Question for those of you who have children with ADHD

[Nakia]

My brother's almost 9 year old son (T) just recently came to live with my brother after having some behavioral problems with his mother. T has been with my brother for two months. He is in 2nd grade (was held back last year). Anyway, my brother went to his first parent teacher conference today. The teacher told my bro that she thinks T has ADHD. I do not believe my nephew has ADHD. He just acts like a perfectly normal boy to me. But I will admit that I am ignorant when it comes to ADHD/ADD.

 

Anyway, the teacher did not offer testing or any follow up counseling, but she did recommend that T have one "energy drink" every morning, and that my bro send one for him to have at lunch every day as well. This seems crazy to me. I did admit my ignorance on the subject of ADHD, but I have seen the ingredients of energy drinks. I don't think those things should be put into any kid ever.

 

Please help me understand if there is some validity in her recommendation or if she is out of her mind.

 

Thanks!

[swellmomma]

2 of my kids have adhd. The use of energy drinks, coffee etc is known to help some cases of adhd. It is used instead of the medications that are out there. That said until my child was actually tested and proven to have adhd I would not use a highly caffienated drink daily any more than I would treat with meds without a full Dx. A teacher is not qualified to make that diagnosis at all, your brother needs to request that full tested be done before he agrees to hang this label on his son.

 

What behaviour issues caused him to come stay with his dad may I ask? And what has the teacher convinced it is ADHD and not just a reaction to the change of living arrangements etc?

[Mandamom]

The energy drink recommendation has to do with that fact that stimulants (in this case caffeine) can be very helpful in reducing some of the ADHD symptoms. (At least I think that's where the teacher is coming from.). Many people do see that adding caffeine to the diet can make it easier to get through the day.

 

ADHD is really complex and difficult to diagnose and I definitely wouldn't let a teacher diagnose it. ADHD can look like the busy child bouncing around unable to keep still but it can also look like the child sitting in the corner "reading" a book (but really just day-dreaming) and it can also look like the unorganized kid who gets in trouble because of his impulsivity (the kid who takes from someone else because he thought it looked cool might be disciplined as a thief).

 

Good luck figuring it out.

[Nakia]

2 of my kids have adhd. The use of energy drinks, coffee etc is known to help some cases of adhd. It is used instead of the medications that are out there. That said until my child was actually tested and proven to have adhd I would not use a highly caffienated drink daily any more than I would treat with meds without a full Dx. A teacher is not qualified to make that diagnosis at all, your brother needs to request that full tested be done before he agrees to hang this label on his son.

 

What behaviour issues caused him to come stay with his dad may I ask? And what has the teacher convinced it is ADHD and not just a reaction to the change of living arrangements etc?

 

Thanks for responding. He was really giving his mother a hard time by being disrespectful, mistreating his younger brother, etc. He was also playing a lot of "tricks" like hiding all the silverware and taking all the light bulbs out of the fixtures. His mom just could not handle him anymore so she shipped him out to Kansas to my brother. One of the main problems is that the child has never been disciplined appropriately in his whole life. Another is that my brother has not been present a whole lot. He is in the military, and was deployed when T was a toddler. Then when my bro came back, he was in a really bad place and going through a divorce from T's mother. My bro finally got his life together, went full duty Army, remarried a great woman, and moved to Kansas, which is 1000 miles away from his kids. It is a really sad situation. I strongly believe that his problems in school stem from lack of discipline and stability. Poor kid.

 

My brother is being deployed again this summer, so in June, T is heading back home to his mom. :crying:

[Carrie12345]

The teacher should stick to reporting her observations and keep her mouth shut on treatment options.

 

That said, a high dose of caffeine (at home, with parental observation) could be a great tool to *help* determine whether or not the teacher might be on to something.

 

A caffeinated ADHD'er can be a good thing.

