9 y.o Son Has Recently Been Diagnosed with ADD

Mama,

ADD affects each person differently. It took us 2 years to decide on medication. Now I regret waiting those 2 years.

Both of my boys have IEPs, we started out with 504's. However, my youngest has MILD sleep apnea (which having his tonsils removed helped) and a hearing issue (which we are working with the ENT on as well as the school to ensure he gets placed properly in the classroom, etc.).

I have told both of our children that having ADD is NOT their fault. Their brains are processing faster than the rest of their body and it's hard to keep up.

Discipline? Since mine are 14 and 12, the discipline is different. We use a lot of structure and consistency. No XBOX until homework is done (that's their vice). Not yelling. It really doesn't help - are we perfect? nope. We fail that a lot - but it's a work in progress.

Medication is at the same time every day. With my youngest? We are working for the afternoon - even though he's on the Extended Release? He has a drop in the afternoon and go a tad spastic.

For starters, join CHADD and get a subscription to ADDitude magazine. Both will be very useful resources on this journey; CHADD, in particular. There's also a good ADHD board on Facebook called ADHD, a place to share.

We told our son that his brain works differently than other kids and that when xyz behavior happens (naming some of the challenges), that's why. I explain that he needed to take medication for it (more on that in a bit) just like kids who don't see well need to wear glasses. We also gave him the book Cory Stories to explain things from a kid's perspective.

Homework has been a long-standing battle. The big thing is trying to get it done first-thing when our son gets home from school, before his medication konks out.

Medication has been the single most important thing we've done to help him. HUGE, huge, huge change. He went from being kicked out of preschool and just plain out of control, with only one friend, to making honor roll and Principal's List and having several good friends. He fits in just like every other kid now. That's not to say medication is easy or a magic pill. It can take trial and error finding the right medication, it constantly has to be readjusted as the child grows, and there can be side effects (biggest one is a drop in appetite, but there are workarounds). But it makes the brain work much more closely to neurotypical kids.

Medication, combined with behavioral therapy, has the best track record in ADHD treatment. Medication alone comes in second. This is what researchers shared at CHADD's national conference a couple years ago and what any psychiatrist will also tell you.

Our son's 504 plan accommodations include:
Seating near the front of the class, so there are fewer distractions between him and the teacher
The opportunity to take tests in another room if he feels there are too many distractions in class
An extra set of textbooks at home to use with homework, since he regularly forgets to bring home what's needed
A homework helper -- someone who makes sure he's written down all of his homework and brings home the right materials (however, this hasn't always worked; depends on the helper assigned).

Best of luck to you! Feel free to PM me if you ever need further info. I've been at this eight years now.

Hi Chicagomama,

My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD when she was seven. It was an erroneous diagnosis. I do believe that most of these diagnoses in this spectrum are environmentally caused but some are simply symptomatic. My daughters diagnosis was actually removed after we detoxed our home and started a nutritional regimen. She was highly sensitive to our household products...even the soap she bathed with. When we removed all the synthetic chemicals from our diets and the house, her behavior changed drastically, her grades reached grade level within 8 weeks and she actually articulated a "thank you" because she felt different....

Just wanted you to have this information because it saved us a world of change. She is now 19 and wonderfully talented and fine. There was no need for anything different after we changed our shopping patterns. Not everyone diagnosed can be helped this simply, however, these changes will at the very least, removed stimuli that an make anything worse!

God bless,
M.

My child never slept and there were a couple other development issues that raised my concern. I am a pt parenting instructor, so, I had my child tested by a neuropsychologist. It was ADD. Then, I had my child's eyes tested. Not by a regular eye doctor, but, a behavioral optometrist doctor. This vision specialist confirmed the ADD. Do a search on convergence and vision theraphy.

Sleep is a huge factor. Some kids with sleep deprivation do not have ADD. If a child is on a phone and/or texting all night---It could "look" like ADD.

The comment about detoxing the home would be my first go to...Get rid of all the brand name cleaners and use all green cleaners. I won't touch Tide/Glade/Febreeze/Lysol, etc... I wash sheets in green laundry detergent. Even my hand soaps/shower soaps are green.

Change the diet to pure foods--and organic (When possible). Pass on sodas, dyes, junk food, etc... (Corn Syrup and soy is banned in my house).

CHADD

CPTV has a program about ADD (Connecticut Public TV) on every so often. It is a great informational show !

On the 504, 20-30 minutes of HW tops a night. A hand squeeze ball in class....and I made sure my child could chew gum in class. The school did not like that---I am cross endorsed in Special education. I knew what was needed. Gum was needed ! It helped my child to stay focused.

At home: We would take a sniff of cinnamon every so often. That helped to keep the brain alert. I loved doing that, too. When it came to HW---structure is needed for kids with ADD. Pick a HW time and stick to it. My child played outside for 1 hr, then, HW. I set the timer for HW. Half way through the HW--My child did 15 jumping jacks. It worked like a gem.

An ADD brian is "lazy" and the combination of structure and stimulation
works great. The "lazy" brain is not the child's fault.

I did a workshop in a school for 4th grades last yr. I noticed a boy who was a "daydreamer"---I contacted the Mom. I asked her about his attention span, his reading, social skills, etc...I rec that she take her son to a behavioral optometrist. The boy did, indeed, have ADD.

My child was not a good sleeper. A low sounding fan and a weighted blanket was I went out and bought.

Contact the school social worker and see if they have a social group for students. Every yr in April I sat down with the principal and hand-picked a teacher who understood ADD. We had a horrid yr when my child was in 2nd grade. I am sure things have changed now. I was always my child's advocate !

Be firm, but, loving. Kids with ADD need to have parents that discipline.
It is hard enough to function w/ ADD. Kids with ADD need structure and limits.

Medicine might be needed. First, try the 504, etc...Use medication as the last resort. As a certified parent educator, I will tell you that medication has helped some of he kids I have worked with.

I have read the book, "Girls with ADHD" 2 times. I rec it for every parent.
Nadeau is the author.