My son had ADHD, we were told very earlier on - tried medication , did not work for us. So we just continue to work on it and do things to help him with it. Once he went through puberty he was a changed kid. He’s the most relaxed chill kid and he’s almost 17. He obviously still deals with it but the hyperactive part totally went away and he was able to sit through school
I have a child who is type 1 diabetic and another who has adhd and I suffer from anxiety to the point I have had to fight suicidal ideation. Here are my thoughts. 1) I never say “I medicate anyone”. Just like my type 1 diabetic has to take insulin, me and my adhd’er takes medicine. 2) medication is there to use for proper diagnosis and just like they didn’t know much about mental health back in the 80/90s they know a lot more same goes with ADHD. Last, I am going to give my child and myself the best life. Why if they broke their arm and was having pain would I say no Tylenol you must suffer through it. Making them suffer to just be on the same level of their peers seems like putting them at a disadvantage in life. I don’t want my kids to feel they cannot do something just because they have an imbalance. Obviously these are my opinions and you must do what’s best for your family. I just want to assure you that adhd medicine shouldn’t be a dark cloud.
You might want to take Landen to a Youth Psychologist to get evaluated. Discuss the pro's and con's of meds with them. Maybe get a second opinion. Talk to his teachers at school, ask what they think would work best for him. Maybe he just needs some adaptations inside the classroom. Some meds can have nasty side effects. Also, talk to Landen about how he feels he's coping. Please, also ask a professional about ADHD therapy. Some kids will need medication, some kids will benefit more from therapy where they can learn specific coping strategies that work for them ❤
If he is making good grades and the teachers are not complaining he should be okay without meds. Husband Son and Grandson have it. My son did struggle with grades but I did not want him to have meds because of side affects. One was lack of appetite and tiredness. Also the drug available was later linked to causing sterilization. Definitely do research and go to a child psychologist.
I agree medication should be the last resort if he really can’t perform every day tasks. It seems like this is just an at home thing. She has mentioned that he does great in school so this is obviously not disrupting him at school.
I was diagnosed when I was in grade 2 and have been on medication since (I’m 21) and honestly my life is completely different from when I take it vs when I don’t. It truly is a life saver for me especially socially with friends etc throughout school.
When triming your flower bouquet, you ahould take off any leaves that will sit in the water. Sitting in the water they will rot and go mouldy so chopping them off will make the bouquet last longer
Our 8 1/2 yr old daughter is medicated from ADD and Anxiety. Prior to medicating her, we had went a year and a half with trying all natural options along with food changes, supplements etc. It has significantly helped our daughter AND our school is amazing with making sure that all her teachers and us (parents) are always on the same page.
Yess i did the same with my 9 year old tired natural options tried putting him in a blood pressure medication to see if that would "calm" him his ADHD was so bad he couldn't even sit in his seat at school he would get up mid teaching and walk around try talking to his friends he has done sooo much better and is literally STRIVING right now ❤
As someone who has been medicated for adhd since I was 15, I struggled so much in school, after being medicated it changed my life! I am now going into premed and thriving in every aspect of my life :) I would recommend trying medication before it really starts effecting his education.
Even if not going the medication route, getting a diagnosis now will help you both find ways to manage your days. I was diagnosed at 19 but I struggled in school and always felt like school was so easy for others but so hard for me and if my parents would have known, then I think we could have made it a little easier. Medicine for me helps me think clearly. If I miss a day then I feel like I’m in a haze and like I’m lost needing someone to tell me what to do.
Hey jess, i was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 11. I wasn't on medication while at school I wasn't on medication my whole schooling life because my parents wouldn't let me and I wish I was treated for it when i was younger because it would of made just that bit of difference in school. Now i'm 19 and have just stared medication for ADHD. I think it is one of the best things I have ever done, you really don't know until you try and see how it makes you feel. I feel like it's opened my world up, its like you are wearing a hat and the top bit of the hat is covering your face from the sun, once that hat is taken off it gives you a whole new perspective on life.
Our eldest son was behaving like a punk ahh high schooler....in Kindergarten. Not paying attention in class, not doing his work, hiding his homework in the crawlspace of our house, angry all the time, sleeping all the time, stealing food in the middle of the night. We decided to medicate (after ruling out any and all potential outside factors.) That first day on the meds, kiddo came home smiling, waving papers he completed, and asked if he and I could sit down and color together. I accepted, quietly listening as he told me all about his day (never happened! before!) and stuck on a loop of omg omg omg in my head. When we were done, I went to my room and sobbed happy tears. It was like I'd just met my son for the first time--without all the baggage, all the weight of his own misfiring brain chemicals. He was lighter, brighter, and able to really be his true self for the first time in his life. He was discovering himself right in front of our eyes, and it was the Best Parenting Decision ever. His ability to actually focus on the things he enjoyed, to problem solve without a meltdown at every turn, and his general disposition all improved 100 fold. So yeah. If you realize your kid is struggling, literally unable to find a path around their own biology, and you fully believe their quality of life could be improved....look into medication and discover if it might be part of the solution.
My hubby is ADHD my step-daughter is and our youngest is 11 w/Adhd we tried Meds with my step-daughter & took her off she became a zombie mute w/a blank stare she started losing weight had no appetite & had suicidal lucid dreams took her off within 24hrs was back to being her crazy hyper talkative self in school she had a IEP that helped a lot at home lots of physical activities fidgets music and behavioral therapy she graduated with honors and did amazing ❤
stimming could be adhd or also autism! i am glad he’s getting looked into. medication can help but can affect sleep in my opinion. i find it helps focus but im more myself when it wears off.
I was diagnosed as a kid in the 90s up in canada and put on medication at the age of 7. I now self medicate with caffeine and cannabis as an adult. I agree that until it's affecting school work and social interactions there's really no point cause they may not actually be struggling. I would suggest sitting him down and having a heart to heart. Make sure there's nothing he's not keeping from you out of shame and that you are a safe space to go to with struggles before ruling it out. Honestly I think because you keep him so active that's half the battle right there!
I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 9, and now as an adult I’m so thankful for my teachers for catching on to it because ive learned how hard it is to diagnose girls. I’ve since learned I am ADD inattentive type and I do not show hyperactive symptoms. I tried medication as I was growing up but was terrible at taking it consistently. I was 25 by the time I was taking medication on a regular basis. I made it through school unmedicated just fine, but looking back I can see how being medicated would have made things easier for me. That being said, I wish I knew about therapies to learn coping skills when I was young. I do not want to be medicated for the rest of my life, but at 33 I don’t see any other option as I haven’t learned any actual coping skills. I’ve learned things that help me through trial and error but that’s it. I would definitely look into other options before going right to medication but at the end of the day if none of that works and medication is the best option to help him be successful and not struggle, it’s something to be considered. The biggest thing is to make sure he knows that having ADD is not something to be ashamed of, it just means our brains function a little differently and need different things than other people. We are smart, we can have the best memory and we can tell you any fact about the things we are interested in!
I’m a mum of 2 in the uk ❤️❤️ I am diagnosed adhd and my 4 your old shows all signs! You’re 100% right, if it starts to affect their day -to -day life and it start affecting schooling or they are truly struggling then yes, seek help and speak to your doctor. The process is very different between countries but as a mum you know what is best, every case is different and medication can be an option as well as many other types of support, therapy’s, 1-2-1. Love watching you all, have done for years. If you feel you need to seek help, do!xxx
I have 3 medicated children and I’m a public school teacher. I definitely advocate for medication when needed! There is nothing wrong with using meds. It’s a tool we use to help us-just as someone with bad eyesight would use glasses to see. There is nothing wrong with meds!
I've had ADHD since I was 8. I took medication for school and took it through college. After college I've started taking it on bad days and I can wake up and tell when it's going to be a bad day. So some of it comes from maturity for sure. But it can go either way. As a kid I definitely needed it .
Got my daughter medicated this year, she is 7. Decided to do it once it was interfering with school. My husband and I both were diagnosed as adults, him at 22, myself at 30. Both of us wish we had been diagnosed as children as medication would have helped immensely in school. My daughter was showing signs from about age 5 on but we didn't start medication until we began hearing and seeing issues at school. It's amazing. Her personality is the same but she can focus better and we began seeing result quickly.
My son’s kindergarten teacher insisted that I get medication for him. My now x husband was against medicating him. So I put it off but finally decided to take him to the doctor. Without his meds he can’t focus. But he only takes them during the school week. He is now a junior in HS. He still struggles in school but the medication has helped.
My daughter was diagnosed at 17 with ADD. The first day on Vyvanse changed her life for the better. She didn’t hate school, she was absorbing what the teachers were saying and for the first time in her life she was a straight A student. She’s in college now living her best life. She also goes to therapy once a month. ❤️
I was diagnosed in my mid 30s with significant ADHD. My parents refused to medicate me as a kid. I struggled with school and socially big time. I then taught for 17 years. With that said. I will say. Medicine is GREAT for kids that really CAN NOT focus to the point that it hurts to try and sit. But being medicated especially at a young age , it prohibits their brain to learn how to control impulses on Their own. I worked with emotionally disturbed kids for 17 years. Most with a secondary identification of ADHD and unmedicated they were impossible to work with. But. If they can get through school without meds. It’s better. I was on the cusp of that. I was impulsive in my words. Out of my seat in elementary school and struggled. But I’m not sure meds were the answer. It’s a call you have to make. ❤. But you want an opinion. If he can physically control himself. And he’s just a little bit struggling it might be good for his brain to be able to learn to control himself without medication. If he struggling to the point where it’s really impacting his education, medication might be the answer.
