ADD/ADHD support thread?

[Gothikim]

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Anyone with kids that have ADD/ADHD interested in a little online support group? Grandkids/nieces/nephews/steps/etc OK too

My 6 YO DD was diagnosed with ADD just before the last school year ended. Neither her kindergarten teacher or I were willing to label her right off the bat, but nothing we tried at school or at home helped. DH and I finally had to consider ADD. She tested WAY positive, espec for a female. We decided to hold her back to repeat kindergarten, as she didn't pick up the skills necessary to tread water in the 1st grade, let alone succeed...

She's on medication and it helps (a blessing) and so far she's doing well in her second shot at kindergarten. We've only been on this road for a few months, and I'm wondering what the future may hold. You know: "what else can I do at home to help?" "what else discipline-wise can I try?" "just how many kids REALLY grow out of it or learn to deal on their own?" That, and it would be nice just to talk with someone who has been there and understands!

[GDfreak]

I know you were asking for people who have any ADD or ADHD kids but I just wanted to tell you what I experienced from when I had ADD.

I've pretty much grew out of mine. I mean I still have moments where I don't feel like doing things or I get distracted but I think thats other stuff than ADD. I remember I was put on a medication called Stretera or something like that. At first it helped but than I started getting the side effects. The only side effect I got was sleepines and it was extreem to. Instead of the medication helping me pay attention in class it just made me fall asleep which did me no good. So eventually I was taken off of it because it made matters worse. After a while it seemed my ADD diminshed to almost nothing and I can function fine now.

As far as what to do for some one who has ADD I can tell you first hand how I felt how people delt with me. I never liked it when people got iritated or angry at me for something and yelled or what not. That made it worse for me and put alot of stress on me and made my situation worse. Calmness always made me feel better. When my parents were calm with dissaplin it made it better for both of us.

[MsMeeple]

When I still lived in the US, I worked as a preschool teacher. I also raised my sister's 3 kids. One of her kids, my nephew, had ADHD. Here in Holland I work as a counselor for young people with a psychiatric disorder. ADHD falls into that category....well at least here in Holland.

What I've learned thru raising my nephew and working in the field is:

Some of the medicines for ADHD can effect weight and growth. For that reason, many people with ADHD and ADD go off the medicine during the summer and other school vacations.

Many teachers or the school will tell you that the medicine needs to be increased. Only a doctor can decide that. Asking for the medication to be increased is easier for the schools than implementing and carrying out an effective behavior management plan. Medicine alone doesnt work!

Structure, structure and more structure! Having a clear routine with consequences for unacceptable behavior is a must.

Patience and a calm approach! If needed give yourself a time out. Calm voices and calm colors really do work. In the preschool where I worked, there was one teacher who almost whispered and had very neutral relaxing colors in her room. The kids in that class were much calmer than kids in the other class who had a teacher with a loud voice and rainbows of bright colors thru out the classroom.

On a positive note, I have never met an ADHD kid or young adult that I didn't like
They seem to have a joy or lust for life that brings a smile to your face. And the things that just plop out of their mouths will sometimes make you laugh and make it hard to be angry at them for their less than perfect behavior!

MsM

[wilbret]

Maybe this will help...
[ame=http://www.metacafe.com/watch/959427/adhd_cure_southpark/]ADHD Cure SouthPark - Video[/ame]

[the dogman]

Amusing as that is, I don't think that will help in the long run wilbret.

On the lines of ADD/ADHD, my mom suspects that I may have had a severe case of it as a child. We aren't sure about this though.

My problem was that I would just drift off, physically there but mentally not. Teachers had so be sure to constantly get my attention and keep me focused, especially when it came to leaving the room for lunch or recess, because on several occasions I would simply stay seated and be vacant all through lunch/recess. This 'spacing out' usually happened when I got bored or disinterested in the class and drifting off didn't just happen at school but at home and pretty much everywhere. I did fairly well in school and the only after effect of it is that I have very few select memories before the age of 11 or 12 years old. At 21, many of my peers can recall 2-4 times as much as I can from their grade school years.

As I said before my mom and I aren't sure that it was or wasn't ADD/ADHD, and I was never tested for it because I had no educational problems (until I started paying more attention and developed a dislike for some teachers).

Like Meep was saying, a lot of people I have met who have ADD/ADHD claim that clam and neutral colors help them out as well as a calm environment. Limited stimulation, such as a quiet room for them to read/study with few if any toys, no TV, radio or games may also help.

That's all I can really offer on the subject. Hopefully a few more people will come in and offer what they know to help.

[wilbret]

What did parents do before drugs?