Confused - Saint Michael,MN

People I know with kids with ADD/ADHD have been diagnosed before being put on medication. I'd start by talking to the pediatrician about where to get him tested...

I struggled with this for my son.
As early as 1st grade some questioned whether he had ADD - he was often in his own world and seemed bored in class - but he could also sit and complete a 100 piece puzzle.

When he was in 6th grade he began to struggle with grades and admitted to having a hard time paying attention in class. But, my son, his teachers, his doctor and I could not really pin point ADD - he was in a new school district so new classmates, new teachers, new environment, etc. and we were unsure whether the new difficulties were simply adjustment or ADD.

In 7th grade he had a melt down. Poor kid. We went to a psychiatrist, had the teachers complete surveys, and at that point I had done enough research and pushed for the diagnosis of Inattentive ADD. He has no hyperactivitity - just a dreaminess and boredom.

I decided to medicate at that point. He has been taking Focalin pretty steadily since 7th grade. He is now in 10th and readily admints that it helps him stay on track in class. But, most importantly, he feels better about himself - he now knows that he can do the work and is learning to manage his ADD. His goal (and mine) is for him to learn enough behavior modification so he will not have to medicate. I think, as he matures, that he will acheive this. Afterall, he recognizes when he is daydreaming - now he just has to learn to snap himself back. :)

Long way to say, depending on the age of your child, explore all options. Don't be quick to label your child, but don't be afraid of a diagnosis either.

I believe that I waited too long and my child suffered with feelings of inadaquacy because he felt he was stupid since he was struggling in school. When all along he was an extremely talented child with a fixable medical problem.

Sounds like a typical boy to me! How old is he. Showing signs of is very
different than being diagnosed. It seems to me that kids are being labeled
left and right these days. He obviously does well in school. Therefore, I
would never ever consider medicating a child. There are other ways to
achieve what you want. There is a llist of behaviors that the child must have before he is diagosed. Have you gone this route already. Knowing his age would help.

Heck, in reality we are all a bit ADD!!!!!!!

your first step is a DX.
Get him to a psychologist , have him tested.
ADHD medication is a God send for some. Some don't need it
My daughter is ADHD and Gifted. strait A's and bad behavior.
We did choose to medicate. Grades aren't the only things that are important in school.

Has he been evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist?
He needs to be professionally diagnosed and your pediatrician is not qualified to do that. Ask for a referral to a psychologist who specializes in cognitive/learning disorders and take it from there. If he is in fact ADD you can then request an IEP and get a plan in place, which will include extra support at school and MAYBE medication, if you, his doctor and psychologist all agree that's the best thing.

How old is your son? A friend's child sounds similar to your son - she is 11 now. They chose not to medicate, but have just started to get her some behavioral therapy, so that she can learn coping mechanisms to help keep herself on task without medication.

I think there is no single best answer on whether or not to medicate. I think it depends how much the ADD is interfering with your son's life and, as your ped said, his ability to learn in school, how old he is, and whether or not he's old enough to learn other coping mechanisms.

I would try natural stuff first.

More exercise -- run around the block with him a couple times before school if you can, play outside after school, ride bikes, maybe join the YMCA and get him in the pool a couple times a week. Just keep him physically moving as much as possible.

Cut out processed foods and sugars -- go wheat bread instead of white, fresh fruit instead of gummy fruit snacks, etc.

Try fish oil. This worked great for both my husband and oldest SS. It comes in capsules in the vitamin aisle and can really improve concentration. If he can swallow pills they have those (they are like soft Vitamin E capsules), bit they also have liquid. Fish oil has a lot of other benefits as well, so it's not going to hurt to try it. You just have to take it consistently every day (we did once a day -- not sure about dosing for an 8 year old but when my SS was younger we gave him one capsule a day). It will take several weeks for you to notice a difference.

Good luck!

Well I would listen to the other moms and try natural stuff first. Why would you want to jump on the medication bandwagon, just because the school asked you to? My oldest son's 2nd grade teacher pressured us too, and I stepped back and fought her on it. I took him, and his report cards and weekly reports, to the doctors office, and asked for advice. The doctor said that my son was probably bored, ate crappy lunches at school that were full of carbs, and the teacher was probably not fun to be around. So he told me to go tell the teacher that, and see what she says. Of course I did not do that, but I told her he had a clean bill of health from the doctor and that we would not be discussing this any further, and to drop it. Sometimes teachers would rather have a kid act "normal" and sit there and do their work instead of having to constantly get after a kid to do their work, and I understand that. But you can't medicate your kid just because a teacher wants you to do it. She doesn't live with him, and what other un-intended consequences would this medication have? I'd think about it long and hard before you jump to anything. An IEP sounds like the better first choice.