I hear you, but the newest evidence is showing that adhd meds allow kids brains to actually develop those ’neurotypical’ pathways, which leads to them showing fewer symptoms and needing less medication into adulthood.
I was diagnosed with ADHD in 1st grade and I am 28 now (which is crazy in itself), but when I take my meds I notice such a big difference than when I do not, so I would say its super helpful.
I was medicated with ADHD medication when I was very young and I’m honestly so glad that my parents did. I wasn’t struggling in school but I did have a hard time with concentrating and the medication helped so much.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 24. It went undiagnosed in my childhood because as you said it presents itself differently in females. For me I didn’t have the classic hyperactivity signs, I never got out of my seat in class or was always on the go. My main issue was having difficulty staying focused in class when I wasn’t interested in the material and constantly zoning out. My teacher would have to redirect me multiple times a day. I also rushed through assignments, made careless mistakes, had difficulty following directions and was always losing things in my messy desk and at home. To be fair though I do also have an autism diagnosis so they probably just thought my struggles in school were related to that. I was only ever medicated in first grade when I wasn’t even diagnosed because my teacher was concerned about my inattentiveness in class. But my mom ended up taking me off of it before it had a chance to work because it caused me to have stomach issues. So I really don’t have much experience there. But I would say look into therapy options first. Medication should be a last resort.
I have two cavoodles. My oldest by two months Tilly was perfect and so well behaved. At puppy school she was petrified of the other dogs and so two months after I adopted Bentley who has been the naughtiest but cutest puppy I've seen. He is also a mummy's boy and would love me to hold him all day long. What I'm saying is don't expect another dog to have the same temperament.
My daughter and I both have ADHD, it affected her learning and testing abilities. Get him diagnosed by a psychiatrist and at the very least get him accommodations in school. We did try medication for my daughter and it’s like night and day. Helps her focus and removed all signs of depression she was exhibiting.
I was diagnosed when I was in 7th grade and I almost failed 7th grade without my medicine and the proper help I needed in school. It honestly saved my life and I was able to be successful in school. I would strongly encourage it or at least make sure he gets the proper accommodations for it.
My son is diagnosed ADHD & ASD - he is medicated and I don’t regret a single thing. He is so much more chill, he can stay focused on tasks and relax a little bit instead of being so hyper!
i was diagnosed really young with severe adhd and was basically used as a lab rat, from medication that made me paranoid all the time to making me think im not even alive so honestly i dont think you should medicate him unless you take him to a phycologist to be absolutely sure its the right decision. was on them for 17 years, now im 19 and dont even remember my childhood much. just be careful.
I did have my son start medication and it helped in school and once he got into high school he decided he wanted to try without it and now as he is moving into adulthood feeling like he would benefit from treating his ADHD again. It’s not an easy decision, you have to do what’s best for your child. In my case my son was falling behind as his mind was constantly going and he struggles with impulse and execution functioning skills. Once we started the medication his test scores went from below benchmark to above and then I knew it was what he needed.
My son has ADHD and my school of thought is that I never wanted him to struggle. I also have ADHD, clinically diagnosed by neuropsychologist. I struggle as an adult, my son does very well in school and I always think that if he wasn’t, he would do poorly. I think it’s a good tool, especially to help in their success!
i’m 16 and i got diagnosed at 13 when it started to effect my learning and social life. i was put onto medication when i was diagnosed and i still am now. there is def ur pros and cons but it works great for me and my life
I was diagnosed with ADHD at 32 years of age; at 36 years of age, I finally have qualifications (in healthcare no less). I have a drivers license, and successfully take care of 6 animals on my own. Why this matters? Because prior to medication, I could barely take care of myself; I had dropped out of school at 14 years of age, with no qualifications; and there would be no way, I’d ever be safe behind the wheel of a car.
Our 9 year old has ADHD and when she started 3rd grade the teacher started to share her concerns with focusing. We did psychological reviews and went through a lot of pros/cons for medication. Ultimately we decided on medication to try for 3 months. It was a gamechanger for our daughter. Heard side effects include low appetite however we didn't experience that.
As a person with adhd (diagnosed at 44) and I have have a son who has it and was diagnosed at 28. He tells me that he wishes that we would have know when he was younger because he spent most of his time “trying to be normal” and he could have focused more on being great. I know exactly what he is saying. Medication for both of us has been life changing Landen is so smart and I see alot of his actions very similar to my son. He thinks completely outside the box, can figure things out that other can’t, when something interests them they need to know everything about it. When my son was 4 he k ew everything about volcanos- as a teen he can also tell you every single detail of World War II. Also, medication isn’t permanent if it doesn’t work- you just stop taking it but if it does he may feel like he can focus on be great!! When you have ADHD it’s super common to take a med. vacation from time to time.
I have a 9 and 11 yr both with adhd. We started with therapy and switched to medication once we started noticing some issues with school, not grades wise because both are extremely smart, but more so with disrupting the class, lack of focus, etc... they still do therapy but adding the medication has definitely helped.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 8 and was not medicated. I struggled deeply in school and was convinced I was stupid and it took a toll on my grades and self esteem. I decided to start medication (Vyvanse) in college. It changed my life. I was able to focus and get my work done. I could pay attention long enough to understand concepts I never did before. That’s just my personal experience I’d definitely consult your doctor.
My youngest was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 9yrs old. I started her out with a therapist and that worked for only a short amount of time. From there, I got her in with a psychologist and a psychiatrist. I got her in with a psychiatrist because after trying literally anything and everything, I realized that it was time for medication. However, medication was literally the last resort. As a parent, there are numerous resources available to you that are able to help you and your child without medication. Landon has an ear for music. You could always try as my daughter's psychiatrist calls it, music therapy. It's basically having music playing either in the background or on a pair of headphones/ear buds that he can hear. The key is finding something that keeps his attention and that allows him to focus. I wouldn't go the medication route unless 1,000,000% absolutely necessary. There are way too many side effects to all the ADHD medications. Not to mention the fact that it is really a trial and error process to find the right medication that works for Landon. As I said, my daughter was 9yrs old when she started on medication, she will be 16 yrs old next month and so far in total, she has been on 11 different medications. She is still on medication and will be for the rest of her life.
My 9 year old has severe ADHD and he is medicated and it's a night and day difference. It has helped him so much, but I do recommend doing research the medication because of some side effects. Like the ones he's on can cause low blood pressure, vomiting, headaches, stomachaches etc.
I am a 13 year old girl with ADHD and I was first put on the medication when it started affecting me in school and more at home I would get easily distracted from cleaning and listening. But the down side is the effects. It was told in the room with my doctor and my parent that oh it’s so good for u blah blah blah. But then I found out it may cause the person on the medication to have a heart attack in the near future and right as I heard that after talking the medication for the past 4 weeks and to say the medication did help A LOT I told my parent to call my doctor to tell him that I will no longer be on this medication because my daughter is scared of the effects of the medication and I asked if I may have a talk with them and I said “I will no longer like to take this medication it is not safe but it does help I just don’t want to HAVE A HEART ATTACK OR HEART ISSUE IN THE NEAR FUTURE” and they said ok let me tell the school blah blah blah and now I’m off of the medicine and I was put in to therapy that helps with learning how to concentrate by learning breathing exercises to zone out people and kids in class trying to distract me and how to just keep going think of your happy place and rn I’m getting better I have A’s and B’s and I’m doing good I hoped this help from a kids perspective ❤
I decided to medicate my daughter when it started interfering with her school work. She's 15 now and I still firmly believe it was the best decision I've ever made.
I discovered I had ADHD at 19 and desperately wished that I had taken medication earlier. It helped so much once I was matched with the appropriate meds. My niece has ADHD. She just turned 13 and has been on meds for a couple of years. It was affecting her school work and perhaps social life. I think waiting until he feels (or you notice) that it is impacting his daily life negatively before using medication is a good route. But, also know that these meds are gradual and not a huge whirlwind, so you could always start and try something and then try something else or stop it, too. I commend you for noticing it early!!!
As a mom of three who all have adhd, I refused to consider medication until my middle sons teacher noticed that with Benadryl (he’s got bad allergies) he could concentrate and did better in class. Unfortunately, even after changing the type of medication several times, he has serious issues and still does after stopping the medication and not having any for five or so years. The biggest thing was how his growth was stunted. When he went into high school as a freshman he looked like he belonged in 6th grade. When he went off the meds he grew exponentially! He had severe stomach issues which unfortunately, have not resolved yet but have lessened over time. I would do a lot of research before considering medication and really talk to him about the focus and issues at school before jumping to meds.
I was medicated as a child and hated every second of it. I was a zombie. 3 different medications and they all made me feel awful. You don’t eat you don’t sleep you don’t speak. Get him a tutor who specializes in adhd if it comes down to an issue in school
My daughter takes ADHD meds and it doesn't make her zombified and eats like a pig and sleeps just fine and talks non-stop. ADHD meds have changed a lot over the years.
I raised my niece and nephew. My nephew has both autism and ADHD. It took seeing multiple doctors and therapists to not get a diagnosis but also get treatment. My sister and brother in law refused to do anything or even acknowledge that there were any issues though the signs were basically glaring at them. He wasn’t officially diagnosed by a psychologist until he was almost 11 but some of his teachers saw it and acted accordingly. And in his favor I might add. I took him to 3 different psychologists because the first one is or was still of the belief that neither actually exists. The other 2 were just to confirm it and for my own peace of mind. Yes there are still some doctors that don’t believe that either of these diagnoses exist. Which is both frustrating and heartbreaking at the same time. We did have to get him on meds to start with because it was affecting his daily life. He also did ABA therapy, music therapy and I took him to work with me at a motorcycle mechanic where I worked the front desk. He discovered a love and passion for motorcycles. Which turned into an eventual career. There were some meds he was able to be weened off of within a couple of years. He’s still on some because of the autism. My suggestion would be to talk to both his teachers and a psychologist, at the same time if possible, to see what would be best for him.
