TAG | ADHD
As a therapist I get a lot of questions about ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) both in kids and in adults. It has become very commonly diagnosed over the last ten years and parents seems to be perplexed about what to do with it. I had a question from come in i wanted to share here:
Dear Carol,
My 8 year old son is having difficulty at school paying attention, not turning in assignments, losing assignments, and the teacher says he is very disruptive in class. He also has problems getting along with other kids because he is very impulsive. I have been diagnosed with ADD and wonder if my son has it too. Do you think 8 is too young to be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD or too young to try medication?
Concerned parent of possible ADHD child
Dear Concerned parent of possible ADHD child,
From your description and with your family history, it is very likely that your son does indeed have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), and possibly ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The difference between the two is one is hyper, constant movement, out of his chair, can’t sit still, and the other is only the difficulty paying attention without the hyperactivity.
There are many different treatments available for ADD/ADHD and given the level of problems your son is having it sounds like a good time to start looking into what options you have for treatment. One option is to try medication like Ritalin or Adderall and if you decide to got that route, I would recommend you see a psychiatrist to get the medications though, at least initially, just to make sure it is not something else going on and to get the kind of medication that is right for your child.
The great thing about ADHD medication is that you will know relatively quickly if it is helping or not. These medications typically go through your system quickly. If the child becomes MORE hyper, then it is not the medication for them and they probably don’t have ADHD. If your child calms down or is better able to focus to get their work done, then the meds can be helpful. I do want to say that not every kid is the same and you may need to try different medications to see if one works better than another, so don’t be discouraged if your doctor wants to try different things.
Another option that is more homeopathic is a product known as ADD-Care(tm) SR. This supplement, like the stimulants, does not cure ADD. ADD-care SR may help contolr the symptoms that are consisten with those found with ADD/ADHD adn therefore the supplement must be taken on a daily basis to continue to be effective. ADD-Care(tm) SR doesn’t seem to have the side effects the stimulant medication has and it can be used in the later part of the day without disturbing sleep. You can find it and more info about it at www.ADD-care.com as well as through the home page at www.asktheinternettherapist.com.
Another option I have seen parents use that has had some benefits is by changing the diets of those with the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. You will want to do some additional research about which diet to use, but typically they are ones that take out simple carbohydrates like sugar or ones that take out gluten seem to have some positive results with these symptoms.
I do want to note that medication and supplements are not the only treatment for ADD and ADHD. There needs to be a behavioral component to the treatment where the child learns how to control his impulses, learns organizational skills, social skills, etc. The medication or supplements can help slow him down enough for him to be able to learn these new skills. Without the additional training, the medication probably won’t be enough. Sometimes, once the kids have learned these new skills it is possible to have them on a much lower dose of medication or even no medication at all.
I know some parents are very hesitant to put their child on medications, and with good reason. It is important to research all of your options before making any decisions.
Good Luck!
Carol Agnew, MA, LMFT
http://www.asktheinternettherapist.com/online_counselor_ag.asp
