ADHD Treatment Options for 10Yr Old Son

The principle at my son's school had suggested that I take my son to a doctor to see if he was adhd. I pulled my son out of school to homeschool soon after that. He improved so drastically, I was amazed.

I wanted to tell you about a book that has also really helped us. It is called Dreamers, Discovers & Dynamos: How to help the child who is bright, bored and having trouble in school. By Lucky Jo Palladino Phd.

Also, have you googled something like Alternative Medicine - ADHD? Good luck!

Hi I have 2 kids. My oldest is 9 years old and has ADHD. Luckily i was well informed because my mother and my younger brother have it. I am also a teacher and work with ADHD kids. My son takes concerta right now. He was diagnosed at 6 years old but i knew very early on he had it. He is a great kid but has trouble focusing in school. I am well aware of the harmful effects of medications but in my case the medication has helped him succeed in school and socially. I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons. Having ADHD is very hard for a kid. They are always hearing dont do this, dont do that, your behavior is bad today. In turn this causes psychological harm. Second ....if they do not have the attention to achieve basic reading skills this can harmfully impair their future.

On top of medication i also try to cut out sugar and increase protein. I also give a fish oil supplement. With the combination this seems to work well. My son wont go a day with out his meds(aka vitamin). He even reminds me in the morning because he feels better when is on it. Of the meds his ADHD is so bad that he wets his pants and has a hard time controlling his self. I did do neuro brain training and it really was not successful for me.

To be honest if this is my sons only holdback i consider myself lucky because it can always be worse.

hi, i am a mom of a 6 month old girl and when i saw your plea i had to respond. i am an avid advocate of non aggressive solutions or natural options for treatment of anything... my mother is a world renown flower essence therapist... she deals specifically but not limited to children with ADD and ADHD ... please please see her website and decide for yourself. she has had much much success... www.patsgarden.com or call her, she is san mateo - patricia meyer - ###-###-#### tell her her daughter J., thea's mommy told you to call!!! peace and LOVE... jan n' miss thea grace [*its doesnt hurt to call/ check the site!]

MY OLDEST IS ADHD AND ALONG WITH MEDICINE SHE IS ON A NO/LOW SUGAR DIET.. NO MORE THAN 10 MILIGRAMS PER ONE SINGLE ITEM EXCEPT MILK (WHICH HAS NATURAL SUGARS). THERE A TON OF FOODS AND DRINKS THAT HAVE LOW SUGAR AND USE SPLENDA AS A SUBSITUTE.. TRY IT.. IT REALLY MAKE THE NEED FOR MEDS MINIMAL.. YOUR CHILD CAN PLACED ON A LOW DOSE MEDICATION ALONG WITH CHANGE OF DIET AND ALL SHOULD WORK OUT WELL.,, GOOD LUCK

What kind of med was your son on? My 8year old was diagnosed ADD and OCD around four and he's been on Concerta since he was 5. It works very well for him. My ex has custody of him and he keeps me aprised of everything that is going on with our son. Talk to a psychologist also if you can. Many times they are better at assessing what a child with ADHD/ADD needs then a regualr family doctor. He or she will work with your family doctor.

What medicine was he on? My son (who turns 10 next week) has been on Adderall XR since kindergarten and it works really well for him. I've also heard good things about Straterra, but unfortunetly, it just didn't work for my son.

Hi R.,
I realize this is long after you made your request but I feel it's worth the effort to share this with you. I am a teacher, and contrary to popular opinion we do not want all ad/hd children to be put on medication. Each child is different. I have raised two children who are now in graduate school and fully understand how different kids can be. I have a cousin who is now the wonderful father of two little boys ages 8 and 5. He is a college graduate with a masters degree and a truly admirable human being. He was ad/hd as a child. My aunt/his mom did not feel comfortable giving him medication for his difficulties. He is very bright, but was a very wiggly student. She put him on Feingold's diet. Feingold has written books to explain his theories but basically, you keep kids off of artificial colors and flavorings and salicylates, which can be found naturally in some foods. My aunt had to read a lot of labels and do a lot of cooking from scratch to avoid the offending ingredients but it was well worth it. My cousin became a much happier and more scholastically and socially successful child. I hope things are going well for you and your son and that either you have found a solution that works for you or that this suggestion helps you and your family. My best to you.
L.

Remove all sugar refined sugar. that worked for my two boys and put him in activities, Soccer football baseball basketball. keep him busy.

R.,

You are not alone is this battle. I have had success with ADHA/ADD. There are a few herbs that help reduce the effects. So will his diet.

Call me and we can go over what you are currently doing and what I suggest.

Here to help.

