Hi All,

I'm just new to this site and was glad to find it. I have an 8 year old son who has not yet been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. His teacher called last week and suggested an evaluation. I took him to see our family doctor yesterday and he sugessted that we do a lot of research and try "non-medication" ways of dealing with it first before going down the road of diagnosis/medical treatment. We do not have health insurance (self-employed) and the cost of evaluation is upwards of $1000 CAD. My and my husband's thoughts, as well as our GP, is that unless we want medication the confirmed diagnosis doesn't change anything. Our sons symptoms, I think, are mild and may be remedied with certain "techniques" in parenting with the support of the teachers and vice-a-versa. Is there anyone out there who has had success with this? I get the feeling from reading the posts on this site that everyone seems to be "all for" the meds. I'm not completely against it I just think that other methods of treating and dealing with the behaviour should be looked into first. I am not in denial that my son shows many signs of ADD so I do want to help him. Any thoughts and advice are welcome and will surely be helpful to us! :confused:

Hi Andrea and welcome to the forums!:)


If your son's symptoms are very mild, non medication interventions like exercise multiple times a day which has been shown to have a calming and focusing effect for several hours after exercising can be helpful. Some research indicates that Omega III fatty acids show some promise in improving overall brain function. Of course, lots of structure, a regular schedule, and consistent, ongoing reinforcement/consequences are also needed.

ADHD occurs along a continuum -- on the mild end medication may not be essential, although even there it can often be helpful. My parents went the non medication route with me and pretty much took on the role of being my executive functions for me by providing "scaffolding" in my life. Academically I survived and even thrived eventually but ended dealing with depression and anxiety issues (ADDers have six times the risk of developing some other psychiatric condition than the general population). So if you decide not to check out medications keep an eye out emotional issues and efforts as he gets older to self medicate in inappropriate ways.

A couple of excellent books to help you understand how the brain of an ADDer functions include Tom Brown's Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults; Russell Barkley's Taking Charge of ADHD; and Hallowell and Ratey's Driven to Distraction (which also has a long list of non medication tips). Ratey has a book coming out next year on the use of exercise in treating ADHD which I'm looking forward too.

We have an 8 year old we just started on medication. We worked for two years first trying to find other methods that worked for her, including homeschooling, but she was falling too far behind, struggling too much, and beginning to call herself dumb (which she isn't). So we decided to give medication a try and so far the results are stunning. Everyone has to find their own path and what works best for them. I do encourage you to learn all you can about ADHD, because the right enviroment and attitude when dealing with it can make a huge difference.

Glad to have you aboard -- I'll look forward to hearing more from you.

Scattered

PS: You can order some of these books on line if they're not at your bookstore from www.addwarehouse.com (http://www.addwarehouse.com); www.specialneeds.com (http://www.specialneeds.com); and there are good articles available for free at www.schwablearning.com (http://www.schwablearning.com).

You are right. You will find a large portion of people here are for meds (but not all). You have to understand that many of us have this disorder, as well as our children, so many of us may have a bit of a different perspective on it, then those that don't have the disorder.
Many many parents here also, have already been through the "try everything else first" stage, and have moved on to meds.

Although this forum does seem to be for meds though, please don't feel like you won't find help here. The wealth of knowledge you can gain from the people here is really helpful. I also think everyone seems to respect each persons decision, even if it's not what they chose, or don't agree.

I agree with everything Scattered said. Just really do your research on this disorder. There are things you can do to help with mild cases. There are tips and tricks to help with the disorder in general. There are also things about this disorder that you just can't change without meds, and it's good to know what those are, and have realistic expectations and goals. You dont' want to expect something out of your child that they really aren't capable of, for example.
Be careful what you read on the internet. There are many things out there to read that have no factual basis to them. So make sure what you are reading is backed up before you put to much stalk in it.

I also agree to keep a close eye on your child. I probably would have been considered to be a mild case too (from the outside world), as I didn't act up, and didn't fall apart in school until High School. In fact, I went undiagnosed until just recently. It actually though has touched every aspect of my life in some shape or form. I have developed anxiety along the way, and my self esteem has been shattered. My parents just didn't know. They just thought I was an ambitious child, that needed some extra help in some area's.. an out of control teen, and everyone thought I was a "spacey adult".