I've been working in a stationary children's home for a few years and almost each of the 9 kids has ADHD. Their symptoms affect their daily life (social skills etc.) which was the reason we started medical treatment. You can totally tell the difference between mornings (when they take their pills) and evenings (when the medics have flushed out) in their behavior, but for them that's alright, because our goal was to focus on the times they are at school and in that context it really helps. One of the boys went from repeating year 2 to being best in class in year 4. What we noticed in each of our kids is that they are not hungry at noon due to their medics, but extremely hungry in the evening. And they need to MOVE in the evening! Which shouldn't be a problem since Landen is super sporty anyways. Details about the exact product (there is a lot of medics for ADHD) and the dose can be as individual as every child and should be set by a professional, but in my experience it doesn't hurt to give it a try and if you don't feel like it changes something, you can stop the treatment again.
We did the same with you and decided not to medicate until it affected school. Our son was diagnosed when he was in 3rd grade and he is now in 9th and getting A’s and B’s in school. It definitely helped once he stared switching every class at school rather than sitting in 1 or 2 classrooms the whole day.
My youngest has ADHD and ODD (oppositional defiance disorder) she started having problems in school in around 1st grade. We had her put on medication and it helped her a lot! It takes a little time to figure out what medicine is right and works best but I think it's worth giving it a try if he is having trouble in school.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 3 and was put on medication because the kindergarten teacher didn’t think I was ready. Luckily, my mom was a teacher so she homeschooled me my kindergarten year. My parents got me in the IPE program at my school because it affected me in school. I had an IPE all the way up till I graduated high school and was still taking medication. I self-weaned off of the medication right before COVID hit. I started college in 2019 and am graduating in December. There is a government program in California called DOR (Department of Rehabilitation of California) that my parents and I had to fight in order to receive services that would pay for my tuition, books, supplies and anything I needed that went towards my education plan plus the transition to getting a job afterwards.
I was diagnosed in 4th grade and wasn't medicated until late middle school. When I tell you I STRUGGLED in school without it. However, personally I think it depends on the kid. obviously what works for me doesn't work for everyone so maybe try some types of therapy, or stimming/fidget tools. Ive learned using things like stationary pedals under my desk also helps me focus my brain, maybe something like that could help
Treatment for ADHD is recommended when kiddos have difficulty with multiple areas of life (home, school, sports, church, making friends, etc.) Doesn't HAVE to be school in order to seek treatment, it just has to impact an individual in multiple areas of life. Statistically (not all, but most) kiddos see the most benefit from treatment when in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (if there's concerns with emotional regulation, being disruptive, being disorganized or messy, or low self esteem associated with symptoms like "why can't i just focus, i'm not smart enough, i'm not good enough, i'm a bad kid for being this way", etc.) IN TANDEM WITH medication. If a child just hyperactive but the hyperactivity isn't creating problems for them in life and they has effective coping strategies to manage symptoms then they may not need therapy or medication. It is recommended to speak to a child's pediatrician about pros and cons and one's individual needs and struggles with the potential diagnosis. Also if there's difficulties in schools there's things like IEP and 504 plans that can be created with the school once a child is diagnosed to get accommodations in the education setting which can follow an individual all the way through higher education (talk all the way to the doctorate level). If issues are occuring within the FAMILY around a child's symptoms then family therapy may be recommended as well to support in cultivating empathy, understanding, patience, and developing familial coping strategies. Hope this helps!
I was medicated as a kid and it really helped in classes. At some point it didn’t help and we stopped. It is important to try different kinds because they all effect people differently
My children are hyper, they growl ,scream, n battle..My 5 yr old always the tough boy...I vote no meds,or therapy.They will grow through it.They ain't gonna want the meds when they older...BuildsCharacter❤
I have ADHD. I was diagnosed in grade 8 (I’m in grade 11 now) and started on medications pretty much right after I was diagnosed. In my earlier years of school, I don’t think ADHD meds would have helped me in any way. I had good grades, listened and payed attention as best I could. It wasn’t until really reaching high school that I really needed my ADHD meds. Now when I don’t take them for a day that I have school, I struggle to get anything done. It is very different for everyone, but for me starting meds in high school is what worked best and is what I would recommend to anyone who has kids in elementary school with ADHD that are doing well and it is not negatively affecting how they are in class and how they live their lives. Hope this helps even a bit!
As a behavioural therpaist who specializes in ABA I can second many of the comments saying to try therapy first!! I’ve done the medication route my self with other issues such as anxiety as a last resort while I worked through therapy to get things under control and then stopped, but ABA focuses on finding other outlets to help with the stimming whether that’s vocal, hand stimming or sensory! So definitely look into that, but ABA can also help in life skills and helping with education stuff and so much more than what it is typically associated with such as Autism! So my advice would be to start with therapy, if it gets to the point where he cannot focus at all, which doesn’t seem to be the issue, then maybe medication until he can get his tendencies under control. I wouldn’t recommend spending your entire life on medication or needing to rely on it if he can find other alternatives!
ADHD runs in the girls in our family. I wish it was known about well back in the 80s. I would have been grateful for a diagnosis & medication back then. However, now at 44 years old & with age having calmed things down a little, it's not as severe as it was for me. My 38 year old sister, who has it more severely than me, is grateful to have recently started medication. She describes it as having gone from having 10 tvs playing in her head to only having 2. It really depends on the person. There are so many variables to consider. While medication can be really helpful for one person, another may feel that it dampens their creativity. You really have to make the decision on an individual basis. You can always try it & if it turns out it's not for you, either try another one or stop (under the guidance of the clinician helping you). Personally, with what I've seen of Landen, I would try therapy first. However, the first step is getting a diagnosis. For a little more context, I'm also a health scientist with a particular interest in neurology & have studied autism & ADHD multiple times.
My oldest son was diagnosed in kindergarten, we didn't medicate him until we also noticed it was affecting his ability to learn. Around grade 3, and he only took them until grade 9 when he said he wanted to try going without. There is really no right answer, you just have to do what's best for Landon! ❤
I listened to a podcast once that was saying kids, especially boys, are diagnosed with ADD in grade school but actually dont have it. Boys especially need to be able to run around when theyre little, not stuck in circle time or forced to be quiet at a desk. The american school model sux and i dont doubt MANY boys have trouble learning and i dont think all of the have ADHD. Im happy for your son for listening to his body, because it saddens me to see all the people who BARELY function on meds and swear theyd be worse without it. I think everyone should be encouraged to learn physical coping skills, on top of the meds some may choose. I wish your son success no matter what he choose, and as someone who chose after one year on meds they wanted off (i was like 10), who looks around and sees a sea of people dependant on medication barely helping them, im happy to see someone else listening to their body. Like, as someone who took that journey themselves, and knows how hard it was, im happy to see this and i wish him the best. (the right answer, btw, is listening to your body (or your childs opinion)and advocating for yourself and not being afraid to try a different approach when one isnt working).
My child got diagnosed in 1st grade and I knew when she was about 3 but no one would listen. She’s medicated because it was affecting her in school and at dance. Everyone has said they can see the biggest difference. She will go some weekends and even some weekdays without it but it still greatly helps with everything. Just be careful with finding the right medicine and amount and it made her lose a lot of weight.
Look into therapy options before jumping into medication! There are SO many options with great results depending on your child’s needs (ABA therapy, OT/movement therapy, music therapy, and many more). Edited to add: Coming from a Master’s level professional in the ABA field, I’ve seen it quite literally change lives. Always advise your child’s care team first 🫶🏻
What's your take on cutting out artificial additives like flavours, colourings etcas well as too much sugar in foods of course in conjunction with therapy - just curious as I have known first hand how all this junk can be a co contributor to disorders such as this. The US is pretty much the wild west on crap in food compared to the EU and ANZ
@@jeanette24256 There is zero protocol under ABA that discourages stimming, it would only ever be addressed if causing serious harm to the child. There is also no punishment involved, that is completely incorrect. Please do your research further and maybe consult professionals in the field rather than google 😊
Occupational therapy is what I do for my son he loves his teacher there and it’s helped him so much without having to do medicine. It helps him with good habits and how to control it but also have a good positive outlet.
Yeah, getting another dog is such a gamble. We have a terrier mix. She literally vibrates with energy at all times and has to be in your face. Her brother is the opposite. Most laid back chunky boy you’ll ever meet. Haha
Another girl with ADHD here! Have been medicated since I was a little girl, graduated from medical school i just finishing my residency! Couldn't have gotten this far without medication!
I was diagnosed as a child my son at age 5 I medicated him he also went to several types therapists it was a hard rode to find the medicine that work the right dosage once that was over though I will never forget my son crying and saying thank you for making my brain better because he had racing thoughts couldnt pay attention to anything esp in high stress invironments and when to many things were going on at once ie the classroom .He had learned through the years coping skills and of course just being older he knew how self regulate he decided he didnt want the medicine anymore and has done really great he has a job hes always moving and not alot of distraction .Also all dogs need another dog they are pack animals Ididnt know how much my boy needed one until we got him a friend .