L. C
Personal Nutritionist
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this might be something you already looked into but sometimes when western medicine doesn't give good options i look to eastern medicine treatments such as accupunture or herbal remedies which have less to none side effects. i don't knopw what area you live in but i know a great lady who is an accupunturist ,herbalist and nurtritionist in the south bay. i have read some articles that just changing the diets of some children really helps, such as eliminating food with red dye in them and other articficial ingredients.

My parents have always told me that my oldest brother has ADD...I know it's not the exact same thing, but before the time of diagnoses and medication they had a naturally rambunctious child who would not sit still through his classes and could not pay attention. They used to give him a Jolt cola each morning before school and he was much better behaved. You might try something with caffiene in it...for some reason it seems to calm kids with the disorder down and allow them to focus. This is only advice...I'm not sure of the actual affect. Like I said, it's what my parents used to do.

Hi R.,

I also have a 12 year old that was diagnosed at 6 as ADHD AND ODD (OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE DISORDER). My first chioce was changing the diet and no medication. I HAD HEARD SOME HORRIBLE STORIES ABOUT MEDICATING A CHILD FOR ADHD. I INSISTED I WOULD TRY THE MEDICTION BUT IF I DIDN'T LIKE IT, WE WOULD PULL HER OFF. Well contrary to my beliefs, the medicine (once we found one that worked) was such a benefit. We could once again have a loving relationship w/out too much hyperactivity and no violence.

I understand the reasons for the new warning labels. This medication can be very dangerous if not taken correctly. This medication will not work if the diagnosis ADHD is wrong. The medication works like speed for those who take it and do not have ADHD. It has been over prescribed for a little bit of quiet time in the house. It has been overused and improperly used. Doctors that are aware of the symptoms, will often prescribe medicine but not be comfortable with changes in the dosages of medication. Alot of it is ignorance. If you don't have to learn about a subject, then it is something we are not educated with. Also everything changes so quickly w/medicine today. So, even if you got trained 5 years ago, it may have all changed.

I do not question your concerns with medicating your child. We have to look at the pro's and con's of medicine. If your child had diebeties, would you deny him insulin? It really is not any different. All I can say is research as much as you can, get everyones opinion, then do what works best for your child. Everybody is different. My child is not a statistic but a person. A person who often reacts differently to different kinds of medications. Not always the same side effects as the statistics. If you do not like the answers you get from his pediatrician then find a pediatric psychiatrist in your area that is willing to work with you and your child on these types of decisions. It will not be easy but it is worth the effort.
If you have a doctor that says do it my way or hit the highway. Do yourself a favor and seek another opinion.

I wish I could help you with the info on the electrodes, but this is something I have not explored yet. Good Luck!!! Also my child takes Adderall xr also. It has been such a blessing.

HollyB.

Hi R.,

I can understand your concerns re the medication (even without the FDA notice). One of my nephews (son of my sister in law) had problems with ADHD, and they tried different things with him (he is in grade 9 now I think). What worked best for him was mainly two things: diet modifications (you can find books etc. on ADHD diet mods) including no sugar and certain other things like dyes and preservatives, and also they did a program which is what you may have heard of...WavePOINT biofeedback. This was very helpful to their son and he has continued to do well from all I have heard.

I don't know where it might be offered in the USA, but it was in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada that they did it (that is where they live - we are in the Bay Area near San Francisco) and I think it has been used successfully other places in Canada.

Do a Google search on WavePOINT ADHD and you might find something more - but if you put WavePOINT alone you'll get a whole lot of irrelevant results as that is the name used for other things (computer program, a production company and so forth).

You might ask your doctor to do some checking into it as they might have better access to current info on what's available and where to find it. Ask him/her about WavePOINT and perhaps they can help you find out more...and if they don't know about it yet, they should. :)

I hope things go well for you and you find some good help for your son - he is at a good age to intervene so he can enter his teen years without this problem affecting him so much.

Blessings,

S. M

I also just saw the newspaper article regarding ADHD meds.My son is 8 and has ADHD as well as ODD. With our insurance situation we have not been able to get him on meds, but almost 98% of the people he has been seeing said he was one of the few that would benefit from meds. And beleive me I have my hands full with him let alone my 14 yr old daughter and 3 yr old son. My younger brother was on Ritialn and did great but, my neice was on one of the meds and was having problems with her heart, so my sister in law took her off the meds. I never heard of all the problems with the meds untell this last year. And beleive me I need all the help I can get with my son, I feel like such a bad mother and I hate the way people stare at me when we go anywhere. It is so hard on me as to my son I asoom.But,if you do get any good responses or you have any ideas for me please let me know. THANKS!

My son is ADHD, I tryed everything to keep him off of meds -- I found the best thing to do was clear out my home from the toxic chemicals that i was using. ie cleaners, personal care items etc. WE removed preservatives and sugars from his diet. I then gave him Benydrl for two weeks, daily. He is now 20 and excelling in the Air Force :) email me about where i found replacement products --