Search Results for: blog adhd to medicate or not to medicate that is the question

ADHD Medications for Kids Who Don’t Have ADHD?

A doctor in Georgia has been prescribing ADHD medication to children who come from low income families. The children have not been diagnosed with having ADHD. Instead, the doctor is giving them the medication in an effort to help them improve their grades. There are a lot of parents who have concerns about what their child’s ADHD medication might be doing to him or her beyond helping with the symptoms of the disorder. Some parents will go to great lengths to try alternative forms of treatment first, hoping that they will not have to put their child on a daily … Continue reading →

“My Child Keeps Staring into Space.” Is it ADHD? Or a Seizure Disorder?

Before we found the right medication and dose for my stepdaughter Sunni, who has ADHD, she would often stare into space. One of her teachers explained that Sunni would sit in her chair with her head tilted and her eyes focusing on some imaginary object far away. “I can always tell when I’ve lost her focus,” the teacher said. At home, Sunni occasionally would get glassy-eyed and drift into her own thoughts. I began to get a little bit concerned about it, so I mentioned it to her doctor. He wanted to be sure that the staring wasn’t a symptom … Continue reading →

“It’s Nothing Personal.” Kids with Behavioral Disorders

When we parent children with problem behaviors, it’s hard not to take their actions personally. My stepdaughter, who has ADHD and suspected ODD, has tirades and vengeful behaviors which have occasionally hurt my feelings deeply. The questions that come to mind are “WHY do you have to act like that?” “WHY can’t you behave like your older brother or sister?” “WHY are you the child who keeps getting into trouble at school?” And, even more secretly, “WHY can’t I change you?” Losing it… On one occasion, I just lost it. I did. I got down on my knees and yelled … Continue reading →

ADHD and Medication: Finding the Right Dose

If your child is on stimulant therapy for ADHD, finding the right dose can be difficult. Every child is an individual who will respond physically and mentally to medication in different ways. Even when a dosage has been working well for some time, it will likely need to be adjusted as your child grows and develops. The difference between the correct dose and an incorrect one can make all the difference in your child’s outlook. Finding a dose that will benefit your child requires a triangular partnership between you as the parent, your child’s pediatrician, and your child’s teacher. What … Continue reading →

ADHD, Middle School, and Those Two Dirty Words

We were on a long drive, and I was trying to gather up the courage to tell my husband something. I knew it would be a little bit touchy, and I wanted to approach the issue in just the right way. After all, it was about his oldest daughter–my stepdaughter–and I knew he had very tender feelings for her. And I’d have to use two dirty words: special education. For months I had watched Sunni drown in her middle school classes. To read my previous blog on this story, click here. Despite working with her, meeting with teachers, and enrolling … Continue reading →

The Genetic Risks for Inheriting (or Passing Down) ADHD

Sometimes when a child is diagnosed with ADHD, the parent thinks, “I remember having similar problems in school,” or “My brother and I had the same behaviors when we were kids.” Often people don’t recognize their own symptoms of ADHD until their child is diagnosed. Yet statistics show that when a child is diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) there is two to eight times increased risk that one of the parents also has the condition. Evidence has shown a strong genetic link indicating that ADHD is passed through families. Even though some environmental factors may play a minor role … Continue reading →

“Mom, I need the car keys.” The ADHD Teenager & Driving

As a mom of teenagers, I soon face the dilemma of sharing the car keys. It’s a scary thing to think about. In just a few months, I’ll be able to watch my oldest child get into a vehicle and drive down the street. Yikes! I can already imagine the thoughts I’ll be grappling with… ”Will he remember to drive responsibly? Is he going to be distracted? Will he come back home, safe and sound?” As parents, we have very good reason to be concerned. The scary reality is that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth … Continue reading →

Will My Child Outgrow ADHD? Looking Ahead to the Teenage Years

Since many of the behaviors associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are child-like, including impulsivity and forgetfulness, often parents suppose (or hope) that their child will eventually grow out of it. But statistically, your son or daughter with ADHD is likely to struggle with the condition well into the teenage years and beyond. And some children are not even diagnosed until adolescence. That’s because what seemed initially like childish recklessness becomes a more obvious concern as the child matures and cannot stop the behaviors. Studies have shown that 80% of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms of inattention, … Continue reading →

Strategies To Improve Coping for Kids–STICK It to ADHD

The number one medication during the past 50 years for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders, ADHD has been oral medication containing Methylphenidate. Parents and schools have been administering pills to children in order to help with the symptoms of ADHD for years with many children finding great benefits. But, as is the case with many helpful medications pill taking often comes with negative side effects as well as social issues. As a mother I have tried to avoid medicating my children any more than is absolutely necessary. I have a hard time giving my grade school child pills in the morning, … Continue reading →

Stimulant Therapy for ADHD

Stimulant therapy is one of the most popular treatments for adults and children with ADHD. You’ve probably heard of drugs like Ritalin and Adderall; these psychostimulants help regulate impulsive behavior and improve attention span in adults, adolescents, and children with moderate to severe ADHD. So what do psychostimulants do? They help your brain increase levels of chemicals like epinephrine and norepineprhine — these chemicals transmit signals between nerves. The end result is that you can focus better, pay attention longer, and rein in those impulses. Stimulant therapy works in approximately seventy percent of adults and up to eighty percent of … Continue reading →