Anyway, just keep an eye on your child. Do your research, and then do what ever it is that you feel is the best for your child. No one can make that decision but you :). There are no right or wrong answers here, as each child and situation is different. You just have to do what you feel is best.
Good luck!

I like this line of reasoning.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12133 (showthread.php?t=12133)

This in combination with an emotional detachment (showthread.php?t=16248) will save a lot of sanity through the teen years especially.

Obviously there is a lot of information there to digest, but it's been life changing for me and it's been worth every painful step of the way to make some of the changes necessary to get free of some of the troubles that have plagued me and my parenting skill set.
Hope this helps.
Ian

Hello fellow Canuk,
Our 7 yr old also has what I would call mild symptoms, but after 3 schools, montosorri(sp?), being held back a year, plenty of techer help, small class size, etc., the only thing that worked was meds. He has not been formally diagnosed, even after seeing a psych.

I like the way it's summed up in the book 'Driven from Distraction', meds are so safe and effective, they should be tried at the begining of treatment, not as a last ditch effort.

Hope this helps?

My son wasn't diagnosed until 8th grade. Maybe if he had been at an earlier age, we could have done without meds. We tried Strattera, yuck, tried it again, yuck. Decided not to put him on meds, and did the route of working with him, consistancy etc.... It didn't help. His self-esteem was going down hill due to the fact he was getting frustrated with himself/grades/etc... We finaly decided to find another doctor and he is treating him now with adult ADD due to his age. He started on Adderall XR in Dec. Went from C's, D's and F's to A's and B's. He did have a C then a D in English this semester, but overall, we are really proud of him. He is much happier too. We have decided to take him off the meds for the summer and start him back up for his senior year. Good luck with what you decide to do.

I know people that seem to get through life without a diagnosis or meds but have all the earmarks of having adhd. they do exercise though - all through life. you might want to try something like swimming as a sport because that is more consistently aerobic and doesn't require staying on task in the same way that some sports do.

I got through grade school without ever feeling like I was stupid but I had internal tricks that probably helped me to focus. Everything was a race. If there was a test then I would rush through trying to be the first one done. I did my homework in front of the tv. Looking back I think it helped me to not concentrate so hard and there fore not shut down my brain. In fifth grade, I was put in a special class that was half fifth graders and half fourth graders. The school was over crowded so the solution was to pick out some kids that didn't need things explained as much, put them together and give them one teacher. Our desks faced different sides of the room and the teacher just went back and forth. She would tell us what to do then leave us to do it. Having a teacher explain things more always caused me to be more confused.

The problem with not having the testing is that everyone is a little different and so you are going to have to pay more attention to what works for your son even if it doesnt make sense to you. Like the tv thing, my dad would yell at me for it but my mom would stop him because she noticed that I got my work done faster that way.

Some parents notice signs of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in their kids before they even start school. The child may not be able to sit still for very long or pay attention to games or television. But just because a parent thinks their child shows signs of ADHD does not mean that they have the disorder. Because children develop and grow at very different rates, it is crucial to get a professional's opinion of the child's growth and behavior. You may want to wait until the child enters school to definitely diagnose the disorder.

ADHD may not be noticed by parents or another family member, or it may go unnoticed until the child runs into problems at school. Because school is very structured and task-oriented, ADHD is more apparent than anywhere else.

Due to these circumstances, it is often a teacher who first notices ADHD in a child. Teachers come into contact every day with all types of children, and over time they become aware of children who have learning difficulties in comparison to the average child. Often, a teacher will mention this to the parents and suggest getting the child evaluated for ADHD. One thing that teachers do not notice, though, are children who are passive and blend into the woodwork. Children with inattentive ADD are often quiet and spacey, and these qualities do not stand out in the classroom. These qualities are also not paired with the picture of the hyperactive child that comes to mind when you think of ADHD.
Once it has been suggested that a child may have ADHD, the next step is to rule out that the symptoms are not being caused by anything physical. Physical disorders such as thyroid problems can mimic ADHD symptoms. A general practitioner can physically evaluate your child to rule this out. After this, it will be necessary to find a specialist who is qualified to test the child.