My daughter was undiagnosed ADHD, a "good girl" intelligent with focus issues. She managed thru school with good grades, but when adulthood hit the consequences of ignoring the ADHD because she was managing okay hit hard and it has taken her a decade to get her adult life successful. I regret so much not pushing the issue when she was a child. Edit to add - her success came after being medicated as a 30 year old woman.
My son has Autism (high functioning) & ADHD. ❤❤ After A LOT of thought, we decided to try the medication & he went from not being able to stay still or seated in class to a straight A student with almost no stimming!! The medication route made a world of difference in his case.....but you just have to do what you believe is best for him! (Wouldn't hurt to pray about it also!🙏)
My son is now 18, I did not want to medicate ever, but when he was 7/8 he was frustrated with himself for not being able to sit still so we tried a usual med and right away we didnt like it, tried a low dose and it helped him be able to focus.
My son has very mild ADHD and getting him on medication was a hard decision for us but one we knew would help him in the long run. His ADHD doesn’t affect his ability to learn (he’s gifted and in all advanced classes) or school in general other than the fact that when he’s not on his medicine he literally can’t stop talking, singing, the same things you said Landon does. My son is 12 now and prefers when he’s on his medicine rather than when he’s not.
I’ve been diagnosed with adhd since I was maybe 3 and it has helped me a lot with focus and such as an adult now I don’t regret my moms decision to get me tested ❤
I didn’t recieve treatment for adhd until college and school was always so hard for me and i never understood how people didn’t struggle like i did.. i started taking medication and it changed my whole life.
So I have adhd and I didn’t get medication/diagnosed until this year. I not sure how to explain this but it is sooo helpful to have the medication. When I was younger everyone thought I was just talkative but it was the adhd. So in my unprofessional advice I would maybe go get him diagnosed (only if he wants) and maybe wait till he is older to medicate. The main side affect is appetite loss so keep that in mind that is why I would say to wait till maybe high school.
My grandson has ADHD and it started affecting him in 7th grade. He started meds and does really well in school now. He doesn’t take it on weekends or summer. Only for school.
2 out of my 5 kids have adhd. My now 12 yr old has it bad. Both were medicated and it helped them tremendously. I also had them in therapy which helped them learn coping mechanisms. They now are off meds. They have been better at managing it.
My child has it had it, but I would not suggest getting medication for unless it’s absolutely necessary and check extensively on the kind of medication they wanna give you. and I have adult ADHD and I’m on medication for it
My son has ADHD - we have discussed medication with him and his paediatrician - our stance is that he can have the medication if he ever feels he wants to calm the symptoms! However he doesn’t want it at the moment and we absolutely will not medicate him just to appease school or other people!!!
You’re best off talking to the kiddo when it comes to medication. They can trial it, and decide if they like it. Starting med’s isn’t the end, it’s a rollercoaster!! You can stop them and try a different kind or decide not to be on them at all!!!
I put my child on meds and then it turned out she wasn’t hungry and losing weight. I put her on meds during week and not on weekends but it also didn’t help with sleep. She was only on it one year and I told the teachers I wasn’t starving my kid for their benefit. She was bullied a lot. She never did finish grade 12 she came out as Trans in her 12th grade and struggled immensely. Fast forward to my 28 almost 29 year old who started a gaming business with a friend whom happens to live in Germany. We live in Canada and she’s making over 100,000 /year. She struggles now with other things but over all she’s amazing!! I’ve heard meds work for kids and they thrive. My thing is give them ADHD meds to keep calm etc only to have to give them a type of Sleeping pill to go to sleep. I just think that’s just too much medication and we figured out ways to help with different things. I’m also ADHD and struggle with depression. Woo hoo me. I have tremors from a head/neck injury and most meds I’m allergic to so I’m on cannabis and that’s helping me. Good luck with what you choose. I know you will do your research and have a perfect solution for you and Landon. ❤
I took medication for my ADD through middle school and high school and it wasn’t a big deal. It helped a lot and once I was done with school I stopped taking it and I’m fine
As a future teacher in the classroom now, I would suggest medication as soon as his teachers see it in school. Students learn so much more when they aren’t distracted and don’t constantly have busy bodies!
I have ADHD and was on medication at 5 but was taken off it for some reason but I’d definitely looking into therapy before medication, my ADHD effected school so much I couldn’t concentrate or focus or sit still am 27 now and I’ve learnt to control it so much more but I have my days xxx
My son has ADHD and I was not a mom who believed in medication, this was until his ADHD was becoming an issue in school. My son is also on the spectrum but is very high functioning. We started him on a low amount and he is still on that low amount. I also work for the school and I see unmedicated children and the struggles they have that turn into having behavioral issues. There is also tons of therapy that he can do before meds. I would see your options and try what you think might work best.
I was medicaided for ADHD as a child, and I had the worst reaction to it and have had to suffer as an adult to combat the side effects of the medication for the rest of my life. I have a daughter who also has ADHD and I will NOT medicate her for it. I have her in consoling for it so she can learn how to cope with her condition.
As a child and family therapist I’d recommend a child therapist that can assist and also work on coping skills and regulation skills first all while you gather all the information and consultations you want and need regarding medications. I have clients that take it only on school days as well. Trust your gut. You know what is best for your child.
As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD I wouldn’t recommend medication. It really depends on the person. My ADHD didn’t affect my learning and ability to retain information. I would just like to talk. I’m a yapper lol. When my parents put me on medicine because my teacher said I “talk to much” (instead of working with me) the medicine made me VERY quiet. I barely had an appetite, and just didn’t have energy to socialize anymore. I’d definitely explore all options first but that’s just my experience for some people they need it and it helps them so much.
I don’t think there is any shame at all in medication! I have taken meds for anxiety and OCD among other things since I was about 12 and I’m 21 now. They significantly improve my life and I wished I had started them earlier. No shame, it’s like having a good diet, not all people use/do it but the ones who need it are glad they do!
First off girl, you missed the “Eek” Halloween sign in the kitchen/dining room lol. We have a 14 year old who has adhd and has shown many signs of vocal stimulation. This was also linked to his facial expression and body movements resulting in him being diagnosed with ticks. We tried medication, but it really slugged him down and we couldn’t stand the way it made him act as he wasn’t “himself”. Now he’s non medicated, but does go to therapy to help cope with it. Hope this helps!! Been a long time follower since the very very beginning of your pregnancy with the twins. ❤️
Hey Jess!! I was diagnosed with ADHD at 8 years old and was medicated because it was affecting my school. I understand the pros and cons now that I’m 19 what I will say is if he is struggling medication helped me learn to manage it and now that I’m 19 I can be unmedicated because I learned tools while it wasn’t affecting me as much due to the medication helping. It just definitely depends
Yes Medicate but be careful. Child body grow rapidly and meds can have a effect on that. I have adhd. I took meds from elementary to middle school then my body naturally adjusted to the adhd and I no longer need the meds and it messed with my mood because of it.
I like what you said about whether or not it affects him in school. I'm convinced that my brother had it. He used to blurt out answers in school and just couldn't wait until it was his turn to speak. He wouldn't simply put up his hand and wait to be called upon. It interrupted his class. On the other hand, he unfortunately started self-medicating with alcohol, which eventually killed him. I do think that it would be different for every individual. A professional assessment would probably be a good idea. They didn't do that when me and my siblings were children. I think I probably have autism, like my nephew. I've recognized that since he was diagnosed at 2 1/2. But I can't complain. I've done okay.
If you want me to elaborate just ask, but as someone with ADHD, try to stay away from medicating and only do it if it is significantly hindering him in school, don’t do aderall at all costs, and if you do medicate start with guanfacine because it is less invasive, has less or no side effects, and it works (personal experience with mixed type ADHD).
many of my friends were diagnosed with adhd and such & are unmedicated now that we’re out of high school, but when we were they absolutely had to go on medication because it was negatively impacting their school work and things like that. i think some good options is maybe forms of therapy. my brother has autism and for many years growing up the two of us were in different therapies to help him as much as they could, and i know there are great options out there for young kids with things like adhd. and if it works with landon, amazing, if it doesn’t, there’s obviously other solutions and things to look into. but medication is very tricky, especially with younger kids (i say this as someone with little siblings who were put on various things at young ages). personally, how i see it, if it isn’t affecting him in school and how he performs, there’s not a real need for it yet. it’s always an option if you or especially landon feel like it could be a good thing later.
Honey is so cute, but yes...I would be concerned about adding another with a completely different personality. We did not medicate our son early on - we just used a small amount of caffeine for the early years. Entering middle school, we discussed options with his medical doctor and psychiatrist and our son chose not to be medicated at that time due to side effects. That said, I think you make the decision together with him.
I’m a school social worker at an elementary school and have very mixed opinions on medication. However, if it is affecting his daily life or making things more difficult for him to do, it might be worth a try. I have seen many kids consistently get in trouble or struggle with things because of adhd and I can imagine that would be really frustrating if your brain is making it harder to complete daily tasks.
My son had ADHD, we were told very earlier on - tried medication , did not work for us. So we just continue to work on it and do things to help him with it. Once he went through puberty he was a changed kid. He’s the most relaxed chill kid and he’s almost 17. He obviously still deals with it but the hyperactive part totally went away and he was able to sit through school
I have a child who is type 1 diabetic and another who has adhd and I suffer from anxiety to the point I have had to fight suicidal ideation. Here are my thoughts. 1) I never say “I medicate anyone”. Just like my type 1 diabetic has to take insulin, me and my adhd’er takes medicine. 2) medication is there to use for proper diagnosis and just like they didn’t know much about mental health back in the 80/90s they know a lot more same goes with ADHD. Last, I am going to give my child and myself the best life. Why if they broke their arm and was having pain would I say no Tylenol you must suffer through it. Making them suffer to just be on the same level of their peers seems like putting them at a disadvantage in life. I don’t want my kids to feel they cannot do something just because they have an imbalance. Obviously these are my opinions and you must do what’s best for your family. I just want to assure you that adhd medicine shouldn’t be a dark cloud.
