Advice Please! Teacher Wants to Medicate My Child

Dear K.,

I'd just like to throw this out for you to think about, K.. If this reading teacher had not known your son has ADHD and was taking medicine previously, would she have told you to get him medicated? Problems with school, in any form, can be caused by more things than just ADHD. It is best to try to investigate what is going on with your son before going back to the doctor. I wouldn't rule out a different medication that would lessen the unpleasant aspects that your son hates so much, but first find out if something else is going on.

Ask to see his actual test papers so that you can assess your son's reading level. What is he reading at home? Can you see the same problem? Could it be that all of a sudden the reading comprehension got a lot harder? Having an private evaluation done by a speech pathologist for receptive language skills might be worthwhile. They can test for that regardless of your son's speech abilities.

I also have to wonder what the principal will think when you meet with both her/him and this teacher when you tell her/him that the teacher wants you to put your son on medication. In some states teachers aren't allowed to recommend medicine - that's very close to trying to diagnose a medical disorder and it may be that this teacher isn't even supposed to do it.

Helping your child learn is the real important thing here - not making the teacher's job easier by medicating your son. Go through many checkpoints before you actually jump back into the medicine. That way you'll know you did all you could to know what is best for your son.

Good luck!
D.

2 moms found this helpful

I used to work for an elementary school as a Para educator and although this is not "medical" alternative it is an alternative. I worked in the special education department and we dealt with many kids with ADHD ADD and many other problems, medicated or not. One time we had an experiment, we had heard that caffiene has the opposite effect on kids with attention problems. So we had a movie day and gave the kids mountain dew and popcorn. Would you believe it worked! So we kept mountain dew on hand and when the m=non medicated kids were having problems concentrating we would give them a little dixie cup with some in it. And usually they would be able to focus and get back to work. My Nieve is also ADHD and if she goes without a pill or they run out they give her a mountain dew and she for the most part calms down. It always cracks me up when my sis tries to explain it to me since I am the one that suggested i to her.

So maybe try giving him caffiene. If you don't want the sugar content maybe find something else with high caffiene and less sugar. You can also talk to your dr about how it made your kiddo a zombie like person instead of just calming him.

Like I said not a medical help but something that I have seen work before.

N.

2 moms found this helpful

Both, my son and I have ADHD. Medication should not cause you to "lose" your son. It should simply help him to focus. If you are "losing" him it is because the dosage or medication is incorrect. There is more than one medication to treat ADHD available and each person reacts differently. It sounds to me like your doctor was simply prescribing whatever prescription he would get the biggest kick back from and not putting your son's interests first. When I am not medicated, I cannot focus, I can't maintain a schedule, I am late for everything or lose complete track of time. I can't sleep at night because I am loaded with energy. My busy mind keeps me awake until I pass out from physical exhaustion, which might take two days. Then I start to criticize myself for all of these things and I feel horrible. But on medication, I can maintain schedules, sleep and wake up at normal times, I am on time 85% of the time instead of being constantly late. I can keep my priorities straight and actually accomplish the things I need to in my day. And being able to do all of this makes me feel much better about myself. I feel accomplished just because I can do what normal people can do naturally. ADHD is a medical problem and when treated correctly, by knowledgeable medical staff that truly care about your son's well-being, then medication is a benefit. My son is much happier when he is medicated because he is able to tap into his skills and ability and control his over-active mind. We have to adjust it occassionally to have the right balance. He is on team gymnastics and practices 8 hours a week. That helps with his physical activity. He is able to explore his creativity by building 3D models and drawing cartoons. He can actually sit down, read, and enjoy a book, which he was uncapable of when he wasn't medicated. He goes out fishing and plays sports with the kids in the neighborhood. When his counselor asked him when was the happiest time in his life, his answer is now. He is living a full and rewarding life. I have also been on the other side and had the school try to tell me what to do with my child. I ended up discovering that they didn't have the training and qualifications to deal with children with special needs. So, I pulled him out of school and began to homeschool him last year. When he took his ITBS in the spring, he was above grade level on everything. I find that the schools around this area feel the need to dictate what parents and children are supposed to do and fit them all into a mold. I would suggest talking to the director of exceptional children's programs in your school district and finding out what other school options you have. Good placement is critical for his success. But don't simply scoff at medicine simply because you had one bad experience with one medication and whatever dose he was on. You need a doctor or psychiatrist that knows and understands the balance that your son needs. Personally, I am my son's advocate. I report all behavior differences to his doctor and allow him to analyze the data and determine if an adjustment is necessary. As far as the loss of appetite. I remind him to eat throughout the day. His school and I encourage him to eat. And then we have a big supper around 8 pm so that he has the opportunity to get plenty of food when his meds are worn off. I also give him a daily vitamin.

