learned a GREAT DEAL about artificial colorings and other artificial ingredients. As long as she kept those things away from her son, he was NOT hyper...and an excellent student. (He's in 5th grade now and is typically a straight A student).

Laura, the best thing you can do is read everything you can get your hands on. Be warned there you'll find a hundreds of opinions of ADD/ritalin/etc. on the internet. Some of it is wonderful. Some of it is obviously sales ads. Just read. Ask questions. Talk to other parents. See if there's an excellent counselor, assistant principal, or anyone at the school that might give you pointers. Talk to your doctors. Whatever you do, please don't let that teacher bully you into anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.

PS....back when my son was having the "ADD threats" in elementary school, his dad summed it up the best. "Ritalin has only been around for so many years. We do NOT know what the long-term outcome is". That was enough for me to know I was going to fight it if the doctor suggested it (he never did). It's only been in recent years that I've seen a news article here or there where it looks like they're questioning this drug.

And before I step down off my soapbox, yes, I do believe there is honestly a problem with kids having "attention deficit". The problem I have is with teachers, or anyone else, immediately jumping to that conclusion when they're not trained to make anything close to that decision. All kids are not the same. They won't all sit there quietly at their desks and do their work. That's the Beaver Cleaver days. That's NOT the 2000's.

Ok..enough running of my mouth. I apologize if I possibly hurt anyone's feelings....these soapbox issues are obviously very close to me because of the issues that I've seen around me for years.

[sal]

I agree with the opinion that parents need to do research, talk to drs and others with experience, try behavior modification, diet modification, etc. There is also something to be said for the numerous medications available, because in some situations these medications can help when nothing else works. I have sat and listened to a parent cry over the way teachers, neighbors etc. (all adults) were unbearably cruel to her child, based upon their uneducated assumptions. Often, medication may lose its effectiveness over time and adjustments or changes need to be made. Just wanted to offer a slightly different opinion - there are always varying circumstances, but w/ADD and ADHD sometimes medications can make a world of difference. sally

[Nirak]

I read this with interest because I have an 8 1/2 year old daughter (my oldest) who just started 4th grade. She is bright, funny, creative and has always had a hard time in school. She is a late reader and still struggles. She read her first book independently this summer. She watches very little tv, we have no nintendo ro playstation or gameboy. She doesn't even use the computer much. Every time we have her evaluated we here "She's a mystery to us. Her high IQ does not correlate with her low performance." My DH says if we hear the "mystery" word one more time he'll scream. She was a precocious toddler and was highly verbal. We expected her to be at the top of her class without even trying. That is why this is so hard. I get frustrated because I want an answer and I find the testing process very stressful. However, we have eliminated many things, including ADD (although I often wonder about that). One thing that did show up is a retrieval problem. She will have trouble on those timed tests (esp. math) because she can't retrieve the answer. She doesn't do well with flashcards, either. But, if you give her a page of math and unlimmited time she will get every answer right. You might want to look into this with your son. In fact, her classroom testing this year will be modified based on this fact. I also feel that my daughter, while very feminine, functions very much like the boys in the classroom. This struck me when we were looking at a display of all the kids work last year. They had made posters of the water cycle. Many of the girls' work was beautiful, with flowers and butterflies and laundry on the line (evaporation). The handwriting was meticulous. But, some of them had missing information. My daughter got 100% but hers was a little sloppy, there were smudge marks and some things were misspelled. At first we were disapointed in her effort but then we compared it to the boy's work instead of the girls and she was right on track. Please don't get me started on the boy/girl thing because I have two girls and they are like night and day from each other. I really am disapointed when people (like my inlaws) say, well, that's a girl thing! Anyway, I am now rambling so I need to stop. I just wanted to give you support and say I totally understand how frustrating and all consuming this is for you, especially with your oldest child.