Wow that was put perfectly ❤
You might want to take Landen to a Youth Psychologist to get evaluated. Discuss the pro's and con's of meds with them. Maybe get a second opinion. Talk to his teachers at school, ask what they think would work best for him. Maybe he just needs some adaptations inside the classroom. Some meds can have nasty side effects. Also, talk to Landen about how he feels he's coping.
Please, also ask a professional about ADHD therapy. Some kids will need medication, some kids will benefit more from therapy where they can learn specific coping strategies that work for them ❤
If he is making good grades and the teachers are not complaining he should be okay without meds. Husband Son and Grandson have it. My son did struggle with grades but I did not want him to have meds because of side affects. One was lack of appetite and tiredness. Also the drug available was later linked to causing sterilization. Definitely do research and go to a child psychologist.
I agree medication should be the last resort if he really can’t perform every day tasks. It seems like this is just an at home thing. She has mentioned that he does great in school so this is obviously not disrupting him at school.
@@prettyyoungthing1008then it’s not adhd. You don’t just have it in one environment and not another
@@nancyfarkas3592 Exactly I don’t think he has it.
I was diagnosed when I was in grade 2 and have been on medication since (I’m 21) and honestly my life is completely different from when I take it vs when I don’t. It truly is a life saver for me especially socially with friends etc throughout school.
This is sooo true it is so helpful
When triming your flower bouquet, you ahould take off any leaves that will sit in the water. Sitting in the water they will rot and go mouldy so chopping them off will make the bouquet last longer
Our 8 1/2 yr old daughter is medicated from ADD and Anxiety. Prior to medicating her, we had went a year and a half with trying all natural options along with food changes, supplements etc. It has significantly helped our daughter AND our school is amazing with making sure that all her teachers and us (parents) are always on the same page.
Yess i did the same with my 9 year old tired natural options tried putting him in a blood pressure medication to see if that would "calm" him his ADHD was so bad he couldn't even sit in his seat at school he would get up mid teaching and walk around try talking to his friends he has done sooo much better and is literally STRIVING right now ❤
As someone who has been medicated for adhd since I was 15, I struggled so much in school, after being medicated it changed my life! I am now going into premed and thriving in every aspect of my life :) I would recommend trying medication before it really starts effecting his education.
Even if not going the medication route, getting a diagnosis now will help you both find ways to manage your days. I was diagnosed at 19 but I struggled in school and always felt like school was so easy for others but so hard for me and if my parents would have known, then I think we could have made it a little easier. Medicine for me helps me think clearly. If I miss a day then I feel like I’m in a haze and like I’m lost needing someone to tell me what to do.
Hey jess, i was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 11. I wasn't on medication while at school I wasn't on medication my whole schooling life because my parents wouldn't let me and I wish I was treated for it when i was younger because it would of made just that bit of difference in school. Now i'm 19 and have just stared medication for ADHD. I think it is one of the best things I have ever done, you really don't know until you try and see how it makes you feel. I feel like it's opened my world up, its like you are wearing a hat and the top bit of the hat is covering your face from the sun, once that hat is taken off it gives you a whole new perspective on life.
Our eldest son was behaving like a punk ahh high schooler....in Kindergarten. Not paying attention in class, not doing his work, hiding his homework in the crawlspace of our house, angry all the time, sleeping all the time, stealing food in the middle of the night. We decided to medicate (after ruling out any and all potential outside factors.) That first day on the meds, kiddo came home smiling, waving papers he completed, and asked if he and I could sit down and color together. I accepted, quietly listening as he told me all about his day (never happened! before!) and stuck on a loop of omg omg omg in my head. When we were done, I went to my room and sobbed happy tears. It was like I'd just met my son for the first time--without all the baggage, all the weight of his own misfiring brain chemicals. He was lighter, brighter, and able to really be his true self for the first time in his life. He was discovering himself right in front of our eyes, and it was the Best Parenting Decision ever. His ability to actually focus on the things he enjoyed, to problem solve without a meltdown at every turn, and his general disposition all improved 100 fold. So yeah. If you realize your kid is struggling, literally unable to find a path around their own biology, and you fully believe their quality of life could be improved....look into medication and discover if it might be part of the solution.
My hubby is ADHD my step-daughter is and our youngest is 11 w/Adhd we tried Meds with my step-daughter & took her off she became a zombie mute w/a blank stare she started losing weight had no appetite & had suicidal lucid dreams took her off within 24hrs was back to being her crazy hyper talkative self in school she had a IEP that helped a lot at home lots of physical activities fidgets music and behavioral therapy she graduated with honors and did amazing ❤
stimming could be adhd or also autism! i am glad he’s getting looked into. medication can help but can affect sleep in my opinion. i find it helps focus but im more myself when it wears off.
Also just a coping mechanism for anxiety.
@@notcountingsheep3361that’s true.
I was diagnosed as a kid in the 90s up in canada and put on medication at the age of 7. I now self medicate with caffeine and cannabis as an adult. I agree that until it's affecting school work and social interactions there's really no point cause they may not actually be struggling. I would suggest sitting him down and having a heart to heart. Make sure there's nothing he's not keeping from you out of shame and that you are a safe space to go to with struggles before ruling it out. Honestly I think because you keep him so active that's half the battle right there!
I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 9, and now as an adult I’m so thankful for my teachers for catching on to it because ive learned how hard it is to diagnose girls. I’ve since learned I am ADD inattentive type and I do not show hyperactive symptoms. I tried medication as I was growing up but was terrible at taking it consistently. I was 25 by the time I was taking medication on a regular basis. I made it through school unmedicated just fine, but looking back I can see how being medicated would have made things easier for me. That being said, I wish I knew about therapies to learn coping skills when I was young. I do not want to be medicated for the rest of my life, but at 33 I don’t see any other option as I haven’t learned any actual coping skills. I’ve learned things that help me through trial and error but that’s it. I would definitely look into other options before going right to medication but at the end of the day if none of that works and medication is the best option to help him be successful and not struggle, it’s something to be considered. The biggest thing is to make sure he knows that having ADD is not something to be ashamed of, it just means our brains function a little differently and need different things than other people. We are smart, we can have the best memory and we can tell you any fact about the things we are interested in!
I’m a mum of 2 in the uk ❤️❤️ I am diagnosed adhd and my 4 your old shows all signs! You’re 100% right, if it starts to affect their day -to -day life and it start affecting schooling or they are truly struggling then yes, seek help and speak to your doctor. The process is very different between countries but as a mum you know what is best, every case is different and medication can be an option as well as many other types of support, therapy’s, 1-2-1. Love watching you all, have done for years. If you feel you need to seek help, do!xxx
I have 3 medicated children and I’m a public school teacher. I definitely advocate for medication when needed! There is nothing wrong with using meds. It’s a tool we use to help us-just as someone with bad eyesight would use glasses to see. There is nothing wrong with meds!
I've had ADHD since I was 8. I took medication for school and took it through college. After college I've started taking it on bad days and I can wake up and tell when it's going to be a bad day. So some of it comes from maturity for sure. But it can go either way. As a kid I definitely needed it .
A sleepy dog is a happy dog! Honey doesn’t need a friend, she’s just resting for when the kids get home xx
Got my daughter medicated this year, she is 7. Decided to do it once it was interfering with school. My husband and I both were diagnosed as adults, him at 22, myself at 30. Both of us wish we had been diagnosed as children as medication would have helped immensely in school. My daughter was showing signs from about age 5 on but we didn't start medication until we began hearing and seeing issues at school. It's amazing. Her personality is the same but she can focus better and we began seeing result quickly.
My son’s kindergarten teacher insisted that I get medication for him. My now x husband was against medicating him. So I put it off but finally decided to take him to the doctor. Without his meds he can’t focus. But he only takes them during the school week. He is now a junior in HS. He still struggles in school but the medication has helped.
My daughter was diagnosed at 17 with ADD. The first day on Vyvanse changed her life for the better. She didn’t hate school, she was absorbing what the teachers were saying and for the first time in her life she was a straight A student. She’s in college now living her best life. She also goes to therapy once a month. ❤️
I was diagnosed in my mid 30s with significant ADHD. My parents refused to medicate me as a kid. I struggled with school and socially big time. I then taught for 17 years. With that said. I will say. Medicine is GREAT for kids that really CAN NOT focus to the point that it hurts to try and sit. But being medicated especially at a young age , it prohibits their brain to learn how to control impulses on Their own. I worked with emotionally disturbed kids for 17 years. Most with a secondary identification of ADHD and unmedicated they were impossible to work with. But. If they can get through school without meds. It’s better. I was on the cusp of that. I was impulsive in my words. Out of my seat in elementary school and struggled. But I’m not sure meds were the answer. It’s a call you have to make. ❤. But you want an opinion. If he can physically control himself. And he’s just a little bit struggling it might be good for his brain to be able to learn to control himself without medication. If he struggling to the point where it’s really impacting his education, medication might be the answer.
I hear you, but the newest evidence is showing that adhd meds allow kids brains to actually develop those ’neurotypical’ pathways, which leads to them showing fewer symptoms and needing less medication into adulthood.
