EARLY signs of ADHD - how to deal with it?

[snoozer]

My son is 4 years old and shows 'some' signs of potentially having ADHD. I know they will not check/diagnose it until they around 6, but I do not want to wait 2 years to start taking action.

Some of these things are being a 4 year old, but we have received feedback from teachers and camp consulers about him 'listening' to them. As parent's, we get frustrated because it pushes your nerves and it seems like it doesn't get through to him, so I am trying to understand what others have done to deal with it.

I have read online, when 'talking' to them after they do something wrong, to pull them aside, and talk specifically about what they did wrong, why it was wrong, etc but I would like to hear from other people who have dealt with this behavior to see what you found worked or didn?t work. I am looking for feedback on tactics people used to help curtail the behavioral patterns or things you did/did not find effective. Also, are there books that you found effective.

Some of the signs we see
Can't sit still - he is always moving around
Jumps around from activity to activity, unless he is really interested and then he zones in
When concentrating, he gets so in tune, it is like the world around him is gone
Starting to get aggressive with toys and others (plays a little rough, but not mean)
He doesn't have tantrums and is not violent

 

[hawkeye]

I was an elem. pricnipal for 12 years and a middle school principal for 20 years. I would try and find a pediatrician/childrens doctor who specilizes in this area and who works closely with schools in your area. One who the teachers can contact regularly. Our oldest grandson is ADHD--I have worked closely with them and they have tried many things and are doing a good job with it. Things have chnaged so much in this field--for the better. Most kids I saw usually grow out of it eventually--4-5th grade? .

 

[SixFive]

yes means yes and no means no. Be consistent. Have both parents and grandparents and caregivers on the same page.

discipline and spank if you need to. I think some kids have genuine problems, but I know a lot of kids just don't have discipline and parents and doctors try to throw medicine at them. No way would one of my kids ever get that poison (Ritalin, Concerta, et al).

 

[hawkeye]

Many things to try--behavior management systems. diets, medication etc. Have seen them all. Try everything yu need to. Once he gets in school stay in daily contact with his teacher.

 

[saint]

I was an elem. pricnipal for 12 years and a middle school principal for 20 years. I would try and find a pediatrician/childrens doctor who specilizes in this area and who works closely with schools in your area. One who the teachers can contact regularly. Our oldest grandson is ADHD--I have worked closely with them and they have tried many things and are doing a good job with it. Things have chnaged so much in this field--for the better. Most kids I saw usually grow out of it eventually--4-5th grade? .

This is great advice. I'd be careful regarding discipline. I'm a strong advocate for timely discipline with kids (spanking, whatever), but if you have a child who cannot control those behaviors then you will do much more harm than good. I know where SixFive is coming from because many parents lack fundamental parenting skills these days.

I have a 5 year old nephew who I'm quite sure is ADHD and he has outbursts of excess energy. He's a wonderful kid and his parents are trying their best but to punish him for the uncontrollable vs teaching him to deal with it would be unfair.

 

[jhawksoon]

I'm not a doctor, but I would probably diagnose him as being a young boy. Boys run around, have tons of energy, and get very interested in things. I'm sick of hearing stories of parents hopping around doctors until one finally diagnoses their kid with ADD/ADHD. Out of all of those stories I have yet to see one that shows an adult who grew up before the Ritalin age that can show that their life would have been totally changed if they were to grow up medicated.

 

[StevieD]

This is a very serious problem. Many kids are diagnosed as ADHD when in fact they are just being little kids. Also it is very dangerous to go untreated. See a specialist and then see another one.
There are different levels of this. So you will hear all kinds of "My kid has that and is ok now etc. etc.

My advise would be to keep your eye on him and go by your gut. Don't trust the first doctor. And do not put him on meds until you are convinced.

Also many times they are not correctly diagnosed as bi-polar.

 

[Cie]

I was a hyper child, who would have undoubtedly been diagnosed adhd, had I been born in the 80s or 90s.

I was placed into a school with high academic profile as a 5th grader because my standardized testing revealed 99th percentile and my behavior in class was erratic. The theory was that my behavior and hyperactive nature were the result of boredom due to the relative ease of the curriculum at the local elementary school. I thrived at the middle school, but my ADHD was not cured.

I remain an ADHD adult. Short attention span, energy to burn, talk alot, quick to react, etc .

A couple of doctors have tried to convince me as an adult to take various meds when I explained my symptoms, but I say screw that.

I am who I am.

