Does anyone know about ADD?

Starting to wonder if my daughter(7) has it or shes just a daydreamer. This is such a hard thing to diagnose. Shes not a trouble maker or anything like that. She just doesn't complete assignments and tends to drift off and be surprised when the teacher calls on her. Ive heard sometimes this could be a dietary cause. Any suggestions or things to try before I have her tested

I had the same problem when I was younger but I was actually just really good at multi-tasking. My teacher would get upset because I would doodle or space off, but when she asked me a question (and usually had to repeat it) I would be able to answer it. So your daughter could be the same way, but I guess it depends.

I am not an expert, but I am getting my Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling (working with people with disabilities after age 18) and we have talked about ADHD a lot in our classes.

We all get a little groggy sometimes after a heavy meal (McDonalds) or hyper after having too much sugar (fruit juice). However if it has become noticeable to you, the parent, then it is important for you to talk to the professionals at her school (and research it online yourself) to create the best environment possible for her to learn. And, at such a young age, finding out sooner than later can be substantial. Get her tested soon. It is better than wondering. 

If she does have ADD/ADHD, then its better to get it diagnosed early on, or she could go through some tough times when she gets older, and school work and exams get serious.

I've heard that breakfasts with relatively high protein, and low sugar are good, eg whole wheat bread with ham and cheese, rather than cereal and milk.

Also studies have been done with kids with ADsomething, and omega 3 supplements helped, so perhaps you could start by getting her to either eat more fish, or to take the capsules and see if that helps.

good luck

she might just be bored.  that said, i was a daydreamer/multi-tasker as a kid, and now i'm convinced i have ADD (at 39). 

there are lots of dietary things that can't hurt.  ADD/ADHD kids need a near constant supply of good quality protein - like, every two hours.  jane is right: fish, cheese, eggs, etc. are great.  watch out for chemical preservatives in processed foods, particularly anything ending in -ate or -ite. 

if you do decide to get her assessed, make sure you get a referral to someone who really knows their stuff.

Hi--I have a 16 year old son with ADHD.  I had suspected from about age 6 or 7 that this was the case, but I made the mistake of listening to everyone else (family, teachers and well-meaning friends) who didn't believe there was anything wrong.  Finally, in 5th grade, he had a wonderful young woman teacher who recognized the fact that he was gifted and had ADHD (went through a medical eval with a neurologist and was diagnosed).   He has been on medication ever since and does very well in school; my husband and I notice a huge difference in his home and school performance when he is off the medication.  He is unable to complete tasks, loses things readily, and is much more distracted.  I can tell you that ADHD is not caused by dietary intake; it has been proven that it is a problem with brain chemistry and the medications stabilize this imbalance.  The few symptoms you have described could certainly be ADHD.  You might start by meeting with the school psychologist and your daughter's teacher.  There are several good screening tools for ADHD that are available to the schools that can help you figure out where your daughter falls in the spectrum.  If she is officially diagnosed, be sure to ask the school about on IEP (Individualized Education Plan) which can help her meet her educational goals (sometimes the schools might not bring this up to you because it is more work for them and costs them money, but this is the law and is something I found extremely helpful for my son while he was in elementary and middle school.  It also keeps you in touch with how things are going for her in the classroom).  You might also go to the chadd.org website--a wonderful resource for information on ADHD (which seems to be a highly misunderstood disorder, even among educators!)  If you would like to add me as one of your friends,we could chat more about this.  Best of luck to you and your daughter!-----Karen

I agree with everyones replies. I too was a daydreamer as a child and at the age of 10 I was put on ritilan, it helped me concentrate and do my homework, but like most prescribed drugs for ADD it had long term side-effects. These drugs can be really unhealthy for developing bodies, but some people still give them to 3 year olds. So please do your research before considering them.

I’m 21 and I have allergies that come across as behiveral. My younger cousin who is now 20 has the same problem but was an extreme case. When he was 6 my aunt realised that it was the foods he was eating that was causing him to be so out of control. He needs to be careful of the amount of milk products he eats and we both need to avoid sugar like it’s the plague as well as preservatives and food colouring, expesuly the red food colouring.

Once when we were all going home from grandma’s my aunt had to pull over and throw my cousin into a creek to calm him down because one of our uncles gave him a candy. It wasn’t child abuse or anything; he’s glad she throw him in because he completely lose control of himself and he wasn’t able to get himself back under control.

Anyways ADD and ADHD is real but sometimes Food Allergies and improper nutrition can make it look like ADD or ADHD also another large problem is sometimes if class is too easy kids get board and stop paying attention which can put them behind in the long run.

I suggest you keep an eye on her diet for a while see if there’s anything that needs to be cleaned up maybe get her into some type of afterschool program. Wait a few months and if nothing improves then get her checked for ADD right away; if she has ADD you don’t want to wait too long.

I agree with Karen.  I also have a 16 year old son who is ADHD.  I'm also a speech pathologist and worked with kids who were ADHD.