@ that’s really great news if that is the case
I was so sad when we had to remove all the Halloween decorations from the house this year. I wasn't ready for it to end!
I was diagnosed with ADHD in 1st grade and I am 28 now (which is crazy in itself), but when I take my meds I notice such a big difference than when I do not, so I would say its super helpful.
I was medicated with ADHD medication when I was very young and I’m honestly so glad that my parents did. I wasn’t struggling in school but I did have a hard time with concentrating and the medication helped so much.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 24. It went undiagnosed in my childhood because as you said it presents itself differently in females. For me I didn’t have the classic hyperactivity signs, I never got out of my seat in class or was always on the go. My main issue was having difficulty staying focused in class when I wasn’t interested in the material and constantly zoning out. My teacher would have to redirect me multiple times a day. I also rushed through assignments, made careless mistakes, had difficulty following directions and was always losing things in my messy desk and at home. To be fair though I do also have an autism diagnosis so they probably just thought my struggles in school were related to that. I was only ever medicated in first grade when I wasn’t even diagnosed because my teacher was concerned about my inattentiveness in class. But my mom ended up taking me off of it before it had a chance to work because it caused me to have stomach issues. So I really don’t have much experience there. But I would say look into therapy options first. Medication should be a last resort.
I have two cavoodles. My oldest by two months Tilly was perfect and so well behaved. At puppy school she was petrified of the other dogs and so two months after I adopted Bentley who has been the naughtiest but cutest puppy I've seen. He is also a mummy's boy and would love me to hold him all day long. What I'm saying is don't expect another dog to have the same temperament.
My daughter and I both have ADHD, it affected her learning and testing abilities. Get him diagnosed by a psychiatrist and at the very least get him accommodations in school. We did try medication for my daughter and it’s like night and day. Helps her focus and removed all signs of depression she was exhibiting.
I was diagnosed when I was in 7th grade and I almost failed 7th grade without my medicine and the proper help I needed in school. It honestly saved my life and I was able to be successful in school. I would strongly encourage it or at least make sure he gets the proper accommodations for it.
My son is diagnosed ADHD & ASD - he is medicated and I don’t regret a single thing. He is so much more chill, he can stay focused on tasks and relax a little bit instead of being so hyper!
Tip for the flowers is to make sure the leaves are out of the water. So cut the leaves so they don't go in the water.
i was diagnosed really young with severe adhd and was basically used as a lab rat, from medication that made me paranoid all the time to making me think im not even alive so honestly i dont think you should medicate him unless you take him to a phycologist to be absolutely sure its the right decision. was on them for 17 years, now im 19 and dont even remember my childhood much. just be careful.
I did have my son start medication and it helped in school and once he got into high school he decided he wanted to try without it and now as he is moving into adulthood feeling like he would benefit from treating his ADHD again. It’s not an easy decision, you have to do what’s best for your child. In my case my son was falling behind as his mind was constantly going and he struggles with impulse and execution functioning skills. Once we started the medication his test scores went from below benchmark to above and then I knew it was what he needed.
My son has ADHD and my school of thought is that I never wanted him to struggle. I also have ADHD, clinically diagnosed by neuropsychologist. I struggle as an adult, my son does very well in school and I always think that if he wasn’t, he would do poorly. I think it’s a good tool, especially to help in their success!
i’m 16 and i got diagnosed at 13 when it started to effect my learning and social life. i was put onto medication when i was diagnosed and i still am now. there is def ur pros and cons but it works great for me and my life
I was diagnosed with ADHD at 32 years of age; at 36 years of age, I finally have qualifications (in healthcare no less).
I have a drivers license, and successfully take care of 6 animals on my own.
Why this matters? Because prior to medication, I could barely take care of myself; I had dropped out of school at 14 years of age, with no qualifications; and there would be no way, I’d ever be safe behind the wheel of a car.
Our 9 year old has ADHD and when she started 3rd grade the teacher started to share her concerns with focusing. We did psychological reviews and went through a lot of pros/cons for medication. Ultimately we decided on medication to try for 3 months. It was a gamechanger for our daughter. Heard side effects include low appetite however we didn't experience that.
As a person with adhd (diagnosed at 44) and I have have a son who has it and was diagnosed at 28. He tells me that he wishes that we would have know when he was younger because he spent most of his time “trying to be normal” and he could have focused more on being great. I know exactly what he is saying. Medication for both of us has been life changing Landen is so smart and I see alot of his actions very similar to my son. He thinks completely outside the box, can figure things out that other can’t, when something interests them they need to know everything about it. When my son was 4 he k ew everything about volcanos- as a teen he can also tell you every single detail of World War II. Also, medication isn’t permanent if it doesn’t work- you just stop taking it but if it does he may feel like he can focus on be great!! When you have ADHD it’s super common to take a med. vacation from time to time.
I have a 9 and 11 yr both with adhd. We started with therapy and switched to medication once we started noticing some issues with school, not grades wise because both are extremely smart, but more so with disrupting the class, lack of focus, etc... they still do therapy but adding the medication has definitely helped.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 8 and was not medicated. I struggled deeply in school and was convinced I was stupid and it took a toll on my grades and self esteem.
I decided to start medication (Vyvanse) in college. It changed my life. I was able to focus and get my work done. I could pay attention long enough to understand concepts I never did before.
That’s just my personal experience I’d definitely consult your doctor.
My youngest was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 9yrs old. I started her out with a therapist and that worked for only a short amount of time. From there, I got her in with a psychologist and a psychiatrist. I got her in with a psychiatrist because after trying literally anything and everything, I realized that it was time for medication. However, medication was literally the last resort. As a parent, there are numerous resources available to you that are able to help you and your child without medication. Landon has an ear for music. You could always try as my daughter's psychiatrist calls it, music therapy. It's basically having music playing either in the background or on a pair of headphones/ear buds that he can hear. The key is finding something that keeps his attention and that allows him to focus. I wouldn't go the medication route unless 1,000,000% absolutely necessary. There are way too many side effects to all the ADHD medications. Not to mention the fact that it is really a trial and error process to find the right medication that works for Landon. As I said, my daughter was 9yrs old when she started on medication, she will be 16 yrs old next month and so far in total, she has been on 11 different medications. She is still on medication and will be for the rest of her life.
My 9 year old has severe ADHD and he is medicated and it's a night and day difference. It has helped him so much, but I do recommend doing research the medication because of some side effects. Like the ones he's on can cause low blood pressure, vomiting, headaches, stomachaches etc.
I am a 13 year old girl with ADHD and I was first put on the medication when it started affecting me in school and more at home I would get easily distracted from cleaning and listening. But the down side is the effects. It was told in the room with my doctor and my parent that oh it’s so good for u blah blah blah. But then I found out it may cause the person on the medication to have a heart attack in the near future and right as I heard that after talking the medication for the past 4 weeks and to say the medication did help A LOT I told my parent to call my doctor to tell him that I will no longer be on this medication because my daughter is scared of the effects of the medication and I asked if I may have a talk with them and I said “I will no longer like to take this medication it is not safe but it does help I just don’t want to HAVE A HEART ATTACK OR HEART ISSUE IN THE NEAR FUTURE” and they said ok let me tell the school blah blah blah and now I’m off of the medicine and I was put in to therapy that helps with learning how to concentrate by learning breathing exercises to zone out people and kids in class trying to distract me and how to just keep going think of your happy place and rn I’m getting better I have A’s and B’s and I’m doing good I hoped this help from a kids perspective ❤
I decided to medicate my daughter when it started interfering with her school work. She's 15 now and I still firmly believe it was the best decision I've ever made.
I discovered I had ADHD at 19 and desperately wished that I had taken medication earlier. It helped so much once I was matched with the appropriate meds. My niece has ADHD. She just turned 13 and has been on meds for a couple of years. It was affecting her school work and perhaps social life. I think waiting until he feels (or you notice) that it is impacting his daily life negatively before using medication is a good route. But, also know that these meds are gradual and not a huge whirlwind, so you could always start and try something and then try something else or stop it, too. I commend you for noticing it early!!!
As a mom of three who all have adhd, I refused to consider medication until my middle sons teacher noticed that with Benadryl (he’s got bad allergies) he could concentrate and did better in class. Unfortunately, even after changing the type of medication several times, he has serious issues and still does after stopping the medication and not having any for five or so years. The biggest thing was how his growth was stunted. When he went into high school as a freshman he looked like he belonged in 6th grade. When he went off the meds he grew exponentially! He had severe stomach issues which unfortunately, have not resolved yet but have lessened over time. I would do a lot of research before considering medication and really talk to him about the focus and issues at school before jumping to meds.
I was medicated as a child and hated every second of it. I was a zombie. 3 different medications and they all made me feel awful. You don’t eat you don’t sleep you don’t speak.
Get him a tutor who specializes in adhd if it comes down to an issue in school
My daughter takes ADHD meds and it doesn't make her zombified and eats like a pig and sleeps just fine and talks non-stop. ADHD meds have changed a lot over the years.
I raised my niece and nephew. My nephew has both autism and ADHD. It took seeing multiple doctors and therapists to not get a diagnosis but also get treatment. My sister and brother in law refused to do anything or even acknowledge that there were any issues though the signs were basically glaring at them. He wasn’t officially diagnosed by a psychologist until he was almost 11 but some of his teachers saw it and acted accordingly. And in his favor I might add. I took him to 3 different psychologists because the first one is or was still of the belief that neither actually exists. The other 2 were just to confirm it and for my own peace of mind. Yes there are still some doctors that don’t believe that either of these diagnoses exist. Which is both frustrating and heartbreaking at the same time. We did have to get him on meds to start with because it was affecting his daily life. He also did ABA therapy, music therapy and I took him to work with me at a motorcycle mechanic where I worked the front desk. He discovered a love and passion for motorcycles. Which turned into an eventual career. There were some meds he was able to be weened off of within a couple of years. He’s still on some because of the autism. My suggestion would be to talk to both his teachers and a psychologist, at the same time if possible, to see what would be best for him.