1 mom found this helpful

If he is scoring that highly he probably doesn't need the meds.

Call the school and set up a conference with the principal (or asst principal) and the teacher. Try to get the special ed dept involved.

My 8yr old son is ADD and unmedicated (that may change this year) - but we have SST (Student Support Team) meetings regularly and he also has an IEP (Indivualized Education Plan)in place so that he can be allowed frequent breaks on standardized tests. He can't sit and take a two or three hour test in one day or two days, he can only concentrate for maybe a half hour at a time, so that's all he has to sit for.

Medication is not always the answer and since your child is academically doing well, the teacher should not have suggested that you medicate your kid.

That being said, if your sons focus could be sharpened with medications, then keep an open mind. There are MANY different kinds of medications and sometimes they have to play with the dosage a bit to get it to work right with your son's body. For any meds my son takes (like for allergies) I make sure he eats first so that his stomach doesn't hurt. Since your son lost his appetite (and thats pretty common) talk to the doctor about things you can do to counter-act that. My ex husband is ADD and medicated and has to take a second medication to give him his appetite back.

There are alternatives, explore your options before deciding what to do. Make sure whatever you decide is best for your son as a whole and not just for this class or to please this teacher.

1 mom found this helpful

My younger son had a problem taking tests, even though he would have straight A's in class. Some kids just don't do as well on tests. Don't medicate him if you and he both don't want it. I agree with the mom who suggested trying a couple of sips of caffeine - I've also seen that work. Also watch the dyes and sugar in his diet.
It sounds like your son is an exceptional learner and if he is "high energy", so what? It will be to his advantage one day!!! Stick to your guns and do what is best for your son. You're his mom, you know what's right for him.

teacher has no right to tell you medicate your son. when you take him to doctor tell him meds make him sick and unable to eat. then have doctor give you statement that he does not need the meds and take to teacher. make copies and give princepal and school board. keep orginal for yourself. then report teacher to state borad.

You do what the doc says, get it in writing and bring the teacher the note. She is not his doc or his mom. But, if the doc says put him back on meds, and you feel he does not need them, you may need to do more research on other ways to help him. Maybe a tutor or someone to help him in class when he takes tests. Find out why he can take the test and what he is doing to fail. Talk to him about this since he is the one who does not want the meds too, he needs to make his best effort at this. I think we all have ADD as we get older, he needs to learn how to concentrate better and maybe you can find books or online info that tells how a child who is diagnosed w/ ADD can study and concentrate better. Good luck

Neither of my children have ADD, but I was on meds of a few years. It helped me, concentrate and focus. Knowing then what I know now I wonder what would have happened if my parents had kept me medicated for a little longer. That being said, I don't get it, his grades are excellent, but he may fail. That doesn't sound right at all. If you and your son are that unhappy with medication then don't put him back on (or at least not the same meds). I would request a meeting with the reading teacher and a counselor/vp/principle/ whatever it is that can help you make sense of the situation and a decision. I would also speak to your child's doctor. I would definitely not put my child back on the same meds.

Did you try to see if certain food aggravate his ADD? My son was like that and if he consumed dairy in the morning he could not concentrate. Also talk to the doctor about different medication options. There could be new meds out there.

my daughter has adhd and im watching her struggle and its sooo unfair to her. i know first hand. i too had add and ended up dropping out b/c by the 2nd grade i hated school. their is more than one medicine out there dont put him on the one he was on before. their are meds that will work and let you keep your little boy. talk to your sons teacher about alternative test taking methods. i was a horrible test taker and didnt start doing better until i got into a program at my catholic school and they let me take my tests in another room and they would even record the test on a tape player and let me listen to it. (the questions only) i dont know if you are in louisville but call the bingham child guidance center if you are they are the best at what they do. good luck!

K.,
I don't really have any advice for you, but I can sympathize. I have a very bright 9 year old girl diagnosed with ADD. The school doesn't want to give us a 504 Plan for behavior modifications because her scores are so high and we won't medicate.

