Hi Suz - After hearing stories like yours, I am of the opinion that most schools do not want to concede services unless the child's disability is a physical one. Based on that, we had an outside neuro-educational psychologist test our daughter and we took his recommendations to the Guidance Office. We have not worked with the Child-Study Team but that may be an available resource for you. Certainly, if the tester recommends an IEP, you will need more than the guidance office. This is an expensive alternative and most insurance does not pay for it (it may be worth checking). At minimum, you should be able to get a 504 Plan for your son which does give extra time and some other accommodations - your son needs to learn to advocate for himself with his teachers. My daughter didn't get her 504 until high school and found it hard to deal with some teachers - you still have to stay involved and often need to intervene between the administration and the teachers. Good luck!

Quote

Actually, with a medical diagnosis your child most likely IS eligible for an IEP under OHI. Don't let anyone tell you that if your child's achievements (grades) are good and his ability (IQ) are high, and since there is no discrepancy, your child will not be eligible. This is SIMPLY NOT TRUE. My son has a high IQ, gets all A's, and he has no other disability. He is ADHD, ODD, SID. He has had an IEP since 1st grade (he is now 5th) and has 8 hours of support. We are now increasing his hours since ADHD evolves with ADHD characteristic challenges as kids get older (read Dr. Russell Barkley). If you feel he needs services and would like a point in the right direction, contact me via email and I will give you some pointers!!! (LSRSMAX@YAHOO.COM) Good luck!

Quote

Do anyone know of a drug called Attend it is used for children with ADD/ADHD . I was thinking about ordering it but before i do so I wanted to know if anyone knew anything about it. It is a nature drug for children it does not work as fast as Adderral. If anyone know about the product please respond.

Quote

Some things that I had to learn in the quest for our daughter's IEP were...the school did not know my daughter better than me. Just by the nature of the relationship the school and I were on opposite sides of what was appropriate for her education. The school has bureaucracy, gatekeeper rules, special education beliefts, politics that they are not sharing with you. You need to be your child's advocate and that means becoming educated about the whole system. The one book that I found extremely helpful and a great starting point is From Emotions to Advocacy by the people who wrote the wrights law. This book will talk about the testing your child got at the school and what it means. I personally found that schools will manipulate tests to their advantage, especially in ADHD cases because so many of them qualify by nature of the disorder, but are high functioning. I had to dig deeper, prove our case, and we won. Do not use their tests results as the only measurement of whether your child needs help. It is common courtesy for the school to share their results with you prior to that next meeting. Ask for the report before the meeting so you are familiar with what it says before the meeting...do not go into that meeting unprepared or unfamiliar with the testing....Please, if you need someone "out there" to help you, I'd be more than willing to talk to you if you would like. Good Luck

Quote

Your school sounds like they don't like recognizing the "501" plan kids since the school has to recognize them when posting test schores. My school was the same, the school psychologist actually made sarcastic results such as "it's behavior modification that's needed here". In any event, the best thing I did was request special education classification with the district. I have to warn you that it's a difficult fight and long. The process requires a formal intimidating hearing where the request has to be supported by documentation. The testing the school here does is something my Psychologist and outside Neuro testing center don't use (Wexler) or are even aware of. Go straight to the district and request a hearing for your son ASAP. It's the best thing I ever did for my daughter. It gave her the "edge" she needed going through high school. You're lucky you picked up on it now before his life goes into total pubescent upheaval. email me if you need to ask questions - aldupont@verizon.net

Quote

As the mother of an ADHD daughter, an ADHDer with ODD myself, and an 11-year veteran paraprofessional of a school district in MA, I can tell you from experience that you'd better start looking for advocates: decent teachers willing to help, school nurse willing to go to bat for your child, or a paid advocate. Frankly, it is in the Special Ed department's best interest NOT to give a child services if they can wiggle out of it if possible.

When my daughter's 2nd grade teacher suggested testing (I had asked about it for grades K and 1 with no response) I requested a CORE evaluation. Special Ed said they didn't have the resources for testing so, go have your private insurance do the testing and then 'share' the results. That was a violation of Federal law right off the bat- you can't refuse a CORE when requested by a parent in writing. They continued to violate our rights every time they dealt with us, and I was working in the same district! Never once after we had her declared 504 did they ever accommodate her learning/testing needs despite her doctor telling them that she needed accommodations for testing and, yes, to stop giving her a) extra 'busy' work to occupy her and b) the duty of being a 'mini-teacher' for all the LD kids in the class. We only got 504 accommodations after I hired an advocate and threatened to sue the school department for violation of Section 504 rights.

The best defense is sometimes an even better offense. Learn and know your rights. Do not settle for anything less than 504 with accommodations clearly spelled out or a 766 / IEP if your child qualifies. Your school district may try to push you around and treat you like you're clueless about your rights. Surprise them with your knowledge and they may decide not to get on your bad side. I frightened the 'team" in my daughter's last 504 meeting with my knowledge of her condition, limitations, strengths and our rights.

As an ADHD /ODD person, I can tell your psychologist it IS a big deal to have both. Try working somewhere and telling your boss off because your ODD inclination is to be contrary to be what your ordered to do. Fun times, but I haven't gotten fired for it - yet.

I wish you the very best of luck to you in being your child's advocate- you are the first and best one there is- remember that!

Quote

Dear Mother 12345,

My husband is very ADHD and has has tried several different medications - Adderall, Concerta.... We read and heard great things about Attend and tried it for three months. We were excited about getting off the expensive, medication. It did not help or improve anything for him. We are back on Concerta. I hope that helps!

Quote:

Mother12345 said: Do anyone know of a drug called Attend it is used for children with ADD/ADHD . I was thinking about ordering it but before i do so I wanted to know if anyone knew anything about it. It is a nature drug for children it does not work as fast as Adderral. If anyone know about the product please respond.