[HARRYET]

I read this thread with much interest, because we are in the process of "researching" different things for my son (he's 13). He is a bright, loving, funny child (I'm also bias :D). But he has trouble focusing. I have continually questioned his grades and reading levels for years and no one can give my any answers except he's fine and right were he should be. He also can test to save his soul. Well finally late last year one of teachers recommended having his "tracking" checked. So this summer I had his eyes checked and told the Dr. I wanted to ask him about his tracking. The Dr. told me he wanted to talk to me about that as well. Long story short they want us to have him in "vision therepy" to the tune of 4k. We are now doing more research, need a consultation w/the Dr. again, before we start this. We were also given hints of things to try to keep him focused. Like having a laminated bright colored paper (larger then 8x10) to put under papers he's working on in school, writing on blue paper w/greeen ink. We were told to never use a timer, because it just stressed kids out that don't test well. One other thing I'm going to do, is have his hearing checked for "processing" problems. My son knows the material, continually proves to his teachers he knows the material, but as I stated before can't take a test to save his soul.

Laure Good Luck, I feel your pain. Ann

[kwormann]

I have to chime in as a teacher and say that first, teacher has the right to suggest you see a doctor if your child is having focus problems to see why (could be something as simple as diet), but doesnt have the medical background to suggest ritalin!

I also have to say, as a teacher, I have seen countless parents BEG to put their children on ritalin so they dont have to do any work with the child at home (and I wasnt suggesting that of anyone here....its very obvious you are the opposite)

I DO, however want to tell you a story about a wonderful boy I had last year (1st grade). He was full of life and energy. He also had anger management problems. Also, he couldnt have a conversation with you without hopping around or moving. HOWEVER, he lived in the country, had horses and was very active on the weekends.

FInally, after talks with several doctors etc. the parents decided on this course of action: They would give him 1/2 dosage in the am and he'd take the other 1/2 at lunch. He didnt ever take any after school or the weekend. And, if at any time his spirit was broken or he didnt have the same personality, he would go off of it immediately. It ended up working very well. He had what he needed to get through the day at school (which is only fair for him), but could still be the lively little boy in the afternoons and on the weekends. He also started seeing our school counselor to help with his anger.

ANyway, that is one solution that I was involved in where I respected the parents for their research and final decision and it worked!

I also want to say, teaching is so very hard...sometimes I dont think I can do it another day! You are put in a room with too many students and not enough supplies; the administration doesnt want to deal with discipline (you are supposed to do that in the room), get them ready to take standardized tests, and the parnets never think their child could possibly do anything wrong and teach the children to fight with what you say. I understand you dont want your childs teacher trying to get them medicated to make her life easier, but please also stop and think what she/he does every second of every day, with the numbers of students and lack of support from almost everyone!

I hope I havent offended, but I felt I needed to let you see my world.

[Melman]

Kim, I really didn't mean to step on the toes of any teachers either. We love you guys!! We ESPECIALLY love the teachers who are caring, nurturing, patient, and loving!! I guess in my area of the world, sometimes I wonder whatever happened to a multitude of that kind of teacher. I think many of our teachers are so worried about "numbers", they honestly don't have time to do what they need OR want to do. It's really a sad situation all the way around. My soapbox screaming was pointed specifically at the teachers who yell ritalin without really having a clue other than not knowing how to handle a curious, inquisitive, wanna-know-it-all-now young person. As I said, *I* wouldn't want to do it!! Teaching definitely requires a certain kind of personality and skill.......too bad that can't be handed out the first day some of these teachers started their college education.

:-) *YOU* are the kind of teacher I wish all my little nephews could have now!! Two are in first grade....two still have a couple of years to go to get to first grade. So far, only one has had "ritalin" mentioned. We're holding our breath on the others.

[sneezles]

Kim,
While I admit that HISD is very remedial in its Administration (be it salaries and/or way too many middle administrators), you do happen to teach at a school in the district that is designed for Learning Disabled-unless you no longer teach at Rogers.
Sorry but there isn't a school in that entire district that administrates or teaches to other that the norm (#1 reason I NEVER sent any of my children to a public school in Houston). Test scores only reflect the average middle class white student (all others are exempt from the stats, as allowed by the standards...been there know that) otherwise there ain't no frickin way there would be all those EXEMPLARY schools in HISD!

