Parents Of Kids With ADHD...

[Noomi]

This is not a bitch fest, seriously. I am looking for some information, and I will tell you why.

Last night I went to my class as usual, and discovered that a little boy was about to begin his first ever karate class. He's about five years old, and has ADHD and Autism. He's a bundle of energy, doesn't take direction, but is the most gorgeous little kid you ever did see.

Class goes for an hour, and he was never going to pay attention for that long. However, he did stand in line for a very short period, before running back to mum, returning for a few minutes, running off again etc. He spent about ten minutes all up in line. He has so much energy its just unbelievable.

My question is this - since he was able to remain in line for no more than ten minutes, if his mum brings him back next week, could we expect him to remain in line for a little longer, and a little longer the week after that, or will he never be able to focus? He's a very enthusiastic youngster and I'd love to see him continue - if only because he's simply adorable!

 

[Wake]

Hello Noomi. Excepting the autism, what you've described is part and parcel of my childhood. ADHD really depends on the person, and what kind they've got. There are at least 10 variants of the disorder, but we do know it is genetically inheritable. In my case the disorder involved hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Once I reached certain ages, the hyperactivity then the impulsivity faded. Now my main problem is attention, focusing. Because it's genetic it can't really be punished out of him, but he could take certain medications that might help, or, with time, he could outgrow some of the aspects of the disorder.

People in our group are usually very intelligent, but we make up for it with various detriments, like not being able to focus the energy well. Instead of that light targeting one point as it does for normal people, our attention spans... that "light," splays out in all directions.

 

[Gracie]

Sister in law has ADHD.

She drives me bonkers.

 

[Noomi]

Thanks Wake. This kid appears to be very bright and fun loving, despite his energy levels. His mum says she gets around three hours sleep a night as he wakes up when she is going to bed. She's trying to tire him out, I think. LOL.

Can your sister in law concentrate on tasks, Gracie?

 

[waltky]

Toddlers Medicated For ADHD...

Thousands of Toddlers Are Medicated for A.D.H.D., Report Finds, Raising Worries
MAY 16, 2014 — More than 10,000 American toddlers 2 or 3 years old are being medicated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder outside established pediatric guidelines, according to data presented on Friday by an official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report, which found that toddlers covered by Medicaid are particularly prone to be put on medication such as Ritalin and Adderall, is among the first efforts to gauge the diagnosis of A.D.H.D. in children below age 4. Doctors at the Georgia Mental Health Forum at the Carter Center in Atlanta, where the data was presented, as well as several outside experts strongly criticized the use of medication in so many children that young. The American Academy of Pediatrics standard practice guidelines for A.D.H.D. do not even address the diagnosis in children 3 and younger — let alone the use of such stimulant medications, because their safety and effectiveness have barely been explored in that age group. “It’s absolutely shocking, and it shouldn’t be happening,” said Anita Zervigon-Hakes, a children’s mental health consultant to the Carter Center. “People are just feeling around in the dark. We obviously don’t have our act together for little children.”

Dr. Lawrence H. Diller, a behavioral pediatrician in Walnut Creek, Calif., said in a telephone interview: “People prescribing to 2-year-olds are just winging it. It is outside the standard of care, and they should be subject to malpractice if something goes wrong with a kid.” Friday’s report was the latest to raise concerns about A.D.H.D. diagnoses and medications for American children beyond what many experts consider medically justified. Last year, a nationwide C.D.C. survey found that 11 percent of children ages 4 to 17 have received a diagnosis of the disorder, and that about one in five boys will get one during childhood. A vast majority are put on medications such as methylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin) or amphetamines like Adderall, which often calm a child’s hyperactivity and impulsivity but also carry risks for growth suppression, insomnia and hallucinations.

Only Adderall is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for children below age 6. However, because off-label use of methylphenidate in preschool children had produced some encouraging results, the most recent American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines authorized it in 4- and 5-year-olds — but only after formal training for parents and teachers to improve the child’s environment were unsuccessful. Children below age 4 are not covered in those guidelines because hyperactivity and impulsivity are developmentally appropriate for toddlers, several experts said, and more time is needed to see if a disorder is truly present. Susanna N. Visser, who oversees the C.D.C.’s research on the disorder, compiled Friday’s report through two sources: Medicaid claims in Georgia and claims by privately insured families nationwide kept by MarketScan, a research firm. Her report did not directly present a total number of toddlers 2 and 3 years old nationwide being medicated for the disorder, however her data suggested a number of at least 10,000 and perhaps many more.