Quote

A new ADHD medicine has come out recently - Vyvanse . It is used in treating children; however, my adult son - 26 yrs old - sees a specialist and was prescribed Vyvanse (for ADHD) and Zoloft (for anxiety). This medicine has made such a huge difference in his life. He had never been happy or content in life or at work. Now life is good for him. Talk to a psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in ADHD. Normally a family doctor isn't up-to-date on ADHD medications. As a side, my 13 year old takes the medicine (at a lower dosage) and is doing better than with any other medicine and has no side effects unlike when he used Focalin, Adderall, and Concerta. You can read about Vyvanse and have some info sent to you at www.vyvanse.com Good luck.

Quote

You should have been at the referral meeting where the tests to be administered were discussed. You had to consent to them or testing couldn't take place. What tests were recommened? Maybe they weren't the right ones or more should have been added. At that meeting your child's school should have given you paperwork explaining the process and your legal options if you disagree at any time. The school psychologist cannot simply say she didn't see any significant problems and let it go at that. You have a right to sit down with her and get the results of the testing. And that should occur before the big "pow wow" meeting so you have time to think about the results. The school psychologist also shouldn't have been the only one assessing your child. There should have been a team of assessors. It is unethical and illegal for school psychologists to interpet test results to reflect anything other than their professional opinion about what they mean in regard to your child's strengths and weaknesses, learning style, etc. The problem may be the federal special education law and your state's interpretation of that law. The law leaves a lot of things open to interpretation and question. In general, if a student's educational progress/academic learning is not being affected then special education is not mandated. Special education means that a student needs to be taught an academic subject(s) in a different way in order to learn. However, the equal opportunity in education, civil rights 504 law is often used for students that don't qualify for special education services. You need to make a folder/notebook to put everything you are given about your child's special education evaluation in; you need to write down questions that you want answers to as it is difficult to think in a meeting room with from 2 to 10 people; and you need to educate yourself about the special education law in your state. As another post already said, you are your child's best advocate. If you don't understand something that is being said, ask for clarification. If you woud feel more comfortable having someone accompany you to the meetings, you are within your rights to do that. But your school psychologist needs to give you a written report of her assessment results!

Quote

Reponse to Emails Hello,

Due to the high volume of emails I am getting regarding my methods in treating ADHD I have put together this general email. If there is something specific you would like to know that is not addressed in this email- please feel free to contact me again via email jenniferskitchennook@msn.com

I am more than happy to guide families with natural alternatives.

Thank You, Jennifer Hyatt jenniferskitchennook@msn.com www.blessedfamilyofflowers.homeschooljournal.net http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fallingstarsofcolorado/ "Opinion Without Knowledge is Blind" Socrates "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss "Tell me, I forget; Show me, I understand; Let me do it, I will Remember...Let me teach it and I will have achieved Mastery!" Confucius

How do you learn to eat healthy?

Learning to eat healthy is something I have learned about over the years. I read Natural Health Magazine, and various other Health magazines/ books. I also talk from personal life experience in dealing with natural health in my everyday life. I am a student (junior) at the University of Colorado. My major is English Writing but I also take great interest in psychology and health/ nutrition and have completed many courses in these areas.

How did I deal with the school while transitioning my children to natural methods?

I notified the school ahead of time that I was planning the transition. After I notified them to be prepared I wound up taking him out of school for homeschooling (from August 2007 to January 2008). I decided to keep him home so I could monitor his progress. I am studying to be a teacher/writer (junior in college), so I had the skills to utilize. I have a personal homeschool site. I plan on maintaining the site even though we are not homeschooling anymore with my everyday life lessons. I have four children (ages 3, 6, 8, and 10). My 6 year old has PDDNOS and severe ADHD (combination form- inattentive/ hyperactive/ impulsive) as well as speech and language articulation challenges. My ten year old has ODD and ADHD (impulsive/ inattentive) My oldest (10 years) was actually on Adderall and she is now off the meds too- I homeschooled all of my children during the transitioning. Though I must say homeschooling is not for everyone it worked well for us. When I had planned on keeping the children in school- I notified the school of the upcoming transition- they were more than happy to assist during this time. Though we have a wonderful school- they even assisted during the homeschooling period- resources, etc... If your child is special needs (ADHD/ AUTISM/ ODD, etc...) you can arrange with the school to have an iep (Individualized Education Plan) and a Behavior Intervention Plan. By state law if your child needs assistance they are required to provide it.

How do I wean my child from medication to Natural Methods?

Weaning- over a three week period.

My son was on 54 mg of Concerta when the weaning began- took him down to 36 mg. for one week. The next week went to 18 mg. The next week went to 18 mg every other day. The last week- no meds. During this time (from the beginning) I used supplements/ vitamins to ease in the transition. This plan was approved by our family doctor. After the weaning and before- I took my children in for monitoring to our family doctor. I also plan on taking him in at the 6 month mark for a check over- this month February 2008. My doctor actually gave me a site to check on supplements to see what levels would be considered toxicity- www.quckwatch.com It is important to wean the child off slowly. The ADHD medications are drugs and if you just take your child off- the result can be mind altering and your child will experience withdrawal from the drug.

You are suppose to take children in every 6 months while they are on ADHD meds to be monitored.

Where do you buy natural methods?

Note- I carefully researched natural alternatives over a period of time before deciding to transition into this method. I consulted my family doctor, psychiatrist, as well as a natural methods consultant/ nutritionist at our local health store.

I go to Wild Oats, Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, or Sunflower Market in person to get the supplements. If your local health food store does not carry the particular one you want then you can ask them to special order it.

I use Yummi Bears because the absorbency rate in much higher than that of plain old Flinstone Vitamins. I would be skeptical about buying them online- you do not know the expiration date/ purity of company, etc... There has been news reporting on companies (from China, etc...) that switch meds, supplements, etc... for materials made of card board- they look just like the real thing. SO be careful...