And the #1 excuse for teachers not being able to teach to those outside the lines...Everyone else is able to do it!

You just might have to take a step back before you start defending HISD! And puhleeease don't give the classroom situation as the reason for medication, it only reinforces what we have discussed here!!!!!

[kwormann]

FIrst of all I work at Will Rogers not TH Rogers. We are not an LD school. In fact, we are a magnet school whos students do not come from the neighborhood. The school building itself is in a very nice place and because of this we dont receive funding to match the income level of our population, 90% free or reduced lunch. I started the year last year with 31 first graders. My point about the class sizes was that parents arent supportive of what we are expected to do - teach and be sole discipline to all the students in our class.

As for being able to teach, I was put into a classroom this year with ESL students, of which I have no training or experience to teach....3 dont speak any English, while other teachers who ARE certified in this area were given other assignments. My point is altho I have found some supportive parents, as a rule the parents fight me if their child breaks a rule or gets a bad grades for not doing any work, and the administration sides with the parents, becuase they cant afford to lose any students.

In fact, my principal was mentioning 4 students who left and said he saw little dollar signs walk out the door....I felt sick. The administration sees them as money and the parents want them to pass whether they are ready or not, and no one listens to or supports the teacher. If I could afford to gp to a private school I would in a heartbeat, but, like preschool, they barely pay enough to be above the poverty level.

As you can note in my prior post, I NEVER gave the classroom situation as a reason to medicate, but I did say that parents arent willing to do what needs to be done to help the teacher and the classroom situation...whether it be send them to the free counseling we offer, to having their eyes checked because we suspect dyslexia, to going to a medical doctor to see if he can discuss ways to help their child with a focus problem (as you see I mentioned diet....tv and computers being another culprit)...and these are just problems I encountered in one year!

Obviously you are a parent who is willing to work with your child and I believe I even said my point wasnt directed at anyone posting, because it was obvious you all were willing to work with your children. Unorftuneately, I dont see that very often

[Laura]

Kim, I truly admire what teachers do. I have been one and desire to teach again. I guess my point with my son's teacher last year was that she had only been with him 2 weeks, had not reviewed his grades or information from his last school, had not questioned me about changes in his life, and looked at medication as the only alternative. It was something we battled throughout the year and for her the only solution to the problem was medication. To me, that seemed to make me think that her goal was not what was best for my son, but what was best for her.

Let me say I have not ruled out anything for my son. It may come to pass that he does in fact need medication. But I want to explore all options before I go down that road. I was disappointed that his teacher did not see that this was a serious decision that needed to be made. She was completely unaware of any of the side effects of Ritalin.

Jack has a new teacher this year and is doing much better as the class is more "hands on" in their learning. He is not confined to his seat so much.

Believe me, I will champion the best teachers and believe that we WAAAAAY under pay our teachers for the responsibilities they have. But as in any profession, there are good and bad teachers. I don't believe the response that this teacher had to my child was a good one.

I know this is a sensitive issue, and I want to let everyone know that I appreciate their response. I have gotten some good recommendations for books and valuable input. Thank you all for taking the time to respond. Obviously, it is a subject that is very important to me. We go for our first set of testing tomorrow with a follow up next week. I will keep people posted. Laura

[Nirak]

You might want to check out the book The Myth of the ADD child. I read this a few years ago. One thing that struck me were the case histories of people on Ritalin. Reading through some of the thoughts of the adults gave me a good feeling for what the drug does and doesn't do. One guy was a writer. He said it is tough for him to write while he is on Ritalin, but it is impossible for him to edit his work when he is OFF ritalin. We have not pursued medication for our daughter. We keep thinking she will "grow out of this" because so many school skills are developmental and she is chronologically young when compared to her classroom peers. I keep thinking that as her reading fluency improves she will have better attention span in class. I think she has been functioning as a non-reader until this year. No wonder she doesn't keep her eyes on the board!

