The School Says My 6 Yr Old Has A.D.D. Not the Hyperactivity Type

Has he been tested by a doctor for ADD? I wouldn't just take the teachers word for it. Sadly, some people just think medication is the answer for everything. I don't know any herbal remedies, but if he does have ADD a change in diet can help a lot.

Sounds like you need to address his eating habits. I'm a Wellness Coach and I specialize in family nutrition. Take a look at my website for more information.

www.totalwellnessmentor.com

Healthy wishes,
G. G.

teachers are not MD's so get a Dr. to look at him.
the schools just like to dose anyone they dont want to take the time with.
Sherry

Do him a favor and have him tested for ADD. My son had his diagnosed in third grade and I wish they had caught it sooner! I know you don't want him on medications, but think twice about that. It made a world of difference in my son's behavior and school performance. He is a gifted child but couldn't focus in class....he'd be reading ahead and not following instructions and he would miss important things. The teachers constantly had to check to make sure he was on task; he was so distractable. I have ADD too and I can tell you how frustrating it is. It's like this: the normal mind processes information like a waiter bringing you one plate at a time. The ADD brain gets all the plates at once and just can't figure out where to start! The medications help produce an organized stream of thought. My son really notices the difference when he forgets to take his pill....he says "mom, I don't like the way I am without my medicine!" A thought comes to him and he just blurts it out impulsively even if someone else is talking. With the medicine he is able to control it and remember what he was going to say until it's his turn to speak. Please do your son and yourself a favor and at least have him tested. They also offer behavioral coaching which will help you as well. A good therapist can help you to help him!

Feel free to write me if you have any questions....K.

Hi! I am a teacher (now stay at home mom) Firstly, I think it is important for you to know your rights as a mom. Unless they tested your child it is illegal for the teacher to tell you that your son has ADD or ADHD. Furthermore, even if a doctor diagnosed your son with ADHD or ADD the school can not tell you to go on meds. That being said, if my child had signs of ADD or ADHD I would first cut out all sugar. Secondly when your child is doing his school work or homework you should have a timer set so that he knows that he needs to finish his work in a specific amount of time. You should also suggest that the teacher provide a chart for positive reinforcement. You can do this at home too. Anytime the teacher or you catch your son being good, he gets a star. If he ends each day with three stars then he is rewarded with a toy or an hour of tv (something that he can work towards) Good luck! M.

Hi S.
I would suggest calling dr miles at progressive pediatircs on beach and parental home road. ###-###-#### Both are female Pediatricians who also practice homeopathy! They may be able to shed some light on your son. I hope and pray you find answers and the time to invest in him. He may jsut be slow to learn and need more one on one attention!!
keep him off sugar completely!Bless you.

Good Day S.,
I've been having learning problems with my 7 yr. old niece for two years now. She failed first grade last school year and is repeating it again this year! I asked the school to test her for learning disabilities since the first quarter of last year! they finally tested her at the end of the school year- 2 weeks before school let out for summer! They have put her in a special class and pull her out for speech & reading daily. I just got a report & teacher stated at the bottom, that she is still having difficulty with reading! I plan to request that They do their Jobs and get her the extra help she needs! First push the school to provide him with the help he may need! Medication shuld be a Last resort! Good luck & my prayers are with you both!!!

Hi. As a high school teacher, I know for a fact that the first thing many teachers of young children do is cry "ADD". This day and age people do not want to make an effort to work with children. Boys are hyper; they sometimes need to be guided and reminded to focus--- they are boys! It does not mean they should be on meds! I would never put my children on that sort of medication, especially so young. That is ludicrous! The teacher will just need to use different strategies with your child and you will need to work with your son at home, but do not use those horrible meds. They are not healthy for children. Out of all the kids who are on those meds, there are porbably only 3% who actually truly need them.
Just educate yourself before allowing teachers to jump on the ADD bandwagon.

First of all telling you your child needs meds is ILLEGAL! She is not a doctor. I agree with some of the other post's there are diets out there. It also takes time to get the allergen out of his diet. Boys are immature at that age and the teacher just wants an easy to manage classroom.

Based on his symptoms he definitely has allergies to something. That is what was causing the prior problems. Dairy is a big allergen.
I used to be a teacher and I know how many of them think. I am going through the same thing with my child. Give him high doses of the Omega's and a multivitamin with the B complex vitamins. Omega's have no overdose limit as long as they are pharmaceutical grade.
Also, make sure he has enough sleep and eats a good breakfast. Look into low glycemic eating especially for breakfast. If he is not eating well, his sugar will crash and he won't be able to concentrate. I have also heard of Chiropractic help. If the spine isn't aligned properly the nerve signals are not firing properly causing problems.
Drugs don't solve the problem, they just cover it up.

I hope someone's post will help you. Before med's you really need to give some other try.

S., I do not have any firsthand advice, but I would definately consult with your pediatrician and get a recommendation for testing by a behavioral specialist. It sounds like he's been through alot with the surgeries etc.

You don't mention what his symptoms are, or exactly how he struggled in kindergarten. That might be helpful in getting more responses...

Good luck, and explore your options before putting him on meds. I thnk it was not appropriate for his teacher to suggest that before any testing has been done...

First off, his teacher is not the expert. Only a series of thourough testing done by the school will give him the ADD status. If he indeed does have ADD, he will need a 504 plan to enable you as a parent to request special things to help him succeed, such as a special packet for turning in work or a set of books for home, more time on the FCAT, etc. Also, My son has ADD and for 7 years I struggled to get the teachers to see that he had a problem and wasn't just lazy or unorganized. We finally started medication at a low dose and I was still hesitant. The Dr. said this, you know your son and you know the problems he has, try the medication, if it doesn't help, take him off it, if it does help...it's helping, and Lord knows we needed anything that would help. Studies show that children who genuinley suffer from ADD who are denied medication to help them focus and be successful end up self medicating through drugs and achohol to escape the feeling of frustration and failure. I would rather give my child a chance to feel normal and feel the pride of success, while teaching him how to manage his ADD and learning new study methods that work for him. He now, after 6 months of meds can tell instantly that he forgot his meds when he finds himself forgeting things, not paying attention, etc. i notice, too. i can tell without asking him, if he is spacey and disorganizzed and I find myself repeating things over and over, I can say, Adam, have you been taking your medication? 95% of the time, the answer is, oh shoot, I forgot, it's been a week since I've taken it. Then it all makes sense. When he starts again, things just go smoother in the house and at school. Good luck, work with your Dr. and remember that you and your child have rights, call the school district and ask for the number of the child advocate if you need support going up against the school or teachers.