Here is what I use- you will want to check with your doctor on the levels you should be using for the age/weight of your child. My son is 8 and I give him one tablet of each- which is safe. With the below items you should see a difference within a few days. Except with the Child Bright- I think it takes 8 weeks. You should definitely see a difference in your child by the time he is weaned off of the meds (within 3 weeks). I use to be a major believer in meds but watching my son's side effects and wondering if I would go into his room in the morning to find him dead from the meds- changed my mind. I have put major research into getting my son off the meds and into natural methods. Here is what I use-

http://www.nordicnaturals.com/ Omega 3-6-9 Junior

This is the Omega's my son uses- they are purity tested. When buying Omega's you want to watch out for those who may have mercury in them/ toxicity. This brand is a good one. They also offer this in liquid form.

http://www.yummibears.com/index.php Multi-Vitamins and Minerals Whole Foods Vegetable and Fruits with Antioxidants

Child Bright- This one is an alternative to the Attentive Child- it also have DMAE in it- we chose to use the Source Naturals Attentive Child though- it is a little cheaper and works just as well.

http://www.sourcenaturals.com/products/GP1028/ Attentive Child

General Information-

The Source Naturals- "Attentive Child" has DMAE in it, which is a natural alternative that stimulates your child and helps to improve concentration and memory.

http://www.vitaminstuff.com/dmae.html

DMAE was originally studied for potential as a treatment for hyperactivity in students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). In the 1970s, studies demonstrated that children taking DMAE were less hyper and disruptive in class an increased ability to concentrate in school. Research suggests that DMAE may also help treat symptoms of autism, memory deficiency, depression, and dementia.

DMAE boosts brain function by causing the body to produce more acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that sends messages and commands concerning emotions and behavior throughout the brain. Acetylcholine is also thought to be involved in the process of storing memories. Many people swear by DMAE supplements, reporting that DMAE supplementation improved their memory (especially short- term memory), concentration, and mental clarity, and even helped them sleep more soundly.

DMAE is found in oily fish, but small amounts of it are also produced in the body. However, the average person gets just enough DMAE to maintain rather than improve brain function, and it is impossible to get enough DMAE from dietary sources to treat mental disorders.

* I give a small dose to my son (allowed 3 or 4 wafers- I only give him one (1) a day.

A response to an email I received with information-

I am truly happy I took my son off the meds- he is actually better now than he was when he was on meds. When he started his motor tics (while on Adderall and continued after switched back to Concerta) our old doctor (we switched doctor’s after this) basically said not to worry about it : ( Of course I am going to worry about it! This is my son's body telling me something is wrong. So, I slowly weaned him off the meds (very important step or the child will go through withdrawals) and introduced supplements during the transition. I had read many books on natural alternatives- the problem with the books is that it is written from that person's perspective and experiences- so you basically have to pick out what you can use and leave the rest- the same would hold true for my choice in natural methods- many of them you may adopt while others you will not.

Diet-

I do not allow him to eat food with preservatives in it- dyes, etc... I do not let him eat processed food. If my son wants a treat I make "healthy cookies" (with Wheat Germ, Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate Chips, Whole Wheat Flour and basic cookie ingredients and one with pumpkin, whole wheat flour, unbleached white flour and basic cookie ingredients), which he L-O-V-E-S. This gives him a sweet treat and does not affect him at all : ) I can give him a processed cookie and for 3 days after he is zooming but I give him one of my healthy cookies and he is completely fine : ) We also use milk without growth hormones in it- Horizon or Robinson. My son will not eat it but I feed my other children meat that does not have growth hormones in it either- Tyson chicken, or organic. We eat a lot of organic foods. My son is also PDDNOS (a form of autism) so he is very particular with what I feed him- which makes getting the proper nutrients in him quite tricky. This is why I give him Yummi Bears Whole Food supplements with fruit and vegetables + Antioxidants (1 bear). I also give him Yummi Bears Multi-Vitamin (1 bear). In addition, I give him Omega 3-6- 9 (Nordic Naturals- Junior) (1 tablet) and to help him keep his concentration I use Source Naturals Attentive Child (1 wafer). We have been using the natural method since August/ September 2007 and we have not looked back. In the Nordic Naturals and Source Naturals - they offer it in liquid or capsule form.

Fish oil and flax oil is essentially the same thing- If I had to choose just one I would do the Fish Oil. If your child will eat fish then I would opt to have him eat it in its natural form instead- which my son will not. Same thing with fruit and vegetables- if you can get him to eat it naturally from the actual food source- do that- my son will eat fruits but not veggies. There is a book that I have on hold at the library on how to hide veggies in your child's food. It is called, The sneaky chef : simple strategies for hiding healthy foods in kids' favorite meals / by Missy Chase Lapine.

We also drink only good things- like V-8 Fusion (not V8 Splash because it has high fructose corn syrup in it).

I can almost guarantee that the Violent Outbursts are from the meds- Ritalin as my son experienced these. Since the natural methods he is not violent anymore :) Did you wean him the meds off slowly? It is a mind altering drug and just taking him off can affect him mentally. As far as the caffeine- Personally I would not try it. Think about it this way- he would take in caffeine and have a high and then come back down- in other words, he would have high and lows and during the lows he would not feel too good. If he has hyperactivity- the caffeine would not be a good choice. You have to be careful with the things people tell you to try with what will and will not work- be conscious of your choices and use common sense.

To end- Each child is distinctly different. What methods you decide as a family is a personal one- there is no one universal fit to treating each child. You as a parent need to filter out what information is helpful to your child. Be careful with information that cycles via the internet- if someone is selling something- you should be skeptical- of course it is the best thing out there/ the latest and greatest thing (being sarcastic). Research information you find for yourself to check for its accuracy. There are people out there that will feed you any information (whether true or not) that will lead to a purchase from you and a sale for them- even if it risks your child’s health. Remember what works for one child may not work for another. There are many natural methods out there such as Zinc, B vitamins, Magnesium, etc… you need to check for levels that are tailored to your child- ones that will not lead to toxicity. Best rule of thumb- research, research, research and check your accuracy with your family doctor. Filter out reliable sources for the information you find to check your own research. This is your child and you are responsible for his/her health and well-being.

I am not a doctor. Everything I share, I gained from personal experience and lots of research.