[Beth]

Somehow, long before I was married or had children, I watched others and realized there was no greater challenge on earth than to raise healthy, happy, well-adjusted children. I still believe it, and I say teaching comes a close second. There is nothing more wonderful that carrying parents and teachers, especially when they are able to work together, but thereis nothing sadder than watching either system fail.

Since Kim is in our supper club, I have heard some of her tales, and probably had a better understanding of where I thought she was coming from than just reading her posting. I might have gotten the wrong idea otherwise. Notice, she started off by talking about parents begging to have the kids put on medication, not teachers first. If parents are there to champion for their children, who else effectively can? Sometimes there is someone, but not that often, and even then it is often a case that has become so bad that the child has been permanently scarred.

If parents won't seek out answers or only look to medication for fixes, then teachers may feel as pressed as parents who have difficulty getting the support they need from their teachers, principals, doctors and insurance companies. Forgive me, Kim, if I am putting words in your mouth, but I think you were just trying to say the door swings both ways.

If I were a parent of one of the children in her class, I would find it curious, at least, that there might be better qualified teachers for teaching non-English speaking children who were being used elsewhere and that the teacher for my child might be a better teacher for ther children.

It's not those who are here and voicing their opinions that we are likely to be most concerned about. It's those who won't speak up, who won't take a chance....reminds me of a road sign I saw the other day...If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

I really do have something else I should be doing, so off the soapbox. I love your concerns and your passions!

[ewatkins]

Please have your son professionally tested. He sounds a lot like my son, who has borderline Non Verbal Learning Disorder. He can read and talk your ear off, is very smart, but cannot write or do much math. He takes Adderall only for school to help him focus.
Take a look at www.nldline.com for more info.

[AndreaU]

As a teacher, I'll pipe in here. While I have not been teaching long, I have had ADD/ADHD come up quite a bit since last year. I had 4 students in my class last year who were diagnosed with either ADD or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)- 3 boys and 1 girl. One student was "passive" wherein he could not focus and just shut down, not doing any work. He was not on any medication and behavior modification did not work- nothing interested him, literally. Another used to take Ritalin but he developed facial tics and mom stopped the meds. Yet another was on Ritalin (when mom remembered to give it, it seemed to work). The 4th student's mom refused to use meds and opted for natural methods. She changed the student's diet- less processed foods, more fruits & veggies- and added multi vitamins. This also seemed to work fine.

My advice would be to do what you feel comfortable with. I have read many articles about nutrition being a major factor, so you could consider dietary changes. Also, talk to your child's teacher about behavior modification. Set up a daily incentive chart and involve your son in what types of rewards he would be interested in. Perhaps the teacher can offer some in-school rewards that he might like- a free homework pass, lunch with a friend in the classroom, extra computer time, etc. You might also set up some way of rewarding him at home for a job well done at school with whatever might motivate him. Keep in constant contact with the teacher. There is nothing teachers appreciate more than parents who are involved in their child's education. We'll do anything, with your help, to help your child succeed! To put your mind at ease, you may want to have him tested just to make sure. My absolute last resort would be meds. I have not heard great things about Ritalin, but a neuorpsychiatrist that consults for our district has seen more success with Aterol. He prefers not to medicate unless other methods don't work, but feels Aterol is not as severe as Ritalin- lower dosages are generally given and the side effects are not as great.

Anyway, you seem to have a lot of advice to go through- I hope all works out well with your son. As long as there are things that interest him, keep "feeding" him. Perhaps use those interests as some type of motivator.

[ewatkins]

The drug is spelled Adderall, not Aterol, in case anyone is interested. My son takes it only for school days and we have no problems with it.

[Laura]

Well we just came back from the first part of my son's evaluation. It was basically a 3 1/2 hour test. Upon the conclusion, I spoke with this education specialist who told me 2 things at the outset. One, my son is extremely bright, and 2 he is not ADD. He said that the only way to truly test for ADD is to have some form of brain scan done but that is rarely if ever done and most people go on the basis of characteristics. He seems to believe that my son may have some problems with "eye-tracking" (we did not get into it deeper - that is what our 2 hour meeting next week is about), but that if that is the case, it can be easily treated with exercises.