Before anything else why dont you just have your son repeat kindergarden. He is a young six and you said he was struggling last year. Maybe a repeat year and a chance to mature a bit might help him. He may be struggling with first grade too and just doesnt know how to respond to it so he just tunes it out.
Thats just my thought, hope it gives you some insight....
KM

be very careful what you do, medications cause problems with other organs down the road and you said your child's teacher diagnosed him, is she a doctor? Your child probably has a high sugar diet which will make him hyper and unable to stay focused. Try taking him off all sugar and preservatives, juice and all sugar drinks are the worst. This happened to my son when he was 11. I agreed and had him tested in school with the child phsycology staff, and i also knew at the time that my child and my entire family has hyperglycemia which has many symptems of add/adhd. His counselor in school had hyperglycemia and knew of the disorder so stepped up to the plate in helping my son. Teachers are constantly making "the call" that the kids have add/adhd and they are doing it to keep the kids calm and medicated to keep their job less stressful. You can also go online and look up symptoms and most likely your child could have it as many people do, however it CAN'T be treated in the medical field which means no cuts with pharmacutical company's so guess what add/adhd requires meds. Another peak into the future when your child gets older if they havent' changed the disease of the year's name once again ( hyperactive, manic depression,add/adhd/ now bipolar) I'm so sick of how the AMA works this whole world is taking unnecessary drugs so that the pharmacutical companies can get rich. Please be a student for your child and do some research, i like you am into holistic homeopathic as i never had health insurance which is why i chose that route and now i'm mortified as i look on line to see some of the "side effects" of these drugs cause in our children that are being grossly misdiagnosed. Your son can get a rasp blood test to check for food allergies and also shoud have the sugar level test to see if he's hyperglycemic (low blood sugar). It's incredible when you look at the symptoms of low blood sugar and all the "NEW" diseases. They tried to diagnose my son when he was 20 as having bipolar, put him on several meds and when i looked up the symptoms of low blood sugar and bipolar most of the syptoms were the same, except that a true bipolar will hear voices which of course my son didn't. ONCE AGAIN DIET,DIET,DIET change his diet and get him away from sugar or you will be in for a looooooooooooooooong bout of problems in school with behavioral problems and think twice about medications and look them up on line, you'll have your eyes open when you see what's being percribed to our precious childern. Sorry for the book but i can't sit back and watch this happento another victom. There a good doctor in orlando named Kirti Kalidas he's a nutritionist, herbalist, medical doctor and holistic.
D.

I would take extreme caution before deciding anything. Not only speak with your son's teacher and pediatrician but to other educators, doctors, professionals and friends. In other words do your homework. I recently read an article in the South Florida Parenting Magazine - Sept. 2008 Issue - Titled "Prescription Madness". It was quite enlightening. One of the major points it makes is that "Most of those drugs were never intended for pediatric use." The writer poses the question "Are we risking our children's health for the sake of control?" It also points out that "Children in the US take six times as many anti-psychotic drugs as children in England. In France and Italy it practically unheard of." It sounds that your son has been through quite alot in the past year or so. Look at everything (ie, environment, the school, his health, behavioral influences, his teacher, class distractions, anxieties, fears, etc.). I can't get into every suggestion of the article but it gives an outline of things to consider and to research before deciding on medication. Remember every child is different. I worked in a Psychiatric Hospital for three years and I would definitely think more than twice before giving any of the "recommended" medications to my son. The website for the magazine is www.sfparenting.com. I can also email it to you if you have difficulty acquiring it.

While medication can be helpful for those with the most severe ADD or ADHD, the fact of the matter is, those medications have some severe downsides and should be a choice of last (not first - resort) and - should be for the child - not the teacher's - benefit...

I'm pretty adament about this, perhaps, because my parents managed without meds, I managed without meds and my 3 children managed without meds. Not only did we "manage" - the majority are college grads (maybe not in "normal" time - but grads they are). All hold full-time jobs, have good relationships and have found coping mechanisms that work for them. I find my attention "deficit" is very useful in helping me notice many things that others don't notice while they are busy focusing on the one, main thing. It often seems to me that folks without "attention deficit" miss an awful lot of what goes on around them while they focus on one thing. (In other words - perhaps you hubby is an excellent truck driver because he can see all of the things around him that present possible dangers and can find the one thing that is coming at him that others might not see?)

But - how to help your son. Frankly, your son is probably behind because he didn't hear everything that has gone before. Perhaps the kindest thing to be done is simply to repeat a grade right now while he is young enough not to even know there is supposed to be a stigma to it! Worked wonders for my oldest grandson who struggled mightily in first grade. He was a star in first grade - the second time around, and has been on the honor roll, taking honors classes and will begin taking college courses two years prior to completing high school. ADD? yeah, he's got it. Can he cope without meds. Yes. Oh - by the way - he's working on his pilots license at the same time he gets his driver's license...

Get some advice from a Specific Learning Disabilities Center (Search high and low. Find one. There are many skills he can learn. If none work, then try meds.)

Lastly, let me share my favorite joke: How many people with ADD does it take to change all the lightbulbs in the world? One. One to change all the bulbs - and a friend to keep him on task.

Good luck. It is not a death sentence. You will need to go to bat for your son and learn to be an advocate for his best interests. I have a special interest in the subject (can you tell) - so feel free to ask anytime in the future questions come up!

First of all the teacher is NOT allowed to say that. You can actually go after her and the school for that. Only a medical Dr. has the right to diagnose. I would report this to the principal immediately. I am a teacher so I know this. It is up to you to have him tested privately or request it through the special ed. department.

Hi. Check CHADD.org they can help you out with some information and guidance. Check for support groups in your area.
Good Luck!

Hi S.. I am a Therapist who specializes in Children and unfortuanatly a lot of teachers just don't have the resources or the knowledge to deal with such problems, so they quickly want to "diagnose" and recommend medication, which is NOT their job. Age 6 is a little young for that diagnosis. Although it's not impossible, it's rare. Seeing your pediatrician is a good idea. Secondly, have you thought about having him evaluated by a child therapist? If he continues to have trouble in school it might not be a bad idea. Good luck to you. My office contact information is below if I can help you further.