Jennifer Hyatt jenniferskitchennook@msn.com www.blessedfamilyofflowers.homeschooljournal.net http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fallingstarsofcolorado/ "Opinion Without Knowledge is Blind" Socrates "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss "Tell me, I forget; Show me, I understand; Let me do it, I will Remember...Let me teach it and I will have achieved Mastery!" Confucius

Hello, My son is severe ADHD. We have used Adderall and Concerta. After two years on the meds (age 6-8) My son was having motor tics, anger outbursts, was easily frustrated (high anxiety), and his chest was starting to protrude- scary stuff. I weaned my son off the meds slowly (under doctor's supervision) and introduced natural methods. After 5 months we have not turned back- he is actually doing better on the natural methods than he was on the meds. This is what we have been using for my son (8 years old). one (1) yummi bear (whole foods supplement with fruits and vegetables+ antioxidants), one (1) yummi bear (minerals and vitamins), one (1) Nordic Naturals Junior 3-6-9, and one (1) Source Naturals Attentive Child Wafer. I checked with our family doctor to make sure the dosage was correct to avoid toxicity and he stated that the dosage was good. He gave me a website to do some more research if I wanted www.quackwatch.com Feel free to email me privately if you would like any more information jenniferskitchennook@msn.com

Jennifer Quote:

Mother12345 said: Do anyone know of a drug called Attend it is used for children with ADD/ADHD . I was thinking about ordering it but before i do so I wanted to know if anyone knew anything about it. It is a nature drug for children it does not work as fast as Adderral. If anyone know about the product please respond.

Quote

It definetely seems you need a little help understanding the law and your rights. School systems have budgets to meet. Sometimes kids don't get services because the school doesn't think they need them, doesn't want the hassle to provide them or just don't want to spend the money/ don't have the $ to spend, exp in smaller communities. But the bottom line is - it is the law! I don't understand why it has taken 3 years - from my understanding, once you put it in writing that you are requesting the battery of testing they have 65 business days to comply. This is Federal law, not varied by state.

My children are in special ed for general delay but a friend has the opposite problem. She put her kid in a special school where they cluster by ability. Her kid taught himself to read in preschool and probably reads at a 3rd grade level. She told them this from the begining and told them if he was not challenged he would be problematic. Well he won't site and do his work, wonders around the room, talks with his friends and now is "disrespecting" the teachers and all they do is write a # down on a piece of paper and expect her to deal with it at home. Which she has, he has not problems at home now but the consequences are not immediate and since there is no consequences in school he continues to act out. They still have him in reading K level such as See Jane Run and circle the blue item in this group of items. When they can get him to do the work, he does it in 3 minutes vs the 45 min the rest of the class took, and its correct!

So its not just you, your child or your school system. Anyone who does not have an absolutely middle of the line, normal / average kid has to deal with it. I have been trying to act as an advocate for her and get some materials to help her. We are in a metro area where there is actually 5 cities that come together. One of the things you might try is contacting the Child Study Tam / Special ed dept of another system that is close to yours. I contact the one my kids go to just to get some basic understanding of the law and how it applied to non-special ed diagnosed kids for my friend and thats when I found out the battery of test was for all kids no matter what and it was federal law that it be completed within 65 business days. However, in discussing the situation with my contact she was able to give me a name of someone that acts as a private advocate for parents. She described the person as formidable and definetly knew the law. Since you have to deal with your school system it probably would not be best to go to them but if you had another around, that is not "responsbile" for your situation, they might be willing to clue you in on someone who could help.

- Erica

Quote

Hi All, I am a mother of a 10 1/2 year old boy who was diagnosed by a pediatric neurologist with ADHD 5 years ago. Prior to that we were told by a nurse practicioner that he was on the autistic spectrum. He had numerous developemental delays and sensory integration issues. Life was not fun with rage fits, irritability, impulsivity, school challenges and sensitivities. At the end of Kindergarten he was given an IEP with a classification of non-specific learning disabilities. We began giving him a nutrition product 6 years ago and seeing a positive difference. We did not give him enough however so in 1st grade tried meds too. Oh my what a nightmare with Adderall and Focalin, after one pill he was up till 3 AM trying to hit us and destroy the house. The lowest dose of Strattera was good. We then found out how great the nutrition product was when I became a distributor for the company and learned that he just needed more nutrition. So he has been off the Strattera and doing NO meds for the past 2 1/2 years. He is doing great (not dealing with rage fits, irritability and rarely any impulsivity) and getting A's and B's in school, his immune system is strong, he has received no supplemental help at all for the past 2/12 years too. It tastes good and he only fought me once in 6 years about taking it. If you would like to learn more about it and see if it would bless your family email me at ruckert@ptd.net. It has a money back guarantee so you are risking NOTHING. I am now a happy mom with a great kid! Linda

Quote

If you wouldn't mind passing on your letter, I could really use it. My daughter is gifted with ADD and recently has shown signs of OCD. She was becoming such a perfectionist that she couldn't finish her work and didn't want to go to school. I have always suspected a reading or processing speed difficulty because, although she is gifted, she takes forever to read a passage and needs to reread several times. When she was spiraling out of control, I requested testing at the suggestion of her Psychiatrist. He wrote a letter detailing the issues and his concern that she would have a nervous break down if she didn't receive accommodations. Of course, she was turned down for an IEP or 504. The liaison between Special School District and our school lead the meeting. He told the teachers that they were to judge if her ADD interfered with her learning so that she was unable to preform adequately in average classes. Although my degree is in Special Education and I read up in advance, I could not get him to listen to what I had to say or even to my daughter who wanted to speak.