I am very intrigued with all of this and will let everyone know the results. Again, I am very thankful for all the responses.

[sneezles]

Laura,
That's great news! Keep us posted!

[Beth]

Laura, That is good news.

Everyone, including Kim, I hope you know to take my "charge the principal" with a grain of salt and a touch of humor as intended. I will press for someone or something I care about, especially my kids, but there are ways, channels and approaches for everything. Describing the mad-bulldog approach, while conveying a point in speaking figuratively, doesn't describe something that works for me. I think this is one of those times that the written word comes across differently, especially for anyone who doesn't know me better. I was going to just edit the prior post, but felt I needed to explain.

[kwormann]

Beth, I didnt, and Im sure no one else did (find a problem with your post:))

Laura, That is wonderful! Its amazing how often visual problems can play a part in reading problems...people are so used to far or near sightedness that they arent aware of the plethra of other vision difficulities there are out there:)

[ewatkins]

Be sure you get some opinions on the eye therapy. I know two families who claim it did help. We have another friend who is an educational psychologist who says that this whole eye exercise thing is hogwash. Some of the people who do the tretments are very expensive, and it can be disruptive to your family to have to go to therapy several days a week, often a long drive away. I'm not saying don't do it, but check it out carefully. Good luck. I didn't think from your description that your son had ADD.

[SueInMarne]

Ok..here's my situation
My son was diagnosed adhd by a psychiatrist/specialist, after EXTENSIVE
testing ( he was in 2nd grade at the time). We attempted behavior modification: Clocks on the desk, letting him
get up and move a little more..time outs to stretch etc etc but it just didn't
work. He was the type of child that just couldn't sit still long enough to
finish anything. He would start crying because of it at times. We ended
up putting him on ritalin, only at school, never on weekends or during
school vacations and it really helped him. Then wellbutrine came on
the market 2 years ago and he has used that, it did wonders.
He is 14 now, and no longer has the adhd problem. I looked at it like this,
if your child was diabetic..would you deny him/her insulin? Ritalin can be
just the same way to SOME children. Yes, I feel its over prescribed. But
if your child is tested by MEDICAL professionals, over the course of monthes
and TRUELY needs the therapy don't let anyone make you feel bad about
it.

[Beth]

Sue, that's just the point -- you did ask the questions, do the testing and try what was available and came up, it sounds like, with no other solutions. There are many who do not, but merely take any active or distracted behavior and label it as ADD or ADHD.

To use your diabetes analogy, not doing that would be like giving you child insulin shots because they are thirsty, tired or have some other symptom that could also be associated with diabetes without doing further tests, trying diet modification, etc.

BTW, I have noticed several threads talking about children not taking medication on weekends or during the school breaks. I wonder about this, especially if the medication is sometihng the child really needs. Personally, I have had my sons' toys and my own property destroyed by a neighbor who follows this kind of medication pattern. Over the summer, he is a different person and other kids don't want to be around him. I question what that does to a kids' psyche and self-esteem. I also understand the desire not to medicate more than you have to. Just an observation, no answers.

[lisalee]

As a former Special Education Teacher, can I add my two cents worth? I'm not a big fan of medication, but there are some things you need the school to do in order to get the help you need. First of all, question everything! Make sure that someone has observed your son in his class several different times, in different situations. You should probably agree to have him tested for ADD- however that does not mean that you have to agree with any education plan the school suggests. See if the teacher will allow your son a couple of different places to sit in the classroom. The only rule being that he can't move while the teacher is giving instructions or explaining a new concept. If your son is having difficulty reading, see if having him read using different colors of transparencies works. Some people have trouble seeing everything in black and white. I've had some students who read better using a red transparency, some blue etc. If handwriting is a real big problem tell the school you want them to modify and allow him to use a typewriter or computer.
Whew! What a lot to say. See if any of this helps, and if it does I'll think of more later.:) Mostly make sure that you stand up for what you think your son needs and don't let the school try to run over your wishes!

