Having some trouble deciding which way to go
i have a 7 yr old son that isn’t super hyper he just cant sit still took a test (psychological evaluation)
his level of attention and concentration was low and he was easily distracted
just to kinda name a bit
now what im looking for is other parents that have had gone through this and which way they went with (so called treatment)
im just worried about putting him on medication due to him being 7 or what if its not the right medicines or diagnosis
(makes him worse)
There’s more to it than just medication.
Does he get a lot (enough) of exercise? Recess is a big casualty in modern times, and it is to the detriment of the focusing power of our children.
Does he get enough sleep? Lack of sleep will cause a huge decrease in attention span.
How is his diet? Enough quality protein? Low sugar? Enough fiber? Be honest, here. American diets are going down the tubes…
Has his IQ been tested? Bright kids often don’t bother to pay much attention once they "get it".
Is his schooling correct for your child’s learning style? (I had to send my boys to Montessori for the elementary level.)
Has he been measured up against the average 7-year old boys? Boys take longer to develop concentration and patience than girls do, as a rule. Modern schooling is more geared toward the girls – bigger classes, less movement, more concentrated. Cheaper that way, but harder on the kinetic types.
Has he been evaluated for dyslexia? (My older son is dyslexic, had the same problems. Meds would have done absolutely nothing for him.) Auditory/visual processing disorders? There’s a lot to look at before jumping at medications.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:35 am
My bf is 50. He was one of the original ADD/ADHD kids on whom Dr. Adler experimented with ritalin. DO NOT DO IT. It screwed him up badly. There are natural alternatives; peanut butter and coffee, for example. I don’t know them all, but I do know that your kid will suffer from the meds.
References :
Personal experience.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:05 am
There’s more to it than just medication.
Does he get a lot (enough) of exercise? Recess is a big casualty in modern times, and it is to the detriment of the focusing power of our children.
Does he get enough sleep? Lack of sleep will cause a huge decrease in attention span.
How is his diet? Enough quality protein? Low sugar? Enough fiber? Be honest, here. American diets are going down the tubes…
Has his IQ been tested? Bright kids often don’t bother to pay much attention once they "get it".
Is his schooling correct for your child’s learning style? (I had to send my boys to Montessori for the elementary level.)
Has he been measured up against the average 7-year old boys? Boys take longer to develop concentration and patience than girls do, as a rule. Modern schooling is more geared toward the girls – bigger classes, less movement, more concentrated. Cheaper that way, but harder on the kinetic types.
Has he been evaluated for dyslexia? (My older son is dyslexic, had the same problems. Meds would have done absolutely nothing for him.) Auditory/visual processing disorders? There’s a lot to look at before jumping at medications.
References :
been there, done that. Not a fun journey, but oh, so rewarding!