My daughter has since been treated with anxiety medication in addition to her ADD medication and the results have been wonderful. The issues with OCD behavior are gone, but the issues of reading and processing speed remain. She has required more time on tests and in class assignments since 2nd grade (noted on her report cards), but in high school she sometimes gets extra time and sometimes doesn't. When extra time is denied, she does not finish, especially final exams, and her grade drops. On standardized tests that are not timed she scores in the 90+%, but on timed standardized tests she scores in the 70% range. She wants to be a doctor and grades and her ACT scores be a problem if she does not receive accommodation. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Quote

Well, I am sort of a cross-over type: I am a parent of a child who grew up with ADHD and other problems, plus I am a sped teacher. It saddens me to hear people who have had to fight to get services for their children. Despite what your school psychologist shared with you, I still hold out hope that the professionals at your school are eager to help your child. At our school, we agonize over how best to help students who are struggling behaviorally or academically. It can be just as frustrating to us that we can't qualify a child for services because of the constraints of the law. It is true that a disability such as ADHD must have a significant impact on your child's progress before they will qualify for sped services. 504, however, may the perfect situation to help students with disabilities whose progress has not been significantly affected. Through 504, a student may receive accomodations in instruction and testing; they can have accomodations to mitigate the ODD as well. I have no way of knowing what your school psychologist was trying to impart by the statement you referred to, but when the IEP meeting occurs they will give you all the details in a report. If you disagree with the report you have the right to disagree formally and to ask for the meeting to be tabled for up to 10 days while you take the report and get a second opinion if you need it. At our schools, ADHD would not be diagnosed by the school psychologist, rather by a physician. IF that is true where you are, it could be that the psychologist feels your child is not emotionally disturbed (ED). ED does not include such problems as ADHD or ODD. In a way, you might have been getting some good news. So, don't spin your wheels worrying about what they meant. Instead, know that you have rights as a parent to stop a meeting if you don't feel things are going as they should. Do not sign that you agree with the findings of the IEP meeting. Sign that you disagree. You can then get more input and even bring an advocate with you to the next meeting if you want. Do try to stay positive for as long as you can because it helps the faculty stay flexible and creative in solving problems. All the best in your quest!

Quote

I am a special education teacher and have a child (1st grade) with ADHD. A child can be placed on an IEP with a medical diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. This is refered to as OHI or Other Health Impaired. However, don't jump right into placing a child on a IEP just because of ADD. Talk with your child's counselor and teachers and work ou the best plan for him. A child can receiveve accomidations such as extra time on assignments or modified testing under a 504 plan. It is important that your child be placed in the least restrictive environment while still getting the help he needs. For example regular classes with a resource study hall to allow extra time to complete work . Some early invertention to deal with social issues including small group meetings with the school counselor and medication made a huge difference in my son's ability to interact appropriately and focus at school.

Quote

Hello,

Due to the high volume of emails I am getting regarding my methods in treating ADHD I have put together this general email. If there is something specific you would like to know that is not addressed in this email- please feel free to contact me again via email jenniferskitchennook@msn.com

I am more than happy to guide families with natural alternatives.

Thank You, Jennifer Hyatt jenniferskitchennook@msn.com www.blessedfamilyofflowers.homeschooljournal.net http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fallingstarsofcolorado/ "Opinion Without Knowledge is Blind" Socrates "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss "Tell me, I forget; Show me, I understand; Let me do it, I will Remember...Let me teach it and I will have achieved Mastery!" Confucius

How do you learn to eat healthy?

Learning to eat healthy is something I have learned about over the years. I read Natural Health Magazine, and various other Health magazines/ books. I also talk from personal life experience in dealing with natural health in my everyday life. I am a student (junior) at the University of Colorado. My major is English Writing but I also take great interest in psychology and health/ nutrition and have completed many courses in these areas. How did I deal with the school while transitioning my children to natural methods?

I notified the school ahead of time that I was planning the transition. After I notified them to be prepared I wound up taking him out of school for homeschooling (from August 2007 to January 2008). I decided to keep him home so I could monitor his progress. I am studying to be a teacher/writer (junior in college), so I had the skills to utilize. I have a personal homeschool site. I plan on maintaining the site even though we are not homeschooling anymore with my everyday life lessons. I have four children (ages 3, 6, 8, and 10). My 6 year old has PDDNOS and severe ADHD (combination form- inattentive/ hyperactive/ impulsive) as well as speech and language articulation challenges. My ten year old has ODD and ADHD (impulsive/ inattentive) My oldest (10 years) was actually on Adderall and she is now off the meds too- I homeschooled all of my children during the transitioning. Though I must say homeschooling is not for everyone it worked well for us. When I had planned on keeping the children in school- I notified the school of the upcoming transition- they were more than happy to assist during this time. Though we have a wonderful school- they even assisted during the homeschooling period- resources, etc... If your child is special needs (ADHD/ AUTISM/ ODD, etc...) you can arrange with the school to have an iep (Individualized Education Plan) and a Behavior Intervention Plan. By state law if your child needs assistance they are required to provide it.

How do I wean my child from medication to Natural Methods?

Weaning- over a three week period. My son was on 54 mg of Concerta when the weaning began- took him down to 36 mg. for one week. The next week went to 18 mg. The next week went to 18 mg every other day. The last week- no meds. During this time (from the beginning) I used supplements/ vitamins to ease in the transition. This plan was approved by our family doctor. After the weaning and before- I took my children in for monitoring to our family doctor. I also plan on taking him in at the 6 month mark for a check over- this month February 2008. My doctor actually gave me a site to check on supplements to see what levels would be considered toxicity- www.quckwatch.com It is important to wean the child off slowly. The ADHD medications are drugs and if you just take your child off- the result can be mind altering and your child will experience withdrawal from the drug. You are suppose to take children in every 6 months while they are on ADHD meds to be monitored.

Where do you buy natural methods?

Note- I carefully researched natural alternatives over a period of time before deciding to transition into this method. I consulted my family doctor, psychiatrist, as well as a natural methods consultant/ nutritionist at our local health store.

I go to Wild Oats, Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, or Sunflower Market in person to get the supplements. If your local health food store does not carry the particular one you want then you can ask them to special order it.