I've been working in a stationary children's home for a few years and almost each of the 9 kids has ADHD. Their symptoms affect their daily life (social skills etc.) which was the reason we started medical treatment. You can totally tell the difference between mornings (when they take their pills) and evenings (when the medics have flushed out) in their behavior, but for them that's alright, because our goal was to focus on the times they are at school and in that context it really helps. One of the boys went from repeating year 2 to being best in class in year 4.
What we noticed in each of our kids is that they are not hungry at noon due to their medics, but extremely hungry in the evening. And they need to MOVE in the evening! Which shouldn't be a problem since Landen is super sporty anyways.
Details about the exact product (there is a lot of medics for ADHD) and the dose can be as individual as every child and should be set by a professional, but in my experience it doesn't hurt to give it a try and if you don't feel like it changes something, you can stop the treatment again.
We did the same with you and decided not to medicate until it affected school. Our son was diagnosed when he was in 3rd grade and he is now in 9th and getting A’s and B’s in school. It definitely helped once he stared switching every class at school rather than sitting in 1 or 2 classrooms the whole day.
My youngest has ADHD and ODD (oppositional defiance disorder) she started having problems in school in around 1st grade. We had her put on medication and it helped her a lot! It takes a little time to figure out what medicine is right and works best but I think it's worth giving it a try if he is having trouble in school.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 3 and was put on medication because the kindergarten teacher didn’t think I was ready. Luckily, my mom was a teacher so she homeschooled me my kindergarten year. My parents got me in the IPE program at my school because it affected me in school. I had an IPE all the way up till I graduated high school and was still taking medication. I self-weaned off of the medication right before COVID hit. I started college in 2019 and am graduating in December. There is a government program in California called DOR (Department of Rehabilitation of California) that my parents and I had to fight in order to receive services that would pay for my tuition, books, supplies and anything I needed that went towards my education plan plus the transition to getting a job afterwards.
I was diagnosed in 4th grade and wasn't medicated until late middle school. When I tell you I STRUGGLED in school without it. However, personally I think it depends on the kid. obviously what works for me doesn't work for everyone so maybe try some types of therapy, or stimming/fidget tools. Ive learned using things like stationary pedals under my desk also helps me focus my brain, maybe something like that could help
Treatment for ADHD is recommended when kiddos have difficulty with multiple areas of life (home, school, sports, church, making friends, etc.) Doesn't HAVE to be school in order to seek treatment, it just has to impact an individual in multiple areas of life. Statistically (not all, but most) kiddos see the most benefit from treatment when in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (if there's concerns with emotional regulation, being disruptive, being disorganized or messy, or low self esteem associated with symptoms like "why can't i just focus, i'm not smart enough, i'm not good enough, i'm a bad kid for being this way", etc.) IN TANDEM WITH medication. If a child just hyperactive but the hyperactivity isn't creating problems for them in life and they has effective coping strategies to manage symptoms then they may not need therapy or medication. It is recommended to speak to a child's pediatrician about pros and cons and one's individual needs and struggles with the potential diagnosis. Also if there's difficulties in schools there's things like IEP and 504 plans that can be created with the school once a child is diagnosed to get accommodations in the education setting which can follow an individual all the way through higher education (talk all the way to the doctorate level).
If issues are occuring within the FAMILY around a child's symptoms then family therapy may be recommended as well to support in cultivating empathy, understanding, patience, and developing familial coping strategies.
Hope this helps!
I was medicated as a kid and it really helped in classes. At some point it didn’t help and we stopped. It is important to try different kinds because they all effect people differently
My children are hyper, they growl ,scream, n battle..My 5 yr old always the tough boy...I vote no meds,or therapy.They will grow through it.They ain't gonna want the meds when they older...BuildsCharacter❤
I have ADHD. I was diagnosed in grade 8 (I’m in grade 11 now) and started on medications pretty much right after I was diagnosed. In my earlier years of school, I don’t think ADHD meds would have helped me in any way. I had good grades, listened and payed attention as best I could. It wasn’t until really reaching high school that I really needed my ADHD meds. Now when I don’t take them for a day that I have school, I struggle to get anything done. It is very different for everyone, but for me starting meds in high school is what worked best and is what I would recommend to anyone who has kids in elementary school with ADHD that are doing well and it is not negatively affecting how they are in class and how they live their lives. Hope this helps even a bit!
As a behavioural therpaist who specializes in ABA I can second many of the comments saying to try therapy first!! I’ve done the medication route my self with other issues such as anxiety as a last resort while I worked through therapy to get things under control and then stopped, but ABA focuses on finding other outlets to help with the stimming whether that’s vocal, hand stimming or sensory! So definitely look into that, but ABA can also help in life skills and helping with education stuff and so much more than what it is typically associated with such as Autism! So my advice would be to start with therapy, if it gets to the point where he cannot focus at all, which doesn’t seem to be the issue, then maybe medication until he can get his tendencies under control. I wouldn’t recommend spending your entire life on medication or needing to rely on it if he can find other alternatives!
ADHD runs in the girls in our family. I wish it was known about well back in the 80s. I would have been grateful for a diagnosis & medication back then. However, now at 44 years old & with age having calmed things down a little, it's not as severe as it was for me. My 38 year old sister, who has it more severely than me, is grateful to have recently started medication. She describes it as having gone from having 10 tvs playing in her head to only having 2.
It really depends on the person. There are so many variables to consider. While medication can be really helpful for one person, another may feel that it dampens their creativity. You really have to make the decision on an individual basis. You can always try it & if it turns out it's not for you, either try another one or stop (under the guidance of the clinician helping you). Personally, with what I've seen of Landen, I would try therapy first. However, the first step is getting a diagnosis.
For a little more context, I'm also a health scientist with a particular interest in neurology & have studied autism & ADHD multiple times.
My oldest son was diagnosed in kindergarten, we didn't medicate him until we also noticed it was affecting his ability to learn. Around grade 3, and he only took them until grade 9 when he said he wanted to try going without. There is really no right answer, you just have to do what's best for Landon! ❤
I listened to a podcast once that was saying kids, especially boys, are diagnosed with ADD in grade school but actually dont have it. Boys especially need to be able to run around when theyre little, not stuck in circle time or forced to be quiet at a desk. The american school model sux and i dont doubt MANY boys have trouble learning and i dont think all of the have ADHD. Im happy for your son for listening to his body, because it saddens me to see all the people who BARELY function on meds and swear theyd be worse without it. I think everyone should be encouraged to learn physical coping skills, on top of the meds some may choose. I wish your son success no matter what he choose, and as someone who chose after one year on meds they wanted off (i was like 10), who looks around and sees a sea of people dependant on medication barely helping them, im happy to see someone else listening to their body. Like, as someone who took that journey themselves, and knows how hard it was, im happy to see this and i wish him the best. (the right answer, btw, is listening to your body (or your childs opinion)and advocating for yourself and not being afraid to try a different approach when one isnt working).
My child got diagnosed in 1st grade and I knew when she was about 3 but no one would listen. She’s medicated because it was affecting her in school and at dance. Everyone has said they can see the biggest difference. She will go some weekends and even some weekdays without it but it still greatly helps with everything. Just be careful with finding the right medicine and amount and it made her lose a lot of weight.
Look into therapy options before jumping into medication! There are SO many options with great results depending on your child’s needs (ABA therapy, OT/movement therapy, music therapy, and many more).
Edited to add: Coming from a Master’s level professional in the ABA field, I’ve seen it quite literally change lives. Always advise your child’s care team first 🫶🏻
Came to say this too. Coping skills are so so important
This this this!
What's your take on cutting out artificial additives like flavours, colourings etcas well as too much sugar in foods of course in conjunction with therapy - just curious as I have known first hand how all this junk can be a co contributor to disorders such as this. The US is pretty much the wild west on crap in food compared to the EU and ANZ
@@helenlecornu1651 so true!
@@jeanette24256 There is zero protocol under ABA that discourages stimming, it would only ever be addressed if causing serious harm to the child. There is also no punishment involved, that is completely incorrect. Please do your research further and maybe consult professionals in the field rather than google 😊
Occupational therapy is what I do for my son he loves his teacher there and it’s helped him so much without having to do medicine. It helps him with good habits and how to control it but also have a good positive outlet.
Yeah, getting another dog is such a gamble. We have a terrier mix. She literally vibrates with energy at all times and has to be in your face. Her brother is the opposite. Most laid back chunky boy you’ll ever meet. Haha
Another girl with ADHD here! Have been medicated since I was a little girl, graduated from medical school i just finishing my residency! Couldn't have gotten this far without medication!
I'm late diagnosed at 30. I'm on concerta, 18mg and it changed my life for better ❤
I was diagnosed as a child my son at age 5 I medicated him he also went to several types therapists it was a hard rode to find the medicine that work the right dosage once that was over though I will never forget my son crying and saying thank you for making my brain better because he had racing thoughts couldnt pay attention to anything esp in high stress invironments and when to many things were going on at once ie the classroom .He had learned through the years coping skills and of course just being older he knew how self regulate he decided he didnt want the medicine anymore and has done really great he has a job hes always moving and not alot of distraction .Also all dogs need another dog they are pack animals Ididnt know how much my boy needed one until we got him a friend .