I will say stick to your guns. The teacher is NOT a doctor and cannot mandate you medicate before putting him where he needs to be at school. Call your State's education department and find out about IDEA laws (there are national ones and state ones). They cannot do this. He is entitled to the appropriate education! (I'm a teacher as well as a mom)

Some others touched on this idea below, but I thought I'd toss my two cents in anyway. :-) Many children are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and respond well to dietary changes. The main "bad foods" include artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, and other fake and/or overly processed foods (high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, modified this, dihexy-that -- you get the idea).

Do not put your child on medicine again -- you don't want to do that and your son doesn't want to go on it again -- both of you realize that you will "lose" your son. Try everything else (including changing teachers, or possibly home-schooling, if you think that might work for you) before you drug your son into oblivion.

It sounds like he may have test anxiety for one thing.
Also there are two things that I would do. One, try a chiropractor. That may sound strange but they are very proactive in the fact that spine health helps everything!
Have them explain it a bit more. Secondly, I would contact a naturopathic doctor and see what he/she says. They may be able to help in a holistic way with the situation. Something effected your child under the drugs as he obviously didn't like it. I don't agree with drugging children as I feel that teaches them to say "yes" to drugs.....especially when they become pre-teens & teens this is scarey. I know not everyone will agree with me on this but it is my opinion. There are also books about how children learn by Mel Levine and Cynthia Tobias that may help you. See if you can get an audio version that you can listen to in your car (when you are alone) or doing other tasks during the day. Also get a parent advocate to go with you to the meeting with the school officials. Consider it like if you were going to court. You are going against "the system" so you know they are going to be in the "right" and you are not. Been there. Good luck with all of this and keep us posted.

Make an appointment to talk to the counselor and ALL his teachers at school and see if he has problems taking tests with any others. This would also bring attention to the fact that SHE may be the only one having that problem. There is always a solution as he can be given longer to complete his tests. I am not against medication when necessary, but if there is the tiniest bit of difference (Your child does "fit the mold") some just want to teach zombies. Be active and they will know you are a mother doing what you believe is best for your INDIVIDUAL child.

Please don't make him take the medicine. It is not good for his body anyway. No matter what the Dr. tells you. You said you had your wonderful little boy back. If i were you I would keep him that way. God bless you.

Get him a tutor in reading or only give him the med's on test days. My son takes med's for his ADD but only when he goes to school. There are several different kinds of Med for ADHD & ADD, so ask your doctor to try something different that won't give him the side effects he was experiancing. If your child has ADD and making A's with out Med's, you are among the few.

As a mental health professional and a mother I know there are other ways to deal with this other than meds. Has your son been diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional? If he has, and testing is an issue for him, the school is required by law to give him more time to take any tests. You may need to get what is known as an IEP that the school must honor. If he has not been given an official diagnosis, you may want to look into that. You would need to find a qualified child psychologist who can determine what, if any, learning disabilities your son has. They can also help walk you through the IEP process. School's have to make appropriate adjustments for legitimate issues. Medicating your son is not required to get these services. If you would like referrals, please feel free to contact me. Good luck.

What medicine was he on? Adderall? Concerta? Dose too high? Tested for reading comprehension? Another unknown condition? More information is needed to reply.

Instead of medicate, teach your son to meditate. There is a method called Da Vinci meditation for Indigo children. Here is a link: www.davincimethod.com/meditation/indigo/back-to-school.html
I have two grandsons that are ADD and took medication during school. One is now 21 and not on medication at all. He couldn't eat when on meds and refused to take it during the summer and quit after he turned 16. Said he didn't like how it made him feel. The younger one (8)(they are cousins) is still taking medication but is meditating also so the dose is lower. I firmly believe in meditation for these children. It helps them learn to control their behavior and when they get hyper and can't concentrate, they meditate a few minutes and get back on track. Best of luck with this. Sounds like his grades are good...just lacks concentration for long periods to take tests. I believe in standing your ground and not accepting that medication is the only way. It just makes it easier on the teacher....not the child.

I would seek a holistic approach. There are many natural remedies that health food stores sell that do not have the ill effects on his body. I would also seek out a holistic doctor that will help you do food elimination as well. Food dies, sugar, MSG and other things can have ill effects on them as well. It sounds like to me that your son (like my daughters) don't fit in the box that the school would like for them to fit in, so medicate them and make them like everyone else. Please do not give in to them!! My nephew has been on that same med and he was anorexic by the time they got done with him. He was not our sweet healthy eating boy. He had dwindled to nothing and it was scary. Your doing amazing if he is getting grades that good!

http://www.progressivehealth.com/add_natural_remedies.asp
http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/natural_r...
Bless you, W.