I use Yummi Bears because the absorbency rate in much higher than that of plain old Flinstone Vitamins. I would be skeptical about buying them online- you do not know the expiration date/ purity of company, etc... There has been news reporting on companies (from China, etc...) that switch meds, supplements, etc... for materials made of card board- they look just like the real thing. SO be careful... Here is what I use- you will want to check with your doctor on the levels you should be using for the age/weight of your child. My son is 8 and I give him one tablet of each- which is safe. With the below items you should see a difference within a few days. Except with the Child Bright- I think it takes 8 weeks. You should definitely see a difference in your child by the time he is weaned off of the meds (within 3 weeks). I use to be a major believer in meds but watching my son's side effects and wondering if I would go into his room in the morning to find him dead from the meds- changed my mind. I have put major research into getting my son off the meds and into natural methods. Here is what I use-

http://www.nordicnaturals.com/ Omega 3-6-9 Junior This is the Omega's my son uses- they are purity tested. When buying Omega's you want to watch out for those who may have mercury in them/ toxicity. This brand is a good one. They also offer this in liquid form. http://www.yummibears.com/index.php Multi-Vitamins and Minerals Whole Foods Vegetable and Fruits with Antioxidants

Child Bright- This one is an alternative to the Attentive Child- it also have DMAE in it- we chose to use the Source Naturals Attentive Child though- it is a little cheaper and works just as well. http://www.sourcenaturals.com/products/GP1028/ Attentive Child

General Information-

The Source Naturals- "Attentive Child" has DMAE in it, which is a natural alternative that stimulates your child and helps to improve concentration and memory. http://www.vitaminstuff.com/dmae.html

DMAE was originally studied for potential as a treatment for hyperactivity in students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). In the 1970s, studies demonstrated that children taking DMAE were less hyper and disruptive in class an increased ability to concentrate in school. Research suggests that DMAE may also help treat symptoms of autism, memory deficiency, depression, and dementia.

DMAE boosts brain function by causing the body to produce more acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that sends messages and commands concerning emotions and behavior throughout the brain. Acetylcholine is also thought to be involved in the process of storing memories. Many people swear by DMAE supplements, reporting that DMAE supplementation improved their memory (especially short- term memory), concentration, and mental clarity, and even helped them sleep more soundly.

DMAE is found in oily fish, but small amounts of it are also produced in the body. However, the average person gets just enough DMAE to maintain rather than improve brain function, and it is impossible to get enough DMAE from dietary sources to treat mental disorders. * I give a small dose to my son (allowed 3 or 4 wafers- I only give him one (1) a day.

A response to an email I received with information-

I am truly happy I took my son off the meds- he is actually better now than he was when he was on meds. When he started his motor tics (while on Adderall and continued after switched back to Concerta) our old doctor (we switched doctor’s after this) basically said not to worry about it : ( Of course I am going to worry about it! This is my son's body telling me something is wrong. So, I slowly weaned him off the meds (very important step or the child will go through withdrawals) and introduced supplements during the transition. I had read many books on natural alternatives- the problem with the books is that it is written from that person's perspective and experiences- so you basically have to pick out what you can use and leave the rest- the same would hold true for my choice in natural methods- many of them you may adopt while others you will not. Diet-

I do not allow him to eat food with preservatives in it- dyes, etc... I do not let him eat processed food. If my son wants a treat I make "healthy cookies" (with Wheat Germ, Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate Chips, Whole Wheat Flour and basic cookie ingredients and one with pumpkin, whole wheat flour, unbleached white flour and basic cookie ingredients), which he L-O-V-E-S. This gives him a sweet treat and does not affect him at all : ) I can give him a processed cookie and for 3 days after he is zooming but I give him one of my healthy cookies and he is completely fine : ) We also use milk without growth hormones in it- Horizon or Robinson. My son will not eat it but I feed my other children meat that does not have growth hormones in it either- Tyson chicken, or organic. We eat a lot of organic foods. My son is also PDDNOS (a form of autism) so he is very particular with what I feed him- which makes getting the proper nutrients in him quite tricky. This is why I give him Yummi Bears Whole Food supplements with fruit and vegetables + Antioxidants (1 bear). I also give him Yummi Bears Multi-Vitamin (1 bear). In addition, I give him Omega 3-6- 9 (Nordic Naturals- Junior) (1 tablet) and to help him keep his concentration I use Source Naturals Attentive Child (1 wafer). We have been using the natural method since August/ September 2007 and we have not looked back.

In the Nordic Naturals and Source Naturals - they offer it in liquid or capsule form. Fish oil and flax oil is essentially the same thing- If I had to choose just one I would do the Fish Oil. If your child will eat fish then I would opt to have him eat it in its natural form instead- which my son will not. Same thing with fruit and vegetables- if you can get him to eat it naturally from the actual food source- do that- my son will eat fruits but not veggies. There is a book that I have on hold at the library on how to hide veggies in your child's food. It is called, The sneaky chef : simple strategies for hiding healthy foods in kids' favorite meals / by Missy Chase Lapine.

We also drink only good things- like V-8 Fusion (not V8 Splash because it has high fructose corn syrup in it). I can almost guarantee that the Violent Outbursts are from the meds- Ritalin as my son experienced these. Since the natural methods he is not violent anymore :) Did you wean him the meds off slowly? It is a mind altering drug and just taking him off can affect him mentally. As far as the caffeine- Personally I would not try it. Think about it this way- he would take in caffeine and have a high and then come back down- in other words, he would have high and lows and during the lows he would not feel too good. If he has hyperactivity- the caffeine would not be a good choice. You have to be careful with the things people tell you to try with what will and will not work- be conscious of your choices and use common sense.

To end- Each child is distinctly different. What methods you decide as a family is a personal one- there is no one universal fit to treating each child. You as a parent need to filter out what information is helpful to your child. Be careful with information that cycles via the internet- if someone is selling something- you should be skeptical- of course it is the best thing out there/ the latest and greatest thing (being sarcastic). Research information you find for yourself to check for its accuracy. There are people out there that will feed you any information (whether true or not) that will lead to a purchase from you and a sale for them- even if it risks your child’s health. Remember what works for one child may not work for another. There are many natural methods out there such as Zinc, B vitamins, Magnesium, etc… you need to check for levels that are tailored to your child- ones that will not lead to toxicity. Best rule of thumb- research, research, research and check your accuracy with your family doctor. Filter out reliable sources for the information you find to check your own research. This is your child and you are responsible for his/her health and well-being. I am not a doctor. Everything I share, I gained from personal experience and lots of research. Jennifer Hyatt jenniferskitchennook@msn.com www.blessedfamilyofflowers.homeschooljournal.net http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fallingstarsofcolorado/ "Opinion Without Knowledge is Blind" Socrates "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss "Tell me, I forget; Show me, I understand; Let me do it, I will Remember...Let me teach it and I will have achieved Mastery!" Confucius

Quote

Reponse to Emails Hello,

Due to the high volume of emails I am getting regarding my methods in treating ADHD I have put together this general email. If there is something specific you would like to know that is not addressed in this email- please feel free to contact me again via email jenniferskitchennook@msn.com

I am more than happy to guide families with natural alternatives.

