I'm having my almost 5 yr old evaluated for ADHD

[Raye]

I've been diagnosed Innattentive ADD in April of this year, and I see all the signs of ADHD in my almost 5 yr old girl. She's starting head start next month and I don't want her having problems in school... I've read up on all the symptoms/signs in children and she has almost every one. Has anyone ever had a child this young diagnosed? Have you medicated them and has it helped any? I don't want a zombie for a kid, I just want her happy.

Thanks.

[tudorose]

Wait til she's 6 before medicating her. Her brain needs to develop so that meds will actually have an effect. When you first put her on meds she will cry. Ignorance is bliss. The only reason I medicated my daughter at 6 was because she could not cope. She was getting corporal punishment at school, being violent to other kids (even put one in hospital) and was on the brink of being suspended. We had to do something quick before the oppositional behaviours got too ingrained. Luckily with meds and a lot of intervention we we able to save her. Now that she's 17 and has been settled for a long time she's cutting them down (of her own decision) because she's happier with less.

If your daughter is happy then let her be for now. See whether she does have trouble in school. She might be able to wing it for a while. Unless she's being a real danger to herself and others around her I wouldn't recommend meds until she's older.

[mcnay1]

A good evaluation by a developmental/behavioral pediatrician or child psychologist is the best thing to do. Being proactive is awesome and will set your daughter up, so good job, mom! Others will speak more articulately on this than I, but if medicating is an option, do your research and do what is best for your family. I dont think there is any magic age in which to start medication if that is what is best.

Make sure to read DisFriz's corner. He has posted a lot of useful information.

As for our story - our son is just now 7. He was born in Guatemala and came home at 8 months old. He was developmentally delayed and diagnosed as such. But, there were some other things going on as well... He was ultimately diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 4. He started meds at 4 1/2 years old and we saw immediate changes. Where he was not able to sit still long enough to learn to write, draw, color, read, play with legos... he took off on these things immediately. It was a very, very hard decision and one that we did not take lightly.

Saying that, our experience has been very positive. The meds didnt change his personality, he wasnt/isnt zombie like, he didnt/doesnt cry all the time, he's not more violent or emotional while on meds... It has all been really a good change. Now, thats not to say that our son isnt still challenging. The meds arent a cure, but they do allow him to sort things out in his mind and learn coping skills. He has a long way to go, but I believe that he'll get there...

Good luck!

[Raye]

tudorose-

Sorry to hear of your daughter's pain, but that's why I'm having mine evaluated this month- I don't want her having those kinds of issues at school . She already has problems with playmates- no one really wants to play with her, as she is loud and obnoxious and bossy when playing with other kids now. She will grab their arms and drag them off and demand they play what game, or what ever it is that she wants to play. I'm afraid it will lead to violence eventually.

Mcnay-

yes I'm trying to be proactive. As the inattentive type, i went undiagnosed my entire life and have suffered terribly, but I can clearly see my daughter as ADHD hyperactive if she's diagnosed correctly. I don't want her to suffer as i have. I would like to see the positive results in my daughter as you have your son. No zombie like state, no crying all the time, no emotional outbursts. i just want her happy and be able to function normally at school and at home. I know pills don't teach skills, so I'm just going to see what the child psychologist has to say.

[Dizfriz]

Originally Posted by Raye

I've been diagnosed Innattentive ADD in April of this year, and I see all the signs of ADHD in my almost 5 yr old girl. She's starting head start next month and I don't want her having problems in school... I've read up on all the symptoms/signs in children and she has almost every one. Has anyone ever had a child this young diagnosed? Have you medicated them and has it helped any? I don't want a zombie for a kid, I just want her happy.

Thanks.

Welcome.

Probably the best tool for dealing with ADHD is to learn as much about the disorder as you can.

Mcnay kindly mentioned my corner, you can find it at http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60130

This is not meant to be definitive but instead a starting place in the journey to understanding ADHD and how it works with children. It also gives access to both a written transcript and a number of videos concerning the disorder. These take time but with your daughter being five, you have time so no need to really rush.

On the medication issue, if a kid seems to be turned into a "zombie" so to speak, it usually means that either the medication is not the right one or the dosage may need changing. We really do not see this much when the proper medication and dosage is found.

Be aware that this is not always a simple issue and proceeds mostly by trial and error to a degree but most ADHD kids find something that works reasonably well with acceptable side effects.

Good luck,

Dizfriz

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by tudorose

Wait til she's 6 before medicating her. Her brain needs to develop so that meds will actually have an effect. When you first put her on meds she will cry. Ignorance is bliss. The only reason I medicated my daughter at 6 was because she could not cope. She was getting corporal punishment at school, being violent to other kids (even put one in hospital) and was on the brink of being suspended. We had to do something quick before the oppositional behaviours got too ingrained. Luckily with meds and a lot of intervention we we able to save her. Now that she's 17 and has been settled for a long time she's cutting them down (of her own decision) because she's happier with less.

If your daughter is happy then let her be for now. See whether she does have trouble in school. She might be able to wing it for a while. Unless she's being a real danger to herself and others around her I wouldn't recommend meds until she's older.

You may want to avoid meds a's long as you can hut if her adhd is severe enough and she is a danger ti herself it could be an option. It may be rare to medicate a young child but not unheard of. Mu son was one or they few that needed medication. He would leave they house get stuck on trees get into cleaning supplies and alp sorts of things. When he had temper tantrums he would tip the blinds from his window ans kick the walls. He was diagnosed at age 3.5 and medicated at age 4. It was they best thing we could have done. He was able to absorb what he was taught because his brain was able to tune into the class. He is 16 now gifted, wonderful, and huge! Almost 6ft tall and nothing but lean muscle and eats everything in the house. We were lucky I guess to have ho growth issues. I adore him and would have done the same thing again of given the choice. So yes meds at a young age may be rare and you'd want to try other things but they have changed the life he would have had had I not chosen to medicate him.