E. Davis, MS
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
###-###-####
____@____.com

I think schools and teachers are great screeners--after all the do see our children in a different light and circumstances than we do. They probably even catch more than a pediatrician would in a short 15 minute visit. Our children are lucky that they have parents, relatives, teachers, doctors and many more looking out for them. So, don't discount what your son's teacher is telling you (not that I think you are). There is a process to diagnosing ADD and ADHD--and if any of those adults involved with the care of this child feel this is something that needs to be looked into, then you would be doing your child a disservice to not proceed--which the first step is talking to your pediatrician...(which you are doing).
But when it is all said and done, if the professionals involve think he should be on medication, then I hope you plan on taking their advice-- I'm sure you wouldn't question it if your son was diagnosed with diabetes or another problem needing medication, so IF he does get an ADD diagnosis with a recommended RX please don't ignore that.
In the meantime there are things you can do to help our child focus and perform better at school.
Sleep is the number one issue--going to bed at a proper and consistent time is very important! Some time around 8pm for elementary aged students--sleeping until about 7-- Sleeping well is also important-having at least a 20 minute wind down time and no stimulants in.
Check out the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth--it deals a lot with infant sleep, but also addresses older children. The author is considered one the leading Doctors in the field of sleep in children.

Diet is another thing to look into. Make sure he is getting plenty of fruits and veggies, and as little processed foods/sugars as possible. Sure they sneak in, but try to avoid things with high fructose corn syrup, or a lot of "white" carbs--all of these can affect blood sugar, mood and temperament. Food allergies and intolerance can also cause behavior issues. So I would certainly recommend looking into ruling out these problems too.

Anyways, I think you are on the right track, the first stop should be your pedicatrican. Good luck!

And overtired child can not focus

A school cannot diagnois a child with ANY medical condition. It is a lawsuit. Perhaps they think he "shows signs/symptoms of" the disorder. Check w/ the doctor before you worry too much.

Hi S.,

I recommend testing for food sensitivities and taking him to a chiropractor or someone that does cranial sacral therapy. This will help relieve tension from his spine/nervous system, which could have contributed to his ear/tonsil/adenoid problem in the first place. I has helped so many children and it also helps with ADD if that is in fact his situation. The teacher should certainly not be the one telling you that.

Good luck,
C.

S.:

I was told the same thing by two of my son's classroom teachers and one of his Spanish teachers too, because he had/s such a hard time staying focussed, mind seems to always, wander, etc. I thanked them, did a little research, and decided to do...well...nothing...(well, not exactly, read on...)

First of all my son is NEVER a disciplinary problem (at home, school, or at friend's houses); in fact, he would be categorized as the very opposite as he always so kind and my even-keeled (sp?) little guy wanting nothing to do with getting in trouble. Secondly, another big characteristic of A.D.D. children is that they have problems in social situations, and can't make/keep friends very easily. Well, that's not my son at all! Older, younger, boys, girls...it doesn't matter. He makes/keeps friends just fine wherever he goes. Lastly, even if not in the A.D.H.D. category, hyper-activity, or the inability to keep still stills appears to play a major role in Attention Deficit. Figity, can't sit still for long, jumps up often, taps pencial, swings legs, etc. Once again, not my son.

Since my son's only problem seemed to be "daydreaming", or lacking focus, I started having more talks with him about this and both of us trying to figure out ways to try to get him to come back to "class land." I would remind him of this constantly (still often do) right before leaving my car in the morning, so it was fresh in his mind.

Another, very important, thing is checking his diet. (I am not an organic or vegan or vegetarian or super health nut by ANY means btw.) So many of us Americans THINK we're doing the right things, but are really loading our children up daily with carbohydrates (sugars) and chemicals (from overly-processed foods, etc.). For example: A common breakfast: a bowl of cereal with milk and apple juice. Lunch: Peanut Butter and jelly sandwhich, Cheez-its, grapes, and a juice box. Dinner: Pizza, a couple of carrot sticks, and milk.
Let's not forget how often we American give in to treats! Ice cream after dinner. Cookies after school! ALL carbs! All turn to sugars! This may be a key factor in a lot of "A.D.D." misdiagnosis.

I started giving my son more proteins: Eggs and ham for breakfast (with some O.J. still carbs..but you need SOME!!!). For lunch, I started packing more turkey sandwiches (much less chemicals and additives in "Boar's Head" products and only on whole grain bread (stays with you longer and helps out in many other ways)...and they actually taste like what they are supposed to!) and a piece of fruit, some veggie sticks, a bottle of water (they need more water!!!) When my kids are home, they know, they can always help themselves (without having to ever ask) to fruits, vegetables, yogurts and cheeses and meats. Any juice, crackers, cookies, ice cream, etc....they always have to ask first. Dinners started being more like: grilled salmon (which they love) with an artichocke (which they love) with some whole grain wild rice and some ice cream (just a little...but put in a fancy dish to look more like a BIG treat!). Eating more proteins, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking more water, and eating much less carbs, seemed to drastically help him too!

Also, ask the teacher to move his desk to the front of the class. (We do the same thing in church and sit up front)...when the speaker is right there in front of you...and not the backs of a lot of heads...it's so much easier to pay attention and stay focussed!

I hope this helps!

D. C.

Legally, I don't believe she is allowed to actually say that. I am a teacher and I can hint at the fact that a child has issues focusing and attributes suggesting it but I cannot say that he/she has it. I co-taught first grade last year. We had 30 youngsters. Some are more hyper than others but I would say it is certainly early to be jumping to that conclusion.
Your pediatrician will give you a checklist that you can fill out and that you can have the teacher fill out. I would seriously put the brakes on this if you are not sure you want this in your son's chart and you have no intention to medicate him. Have you spoken with the guidance counselor? That would be a great place to start. Your son could benefit from a 504 plan or something such as that.
Does he focus at home? Does he stand out from the rest of his peers as unusually active, uncontrollably fidgety, etc..? Was this an issue in any setting before?
I am not saying that this diagnosis wouldn't fit your child but I am saying that I think you should decide how you would deal with it, in advance before a medical diagnosis is made.
Best wishes!

I'll try to be brief since you have so many responses!

1. Your child has to be eval'd by a psychologist. If you don't know one, your pediatrician can recommend.

2. Talk to your child's teacher about what works for you at home to keep your child on task. Your communication with them is going to majorly help your child. If you don't feel like you are getting anywhere with the teacher, talk to the guidance counselor.

3. ADD/ADHD do not qualify your child for an IEP. A 504 Plan would be more appropriate.

4. Give your child as many opportunities to get their energy out of their system as possible. When you are doing homework, try to eliminate as many distractions as possible.

5. Don't give up. Stick to your intuition but also be open. If you want to try natural methods before medicine, DO IT! But if it doesn't work, medicine might. Your pediatrician can prescribe this for you.