[Kristilyn1]

Wow! Interesting thread. Since none of us are "experts" on ADD here--we all have to base our opinions on what we have personally experienced. I have to say that I am VERY surprised (in a general sense) of how many people (that I know) don't try dietary changes when it is determined that their child has ADD before medicating, this includes my twin sister in the diagnosis of my nephew. I have no way of knowing whether it works or not, but it certainly sounds worth trying.

My brother was diagnosed as ADD in Kindergarten. He was medicated during the week only, no school vacations until he was 18. The medication in theory, worked for him very well. He was textbook "managing his ADD". But, what I don't think medication handles very well are the underlying issues:

1. Shame/embarrassment at being medicated.
2. It does not "teach" you anything about how to handle the effects of being ADD---meaning when you go off the medication--ways to deal with or work around your issues. My brother is not considered ADD today at 25 years old, but he has a legacy of and a remembrance of being different and feels some resentment at his "Zombieification" (yes, that's how he felt) he remembers being too lethargic to "act out". Again, this is ONE example and everyone's situation is different. But if I am NOT a fan of medication---it is based on my own observations which can and will be radically different than someone elses.

While I think there are certainly teachers out there quick to point to ADD as a classroom issue---I think there are an equal number of parents who are TOTALLY in denial as to how their kids behave in school. The bar for socially acceptable behavior has been lowered to the point where the expectation is as long as you aren't physically hurting other people--everything else goes.

I certainly don't want to imply that I think that this is a problem with the parents on THIS board--just that this is just another factor in the whole package called ADD.

I guess there are no good answers, only more questions.

Kristi

[Sarah]

But after reading the posts, I want to...
I'm facinated by what you're talking about with tracking. As a vision teacher, I do a lot of wacky things to my students' work sheets to help them if possible. Different colours of paper, different fonts, different sizes of print, view papers to occlude other words/ lines, etc.
Beware of the exercises. They're expensive and questionable. But the general idea is good. If my student is old enough, I will give a few different examples of worksheets to find something that will work for that student.
As for medication, I agree with some of the advice already given. Do what you feel is right. Research the options and go with your gut. And let everyone know that decision.
I want and need to know when my students' meds change, and if that will result in a change of behaviour or habits. In fact, I'd just like to see a few more involved parents. I see 60+ children in a week, and have had contact with 5 that I haven't initiated.
I know there are teachers out there that should have left the field years ago. I know that no matter how hard I try, I'm not going to do right by every child, no matter how hard I try. But I became a teacher because I love children, and I love to watch their faces light up when they figure something out.

[vanillaheart]

Laura,
I didn't have time to read all of these replies so please excuse anything I say that has already been said, but I'm doing a research project and presentation on the ethical issues dealing with Ritalin in one of my college classes, so I wanted to comment.
Most children who are put on Ritalin are because of teachers who reccommended it to parents. At most schools (if not all) the school gets more state funding for the more kids they have that are diagnosed as ADD and on medication (because they figure those schools have more to "deal" with). From what you say...your son doesn't sound like he's ADD at all, he just sounds like a normal boy.
From my research, it indicated that if Albert Einstein were alive today he would be put on Ritalin! Because anymore ANY child can be classified as ADD because of the wide range of symptoms they say indicate ADD.
Ritalin (and many medications like that) is WAY to dangerous and addictive to be used unless the child WITHOUT doubt needs it. Ritalin is compared very similar to cocaine and MANY countries have banned the use of this product. In fact, the U.S. makes up 90% of the people who use Ritalin. Are we the ONLY country with people who have ADD???
Basically, anymore with all the money the drug companies are making and the extra funding the schools are making off of the diagnosis, I wouldn't do ANYTHING unless you have had 1st, 2nd, and 3rd opinions that your son is ADD.
Hope this helps a little.