There are many types of specialists that can diagnose ADHD, and it is up to the parents in finding one that works. Doctors that test for ADHD are child psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists and other types of licensed mental health professionals. If you have trouble finding someone who does the testing, CHADD can be a great resource for this.
After you find a specialist, you will need to bring the child being evaluated as well as a family member who has known them since they were young. A thorough history will need to be taken to accurately document when the problems associated with ADHD began. After this has taken place, several diagnostic tests will be given to test the presence of ADHD.

There is no one age that ADHD is diagnosed, but it is very common that once a child enters school that the symptoms will be more apparent in a structured environment. But there are many individuals who are not diagnosed until adulthood, and this is becoming more and more prevalent as the rate of adults diagnosed with ADHD skyrockets.

Have you contacted LDRC (the Learning Disabilities Resource Centre)?

They are pretty active in Kingston, ON. (My own ADD Doctor goes to their meetings.)

They may be able to recommend some Child Psychiatrists who "believe in" ADHD.

There are a few of them in Kingston. Cannot say if they have waiting lists, or how long they are.

Why take kids off the meds if they have no bad side effects and you only see good coming from them? (Sherigraph)

I was the same when I started, getting D's & E's, to A's and B's almost overnight.

The book "Taking Charge of ADHD" by Dr. Barkley, recommended by Scattered, is fantastic. It does talk about meds, but it also has a very simple behavior management plan that can be used in every setting. I have ADHD and the plan does not seem overwhelming to me, so it's probably a breeze for nonADD parents!

Not only does this book provide the behavior management plan, it is also the best book I've read so far about the causes, symptoms and behaviors of ADHD. It's a bit dry and clinical, but you finish the book with your questions answered.

In America, it is federal law that your child be evaluated for learning or attention disibilties within the school if you request it. Does Canada have a similar law? I had all but 1 hour of testing for my son done by the school counselor and resource teacher and it saved me over $1000 dollars (I have health insurnace, but a very high mental health deductible.)

Hi AndreaM,
I am actually in the same boat (but its for me instead).. Not diagnosed yet but DEFINITELY think that I have ADD. Looking for some non-medication treatments out there before I take medications.

I'll keep you posted on what I find.

This is what I've found so far regarding using diet to cure ADD/ADHD..

http://www.mercola.com/2006/jul/4

Not sure on how true it is ... but this is what I've got so far.

I know people that seem to get through life without a diagnosis or meds but have all the earmarks of having adhd. they do exercise though - all through life. you might want to try something like swimming as a sport because that is more consistently aerobic and doesn't require staying on task in the same way that some sports do.

I got through grade school without ever feeling like I was stupid but I had internal tricks that probably helped me to focus. Everything was a race. If there was a test then I would rush through trying to be the first one done. I did my homework in front of the tv. Looking back I think it helped me to not concentrate so hard and there fore not shut down my brain. In fifth grade, I was put in a special class that was half fifth graders and half fourth graders. The school was over crowded so the solution was to pick out some kids that didn't need things explained as much, put them together and give them one teacher. Our desks faced different sides of the room and the teacher just went back and forth. She would tell us what to do then leave us to do it. Having a teacher explain things more always caused me to be more confused.

The problem with not having the testing is that everyone is a little different and so you are going to have to pay more attention to what works for your son even if it doesnt make sense to you. Like the tv thing, my dad would yell at me for it but my mom would stop him because she noticed that I got my work done faster that way.
Yup ! I did my homework in front of the TV too! That's when I topped the class! But when school started getting harder I stopped watching TV and I started failing!!! That must have been the problem then!!!

I think our minds work better if we play/watch TV or do something we enjoy for about 1/2 hours as soon as we come home from school ... to simulate our brains THEN start studying or watch TV WHILE we are doing homework!

Hi AndreaM,
I am actually in the same boat (but its for me instead).. Not diagnosed yet but DEFINITELY think that I have ADD. Looking for some non-medication treatments out there before I take medications.

I'll keep you posted on what I find.