My daughter was undiagnosed ADHD, a "good girl" intelligent with focus issues. She managed thru school with good grades, but when adulthood hit the consequences of ignoring the ADHD because she was managing okay hit hard and it has taken her a decade to get her adult life successful. I regret so much not pushing the issue when she was a child. Edit to add - her success came after being medicated as a 30 year old woman.
My son has Autism (high functioning) & ADHD. ❤❤ After A LOT of thought, we decided to try the medication & he went from not being able to stay still or seated in class to a straight A student with almost no stimming!! The medication route made a world of difference in his case.....but you just have to do what you believe is best for him! (Wouldn't hurt to pray about it also!🙏)
My son is now 18, I did not want to medicate ever, but when he was 7/8 he was frustrated with himself for not being able to sit still so we tried a usual med and right away we didnt like it, tried a low dose and it helped him be able to focus.
Yes, we medicated. We didn’t want to and decided to try it - not thinking it would work - and it does. Best decision for our child.
My son has very mild ADHD and getting him on medication was a hard decision for us but one we knew would help him in the long run. His ADHD doesn’t affect his ability to learn (he’s gifted and in all advanced classes) or school in general other than the fact that when he’s not on his medicine he literally can’t stop talking, singing, the same things you said Landon does. My son is 12 now and prefers when he’s on his medicine rather than when he’s not.
I’ve been diagnosed with adhd since I was maybe 3 and it has helped me a lot with focus and such as an adult now I don’t regret my moms decision to get me tested ❤
I didn’t recieve treatment for adhd until college and school was always so hard for me and i never understood how people didn’t struggle like i did.. i started taking medication and it changed my whole life.
So I have adhd and I didn’t get medication/diagnosed until this year. I not sure how to explain this but it is sooo helpful to have the medication. When I was younger everyone thought I was just talkative but it was the adhd. So in my unprofessional advice I would maybe go get him diagnosed (only if he wants) and maybe wait till he is older to medicate. The main side affect is appetite loss so keep that in mind that is why I would say to wait till maybe high school.
Meds are the best thing we did for our daughter. She has thanked us so much for doing that for her!
My grandson has ADHD and it started affecting him in 7th grade. He started meds and does really well in school now. He doesn’t take it on weekends or summer. Only for school.
2 out of my 5 kids have adhd. My now 12 yr old has it bad. Both were medicated and it helped them tremendously. I also had them in therapy which helped them learn coping mechanisms. They now are off meds. They have been better at managing it.
My child has it had it, but I would not suggest getting medication for unless it’s absolutely necessary and check extensively on the kind of medication they wanna give you. and I have adult ADHD and I’m on medication for it
My son has ADHD - we have discussed medication with him and his paediatrician - our stance is that he can have the medication if he ever feels he wants to calm the symptoms! However he doesn’t want it at the moment and we absolutely will not medicate him just to appease school or other people!!!
Pro tip anything stuck to your wall heat up with a hair dryer before removal! It loosens the adhesive so it won’t pull at the paint
You’re best off talking to the kiddo when it comes to medication. They can trial it, and decide if they like it. Starting med’s isn’t the end, it’s a rollercoaster!! You can stop them and try a different kind or decide not to be on them at all!!!
I put my child on meds and then it turned out she wasn’t hungry and losing weight. I put her on meds during week and not on weekends but it also didn’t help with sleep. She was only on it one year and I told the teachers I wasn’t starving my kid for their benefit. She was bullied a lot. She never did finish grade 12 she came out as Trans in her 12th grade and struggled immensely.
Fast forward to my 28 almost 29 year old who started a gaming business with a friend whom happens to live in Germany. We live in Canada and she’s making over 100,000 /year.
She struggles now with other things but over all she’s amazing!!
I’ve heard meds work for kids and they thrive.
My thing is give them ADHD meds to keep calm etc only to have to give them a type of Sleeping pill to go to sleep.
I just think that’s just too much medication and we figured out ways to help with different things.
I’m also ADHD and struggle with depression. Woo hoo me.
I have tremors from a head/neck injury and most meds I’m allergic to so I’m on cannabis and that’s helping me.
Good luck with what you choose. I know you will do your research and have a perfect solution for you and Landon. ❤
I took medication for my ADD through middle school and high school and it wasn’t a big deal. It helped a lot and once I was done with school I stopped taking it and I’m fine
As a future teacher in the classroom now, I would suggest medication as soon as his teachers see it in school. Students learn so much more when they aren’t distracted and don’t constantly have busy bodies!
I have ADHD and was on medication at 5 but was taken off it for some reason but I’d definitely looking into therapy before medication, my ADHD effected school so much I couldn’t concentrate or focus or sit still am 27 now and I’ve learnt to control it so much more but I have my days xxx
My son has ADHD and I was not a mom who believed in medication, this was until his ADHD was becoming an issue in school. My son is also on the spectrum but is very high functioning. We started him on a low amount and he is still on that low amount. I also work for the school and I see unmedicated children and the struggles they have that turn into having behavioral issues. There is also tons of therapy that he can do before meds. I would see your options and try what you think might work best.
I was medicaided for ADHD as a child, and I had the worst reaction to it and have had to suffer as an adult to combat the side effects of the medication for the rest of my life. I have a daughter who also has ADHD and I will NOT medicate her for it. I have her in consoling for it so she can learn how to cope with her condition.
As a child and family therapist I’d recommend a child therapist that can assist and also work on coping skills and regulation skills first all while you gather all the information and consultations you want and need regarding medications. I have clients that take it only on school days as well. Trust your gut. You know what is best for your child.
As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD I wouldn’t recommend medication. It really depends on the person. My ADHD didn’t affect my learning and ability to retain information. I would just like to talk. I’m a yapper lol. When my parents put me on medicine because my teacher said I “talk to much” (instead of working with me) the medicine made me VERY quiet. I barely had an appetite, and just didn’t have energy to socialize anymore. I’d definitely explore all options first but that’s just my experience for some people they need it and it helps them so much.
I don’t think there is any shame at all in medication! I have taken meds for anxiety and OCD among other things since I was about 12 and I’m 21 now. They significantly improve my life and I wished I had started them earlier. No shame, it’s like having a good diet, not all people use/do it but the ones who need it are glad they do!
First off girl, you missed the “Eek” Halloween sign in the kitchen/dining room lol.
We have a 14 year old who has adhd and has shown many signs of vocal stimulation. This was also linked to his facial expression and body movements resulting in him being diagnosed with ticks. We tried medication, but it really slugged him down and we couldn’t stand the way it made him act as he wasn’t “himself”. Now he’s non medicated, but does go to therapy to help cope with it.
Hope this helps!! Been a long time follower since the very very beginning of your pregnancy with the twins. ❤️
Hey Jess!! I was diagnosed with ADHD at 8 years old and was medicated because it was affecting my school. I understand the pros and cons now that I’m 19 what I will say is if he is struggling medication helped me learn to manage it and now that I’m 19 I can be unmedicated because I learned tools while it wasn’t affecting me as much due to the medication helping. It just definitely depends
Yes Medicate but be careful. Child body grow rapidly and meds can have a effect on that. I have adhd. I took meds from elementary to middle school then my body naturally adjusted to the adhd and I no longer need the meds and it messed with my mood because of it.
I like what you said about whether or not it affects him in school. I'm convinced that my brother had it. He used to blurt out answers in school and just couldn't wait until it was his turn to speak. He wouldn't simply put up his hand and wait to be called upon. It interrupted his class. On the other hand, he unfortunately started self-medicating with alcohol, which eventually killed him. I do think that it would be different for every individual. A professional assessment would probably be a good idea. They didn't do that when me and my siblings were children. I think I probably have autism, like my nephew. I've recognized that since he was diagnosed at 2 1/2. But I can't complain. I've done okay.
If you want me to elaborate just ask, but as someone with ADHD, try to stay away from medicating and only do it if it is significantly hindering him in school, don’t do aderall at all costs, and if you do medicate start with guanfacine because it is less invasive, has less or no side effects, and it works (personal experience with mixed type ADHD).
many of my friends were diagnosed with adhd and such & are unmedicated now that we’re out of high school, but when we were they absolutely had to go on medication because it was negatively impacting their school work and things like that.
i think some good options is maybe forms of therapy. my brother has autism and for many years growing up the two of us were in different therapies to help him as much as they could, and i know there are great options out there for young kids with things like adhd. and if it works with landon, amazing, if it doesn’t, there’s obviously other solutions and things to look into.
but medication is very tricky, especially with younger kids (i say this as someone with little siblings who were put on various things at young ages). personally, how i see it, if it isn’t affecting him in school and how he performs, there’s not a real need for it yet. it’s always an option if you or especially landon feel like it could be a good thing later.
Honey is so cute, but yes...I would be concerned about adding another with a completely different personality. We did not medicate our son early on - we just used a small amount of caffeine for the early years. Entering middle school, we discussed options with his medical doctor and psychiatrist and our son chose not to be medicated at that time due to side effects. That said, I think you make the decision together with him.
I’m a school social worker at an elementary school and have very mixed opinions on medication. However, if it is affecting his daily life or making things more difficult for him to do, it might be worth a try. I have seen many kids consistently get in trouble or struggle with things because of adhd and I can imagine that would be really frustrating if your brain is making it harder to complete daily tasks.
I have ADHD and autism. I took medication. I’ll be focused overcoming challenges, including college and my career.
That is awesome I am on anti depressants and anti anxiety and they help so much ! I have autism.