 

<---- practically mainlining caffeine ;)

[Danestress]

have an ability to offer testing or "follow up counseling." That's just not what teachers are equipped to do. They can offer observations about children's behaviors, and she's probably seen a few cases of ADHD and might be well positioned to notice things about your nephew. I wish *so much* that one of my teachers would have identified that and brought it to my parents attention! I'd send her flowers now.

 

I'm not at all sure I would use caffiene as a treatment option, though, without medical oversight. For one thing, he's 9. One energy drink in his body is probably like 2 or 3 in mine! That's a lot of caffiene for a kid, to say nothing of the sugar.

 

I would think that with the recent chance of custody, some family therapy probably couldn't hurt anyway, and if I were your brother, I would get some counseling to have guidance on this important life transition and help my child cope with those changes, and ADD/ADHD is just one thing I would mention. Often therapists will talk to teachers about their observations.

Edited March 28, 2009 by Danestress

[Guest teachermom3]

I have one child, 8, who is ADD and one child, 6, who has some ADHD characteristics but is NOT. My ADD child benefits from light medication taken only during the school day. She had classic symptoms, went through all of the testing and presented characteristics both at home and at school. The meds have done wonders for her. She was never a behavior problem, she was just unable to focus, complete tasks or listen.

 

My 6 yo boy is another story. He can keep a clean room, write well, repeat information, follow multi step directions, complete homework unassisted at home(all things very difficult for and ADD child like my daughter) But he is impulsive, squirmy and sometimes noncompliant in school. We had him tested across the board and it turns out he has a high IQ (in the 130's and think it's higher because he wouldn't sit still for the test) and high conceptual skills but is not a visual learner (won't read). So, ironically, he qualifies as LD. Many times gifted children with LD present as problems and are quickly labeled ADHD to try to get them under control. What he needs is a different learning environment, different approaches and smaller work environments that reinforce with projects and hands on learning. He does not need meds.

 

That said, teachers are not supposed to EVER suggest that a child has a condition. The information MUST come from the parent (I know this because I am a teacher and my husband is a Supt. of schools) Likewise, it is not legal for her to suggest treatment and she could get in a great deal of trouble, professionally and legally for doing that.

 

As others have said, an ADHD diagnosis is tricky and a lengthy, heavy-hearted proceedure, but if the child does indeed have the condition, treatments can be very helpful.

 

Your boy sound more like Oppositional Definance issues -- so you could ask about that. There are EBD IEP's designed for those issues if he qualifies, but again, testing necessary.

 

Good luck, it's not too late to love him and save him and educate him!

Edited March 28, 2009 by teachermom3

[GoVanGogh]

I think at least one state (Colorado?) has made it illegal for schools to suggest that a child has ADD/ADHD or push for testing. Schools get extra $$$ for "learning differences" so if they have an active child they may be more likely to push for testing.

 

My own experience -

My DS more than likely would be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. :tongue_smilie: (And, yes, a bit of caffeine does seem to help him focus, but I don't know about giving him an energy drink!)

DS has three friends in our neighborhood, two in 1st grade and one in 2nd grade. All of their teachers have pushed for ADD/ADHD testing.

The girl was tested in K and put on medications. (Her behavior is worse now.)

One boy was tested in 1st grade and told he does not have ADD/ADHD. (I have known this child since birth and he is the most inactive child I have ever met! :glare:)

The parents of the other boy (currently in 2nd grade) have resisted testing. Their son is really struggling with the amount of writing that is required in 2nd grade. He gets 100% in math and spelling, but the teachers mark off up to 50% of his grade due to "poor penmanship."

 

BTW, our school district does not allow running at recess. If you drive by at recess time, you will likely find the kids walking single file around the school yard. K gets 30 minutes of "outside time," 1st graders get 20 minutes and 2nd graders get 10 minutes. No recess after 2nd grade. To meet our state requirements re: P.E. minimums, recess is now "scripted play" so it can count double - as both recess and P.E. (Hence the walking in circles. No wild free play time.)