Dr. Visser’s analysis of Georgia Medicaid claims found about one in 225 toddlers being medicated for A.D.H.D., or 760 cases in that state alone. Dr. Visser said that nationwide Medicaid data were not yet available, but Georgia’s rates of the disorder are very typical of the United States as a whole. “If we applied Georgia’s rate to the number of toddlers on Medicaid nationwide, we would expect at least 10,000 of those to be on A.D.H.D. medication,” Dr. Visser said in an interview. She added that MarketScan data suggested that an additional 4,000 toddlers covered by private insurance were being medicated for the disorder. Dr. Visser said that effective nonpharmacological treatments, such as teaching parents and day care workers to provide more structured environments for such children, were often ignored. “Families of toddlers with behavioral problems are coming to the doctor’s office for help, and the help they’re getting too often is a prescription for a Class II controlled substance, which has not been established as safe for that young of a child,” Dr. Visser said. “It puts these children and their developing minds at risk, and their health is at risk.”

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[strollingbones]

when did it become acceptable to expect a 5 yr old boy to remain still for longer than 10 minutes? any 5 year old boy?

 

[Wake]

As a young man who has had ADHD for much of his life, I'm disturbed at the thought of 2-3-years-olds being diagnosed. I think I was diagnosed around 6 or 8; hard to remember the exact time.

ADHD is real, but the problem of over-diagnosis is real as well, and merits further research and debate.

 

[Grandma]

My question is this - since he was able to remain in line for no more than ten minutes, if his mum brings him back next week, could we expect him to remain in line for a little longer, and a little longer the week after that, or will he never be able to focus? He's a very enthusiastic youngster and I'd love to see him continue - if only because he's simply adorable!

A "normal" kid won't have much of an attention span at that age, and it won't improve on a weekly basis.

It would be better if there were a separate class for the young kids.

 

[Mr. H.]

My ex had no patience for our youngest son, so she got him doped up on Ritalin.

On the weekends that I had the children, I squirreled away his Rit. I much preferred him being a precocious energetic inquisitive kid than the zombie he would become while medicated.

That week, I'd grind up his dope and snort it. Really good shit.

 

[Noomi]

As a young man who has had ADHD for much of his life, I'm disturbed at the thought of 2-3-years-olds being diagnosed. I think I was diagnosed around 6 or 8; hard to remember the exact time.

ADHD is real, but the problem of over-diagnosis is real as well, and merits further research and debate.

I agree, which is why I am of the opinion that the majority of kids who have ADHD don't actually have it at all Its hugely over diagnosed.

 

[Noomi]

My question is this - since he was able to remain in line for no more than ten minutes, if his mum brings him back next week, could we expect him to remain in line for a little longer, and a little longer the week after that, or will he never be able to focus? He's a very enthusiastic youngster and I'd love to see him continue - if only because he's simply adorable!

A "normal" kid won't have much of an attention span at that age, and it won't improve on a weekly basis.

It would be better if there were a separate class for the young kids.

Kids that age can concentrate - we have five year olds who come week after week and pay attention, so its not impossible.

The kid didn't come back the following week, anyway. His mother obviously felt it wasn't for him. Too bad, because he was awesome.

 

[TheOldSchool]

According to behaviorism that kid should absolutely be able to participate in that class. All he needs is the right mentor.

 

[jon_berzerk]

As a young man who has had ADHD for much of his life, I'm disturbed at the thought of 2-3-years-olds being diagnosed. I think I was diagnosed around 6 or 8; hard to remember the exact time.

ADHD is real, but the problem of over-diagnosis is real as well, and merits further research and debate.

I agree, which is why I am of the opinion that the majority of kids who have ADHD don't actually have it at all Its hugely over diagnosed.

the key is to capture his attention

 

[Noomi]

According to behaviorism that kid should absolutely be able to participate in that class. All he needs is the right mentor.

Interesting way of looking at things. You think it is the fault of the teacher for not gaining his attention?

 

[Politico]

As a young man who has had ADHD for much of his life, I'm disturbed at the thought of 2-3-years-olds being diagnosed. I think I was diagnosed around 6 or 8; hard to remember the exact time.