This is what I've found so far regarding using diet to cure ADD/ADHD..

http://www.mercola.com/2006/jul/4

Not sure on how true it is ... but this is what I've got so far.Lots of reputable sources recommend different types of supplements to aid in dealing with adhd. there are no cures though and you might want to be cautious of sites that use such inflammatory terms as "more powerful than cocaine".

Here are some sites that give information without fear tactics and misinformation.

http://www.remedyfind.com/default.aspx

http://www.brainplace.com/bp/articles.php?articleID=10

if you do a search on the google scholar section then you can find more in the way of research.

Slow burning complex carbs for me. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies with plenty of high quality protein. It's expensive to live like this, but oh so good for me! I've looked to the high performance crews of endurance althetes like Dean Karnazes (http://ultramarathonman.com/).

I experience a very even burn and taper on that type of fuel. Hotter fuels leave me a nasty man if the supply drops off to fast, like it has to eating processed carbs. Not that I avoid the crash and burn every time out though! :P
Ian

I was diagnosed at the Hallowell Center and they recommended a diet that was low in processed foods and higher in protein.

I tried the non-medication route as well. I was diagnosed the first time when I was 20, was offered medication, but declined because of the things I had heard, because I didn't think I was too impaired, but most importantly because I didn't believe I had it. It took 4 years for me to realize I do have it and while I did well in school (I was in sports, learned to have background noise, and somehow managed to learn enough to get A's and B's) I did poorly socially and was struggling at work.

Medication is a God-send. I wish I had started it sooner. Most of the issues I have beaten myself up about over the years turned out to be ADHD related and the medication is making it easier for me to change them!

For you own peace of mind, trying the non-med route is a good option, but keep in mind that medication (if he does have ADHD) may truly be the best route. I now liken taking medication to a diabetic taking insulin. There are some diabetics who do well with changes in diet and exercise and don't need insulin, but then there are people who need insulin. People with ADHD seem to be the same, some need medication, some do ok without it.

Lots of reputable sources recommend different types of supplements to aid in dealing with adhd. there are no cures though and you might want to be cautious of sites that use such inflammatory terms as "more powerful than cocaine".

Here are some sites that give information without fear tactics and misinformation.

http://www.remedyfind.com/default.aspx

http://www.brainplace.com/bp/articles.php?articleID=10

if you do a search on the google scholar section then you can find more in the way of research.Yup, I agree. Sorry about posting something which uses such terms.."more powerful than cocaine".. My intention was just to show the dietary options that the article recommends.
(I apologize to anyone who got offended!)

I'm sure a good diet and lots of exercise can really help improve ADHD symptoms. I know they helped me survive college back before I was diagnosed. For me at this point in my life they weren't enough -- being a parents apparently is a bit more challenging to my executive functions than being a student was or maybe changing diapers and picking up toys was just less stimulating to the gray matter:p. Today I take meds which were also an incredible blessing to me in pulling me out of a rather nasty nosedive and I still work on including plenty of exercise and a good diet -- you can't go wrong with those things, but if they turn out not to be enough -- medication can be very helpful.

Take care,
Scattered

Yup, I agree. Sorry about posting something which uses such terms.."more powerful than cocaine".. My intention was just to show the dietary options that the article recommends.
(I apologize to anyone who got offended!)
No I was more worried about offending with my response. Tact is not something that I can get a handle on. I took a glance at the diabetes section and it scared me so I risked it.

I know that I could benefit from a lower carb diet and cutting out the caffeine but I hate cooking - or being bothered eating until I'm starving and then I don't want to take the time to cook. So I grab easy things which are always high in processed carbs. I don't take a multi-vitamin like I should because I'm always drinking tea and it interfers with the absorbtion of iron. So I prograstinate that until I have something else to drink so basically it never gets done because it doesn't matter how much medication I take - some things like taking care of myself just never seem to make the list of my priorities.
I keep meaning to start exercising again too. I'm doing better in that I keep my exercise bike cleared off of laundry as though I might use it at any moment.lol

I hate excercise bikes, treadmills etc. Getting outside is always the best way to go. I like to run. However, if you can't run, walking or speed walking is great excercise. Being outside helps you mentally too.

