My2fellas,

Hi! We noticed a difference the first day my son was on medication. If the dosage is too low you may not notice a difference or only a small difference. You are not "drugging" your child. Would you use that term if your child had to take medication for asthma or diabetes? Would you feel guilty? Of course not. Your child has a condition that affects his ability to focus and concentrate. Just as glasses can help an individual see better, medication can help an individual with ADHD to focus and concentrate.

Untreated, ADHD can cause numerous problems and puts one at risk for psychological disorders, drug abuse, school failure, earlier and more frequent unprotected sex, and social problems. Individuals with untreated ADHD are more likely to be fired from a job, have relationship problems, more likely to be arrested, have more auto accidents and receive more traffic tickets. The damage to self-esteem is also great as many of these children grow up believing they are stupid, lazy or bad. That is how my husband grew up. He wonders how his life might have turned out differently if his ADHD had been diagnosed and treated as a child. He never graduated from high school and he said he actually "quit" school at age 8. That's when he stopped trying and caring.

But you have the opportunity to do all you can to help your child avoid those problems and grow up with healthier self-esteem and the ability to do his best. One woman told her child it was a special vitamin when she gave her the ADHD medication. The child came home and told her mother that she liked the special vitamins and wanted to continue taking them because she was able to finish all her work and the other kids no longer laughed at her.

Unfortunately most people's opinions are formed by the media's take on ADHD and meds. Read the scientific research on ADHD and effective treatment. Educate yourself on ADHD with good, sound sources of information. You are fortunate that your child was diagnosed young. My son was diagnosed at age 10, my daugher at 20 and my husband at 45. All of them had repercussions from undiagnosed and untreated ADHD. Not just academic but loss of friends, being punished for things they couldn't do anything about, difficulties with parents and teachers who didn't understand, etc. The sooner it is treated, the less damage can be incurred.

Elaine

Quote

I felt the same way you are. My 8 yr old at the time went through 3 yrs of school struggling. I did not want to put the stigma on her of being ADHD and on meds. But after stuggling but getting by, being smart was not enough going in 3rd grade. She started getting behind. When I finally took her to the doctors and explained what the meds would do she was happy. Its hard for a child to get in trouble almost everyday and it be because something that they have no control over. Almost instantly the teacher saw a differenece. She has been on three different meds over two years and it does take som tweaking but beleive me he is much better of for being on meds. I waited to long and now I am having some major consequences for that. My daughters self esteem is so low from being ADHD along with a whole batch of other problems. Do look at it that you are drugging him, look at it as you are giving him the proper tools that he needs to do well in life. You would not send a kid to school with out paper and pencils. This is the same thing, The meds are a tool to him just like paper and pencil. Lisa

Quote

We started our 6 year old on medication last year. It has been life changing for her. We have had to tweek dosage about 4 times to give her the opportunity to be able to function at school. Meds help but it doesn't cure ADHD. She stills has trouble learning and struggles making friends. We are getting special help for her this summer to bring her up to grade level. She also struggles with writing. Her school has not been real helpful. Sitting her at a table with four other kindergarteners pretty much keeps her from being able to follow what the teacher is saying. This has been a hard year for her. You have to take things day by day and try to give them what they need.

Quote