ADHD is real, but the problem of over-diagnosis is real as well, and merits further research and debate.

I agree, which is why I am of the opinion that the majority of kids who have ADHD don't actually have it at all Its hugely over diagnosed.

That.

I had it once. My dad cured it real fast.

 

[waltky]

Granny says a good swift smack onna bottom'll...

... cure a lot o' dat so-called ADHD crap...

... parents make the time to raise yer kids.

 

[Noomi]

Granny says a good swift smack onna bottom'll...

... cure a lot o' dat so-called ADHD crap...

... parents make the time to raise yer kids.

True. Some kids just need a parent to stand up for themselves and say no.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

This is not a bitch fest, seriously. I am looking for some information, and I will tell you why.

Last night I went to my class as usual, and discovered that a little boy was about to begin his first ever karate class. He's about five years old, and has ADHD and Autism. He's a bundle of energy, doesn't take direction, but is the most gorgeous little kid you ever did see.

Class goes for an hour, and he was never going to pay attention for that long. However, he did stand in line for a very short period, before running back to mum, returning for a few minutes, running off again etc. He spent about ten minutes all up in line. He has so much energy its just unbelievable.

My question is this - since he was able to remain in line for no more than ten minutes, if his mum brings him back next week, could we expect him to remain in line for a little longer, and a little longer the week after that, or will he never be able to focus? He's a very enthusiastic youngster and I'd love to see him continue - if only because he's simply adorable!

Tricky. Know so little about either one, so trying to understand or model someone with both isn't easy. I would say how well he may do will depend on what medication he may be on. Have an Autistic teen here who's an avid swimmer and when his Mom brings him out he runs ahead of here to the pool gate then waits patiently for her to arrive. I see here like a hundred yards behind walking I've been in the pool with him once and tried to engage him but it became rapidly apparent though he's very vocal and animated, he has no ability to converse or even apparently understand he's being spoken to. At least not by strangers I guess. See him obeying his Mom like. So imagining him in a karate class trying to be part of it and take instructions even without ADHD I wouldn't expect miracles. I'd question why he's even in such a class. My thinking is he'd get just as much out of just wearing the gi at home watching old Bruce Lee movies or something.

Not a big believer in ADHD. Attention deficit, hyperactive disorder to me sounds more like 'typical kid whose parents don't understand discipline.' Supposedly it's a physiological condition, not a psychiatric one. Which only makes me think this way even more. All kids are hyper, and most don't enjoy school. Doesn't mean there's something wrong with them. Think our overmedicated society just had a bunch of new pills with no apparent application so invented this nonsense to sell them and recover the investment producing them. Like restless leg syndrome. Puh-leeze.

 

[Wake]

Few people acknowledge the disorder, or understand that it's hereditary and not a figment of the imagination. With ADHD, three main things comprise the disorder: inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. That said, there are over 10 variations of the disorder.

ADHD/ADD exists. Period. There is also the issue of overdiagnosis, which is yet to be properly quantified. What is frustrating is when ignorant people tell/assume you don't have ADHD/ADD because it is over-diagnosed.

Also, it is incorrect to think of ADHD as simply a disorder where one cannot focus. Think of it more as an attention displacement disorder. The child may not be able to focus on certain things that he or she dislikes, but can have the focus of a god on other issues he or she likes. Sufferers of ADHD are always seeking stimuli to keep them interested, which is why they are best suited to being self-employed, or working as nurses, artists, etc. We do not suffer boredom well. We find or create things to keep us perpetually captivated. If something truly hooks us, interesting us, we tap into our hyper-focus, and can accomplish things that normal individuals cannot.

Having the disorder, knowing it inside and out, and all the hell and blessings it has brought me, I am basically an authority on the disorder because it is part of me in so many ways. It's saved my life; it's almost killed me. It is a pervasive condition that affects every aspect of your mental being.

Sadly, in the past parents used to dismiss the disorder as merely bad behavior, and would belt or otherwise punish and/or abuse their children. With more and more information at our fingertips: no more.

Delta, we should talk more on this issue. I have some interesting things to bring to that table.

 

[Mr. H.]

Hey Wakey, have you modified your diet as part of your ADHD lifestyle?
Does it help?