If you think he might have ADD or ADHD, then get him evaluated. Your school or pediatrician should be able to refer you to a person who can do the evaluation. I know several children who were initially diagnosed with any number of things who have responded beautifully to dietary changes. As one of the posters said earlier, if your son responds to diet changes, he doesn't really have ADD or ADHD. But many times, their beahvior is so affected by diet that they receive a diagnosis. The top culprits seem to be artificial colors, gluten, and casein (a protein found in milk). Every child is different, though. If you are interested in learning more about food testing, check out Metametrix. They do a lot of different tests, and I've only heard good things about them.

If he's getting straight A's then it sounds as if the ADD isn't affecting his grades. It's affecting his behavior, and the teachers are complaining about his inattention and his behavior. His being bored means that his time isn't being filled or he isn't being taught in a way that interests him. It's not that he CAN'T pay attention or doesn't know how or whatever, but that he needs to learn techniques to help himself and the teachers need a plan in place and adjust teaching style.

Since his grades are excellent then he won't qualify for an IEP. I would request a behavior plan to start since you don't need anything legal to initiate one. Then request a 504 so that they can evaluate him for the likelihood of ADD/ADHD and anything else, you can sit down with his team of teachers and support staff, and talk about what can be done in regard to his behaviors. It would help if you have him independently evaluated with a supporting diagnosis from a specialist who specializes in ADD, ADHD, and other behavioral disorders. That could be a child psychologist, child psychiatrist, a pediatric neurologist, a behavioral-developmental pediatrician.

You can attempt behavioral and diet changes before attempting medications and see what happens. If you don't want him medicated then don't. The school has no say in that matter. They can't diagnose him nor recommend medication. I dislike it when a school thinks that medication will make their job easier. I have stories I could tell on that... but I won't. This is too long already. :-)

If he's getting straight A's and is not having any behaviorial issues other than what you describe, I would not do medication. The schools always want you to medicate because it makes their job easier. But if you and the pedi don't think it's necessary, then don't do it.

It really sounds like your son is bored. You should talk to the teacher and tell her to get off her rump and give your son some work that will challenge him.

You will end up with a 504, but yes, you do ask for one. Bypass the meds for now and look into other therepies. I am looking into but have not decided accupressure therepies - they have tested on add/adhd and shown reults, but I am not sure if it is for us yet could be worth looking into for you as well. You will get TONS of answers and responses and people will tell you to change diet, but if diet fixes it - it's not add/adhd and it never was. I find a logical diet of common sesnse works, reduced processed foods, reduced refined sugars, reduced sodium etc help - if you do this you will avoid many of what people say are "trigger foods" that in gengeral are bad for our bodies. Seek out all options that are right for you including medication WHEN they feel right and appropriate.

I don't think he's ADD.
He just sounds bored.
School isn't challenging him enough to keep him engaged.
Try to challenge him outside of school (as long as he gets through all the boring stuff he has to do) - visit museums, buy him any book that interests him, do mini science projects at home (everyone loves the diet coke/mentos soda geyser).
My son was building catapult kits at home last years and launching marshmallows at Dad (Dad loved it!).
Edmond Scientific has a lot of cool kits/toys that give kids something to think about.
Have him tested to see if he's gifted (although many gifted programs are so cut they are not much help).
Never let the school limit what your child is learning.
Make sure he covers the basics, but soon as he has those down, have him learning something else.
If you can keep him interested, he'll stay more engaged at school.
If he can get his work done quickly (and correctly), before you know it they'll have him helping other kids in the classroom, and that can help, too.

Listen to your Pediatrician! He is the expert on what your child needs. The teachers are being motivated by their needs not your child's needs. It is more work for them to deal with working up a behavior plan or something similar but that is their job. To be honest, I agree with others that it doesn't sound like he has ADD but is just an advanced kid. He sounds bored. The beginning of the school year is exciting and somewhat frightening so he just sits and learns. At this point in the year he knows his teachers and the curriculum is going into repetition so he is bored. He needs to be challenged both during and outside of school. Find him a hobby or sport. With a sport you could have him practice before school which might focus him a bit more for learning. Just don't let the teachers push you into something. That should be a doctors diagnosis not theirs. Good Luck!

I would take him to a developmental pediatrician for an evaluation. It was only after taking my grandson to one that his diagnosis started to make sense. I've not heard of a neurophysitrist but that might be the way to go.

How old is your son. That would make a difference in what I would suggest.

My grandson was first diagnosed by his pediatrician. That can be a way to get started. Sounds like he's learning OK and so an IEP or 504 might not be possible. Have you talked with the school to find out what they suggest in the way of an IEP or 504.

My granddaughter was having difficulty learning in addition to not focusing, talking when she should be working. Because she was not meeting grade level expectations the school asked for an IEP. Her pediatrician prescribed medication when she was in the 5th grade after her mother had tried managing it without medication. The combination of the IEP and medication put her on track. I believe that they waited too long for an IEP and medication.

He needs to be tested first and the ped doesn't do the testing.

After being tested by a specialist they will tell you what the next steps will be.

Tell your ped that you would like the refural for your own ease of mind and they will do it.