Thank You, Jennifer Hyatt jenniferskitchennook@msn.com www.blessedfamilyofflowers.homeschooljournal.net http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fallingstarsofcolorado/ "Opinion Without Knowledge is Blind" Socrates "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss "Tell me, I forget; Show me, I understand; Let me do it, I will Remember...Let me teach it and I will have achieved Mastery!" Confucius

How do you learn to eat healthy?

Learning to eat healthy is something I have learned about over the years. I read Natural Health Magazine, and various other Health magazines/ books. I also talk from personal life experience in dealing with natural health in my everyday life. I am a student (junior) at the University of Colorado. My major is English Writing but I also take great interest in psychology and health/ nutrition and have completed many courses in these areas.

How did I deal with the school while transitioning my children to natural methods?

I notified the school ahead of time that I was planning the transition. After I notified them to be prepared I wound up taking him out of school for homeschooling (from August 2007 to January 2008). I decided to keep him home so I could monitor his progress. I am studying to be a teacher/writer (junior in college), so I had the skills to utilize. I have a personal homeschool site. I plan on maintaining the site even though we are not homeschooling anymore with my everyday life lessons. I have four children (ages 3, 6, 8, and 10). My 6 year old has PDDNOS and severe ADHD (combination form- inattentive/ hyperactive/ impulsive) as well as speech and language articulation challenges. My ten year old has ODD and ADHD (impulsive/ inattentive) My oldest (10 years) was actually on Adderall and she is now off the meds too- I homeschooled all of my children during the transitioning. Though I must say homeschooling is not for everyone it worked well for us. When I had planned on keeping the children in school- I notified the school of the upcoming transition- they were more than happy to assist during this time. Though we have a wonderful school- they even assisted during the homeschooling period- resources, etc... If your child is special needs (ADHD/ AUTISM/ ODD, etc...) you can arrange with the school to have an iep (Individualized Education Plan) and a Behavior Intervention Plan. By state law if your child needs assistance they are required to provide it.

How do I wean my child from medication to Natural Methods?

Weaning- over a three week period.

My son was on 54 mg of Concerta when the weaning began- took him down to 36 mg. for one week. The next week went to 18 mg. The next week went to 18 mg every other day. The last week- no meds. During this time (from the beginning) I used supplements/ vitamins to ease in the transition. This plan was approved by our family doctor. After the weaning and before- I took my children in for monitoring to our family doctor. I also plan on taking him in at the 6 month mark for a check over- this month February 2008. My doctor actually gave me a site to check on supplements to see what levels would be considered toxicity- www.quckwatch.com It is important to wean the child off slowly. The ADHD medications are drugs and if you just take your child off- the result can be mind altering and your child will experience withdrawal from the drug.

You are suppose to take children in every 6 months while they are on ADHD meds to be monitored.

Where do you buy natural methods?

Note- I carefully researched natural alternatives over a period of time before deciding to transition into this method. I consulted my family doctor, psychiatrist, as well as a natural methods consultant/ nutritionist at our local health store.

I go to Wild Oats, Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, or Sunflower Market in person to get the supplements. If your local health food store does not carry the particular one you want then you can ask them to special order it.

I use Yummi Bears because the absorbency rate in much higher than that of plain old Flinstone Vitamins. I would be skeptical about buying them online- you do not know the expiration date/ purity of company, etc... There has been news reporting on companies (from China, etc...) that switch meds, supplements, etc... for materials made of card board- they look just like the real thing. SO be careful...

Here is what I use- you will want to check with your doctor on the levels you should be using for the age/weight of your child. My son is 8 and I give him one tablet of each- which is safe. With the below items you should see a difference within a few days. Except with the Child Bright- I think it takes 8 weeks. You should definitely see a difference in your child by the time he is weaned off of the meds (within 3 weeks). I use to be a major believer in meds but watching my son's side effects and wondering if I would go into his room in the morning to find him dead from the meds- changed my mind. I have put major research into getting my son off the meds and into natural methods. Here is what I use-

http://www.nordicnaturals.com/ Omega 3-6-9 Junior

This is the Omega's my son uses- they are purity tested. When buying Omega's you want to watch out for those who may have mercury in them/ toxicity. This brand is a good one. They also offer this in liquid form.

http://www.yummibears.com/index.php Multi-Vitamins and Minerals Whole Foods Vegetable and Fruits with Antioxidants

Child Bright- This one is an alternative to the Attentive Child- it also have DMAE in it- we chose to use the Source Naturals Attentive Child though- it is a little cheaper and works just as well.

http://www.sourcenaturals.com/products/GP1028/ Attentive Child

General Information-

The Source Naturals- "Attentive Child" has DMAE in it, which is a natural alternative that stimulates your child and helps to improve concentration and memory.

http://www.vitaminstuff.com/dmae.html

DMAE was originally studied for potential as a treatment for hyperactivity in students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). In the 1970s, studies demonstrated that children taking DMAE were less hyper and disruptive in class an increased ability to concentrate in school. Research suggests that DMAE may also help treat symptoms of autism, memory deficiency, depression, and dementia.

DMAE boosts brain function by causing the body to produce more acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that sends messages and commands concerning emotions and behavior throughout the brain. Acetylcholine is also thought to be involved in the process of storing memories. Many people swear by DMAE supplements, reporting that DMAE supplementation improved their memory (especially short- term memory), concentration, and mental clarity, and even helped them sleep more soundly.