6. Once you have started your treatment (whichever avenue you take) Find support.

My son is almost 8. At the end of his Pre K year, his teacher suggested that I keep an eye on his attention in Kindergarten. Over the summer, his behavior was out of control and I wondered if he was acting out so I scheduled a meeting with a counselor. His counselor felt if he was acting out, he was so "busy" inside that he couldn't connect to it clearly. After a couple visits and once Kindergarten started, there was no doubt something was going on. The thought that kept going through my head was, "this can't happen to MY child" but it did and he ended up being diagnosed with ADHD and is on medication that works and allows him to sort and retain and focus. It is still a work in progress but you have to be proactive. Short term goals and consequences-lots of exercise and rest-anything to keep him focused.

There is a clear difference between ADHD behavior and bad behavior and talking to his teachers about it also helped him and them deal with it.

Good luck!

Hi S.,
You have received many responses so I will keep this as short as possible. I was a special needs teacher for 9 years and taught many children with behavior disorders.

1. The teacher cannot diagnose and/or suggest meds for your child. He/she is not a doctor. She can relate what she has observed in the classroom and suggest that you visit your ped, but that is it. That was very unprofessional.

2. You as the parent can request that your child be evaluated for special services. He will be evaluated through the school system by the school psychologist and see if he qualifies for any programs and/or diagnosis such as SLD, ADD, EH, or ADHD.

3. An ADD/ADHD diagnosis DOES NOT QUALIFY as a special needs area in school. Your child would not qualify for an IEP (Individual Education Plan) nor any special classes or services.

4. An ADD/ADHD diagnosis qualifies him to receive medication prescribed by his doctor. It may also qualify him to receive a 504 plan through the school. This is a document that will allow him to receive accommodations such as more time to complete assignments, ability to get up from his seat more often, etc.

5. A natural remedy to try is eliminating ALL ARTIFICIAL COLORS from your child's diet. Read the labels! Some foods are not even food-they are full of artificial colors, flavors, perservatives, chemicals, artificial sweetners; it's disgusting! The artificial colors especially have been linked to behavior disorders in children. Cut all these foods out and in time you will most likely see a difference in his behavior. Real food costs more and takes more time to prepare but medication is expensive and takes time to administer so maybe it will even out.

6. Give him lots of opportunities to burn off energy and make sure he has a regular bedtime. I can't tell you how many kids I had over the years that were zombies during the school day because they were staying up half the night playing video games or watching movies (while drinking soda and eating junk food). Kids need at least 8-10 hours of sleep every night to grow and function.

Good Luck!
S.

S.,
I would definitely have your physician diagnose your son. Please don't just go by what the school says. If your doctor determines he has ADD, stick to your convictions not to put him on meds. I have several friends whose children were diagnosed with ADD, went on meds and later switched to natural supplements to manage their child's ADD. The kids felt better about themselves, participated in class, had much better grades, and they weren't in a "fog" all day.

I have a booklet of the supplementation program they used with Shaklee nutritional supplements along with a healthy diet. They trusted Shaklee's supplements because of their purity and safety. Here's an excerpt from the booklet:

"Appreciate the Uniqueness
We all need to undergo a 'pardigm shift' in how we view people with ADD. In many ways, these individuals are truly gifted. In general, people with ADD are very bright spontaneous, fun, creative, engaging, inventive, innovative, dreamers, and risk-takers. Do we really want to sublimate these qualities and turn everyone into systematic, logical thinkers? Would the world be a fun place to live in if we did that? What if Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and Leonardo da Vinci had been placed on Ritalin? We might be working wihtout electricity?"

In addition to diet and supplementation, the booklet also talks about cleaning and laundry products, environmental and chemical toxins, water purification, and air purification all playing a part in your child's health.

Let me know if you would like a copy. I'll be happy to send it to you.

E.

I was just given a flyer the other day, the title was " It may not be ADD/ADHD. the flyer went on to list several other things that could be causeing the behavior,like allergic reaction to food, Giftedness, neurological problems, mood disoder, emotional distress and an auditory process disorder.The place I got this information from was the Center for Listening and Learning. the phone number is ###-###-####. the web site is www.listenez.net. The woman I spoke to was Diane Daniels, MA,Eds. I was looking for another place and accidently found this place(while they were in the process of moving) but they are still in Gainesville. But I held on to the information,because I feel like I am an adult with ADD that has never been diagnosed. I hope this place can help you.

Neither the teacher nor the school is qualified to diagnose your child with ADD or any other medical condition. I'm glad to see that you will be taking your son to the pediatrician soon, because a medical professional is the only once who can actually diagnose your child. I know there are alternative treatments out there for ADD, and hopefully one of the other moms on here can help you with that. I just wanted to make sure you were just taking the school at their word, as they have no authority to diagnose anyone. GL!

I would suggest asking if your son can move to a different classroom - with a different teacher :) It seems a lot of teachers nowadays would rather have your kid on meds than have to try to work with the parent and child to fix the problem. And even if your pediatrician says yes he has ADD, I would still request another teacher because ADD does not require medication, but requires patience and understanding to work through it. It seems his teacher might not have that.
I wish you best of luck and hope that with all the opinions you have recieved... one of them might work for you :)
Jen
Mom of 3 boys - 4.5 yrs old, 2 yrs old, and 8 months old

First that teacher can be fired for prescribing medicine without a MD. She can suggest adoctor might be help ful but that's it, I was 25 yrs in ESE, my son acted the same, he wa just bord, he is now ASAF CAPT working nukes. Go see a MD. If he suggest meds, try them, if you don't like them stop them. A school can not force to use them. Meds can cause other problems. Tell his teacher he is a child not a zombi. There are some foods that seem to add to add(reddye) Add is a cop out. I was in the feild 25 years. Easiest test can he watch his favorite tv show wih any problem. Teacher needs to set up a behavior plan for the class. She also needs a course in ezceptional education to know what problems a student might have. And keep a list of what and when he does something then SUGGEST you take the list to a MD. i had a kid od on what the doctor said to give him, the school refused to giv the afternoon dose and told theparents to come to school and give it themselves..They didn't show,no meds given,kid in ER that night with overdose. Use your Mom instinct.

