The typical provider simply doesn’t know about biomedical approaches and thus isn’t conveying that information. Parents try ADHD drugs because they want to help their diagnosed child or teen and aren’t presented with other clinical ADHD treatment options. The scariness of adverse reactions often is the turning point for parents to find more effective and holistic solutions. A push toward medication usage is the norm in every facet of mental health. Parents often tell me that their child’s personality changed and or that they stopped eating after beginning ADHD medications. Parenting a child with ADHD is utterly exhausting, and sometimes, when you’re operating under the strain of discouraging parent-teacher conferences and a sea of treatment options and dealing with your fidgety, forgetful handful of a kid, you get a momentary twinge of envy toward those parents who don’t have to bear the weight of these things. He takes 4 hours to today two sheets of hw and I have to sit around to get him to focus. I don't want my son to wait til adulthood to feel successful. In my experience, ADHD medication is a miracle. A push toward medication usage is the norm in every facet of mental health. Once your child is evaluated, you are faced with a difficult decision: Should I medicate my child? "My son was just 5 years old when he was diagnosed with ADHD, and I thought that was too young for medication," she says. This takes time and guidance and starting with a psychotherapist for child and parent support is the way to go. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (commonly known as ADHD) is the most frequently diagnosed behavioral disorder in children, with roughly 8.4% of school-aged children living with the condition. Research demonstrates that a QEEG brain map is 89% accurate as a diagnostic test of ADHD versus behavioral rating scales which are 47 to 58% accurate. None of that, though, was enough to help him find an equilibrium. The physician explains to them in person what ADHD is, how the … Side effects range from reduced eating and growth, irritability, rage, and personality changes to psychotic behaviors. You are divorced and have shared custody. They now started him on meds. It’s one I want all my neurodiverse peers to get the opportunity to try. “For a kid who has mild ADHD, behavioural training might work like a charm. It’s been on my mind, lately, too. Posted on March 25, 2016 March 25, 2016 by BAM. Identifying through lab work what are things that could be irritating your systems, such as food or environmental toxins, or missing nutrients, can be a real game-changer in supporting the brain to self-regulate. We are honored to offer parent coaching because sometimes parents need to find ways to support their child (or two) that need something from them. With the reduction of symptoms though teaching the brain to self-regulate, children and teens can be the best possible version of themselves. demonstrates that Neurofeedback reduces symptoms up to 90 percent of the time. When my daughter had trouble in school, I was hesitant to try medication to treat her ADHD. At home, he struggled with anxiety; he chewed on his shirts and couldn’t sit still at meals. ADHD symptoms in kids often look the same as the ones for children with anxiety, OCD, learning difficulties, depression, Autism, sensory processing, birth trauma, PTSD, nutritional deficiencies, and genetic issues because they might be having a hard time focusing or controlling impulses. I’ve never in my 18 years professional career know a child with stunt growth because of caffeine. However, children with more severe symptoms benefit greatly from medication. As shocking as this sounds, the average physician has not had one course in nutrition. We Don’t Medicate Our Oldest. “For a kid who has mild ADHD, behavioural training might work like a charm. The reason for this is that I don`t feel that my child should have to be on medication if it wasn`t necessary. He has a difficult time sitting still in the classroom and he cannot get his work done when left on his own. LETS Erase the Stigma She's very much like me! Behavioral rating scales are not only subjective, they only give us a glance as to what is impacting the CNS, especially since ADHD in adults is different than in children. The good news is that children and teens with ADHD are often very intelligent and capable of learning, they just need direct skillset instruction. Even if I don’t medicate my ADHD child for their ADHD, most of the time the comorbidities need to be addressed. I also don't want to medicate him so early that he misses out on childhood. and effective treatment for ADHD, as documented through 3,000 peer-reviewed studies. “We do not have an independent, valid test for ADHD, and there is no data to indicate that ADHD is due to a brain malfunction.”— National Institute of Health (NIH) Consensus Statement. In my professional opinion — after treating hundreds of ADHD cases since the 1990s — medication is a tool that allows many children with ADHD to benefit from other educational, behavioral and psychological treatments and thus function better in their lives. By reducing his sugar intake and ensuring his diet was rich in protein (to stabilize his blood sugar and avoid crashes that lead to moodiness), Shannon and Carol noticed that Jonah’s hyperactivity and impulsiveness decreased. But private schools aren’t required to serve all students. There were still negative side effects and the question of whether they were doing the right thing was never far from their minds. I hate the meds. Numerous research studies demonstrate that our Western diet is associated with increased symptoms of ADHD in kids. I knew something was not right and that is when I asked my … . Why I Choose to Medicate My ADHD Child. Partners Shannon and Carol Fitzsimmons* instituted this laundry list of changes when they suspected their preschooler, Jonah*, had ADHD (he was officially diagnosed at age six). I am just not ready to medicate him. Ridgefield, CT 06877, © Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge | Website Design by Mack Media, Because our whole mental health system has broken down and medication is often the first and only treatment offered, a parents first step really should be meeting with a psychologist, who can offer parents support and obtain resources. Ideally, both parents participate in the evaluation process. 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