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Sorry that this answer is so long but there is no simple answer for it.
Being a mother of a daughter that diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 4, I can truthfully say that its not the only fix. Diet and therapy also should be used along with medication. Schools should also provide extra help so that the child does not fall behind in school.
ADHD is a neurological disorder of the chemical process of the brain. In simple terms there is a short in the brain function. It affects the area of the brain that controls impulses. Where a normal person with think if I do this that might happen or that might be the outcome, a person with ADHD doesn’t think about what might happen they just want the result no matter what might happen.
Medication helps connect the short so that person can start thinking about what might happen. But medication is very tricky and it can not be the only treatment either. The medication that might work with John will not work with Ann. It takes about a month or so to see if the medication will work and after a few years some kids end up having to change medication because what was working a year ago is not working anymore.
Diet has a big part of it too. A diet high in sugars and carbs contribute to the child’s hyperactivity. Some dyes used in foods also have the same affects too. Its hard to avoid all of these things, but you can minimize the amount that they get.
The extra help that schools should provide is mainly so that the child does not fall behind in class. Many school districts will say that medication is the only way to go and will suggest that the child should be medicated when there is really no need to do so. Before any child is put on medication that child should go through a proper evaluation with a child psychologist who can properly diagnose whether the child has ADHD or just is active. No school should force you into medicating your child.
Medication is a choice that is hard to make. You need to know what might happen to your child on the medication how long they will be on it how often you need to see the doctor and any side effects that you child might experience. This has to be a decision that you make after knowing what is going on with your child, not just give your child a pill and everything will be okay.
I agree with Momof3princesses above - while I don’t have this experience with my own children, I have a couple of friends that have children with ADHD that have used different treatments. One has been strict about diet, therapy & so on and the other has used medicine. I don’t see any clear advantage of one child over the other. The one on the restricted diet & therapy still has issues with behavior, and the medicated child walks around like a zombie sometimes. Maybe they need to swap treatments, I don’t know - but I think it’s worth trying different treatments before just relying on meds.
I will have to say that a child that is in therapy does not always have behavior issues. My daughter started therapy because she was having a very hard time dealing with the divorce of her father and I. Her therapist has been a great help helping her cope with the divorce and the changes that our lives have gone through. The therapist also has been a great help for me so that I can help my daughter. Right now we are working on organization skills with her. Which is a huge issue with kids that have ADHD. Also if a child is properly medicated they do not walk around like zombies. A child that taking to much of a drug does, and I have gone through this and called the doctors and complained. A child that is properly medicated you see no difference in him compared to a “normal” child.
Thank you momofthreeprincess for your outstanding answer to educate us about this disorder. I am very impressed with your knowledge so you can better help your child - we need more parents like you who take responsiblity and need schools to take accountability. Thanks mamapan for your input as well.
I don’t have a child with ADHD, but I’m a school employee and have dealt with students who have this disorder, so the district says. Meds seems to be the answer at our district and although it’s not forced, the persons involved with the student’s IEP recommends it. Our kids do have the behavioral problem issues and meds don’t necessarily calm them down, in fact some are hyper than ever. The school’s answer is “he’s having a bad day.” I agree with you about diet and therapy is important in the treatment. In fact, I sometimes feel a student who is on meds really shouldn’t be on it and diet and therapy is the way to go. I may bring it up to a teacher, but nothing really gets done about it.
Schools do provide extra help so the child will not fall behind, but it’s in a form of a special ed class in which these kids are bouncing off the wall. One-on-one tutoring can be futile because they won’t listen to you. The parents of the children have given up and gives us the responsibility.
I realize one size doesn’ fit all. With supportive schools, a good doctor, and a wonderful parent such as you to monitor the child’s treatment helps in the long run.
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