2 weeks into the school year is to soon for anyone to determine that a child is ADD or ADHD. Maybe this is a post surgery situation,esp. since he had hearing problems due to needing tubes in his ears. Sometimes it is a food allergy or being sensitive to certain foods. If your Pediatrician is quick to agree that this is indeed ADD or ADHD then seek a second opinion. Even a third if necessary. Also try to find a doctor that believes in treating the whole person and not just symptons. Remember you are your childs ADOVCATE. May God bless you as you work through this.

teachers and schools are to fast and to often putting kids on medication to control them....
try taking him off all dairy and wheat....thisis a big problem doctors do not discuss...i am all for natural ways to help and not for making drug companies and doctors rich... your son is you prize and life so treat him with love and respect and watch what he eats...oh yes and no sugar......................leave cut up fruit and veggies out for snack and if he see you eating them he will catch on.........fix his school lunches yourself...you can find bread made for millet and flax..go to samisbakery.com it is in tampa and they will ship it to you and the bread freezes great...all their millet and flax products are wonderful... good luck
try to find a naturopathic doctor for you son to .....

Hi S.,

I am curious to know who "diagnosed" your son. Did his teacher just have an opinion about his behavior and gave him this label. I would definately investigate this further and have him tested by a professional. I would also recommend a psychological evaluation to further clarify if this is really ADD or maybe some type of learning weakness/disability that could be addressed with some academic, behavioral, or environmental modifications. Medication can help children who are truly ADD and/or ADHD. However, this diagnosis is given in excess. There are other things that can improve a child's focus and/or behaviors besides medication!! Just curious, any ADD in the family? Good luck to you!!

Hi S.!
My daughter also has those signs of "ADD", and we started studying into it and found that certain chemicals and ingredients in prepared foods cause ADD symptoms. One big ingredient that we stay away from is High Fructose Corn Syrup, highly refined sugar that is also linked to weight gain and diabetes which seems to be in almost everything, but we just learned to check ingredient labels at the store and learned what we can and can not buy. After a week of being off of it, we noticed an incredible difference in her, and being able to focus during a story, (she is also hyper). Also stay away from anything that's says "sugar free" that has aspartame or some sugar substitute and it's worse than just regular sugar. We also try to buy as much organic as we can.
Another thing you can do is homeschooling. We have 4 children and right now my oldest 2 are 6 and 4 and we're homeschooling them and plan to homeschool the other 2 when they are older. We have definitely seen a difference in them compared to other children that seem to have difficulty focusing in a classroom settings, and the 1 on 1 attention is so good for them and they go at their own pace and usually even tend to get ahead of other students their age. These are a couple of things you could try. Definitely pray about it, as God can guide you better than anyone else. Take care and hope it goes well for you!
V.

FYI. I can't tell you how much trouble your son's teacher can be in for saying that to you. I am an exceptional education teacher and as all other teachers, we are not doctors so we can't tell a parent that their child has ADD. A school pyschologist can't even state this. Lawsuits have been brought to court where schools have gotten in trouble for saying this. Only a doctor can give this diagnosis. If your child is struggling it is probably in reading due to the hearing loss. If he couldn't hear the words in Kinder than he can't learn to read with ease like the other students. I would get him a tutor or tutor him yourself. Start with making sure he knows his sight words (google the term if you aren't sure what these are), work on sounding out word family words (cat, sat, mat, ran, pan, dan) You can join sites like readingatoz.com and they will let you print out books that he can read with ease. It is worth the price to invest in a subscripition for a struggling reader. The books you get at Walmart are too hard. Or go to Barnes and Nobles and get BOB books. Hold off on the meds.. The teacher needs to work on different behavior modifications first-put him with an advanced student who can help him stay on track and make sure he is following along (every class has atleast one of these kids), put in the front of the room, allow for frequent breaks so he can move around. I put my kids with ADD in the front and while I am teaching I will walk around and just put my hand on their shoulder for a brief minute just to get them to refocus back to me. Also if the teacher states he has ADD the school can be held liable to pay for meds and the doctors visit. I hope that helps.. and the teacher was very out of place for stating that!

I'd like to know, since when is a teacher an MD?? The school, legally, CANNOT make a call like that. No one can make you put your child on medication. If you do get a diagnosis FROM A DOCTOR, you can always try natural remedies. There are other ways of treating these things than medication. My son has Asperger's Syndrome and I am using natural remedies to help him - and it works!

S.,

First, I'm sorry to hear you and your son are going through this mess! I wanted to quickly refer a WONDERFUL book to you that our pediatrician recommended. I bought it from Half.com for just a few bucks, but it goes into treating behavior issues with things like fish oil, zinc, magnesium, etc. It's called "Superimmunity for Kids," by Leo Galland. If in fact your son does have some type of ADD/ADHD (which is actually VERY overdiagnosed and over medicated) this book would turn some amazing stones for you. THere are case studies where the doc provides specific dosing and the children's behavior does a 180! Here is a link. Please check it out!~ http://www.amazon.com/Superimmunity-Kids-Children-Healthy...

As a retired teacher, nominated as NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR in 1998, I can empathsize with your real challenges and fears.
Too often, teachers are quick to label a child with ADD. Too often, they are placed on meds that can have terrible long term effects.
Before adding any meds, I would do a few things:
1.Have him tested with an outside testing source.
2. Evaluate how you and your husband are modeling to him how to love learning. Are you reading in front of him or sitting in front of the TV? Are you excitedly taking him to museums or encouraging him to enjoy your library?
3. Are you making sure he knows boundaries as to behavior and the consequences when he doesn't do as he is told? (Not your fault if he doesn't know that as there are no real courses in how to parent! You are supposed to know that instinctively. Isn't that a laugh? NOT EXACTLY!)
3. How much sugar are you allowing him to eat?
4. How much whole foods are you making sure he is enjoying?
5. Check out a good source of anti-oxidants. For me, it's Mona Vie regular for children. It's expensive but not as expense as meds and is made of 100% high anti-oxidant fruits.
I would try anything over those meds. If all else fails, then seek out the medical help and only use those meds in school time.

my grandsons teacher gave me a web site to help him it is starfall.com

My friend who is a nurse has two daughters with add. One is in her third year at nursing school, the other one began college this year. Their mother never permitted them to be medicated and did a lot of research and attended every posible conference and workshop available through the years. It will take up a lot of your time, but is sure worth it. Good luck and God bless.

Hi S.

I agree with alot of the Moms who have given there advice. I would get him tested for ADD and other learning disabilities. Do it while he is young. I have ADD and learning disabilities and I was not diagnosed until I was in University. I struggled all my life not knowing what was wrong with me. With my ADD I have learned to focus more without meds. I think meds would be your very last option. My son is going through the same thing your son is going through, but his school is going to see what the teacher and other members of the school can do first to help him succeed in school. This is including the Asst. principle. This is a start then they will all brain storm to see what the teacher can do to help him in school. Start with your pediatrician and go from there. Make sure you get him tested it will be a piece of mind for you. Either way you will get a official answer from a professional who specializes in ADD and Learning disabilities.