[Laura Wick]

Here are two web sites to further investigate behavioural problems:

http://www.amenclinic.com

www.docbluminc.com

I have a daughter who has a mild case of ADD. She underwent 7 months of bio feedback therapy. This helped her behaviour in school considerably, as far as being able to sit and concentrate.

My advice is to look into EVERYTHING if you child has behaviour problems. Make sure to work with the guidance counselor at school. If your child has a disability, the law requires most school systems to accomodate the child's needs. Usually, the school will do this only if you they make them accountable for their responsibilities.

[funnybone]

This is a touchy subject I know. Too many children are diagnosed with ADD and ADHD because it seems to be a simple solution. However, there are truly children who suffer from it.

I have a friend with a son diagnosed with ADHD and now is being tested for OCD. Well, I don't know what your thoughts are, but the fact that he has Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Play Station and now Game Cube makes me wonder if his parents haven't created his problem - I know they have worsened it in any case!! They think these games are "wonderful for him because he is so interested in them" and he can be out of their way for hours. Oh, by the way, he is only 8 years old!

[SusanL]

I first read this thread this morning and I can't stop thinking about it. I have put a lot of thought into it, as I know that you have too! Parents as well as teachers are very passionate about their jobs, we want to parent and educate to the best of our abilities. However, there are those who cannot do either one to benefit the children. That being said, I feel that there is often a communication problem, both on the delivering and receiving of information about children.
Our district has an IST program that tries to meet the needs of the children, parents, and teachers. The IST (Instructional Support Team) receives an SOS from a teacher explaining the problems that the child is having in the classroom situation. The team consists of teachers, guidance counselor, principal, and an IST Leader. Parents are asked to attend and bring anyone they feel needs to be at the meeting. Prior to the meeting, the child is given a hearing and vision screening from the school nurse.
The communication problem that I see is that we will recommend that a child be screened by the family doctor/pediatrician to make sure that a medical situation doesn't exist that would impede the child's learning. I cannot say that every teacher in my building has not diagnosed ADD or ADHD, but with our program, we try to work with the parents to make sure that all avenues have been addressed. A dietary or physical problem has been screened before any program is implemented by the IST. The program must be agreed upon by the parents and the teacher.
As a member of the IST, I miss a lot of my planning time to try to help the children, parents, and teachers in my district to be able to go out of the box, find a different way to aid these children in their learning modes and behavior modification methods.
I guess I am saying that since we are so passionate about parenting and teaching, we need to step back and look at all avenues that would best help our children. Sometimes, the administration, teachers, and parents don't make the best decisions for our children. We need to find the breakdown and work together to make the best decisions we can. It is difficult to do but it is worth it in the long run, their future depends on it!
Thanks for allowing me to give my view point!

[debg]

Lots of interesting ideas and approaches from you all. I am a teacher and definitely see both sides of the argument. However, I have a few points to make:

1) As a teacher I DO NOT have the knowledge/experience to recommend any child take medication. I'm not sure where some of these teachers are coming from when they feel they can recommend meds (no offense to anyone here). Sure there are times when I think that meds MAY help a child, but it is not up to me to recommend it. IT IS UP TO ME TO RECOMMEND/SUGGEST A CHILD BE EVALUATED BY THEIR PEDIATRICIAN IF I FEEL THERE IS CAUSE. Based on the results of a child's medical evaluation BY A DOCTOR, NOT A TEACHER, the parents can then make an educated decision about a course of treatment (if needed at all.).

2) There are times that Ritalin type medication IS needed. It DOES work for those kids who need it.

3) A caring teacher will try to work WITH the parents to resolve educational issues. I am perfectly willing to try alternative approaches as a child's family sees fit, whether it has to do with ADD/ADHD or any other problem.

4) I'm glad to see so many of you concerned about your child's education. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE INVOLVED, AND YOUR CHILD BENEFITS FROM YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THEIR EDUCATION! You all should be proud, and you receive two thumbs up in my book.

5) This kind of dialogue is so important for us all. I have learned much from this thread. Thanks to all for posting. I plan to copy the information and use as needed for other families struggling with this delimma (spelling?).