Lets put it this way.  When Joey was 6, he was diagnosed.  In school they got "Superstar" (1 nominated by the teacher each week) for good behavior or improvement in some area.  They try to not make it strictly academic so every child in the classroom has a fair shot at being Superstar each week.

The week Joey got Superstar, he got it for completing his assignments, keeping his desk organized, staying on task.  If that's not ADD, I don't know what is.

Also, girls are not typically hyperactive like boys but are often labeled "daydreamers." 

Karen is right that the school should have inventories you can check into. You can also bring it up with her doctor.  They have inventories as well.  How did this come up?  Did the teacher bring it up?

And not every child needs an Individual Education Plan.  It depends on how she does in school.  Joey just has a 504 Plan.  504 refers to the federal law responsible for making classroom modifications, which is what a 504 Plan is.  Basically, for Joey, they give him preferential seating away from distractions, extra time to complete assignments, that sort of thing.

Medication is not the end of the world and every person doesn't need the same amount for the same length of time.  Some just take it for school work.  Others need it every day including weekends.  Now that my 16 year old is driving, I'd hate to think of him driving without his medication.  

I have heard of research that is showing a high protein, low carb diet does help.  So does physical activity.  Bouncing, swinging, and spinning releases chemicals in the brain that help us attend.  Thats why recess is really important for kids and why we want our rug rats to run around and get rid of some energy before we put them in the car for long rides.  Also, Baroque style classical music effects the brains ability to attend.  There are therapies that utilize it to increase attending time with children.  Want to know more, send me an email.

Tammy 

Hi Tammy---I know what you mean about the driving---my son gets his license tomorrow and we actually developed a contract of sorts with him where he is not to drive if he doesn't take his medication.  Many people do not realize that the stimulant meds given for ADHD have been around sincethe 1950s and are some of the most widely researched meds out there and are considered safe, even though they often get a bad rap.  But research shows as kids get older, if their ADHD goes untreated, that they are at a much higher risk of all types of accidents, as well as substance abuse (besides the poor school performance and problems with peer relationships).  And yes, getfitgirl--you definitely want to discuss your concerns with your daughters pediatrician.  He or she may be able to refer you to a neurologist who specializes in ADHD; this is what our primary care doctor did and our pediatric neurologist is wonderful.  My son knows now that he can function so much better on his meds that he is able to deal with some of the minor side effects that he experiences. (He got his report card today and got all As and Bs, and is in numerous extracurriculars right now).  God bless all you moms out there!   Karen

In our case we were sent to a child pyschologist that did the evaluation.  We're fortunate that Joey is a rule based kid.  He's slow to take his medicine in the morning, but he came to me last year and told me he needed it changed because it was kicking out before school was over.

People need to realize that being ADD is not a switch that turns off and on or is something you grow out of.  Like a learning disability, if you are ADD, you are ADD for life.  It's a part of who you are.  Depending upon the severity, some learn coping skills that they no longer need medication.

But some adults continue to need medication in order to be at their best.  And as research continues, new drgus are being discovered all the time.  I think its a greater shame to make a kid struggle along without the medication if they could benefit from it.  While it can be abused, its not an evil monster when monitored and adjusted as necessary and taken properly.

 

This is completely ironic that I saw this on the forum tonight.  I just sent a note to my daughters teacher to see if we could set up a meeting to possibly talk about her having ADD.  She is 7 as well.  She is not finishing assignments, her work area is a mess and she usually does not bringing her home work home at night.  When she does bring home her work it is like pulling teeth to have her focus on anything.  I am becoming more and more convinced that medication is the way to go, but I am going to try diet first and have her get a complete physical blood drawn etc.  Let me know what you decide to do!

Hello everybody,

 I am an adult with ADHD. I have not been diagnosed till I was in high-school and I did struggle a lot. I had a tough time completing assignments, being organized and simply paying attention. I could not finish tests on time and so on. When I was diagnosed with the condition, I went to cognitive therapy to feel better about myself as my self-esteem was very low.

 Now I am in College studying accounting. I am doing good. I am not a straight A student, but I am above average. I do get extended time on tests and a note taker for certain classes. I also got started on Concerta, I take 36mg per day during school days, not on the weekend and not during breaks. I think they do help a lot and help me concentrate, when I read, write, etc.

As for the poster with the 7-year old daughter, PLEASE have it checked out asap. The sooner she can get help, the better. It's much harder to deal with this later in life.

 Good luck!

Corinne

Hello,

I'm a school psychologist, and I work with kids with and without ADHD. There are many different things you can do at home, and things teachers can do in class, to help her focus and persist with tasks. I's suggest that you start by requesting that her classroom teacher bring her name to a Student Assistance Team, or Teacher Assistance Team meeting. These are groups that schools often have that meet and talk about kids who may be having some difficulties in class.  They may be able to tease out if it looks like true ADHD, or if something else may be going on, (peer issues, confusion over a task, etc). Ask them if this occurrs across all settings, (regular classes, specials like art, music, and P.E.) The big indicator is usually that behaviors are occurring at home AND in school. If not, something else may be going on.