Good Luck

C. :)

Hello S.,

There is a lot of information about A.D.D. I personally volunteer in a parents group and we always are talking about the alternatives. Yes there are natural products you can visit www.viera.my4life.com and the product name is Transfer Factor Recall. You can also read all the information for Transfer Factor and their great results
Also you can visit this website www.cchr.org they offer a lot of information regarding a.d.d and the effects of certain medications

If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at ____@____.com

Take Care

Jacqui

Hi S.,

First of all, 6 year old boys are not built for sitting in a desk all day and focusing. Johnathan Lindvall, a former public school teacher and principal, and also a homeschool "guru," will tell you that boys shouldn't be made to sit until they are around 9. If I'm not mistaken, I believe all of his many children went to Harvard.

Next, I agree with a lot of the moms but I don't think wheat and milk are as bad as the processing they go through. Taking him off these foods and removing processed foods (pesticides and preservatives are synthetic chemicals and they contraindicate just like meds do) will do wonders.

If he is still having trouble after a diet change, Omega 3 and 6 are excellent for focus. You remember when your mom told you fish was "brain food?" Well, it is! Essential fatty acids help EVEN ME to focus...

I have more information if you'd like. Nutrition is the key to good health and it's terribly hard to get it these days without a concerted effort. I try to make it easier for folks with just a few simple premises.

Regards,

M.

My 12 year daughter has struggled since kindergarten with ADD not ADHD, but her father would not let me try medication. Finally after spending $6000 on Huntington Learning and tutors etc. We finally tried Strattera, it worked at first but then didn't. FINALLY, we got her on Vyvanse and let me tell you the miracle. For the first time in her life, she has brought home all A's on her interim, and this is without the hours of struggles at home each night doing homework (taking 2 hours for 15 minutes worth). She keeps her room clean, sets her clock and gets herself completely ready for school. And has even received two remarks from teachers on her interim "Great Student" and "Awesome Student". I wish we hadn't tortured ourselves and done this years earlier.

Hi S.,
A teacher cannot tell you that your child has ADD. Teachers are not qualified to make that diagnosis.
Regarding herbal alternatives: valerian root has a nice calming effect for children with ADD. I believe abchomeopathy.com is the website that has helped me with homeopathic choices in the past.
Good luck,
S.

I don't want to take away from whatever experience this teacher has, but not all teachers are right whether they like it or not. She's not a licensed physician and if I were you, I'd take her opinion with a grain of salt. I even wonder if some schools just prefer their kids to be doped up so they don't have to control them. Takes a lot of pressure off the teacher if the kid is on meds. Obviously, a trip to the Dr would be in his best interest. Sounds like he's been out of school a lot and is SIX YEARS OLD. Of course he's going to be active and excited to be around friends again, isn't that part of being a kid?? If he's been out of school, I'm sure he's not used to the strict schedule and routine the school requires. Anyway, you know your child better than anyone else in this world. Don't let the opinion of someone who's known him 2 weeks bother you- get a 2nd or 3rd opinion.

Teachers are not qualified to diagnose kids with ADD or ADHD. I would recommend that you get him tested by a clinical pyschologist, neurologist, or the school nurse. There are a number of areas that they will test him in along with his social settings. Based on the outcome of the tests, they will be able to make a diagnosis. Also, as a mother of an ADHD son, I've tried COUNTLESS natural/homopathic supplements and none worked for my son. Its not to say that they won't work for your son, but after many attempts to avoid the pyscho meds, we had to find something that would work for him. He's currently taking Focalin 5mg (which is a low dose). It really helps to keep him focused and attentive. It also makes him feel good that he can sit still and concentrate on his work. He's no longer labeled as the 'hyper' child.

unless this teacher is qualified to make that sort of determination, then it is just an opinion. and as the saying goes the opinions are like...follow your instincts.

Go to a pediatric phycologist - not your pediatrician. My son was on meds from 3rd grade to 7th. They will do different tests (most of them verbal some with blocks etc - age appropriate, not the blood work kind). ADD which is what my son has is not a big deal if you help him. The way it was explained to us is that the brain "wiring" needs a little help to stay on track. He took his meds (night and day difference) and was able to stop them. The Dr. explained if they have the help early they can "rewire" and the meds are no longer necessary. He's 6'2 in 10th grade and had no growth or mental (honor roll still) problem. Teachers sometimes get a bad rap but they see them trying to do things (focus on something not fun - legos in his room is fun and he could do that all day) and have his best interest at heart. See if you can help him now so it is not something he'll struggle with all his life. I was also tested and have it but I wasn't "rewired" as a child and have to really work hard to stay on track. It will not change him just help him be the best he can be.

Dear S.,

My son had tubes in ears to at age 4......In kindergarten and first grade he struggled too..... He was placed on medicine to help him focus........I would get a professional opinion.....Contact the Dan Marino's Childrens Medical Center in Weston, Fla. Ask for Dr Mark Epstein. Tell him that G. H., Bryan P's Mom referred.
you to him.
Keep me posted. Look luck

G. H.

Teachers are not qualified to make that diagnosis. She could say that he exhibits symptoms of ADD or is having difficulty with attention, but anything more than that means she is practicing medicine without a license.

There are lots of clinics that can do testing to see if your child has learning deficits in various areas that might cause him to struggle with learning. I would recommend having alot more information before you opt for medicine. Best wishes!

Was he tested or did she look at him and say this? I feel that the teachers now a day want to put a label on each kid instead of working with them.

If you think he might have ADD you should get him tested on your own. And then from there you can take the steps needed. I do not agree with putting a child on these kind of meds (there brain is still developing).

Good Luck.

Hi,I have a 7yrd old son and have been thru this since kindergarten.Against my wishes i put my son on Rx to get the school of my back.They dont seem much helpful at all.Anyway he was on it about a year & started developing side effects.Right away i took him off.I was reccomended to give him the omega 3 pills and also every once in a while i give him kids valerian and both these have really helped.They are both from the health food store.Also i really changed his diet.Hope this helped a little.Good Luck!

Hi S.,

Check out this website

http://www.oneaddplace.com/add-diet.php

It discusses foods to avoid and things to add.

Good Luck!

If you need someone to talk to you can e-mail me!

M.