I hate excercise bikes, treadmills etc. Getting outside is always the best way to go. I like to run. However, if you can't run, walking or speed walking is great excercise. Being outside helps you mentally too.I hate being in the cold where your nose freezes. I hate being in humid weather where everything sticks to you and bugs fly at your face. Plus the whole sweating thing is so annoying. The only way I can do the exercise thing is if I can distract myself from the fact that it is going on. If I have someone to walk with where we talk enough that I forget that I'm doing something that just annoys me.
I used to like weights but I get too distracted and wander off to some other activity before I have done what I need in order for it to count.

I just looked at your profile. I'm sure you have no idea what I'm complaining about.lol I don't have to worry about criminals as much here because they don't want to be out in that cold weather either.lol

I just looked at your profile. I'm sure you have no idea what I'm complaining about.lol I don't have to worry about criminals as much here because they don't want to be out in that cold weather either.lol
Yes, we have a great climate here. As far as criminals, it is not too bad. As far as excercise, do whatever you like. Over the years I have gone through phases of excercise bikes, steppers, treadmills, etc. In the end I always get the most enjoyment out of outdoor exercise. (cost me a lot to finally realize that).

One possibility you might consider is using digestive enzymes. There are no side effects to using digestive enzymes.

Does your child have any digestive complaints at all. Sometimes even gas or burping can be a sign of digestion problems that may suggest pancreatic insufficiency. Of course pancreatic insufficiency is not a recognized health problem according to most doctors. But the first problems to develop with the pancreas is enzyme production way before insulin production may become a problem.

The pancreas produces most enzymes and can be problematic even in children. But most people as they age will lose some digestive function or experience a decrease in HCL and pepsin, or reduced enzyme production.

Enzyme therapy seems to be overlooked when it comes to digestive problems and general health problems as far as mainstream medicine goes. Enzyme supplements are a lot like nutritional supplements and are not a big money maker for the pharmaceutical companies.

Digestive enzymes are sometimes taken separate from meals for their anti-inflammatory properties. Proteolytic pancreatic enzymes are known for helping reduce kinin-based inflammation which can account for about two-thirds of all inflammatory repsonses in the body. Inflammation may include tissues of the brain.

The other one-third of inflammation problems is from histamine. Amylase the enzyme for digesting carbs is known as a natural antihistamine. Taking enzymes may or may not help hyperactive children's behavior but won't have any side effects and may help any inflammation problems that may exist.

Diet is important for good health and so is proper digestion.

http://www.adders.org/news70.htm (http://www.adders.org/news70.htm)



http://library.thinkquest.org/24206/enzyme-therapy.html

My 10 yr old son has ADHD. He was diagnose while in 2nd grade by an excellent doc. He is now going into 5th grade this fall. We did not want to put him on meds either. His symptoms were(for years) talking non-stop, always on the go, couldn't sit still for 5 mins, fidgeting, struggling in school, forgetting everything, starting arguements with brothers, friends,
Now we always knew he was active!! but we never even thought about ADHD untill we talked to a teacher. He came home crying one day because he made an F. I asked why he didn't ask the teacher for help and he said he did, 3 or 4 times but after she walked away he forgot and was too embarressed to ask again. As I have said before, in another thread, I still think many parents put kids on meds just so they don't have to deal with unrull behaviour. We finally broke down and did it due to school work and struggles. He started on a low dose of concerta and immediately we saw a difference. But we also keep a fairly structured house, as far as bedtimes, amount of time allowed playing video games etc.etc.
One thing I have noticed though is if he is interested in something and can have his hands do something he will sit for an hour or more doing it quietly. We have a coin collection with 100's of coins from all over and he will sit and look at them and ask questions for ages, same with rocks and fossils?! I feel that if his behaviour is great and he is just having a small amount of trouble, try alternative, if he is just having an extremely hard time with schoolwork and peers, then maybe you should try something.
We have tried 3(concerta, adderall, stratterra)Concerta seemed to work great for us. We noticed after school he would feel the coming down effects(getting moody and cranky)but our doc told us to give a glass of mountain dew when he came home and it would help, he was right, the moods stopped and he was good to go till bed.

Actually a little caffeine when coming off stimulent medication helped me too -- eases the drop off.


Scattered