 

I highly recommend this book:

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv.

http://richardlouv.com/

 

Also, I have read - and it has been my experience with my son - that "visual learners" are more likely to be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD because every little visual thing grabs their attention. :tongue_smilie:

[swellmomma]

Okay that sucks, I typed out a very very long reply only to get a error message from the board. Anyway, long reply short, What you describe is more in line with Oppositional defiance disorder. OF my 2 adhd-er's one has ODD and one has Conduct disorder. Energy drinks will not help that, therapy, family counselling and consistency is the only thing that will make a difference in that.

 

I recommend your bros requests the school does academic testing to test for LD, and he calls a shrink to schedule family counselling and assessment of T. It is fully possible his behaviour is due to a lack of discipline, upheaval of family etc and not anything psychological. But getting the full assessment is key and the family counselling is a must no matter what the assessment shows. This boy has got to be hurting from the way his life has been going, getting shuttled back and forth, no consistency etc.

[Guest teachermom3]

I'm in Minn. and teachers can't bring up ADD or ADHD here either

[katemary63]

Have him take his son to a pediatric neurologist. They can diagnose ADD/ ADHD properly. Many people self medicate with caffeine. It can work for some people but you should have a diagnosis before trying anything.

I always thought my son had ADD. I asked every teacher at every conference, "Do you think he has ADD?" The answer was always no because his behavior at school was very good. At age 9, due to some behavior problems at home, we had him tested as part of a complete work up. Results were positive. He is 22 now and there is no doubt - ADD all the way. The point is, teacher's don't always know - either way. But if either parent or teacher suspect, the child should be seen to rule it out. I wish we had known sooner.

[Pamela H in Texas]

My brother uses the energy drinks instead of adhd meds.

 

I didn't put my kids on meds until they were teens. I wish I had done so sooner.

 

I will tell you that my children do not really have behavioral issues (though my son is a "challenging child" so we've had our share--plus-- of issues in the past....my daughter is probably literally THE easiest child on earth). There are many types of add and adhd and kids present differently. It is very possible that this child is struggling academically due to focus issues, hyperactivity, etc.

 

One thing...my experience, before my children's meds in the past few months, was that children either didn't seem helped by medication or were zombie'd out. My son tried meds when he was 8 and that was exactly what happened (though he was on much more than just adhd meds). However, my children have NO issue with what they are currently on. It simply allows my daughter to focus and my son to quit bouncing off the walls (literally). They are doing VERY well academically.

 

I feel guilty not medicating before now (we have considered it many times over the past 6 years). I see how well it CAN go and wish I had pursued that for them.

 

Anyway, I think an evaluation might be helpful. And there are many things to try naturally, discipline wise, and medication wise to come up with the right situation for the kiddo.

[Country Mouse]

You might suggest that your brother also look into Sensory Processing Disorder because a lot of behaviors that might look like ADHD are actually a result of sensory issues.

I don't think caffeine would help at all if the boy is dealing with SPD.

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/index.html

[Nakia]

Thanks for all of your replies. I am going to forward the info to my brother.

[Kathy in MD]

Your nephew needs to be evaluated by a specialist familiar with developmental delays because there are several problems that display all or almost all of the symptoms of ADD. These problems include Sensory Processing dysfunction, food sensitivities, and dev. vision problems. My ds was diagnosed by a dev. pediatrician. Others have gone to neuro-psychs.

 

These problems can stand alone or coexist with each other or even with ADD. And if drugs are recommended for ADD, the recommended amount of drugs can be reduced by treating other problems.

 

Though a teacher can't diagnose ADD, they can often tell when there is something wrong. It was my ds's teacher that clued dh and me that ds wasn't just an overactive, under-disciplined child but that he had real, physical problems that included everything I mentioned above except ADD. BTW, ds also had severe language problems adding to his ADD-like behaviors.

Edited March 29, 2009 by Kathy in MD