Hi S.,
First of all, let me tell you this. As a teacher myself, we are NOT qualified to diagnose ADD and suggest a need for meds! It is completely wrong of a teacher to tell a parent this. If I had any thoughts that a child MAY have ADD, I would bring up my concerns in a manner stating that the child was having difficulties concentrating, etc., and that you as the parent may want to talk to his pediatrician about this. I have had many children in my class who were initially classified as "ADD" when it was really not the case.
Personally, I feel that there are other factors that lead to inability to concentrate,etc. I am a big proponent of cutting out all Red Dye from the child's diet. I have even seen this help with my own kids. I usually don't have problems with inattention or excitability with them but it seems that any time I give in and let them have something like red punch, rasberry sherbert, or something of the like with red 40 in the ingredient list, they become highly excitable and won't sit still for anything. I don't believe that sugar causes this as I only see it with food or drink containing red 40. When I was teaching 2nd grade I had a little boy in my class who had ADHD. He was quite a handful and though very bright, was having problems with his work. His parents decided to try cutting out red 40, and there was a marked improvement.
Truly, the best thing is to wait and see what your pediatrician has to say. You can also discuss this matter of the red dye in foods. Stay positive and I'm sure you will find something that helps your little one. Good Luck!

S.,
Day 3 of kindergarten I was told the same thing. I was appalled. First time in a school (of 1000), and they think they know my son. I've been fighting ever since. I refuse to put my son on meds. I'll admit he's a little immature, due to cancer his first 2 years of life. I think they jump on the ADD wagon way to quick. Stand firm, get a good doctor, and feel comfortable before letting meds come into his life.
All my best to you.
C.

S.,

I completely agree with other moms that neither the teachers nor the schools are qualified to diagnose your child with ADD or any medical condition for that matter. It's amazing the difference tubes and adenoids have been in my daughter's life. Definitely a great idea to talk to the pediatrician about it.

Beth

S.,

First off, his teacher may want to diagnose him, but it is the job of a physician to do so. There are a number of other things it could be as well that should be ruled out.
Second of all, please don't put him on meds until you have exhausted all other options. My son was put on ritalin in the 1st grade and he has had stomach problems from it ever since. He is now 20 years old and still has stomach issues from it. I took him off the meds in 2nd grade and changed his eating habits (low sugar, no caffeine, and no dyes).
He did struggle some, but not nearly as much. It wasn't that he couldn't do the work, just that he couldn't focus long enough to finish the work.
We now wish today that we would have gone to a really good health food store and gotten some natural remedies instead.
I live in Panama City, Fl and there is an excellent health food store here with an owner who is soooo knowledgeable in natural treatments. The name of the store is Mount of Olives Health foods and the name of the owner is Sadda(Sod-ah). He can tell you exactly what to give your son so that he will have no side effects from drugs that will show up years from now. I'm sure he has a website you can go to.
Or you can ask around where you live and find out which is the best one in your town and go ask them. But don't ask the check out clerk, make sure you ask for the manager or owner since they have a lot more information available to them.
Sometimes there are teachers who just don't want to have to deal with a child who may be a bit more of a challenge, so you may also want to see if there is another teacher more suited for your son.
Take Care,
T. (Mom of 4)

I agree with the first response you rec'd on here. It sounds like he has been through an awful lot for his teacher to jump onto a "diagnosis" as a reason he might be having issues. What issues exactly is he having? What is her reason for suggesting he needs meds? What has she tried in the classroom or suggested to you to try at home before jumping onto medication as the solution? If he couldn't hear properly all through kindergarten, he might just be a bit behind in some things and be very frustrated by that.. especially if he is a smart kid! My son is incredibly intelligent, does not have any disorders, but get SO upset, frustrated, angry if he makes any kind of mistakes, or is corrected more than once about something ("you need to redo this sentence, you misspelled a couple of the words", then when it comes back he has forgotten to capitalize something or missed punctuation-- even though every word is now spelled correctly!) He gets SO agitated.. mostly at himself. He's a well-adjusted kid, but he doesn't want to spend time correcting mistakes...
So I would definitely talk to your pediatrician and if possible some other people who

a) know your child; maybe a sibling with kids of their own, a friend with kids older than yours, his Sunday School teacher), and
b) have a child older than yours with ADD or who have been suggested that they might have ADD.
Both groups can give you insights into what is "normal" for kids his age (and boys and girls can be drastically different) and for kids that might need some adjustments, either through diet, scheduling, or even medication.
By all means be sure that his teacher is fully aware of what he went through last year (not hearing) and his recent surgeries and any adjustment period he might be having post-surgery. I have heard of kids that once their hearing is no longer diminished, have problems adjusting to the NOISE!.
Just be sure to do your research and do not let a teacher alone be the only reason you put your son on medication.
Best wishes to you on your search for the answers.

The teacher is not a doctor so take her "diagnosis" very litely. Go to your ped. and ask for a referal to a ped. who specialises in ADD disorders and the like. Too many kids are labeled this and they may just need some extra help or attention.

S.,

You are so right to look into other methods before giving your son drugs. I use to be a preschool teacher and I learned so much about the difference between how a little girl learns and how little boys learn. The public schools today are so quick to label children (especially boys) with ADD or ADHD when there is nothing wrong with them whatsoever! We had a lady come and talk to us about ADD and at the time she had her own private school for boys that had been labeled ADD and was on meds. Within a year, the boys would almost be off all medications and thriving in school. The reason is because she taught boys in a different way than the public school systems. Little boys are created to be active, hunters, competitors, and warriors. Public schools are designed for girls. Boys also need more outside time than girls. Therefore, she made learning like a challenge for the boys. Competitive games played a big roll in her teaching style.

Diet also plays a BIG roll in children's ability to learn. Learn to read labels, we did. Get him off of all foods with MSG, high frutcose corn syrup, any sugar alternative unless it is natural like honey or organic sugar. Aspertame is a big posion that highly effects us all!

I had a little boy in my preschool class that was very active. When he went into public school he was having trouble with spelling. His mom called me to tutor him. Instead of sitting him at a table and making him copy the words ten times each, I bought a jump rope and every time he jumped, he had to spell the word. He kept jumping until he got the word right. This gave him an outlet for his energy and also improved his spelling!

Since you are a stay at home mom, I would suggest getting connected with a home schooling group and home school your son. Also do some research on the ways that boys learn best and try some of those methods, or maybe look into some private schools, but defiantly do all you can before giving him drugs.

hope this helps!
T.