 You may also take your concerns to your pediatrician. Just make sure that before he/she diagnose one way or the other, they have some contact with her school. Usually, they will send ADHD rating scales to you, and to teachers. Based upon the results of these scales, which are based on the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, your doctor will be able to make the most informed decision.  Good luck!

Hi! I also am an adult with ADHD, diagnosed in my 40's. Because I learned what to look for, I was able to see it in my daughter and get her diagnosed as well (spaciness, disorganization, losing schoolwork, etc).

In terms of an eating-related issue, she piled on weight last summer when I was no longer giving her an "after-school" dose of medication. Her morning dose would wear off, and, because it suppresses appetite, she would then eat everything in sight. Her doctor and I found a different longer-acting medication that does not wear off until early evening, and we consulted with a nutritionist as well. She has dropped 5 lbs in the last month solely through sensible eating and because she doesn't feel like she has to binge in the afternoons.

 

I have a son with ADHD who was diagnosed 20 years ago....my advice to you is call your local CHADD group and you will find them in your local phone book.  They are a wealth of information and support.  Monthly meetings with local doctors, teachers, etc will give you additional tools to be a good support system to your daughter.  Encourage, encourage, encourage is the buzz word.  These kids get plenty of negativity.  Find what your daughter is good -- art, dancing, sports -- and dive in.  It provides a good place for fun and growth of your relationship.  Most of all, keep it positive......ADHD is not a life sentence but a different way of life.

My 26 yr. old son is ADHD.  He was on meds in his Jr. yr. in high school.  Teen yrs. are a difficult time to get the child to buy into the program.  The meds helped him discover his strengths and weaknesses, along with guidance.  Without the meds he was in flight mode.  Sr. yr. he discontinued meds. He is a very responsible, ambitious and productive young adult working and living on his own 3,000 miles away.  He is still extremely active-he lives life to the fullest--that is who he is.  We recently spoke about those times and he did not like being on the meds.  He agreed that the meds, proper service in school and strong parent advocates are what helped him realise his strengths and weakness.  At 16 yrs. old his cognitive level was age 32.  He learned how to overcome his weaknesses.   When he was younger and being diagnosed, I worried about his future.  I always thought he was a chip off his father's block.  In researching, I discovered that I was reading about myself (ADD).  Oh my - the reading helped me to understand all the times I've drifted off into dreamland, starting many things, but not finishing them, etc.  Often a child with ADD/ADHD has learning dissabilities.   My son has auditory and visual processing dissabilities.  I believe I do also.  I must read things over several times.  When I go to meetings, I sit away from friends and up front so I can be attentive, otherwise I am very distracted by the least little movement or sound.  A great fun book to read to get a better understanding is Hunters and Gatheres.  Start your daughter on a healthy diet now AND get her tested NOW.  The whole testing process takes time - meetings and paperwork.  During that time proper services are not given.  As others have suggested.  Get her tested and stop wondering so you all can move on with the next step to helping her with the concerns.  From a Mom who understands what you and your daughter are feeling.

Hi there,

Having a child with what you suspect as having ADHD can be heartbreaking however, so many strides have been made to make it easier for the family and the child.  Children with ADHD are extremely bright and just learn differently than "mainstream".  For more information the follow website may be helpful. 

http://www.additudemag.com/

Know your options.  Some are too quick to bandaid with medications.  I do not disapprove of medications.  I do believe in some cases it can be very beneficial depending on how many racing thoughts are going on through the mind.  How do I qualify....I am 43, a Hypnotherapist and ADHD and both my children are ADHD of varying degrees.  I have chosen not to medicate them and they are doing great.  I do know of children that require the meds to focus long enough to learn the behavioral tools they need to be successful.  The very best advise I can give is to follow your Mama instinct when receiving many opinions.  ONLY you know your child and what is best for that child.

I hope this helps!

Gina

I have to agree with everyone that said to have her tested ASAP. I have an 8 yr old son who has ADHD and was diagnosed when he was 4 yrs old. I can't tell you how much improvement  I have seen in him since he has been on medication. He now does wonderful in school and finally can sit and concentrate on his work. 

I am a 24 year old college student with ADD. I was not tested for it until I was 22. I always had troble focusing in class though out every level of school. I stil did well but it took alot of extra effort. As a result I always thought I was not as smart as the other children. Your duaghters ADD does not sound like it is that bad and she might not not meds, but GET HER TESTED ASAP. If you don't want her on meds this early ( I undrestand this I wound not want to put a 7year old on meds unless I had to) there are other alternitives. You can take her to an Occupational therapist, Sylvan Learning Center, or see about your schools resource room. Also herbal supplements such as fish oil, omega 3's are very good, but check with her pediatrition first.  In the long run she will be fine it is not the end of the world if she does have ADD, and for all we know she might NOT have ADD. Bottom line your a good mother for the showing the concern and taking steps to help your child. Many people do not want to admit that there maybe something "wrong" or "different" when it comes to their children. You are to be commened.