 

[tigerfan]

He is a kid - what do you want him to do be totally mindless -

 

[Lumi]

Snoozer,

My 15 year old son has Aperbergers Syndrome, he wasn't correctly diagnosed until he was 7. From 4 to 7 it was many mis-diagnosis'. ADHD, ADD.... He has a good care system now, and thru medication, not my favorite idea, and a good diet he is doing good. My ex-wife has a ton of resources for him and he does keep himself active with football and bike riding.

I hope this helps? There is Aspergers info on this page.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/index.php

 

[jhawksoon]

A couple of doctors have tried to convince me as an adult to take various meds when I explained my symptoms, but I say screw that.

I am who I am.

Good for you, totally agree

 

[usbbroker]

I am ADD not ADHD, there is a big difference by the way. Anyway, I was diagnosed at the age of 8 by two different specialist. At the time ADD/ADHD was for the most part unheard of. After being diagnosed my Mother read everything she could get her hands on and talked to lots of doctors and counselors around the country until she basically became an expert herself. She then started to educate the teachers, prinicipal, and school board in my area so that they understood this was a real issue and that some kids may need some extra help at school. Over the years I tried a few different medications until I found the right one. Once I found the right medication and the correct dosage there was a dramatic change in not only my grades but my attitude and overall productivity. I continued to take the medicine all the way through college. Occasionally I would stop taking my medicine because there were a few side effects but that was only during the summertime and I could definitely tell the difference. This disease has really gotten a bad rap over the past ten years because doctors have overdiagnosed a lot of people and overmedicated a lot of people as well. Scientists have come a long way in the drugs that are available now and there are many medications that are non habit forming with little to no side effects that are perfectly safe for children to take. I would advise you to first take your child to his Pediatrician and then to a reputable child psychiatrist in your area. If he recommends medication, I would tell him that you would like to try out Straterra or Intuniv first. Both of those are non stimulant medications that work best for Children. Always start out at the lowest dosage possible in then go up if you dont see any difference. If neither of those work then I would next try Concerta or Aderral time release tablets and again start out at the lowest dosage possible. A lot of time a child gets diagnosed ADHD, the doctor prescribes him to Ritalin or regular Aderral and if there is no change in the childs behavior or performance then the doctor just keeps raising the daily dosage until the kid is like a walking zombie. Thats just an ignorant doctor that either doesnt know what he's doing or doesnt give a shit. If your child is truly ADHD or ADD and needs medication it make take some time to find the right medicine that helps him the most while also having the least side effects. Its a trial and error process for lack of a better phrase. There is one way to tell if someone is really ADHD. When someone is not ADHD and they take Ritalin or Aderrall it has the effect of like ephedrine or even cocaine for some people. They are hyper, talking a lot, bouncing off the walls. On the other hand when someone who has ADHD takes Aderrall it has the total opposite effect, it calms them down so that they can focus, pay attention, and finish assignments/projects that they have started. I would be happy to help explain or answer any questions you may have. Good Luck

 

[hawkeye]

Seen a lot of success with both Straterra & Intuniv. I agree start out with small dosage and work your way up--need to get it to a therpeutic level in the blood stream.

 

[jhawksoon]

I think a lot of medications can have different effects on different people. I don't agree that if you take Ritalin and you are not ADHD that it will make you super hyper. I have taken sleeping meds before and they have made me jittery while my wife zonks out. Does that diagnose me with something? No. The same goes for a med that helps people concentrate. I don't believe I am ADD/ADHD but if I take a med that is supposed to treat those diseases it may help me concentrate better, and if it does, does not make me ADD/ADHD. I say no.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

I'm sorry, what is this thread about?

Eddie

 

[snoozer]

Thanks for the input. I agree and see where many of the comments come from.

I do not want to do medications, as others mentioned, if I had been tested when I wad a young, I probably would have been diagnosed and it would probably change who I am today. That being said, if there are things I can do to curb his behavior by teaching and discipline, I want to start now.

His diet is very good, doesn't have anything but juice (usually watered down), we don't have sweets, or candy or junkfood and his meals are pretty well balanced.

I do agree about he is 'just being a boy' and to let him have 'live life' but I also do not want to be oblvious to signs and be the parent with 'that kid'

For me it is FAR to early to do any medications or go down that route, but I am sure there are discipline tactics and certain ways to teach kids with the personality he has (ADD/ADHD/ or just a boy).

Thanks for the feedback, definitely interesting reading (both the comment and sites to read about)