You might want to try testing him for allergies. I work with a company that does in-home IGG allergy testing. It is not the normal testing your doc does but it looks for delayed sensitivity allergies....hidden food allergies...that can mask themselves as many things. I have several friends who have tried this withgreat success after being diagnosed with A.D.D. Ialso have some friends who use the testing with autistic children they work with. Email me if you would like to hear more and I will gladly send you some info! It is worth it!! So simple to do.
P. Brockman
____@____.com

I agree with you...I wouldn't put medication into my children either. What makes your son's teacher the authority to diagnose your son with ANY disorder??? It is my opinion that people (teachers) are quick to tell parents that their child needs medication because the teacher can't handle an active child. Have you ever seen how a child acts while on Riddalen or the other drugs like it? They don't act like themselves. It's sad and wrong. I read a book a long time ago, I'm sorry I can't recall the name of it or the author for that matter, but the book suggested that children who are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD have hormonal imbalances and should have extensive blood work drawn to determine what chemical(s) is/are imbalanced. There are herbal remedies but I don't know what they are. I'm sorry I can't be of more help but DO look online and check amazon.com for books about it.

Hi S., I SOOOOO know what you're going through, as I've had similar reactions to my son. I don't want to sound like a commercial, but do yourself a favor and buy the book" 3 stepps to eliminating ADD/ADHD" It has changes our lives. First you should consider his diet, certain foods can seriously trigger behavioral issues. Next, consider supplements. Omega-3's (fish oil)are a huge help, I have my son on them and it has made a huge imporovement in his ability to stay focused. Next, Aviod medication at all cost!! the meds they prescribe are TERRIBLE for your son's heart and are banned in most countries b/c they are killing kids, this is not a joke and you should take that option off the table from day one. Also, maybe consider that many children are misdiagnosed with ADD when in fact they have a sensory integration disfunction. My middle child is a sensory seeking child and when her physical sensory needs are not met, she cannot focus on anything else. We do simple sensory exercises that take less than a minute or 2 every couple of hours and she is as happy as a clam. A good book to check out and even see if this is a possibility is called "The out of Sync Child" again, no medication, just a way of adapting to a childs needs so they can be productive. Lastly, I would take the teacher to task, maybe consider having him switched to a teacher with some experience and a little more compassion for your child. I wish you all the luck in the world, God bless you and your family.

"Change Your Brain, Change Your Life" is very helpful in understanding the brain and how to help it through very natural ways.

Dear S.,
my name is I. i am a mom of a 6 and 4 years old girls, just like you !
Back to Paris, where i grow up I got a Master in education with a specialisazion in psychology, this being only the first way, i found to express my true call.
I am an Intuitive Consultant, with today more than 15 years of experiences. I believe that life bring you challenges to help you grow and our work is to discover what they are here to teach us. Like you, When it comes to health i don`t relay on medicine, i prefer natural remedes ( homeopathie, herbs , stones and others healings tools), beyond that i believe our body try to talk to us and "sickness" are the cause of internals issues (Pastlife or present )and the healing need really to take place at the level of the soul
I am working with adult on private session for their personnal life or for their childrens.

If you wish, I would love to help you
my email is ____@____.com
###-###-####

Best of luck

I now going throught the same thing with my son, 6 yrs old and hyperactivity in school as well as struggling a bit in class. I did decided to put him on meds, which was very hard because my husband does not believe in meds. I'll pray, and pray about this. It seems to be helping him. Speaks with his teacher everyday, and they see an improvment on his behavior.

S.,
You have every reason to feel frantic and maybe even frustrated and confused. I worked here in Milton as a health aide/school nurse capacity at one of the pre-k centers for awhile and saw a simular situation. I would think that with the child just having the tubes put in that this would cause some change in behavior as the child is feeling much discomfort at times and maybe is not expressing this because young children tend to think that pain or discomfort is just the way it is sometimes. With the child's prior history that you've discussed, his discomfort prior and in kindergarten could also be the cause of his lack of concentration and focus in the classroom. The teachers in this child's case may need to be a little more sensitive to this. Of course he may be distracted in the classroom because he may not be feeling well. This is difficult for him when it comes to concentrating on the tasks at hand. I am sure that you check homework and classroom work that comes home with the child daily. When you do so, and discover that he has not completed work or not performed the work to standard, go over this with the child yourself as much as needed and as long as it takes for him to get the concept. We have to go behind what the teacher does at home to insure that the child is not falling through the cracks. If you have been doing this and it is not helping, maybe he needs to be placed in an ESE class where the teachers are trained to help your child focus and concentrate on completing the task and learning to standard for his age. I would avoid medication at all cost because of the effects it will have on him now and the risks later as the child enters adulthood. You are right to take your child to the pediatrition and shoot from the hip when you do so, express your feelings and ask copius questions. I watched children on those meds become zombies, grossly underweight and salivating because of ritalin and other meds. It made me very sad. Teachers are human, and they get frustrated just as you and I. Some teachers are great teachers, but there are children that they just cannot teach. Request another teacher, review that teacher's and his current teachers' crendentials. This is your right and this right to know is enforced by the Santa Rosa County School board. Speak to the Doctor about your disagreeance with medicating your child. You may find that you will have to put in a lot more time with your child and his studies to get him where he needs to be. This is fine, and highly repetitive, but it is worth the time and effort to ensure that your child is equipped for life through learning in the later years. I am caring for my 5 y/o grandson who is highly hyper and in kindergarten. I let them know from day one that he was not going to be on any medications and to suggest it to me would be a request not considered or honored and that I would do all that I could to help with study and behavior through partnership with his teacher. We keep the lines of communication open and I am delighted that the hours, sometimes six a day after school that I have been putting in is paying off. We are not getting behavior reports that are outlandishly appalling and he is focusing and concentrating and finding his studies, rather "cinchy" now. Let your child watch PBS as much as possible. I found this to be much better at concepts retaining than those of the disney channel even though these are awesome too. Make his learning a game at home. You would be surprised at what creative learning you can apply and come up with, and the goals in learning you will obtain and what your child will retain. Remember, the teachers have other children that they have to work with and can only give so much individual time the classrooms although they want to reach them all. This is why we must be teachers at home. I believe that with your compassion and commitment this will work out. I love that you love your child so much that you would seek out alternative measures over the medication. I am not totally against medication, but I am totally for "let's just be sure before we do." I am praying for you and your child. I know that you will do fine. Other's have been in this position before and they came out fine. Everything that looks A.D.D. is not A.D.D. and teachers are teachers, not Doctors, so be suspect of a diagnosis from someone who does not hold that degree.

J. In Milton.