DMAE is found in oily fish, but small amounts of it are also produced in the body. However, the average person gets just enough DMAE to maintain rather than improve brain function, and it is impossible to get enough DMAE from dietary sources to treat mental disorders.

* I give a small dose to my son (allowed 3 or 4 wafers- I only give him one (1) a day.

A response to an email I received with information-

I am truly happy I took my son off the meds- he is actually better now than he was when he was on meds. When he started his motor tics (while on Adderall and continued after switched back to Concerta) our old doctor (we switched doctor’s after this) basically said not to worry about it : ( Of course I am going to worry about it! This is my son's body telling me something is wrong. So, I slowly weaned him off the meds (very important step or the child will go through withdrawals) and introduced supplements during the transition. I had read many books on natural alternatives- the problem with the books is that it is written from that person's perspective and experiences- so you basically have to pick out what you can use and leave the rest- the same would hold true for my choice in natural methods- many of them you may adopt while others you will not.

Diet-

I do not allow him to eat food with preservatives in it- dyes, etc... I do not let him eat processed food. If my son wants a treat I make "healthy cookies" (with Wheat Germ, Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate Chips, Whole Wheat Flour and basic cookie ingredients and one with pumpkin, whole wheat flour, unbleached white flour and basic cookie ingredients), which he L-O-V-E-S. This gives him a sweet treat and does not affect him at all : ) I can give him a processed cookie and for 3 days after he is zooming but I give him one of my healthy cookies and he is completely fine : ) We also use milk without growth hormones in it- Horizon or Robinson. My son will not eat it but I feed my other children meat that does not have growth hormones in it either- Tyson chicken, or organic. We eat a lot of organic foods. My son is also PDDNOS (a form of autism) so he is very particular with what I feed him- which makes getting the proper nutrients in him quite tricky. This is why I give him Yummi Bears Whole Food supplements with fruit and vegetables + Antioxidants (1 bear). I also give him Yummi Bears Multi-Vitamin (1 bear). In addition, I give him Omega 3-6- 9 (Nordic Naturals- Junior) (1 tablet) and to help him keep his concentration I use Source Naturals Attentive Child (1 wafer). We have been using the natural method since August/ September 2007 and we have not looked back. In the Nordic Naturals and Source Naturals - they offer it in liquid or capsule form.

Fish oil and flax oil is essentially the same thing- If I had to choose just one I would do the Fish Oil. If your child will eat fish then I would opt to have him eat it in its natural form instead- which my son will not. Same thing with fruit and vegetables- if you can get him to eat it naturally from the actual food source- do that- my son will eat fruits but not veggies. There is a book that I have on hold at the library on how to hide veggies in your child's food. It is called, The sneaky chef : simple strategies for hiding healthy foods in kids' favorite meals / by Missy Chase Lapine.

We also drink only good things- like V-8 Fusion (not V8 Splash because it has high fructose corn syrup in it).

I can almost guarantee that the Violent Outbursts are from the meds- Ritalin as my son experienced these. Since the natural methods he is not violent anymore :) Did you wean him the meds off slowly? It is a mind altering drug and just taking him off can affect him mentally. As far as the caffeine- Personally I would not try it. Think about it this way- he would take in caffeine and have a high and then come back down- in other words, he would have high and lows and during the lows he would not feel too good. If he has hyperactivity- the caffeine would not be a good choice. You have to be careful with the things people tell you to try with what will and will not work- be conscious of your choices and use common sense.

To end- Each child is distinctly different. What methods you decide as a family is a personal one- there is no one universal fit to treating each child. You as a parent need to filter out what information is helpful to your child. Be careful with information that cycles via the internet- if someone is selling something- you should be skeptical- of course it is the best thing out there/ the latest and greatest thing (being sarcastic). Research information you find for yourself to check for its accuracy. There are people out there that will feed you any information (whether true or not) that will lead to a purchase from you and a sale for them- even if it risks your child’s health. Remember what works for one child may not work for another. There are many natural methods out there such as Zinc, B vitamins, Magnesium, etc… you need to check for levels that are tailored to your child- ones that will not lead to toxicity. Best rule of thumb- research, research, research and check your accuracy with your family doctor. Filter out reliable sources for the information you find to check your own research. This is your child and you are responsible for his/her health and well-being.

I am not a doctor. Everything I share, I gained from personal experience and lots of research.

Jennifer Hyatt jenniferskitchennook@msn.com www.blessedfamilyofflowers.homeschooljournal.net http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fallingstarsofcolorado/ "Opinion Without Knowledge is Blind" Socrates "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss "Tell me, I forget; Show me, I understand; Let me do it, I will Remember...Let me teach it and I will have achieved Mastery!" Confucius

Quote:

jenniferskitchennook said: Hello, My son is severe ADHD. We have used Adderall and Concerta. After two years on the meds (age 6-8) My son was having motor tics, anger outbursts, was easily frustrated (high anxiety), and his chest was starting to protrude- scary stuff. I weaned my son off the meds slowly (under doctor's supervision) and introduced natural methods. After 5 months we have not turned back- he is actually doing better on the natural methods than he was on the meds. This is what we have been using for my son (8 years old). one (1) yummi bear (whole foods supplement with fruits and vegetables+ antioxidants), one (1) yummi bear (minerals and vitamins), one (1) Nordic Naturals Junior 3-6-9, and one (1) Source Naturals Attentive Child Wafer. I checked with our family doctor to make sure the dosage was correct to avoid toxicity and he stated that the dosage was good. He gave me a website to do some more research if I wanted www.quackwatch.com Feel free to email me privately if you would like any more information jenniferskitchennook@msn.com

Jennifer Quote:

Mother12345 said: Do anyone know of a drug called Attend it is used for children with ADD/ADHD . I was thinking about ordering it but before i do so I wanted to know if anyone knew anything about it. It is a nature drug for children it does not work as fast as Adderral. If anyone know about the product please respond.

Quote