You have to answer to your future grown up son, not his teacher. Consider that he has gifts that are being smothered by the medication. Also seriously consider changing to a different format of schools like like Montessori or the Brown School where inventive, interesting and highly active kids can be themselves.

If he is begging you not to0 and you feel he shouldn't be on the medication Dont do it!!!
To many kids are medicated and shouldn't be, is getting a recess? Maybe you should talk to the principal, that teacher has no right to tell you to put him on medication. He sounds smart, she shouldn't be able to fail him if he tries. I would try the principal if not switch teachers or schools if
you exhausted every resource.

My son will be nine in 2 weeks and he was told by his teacher at the end of last year that he would need to be evaluated for ADD and medication. My son's report card had only A's and B's on it. That's no indicator of an attention problem. I immediately scheduled an appointment for my son and the doctor looked at me like I was crazy. My son has no behavior problems that would signify an attention problem and his grades and classwork don't indicate a reading problem. His problem is the same as your son's - unless he is pushed to read he won't do well in this area. My son can sit at home and read chapter books with very little problem. He may need assistance on big words but can read and comprehend what he is reading and is on grade level. But when he goes to be tested on his reading skills he fails consistently. They've tried to put him in remedial reading classes and make me and my husband take time from work to participate with him. I had had enough. I'm not missing work and worrying over his reading. I make him read every night, out loud, for 20 minutes. I know he can read. Is he a fluent(fast) reader, no, but he reads at a pace he is comfortable with so that he can understand what he is reading about. I told him that he needed to be serious when it came to testing and he tries to buckle down and do his best when he knows he has a test. The doctor that evaluated him this summer said it's amazing how one year a teacher will see no problems and then the next year the new teacher will see a problem. She's right, if his teacher says something about it this year I'm going to tell them flat out to deal with it the best they can because I'm not medicating him. There solution is the quick fix of medication and my doctor told me that she will not medicate a patient for ADD unless there are significant indicators and symptoms. When I was growing up classes were a lot bigger than they are now, children were taught to behave, and teachers found time to work with children one on one when it was needed. Now, teachers think they are suppose to simply sit at their desk and teach according to a curriculm and the parents are to take care of everything that's inconvenient for them. My mother-in-law has been a teacher for 30 years. She says she has never recommended a child have medication for ADD just because they are having trouble reading but she sees it all the time with younger teachers. It's a fast and easy solution. I don't beleive in it and I don't think we should be quick to take our child to the doctor when a "teacher" says so. You do what you want but I'd be very cautious and tell the teacher to give it to 2nd quarter to see if there is any improvement. I mean school just started.

Listen to your son! The teacher sounds like a bullying control freak perfectionist. Sometimes teachers get a bit of a God complex and need to be put into proper perspective - like is she the only one having these sort of issues with him. Maybe he just doesn't like her. Get an independent assessment (perhaps your school district could help you find another reading teacher to watch him try to take a test, ask the principal, find a qualified friend, or appeal to a local college/university for help). She is threatening to fail him even though she knows he can read well??? It sounds more like an issue with test taking (dyslexia, motor skills, anxiety...who knows?) than reading. IMHO I would rather have my child fail a particular subject than zombify his personality, damage his trust in you, alter his healthy eating, and cause emotional trauma, especially if this one teacher/test is his biggest problem. She sounds frustrated with him and is perhaps exaggerating the real problem so you will make her life easier.

It is illegal for a teacher to come to and request that your child be tested for anything like ADHD and even more so to tell you that he needs to be put on medication. I do know that there are a numerous of different ADD and ADHD meds out there, so it might be possible that there is one that is great for your son and will make him feel great. My son, after the 1st time he took his meds, came out of the class room and said "Mom the medication really works" and had the biggest smile on his face. I almost felt tears eyes, but then I gave him the shhhhh sign and gave him a big hug. I find that more teachers are having less compassion and might not be taking necessary child psychology class and in my opinion they should ALL be required to take a class every year or every other year. They need to remember children are just beginning to learn, and even adults make mistakes and have trials doing everyday things. Please let your son know that not all Dr's will put him on meds and that the appointment is just for talking to the Dr and that you need to make the very best decision for him. I have had great, good and questionable teachers for both of my boys and all I can say is hang in there, do what you know to be best, and start praying for them, yourself, and those all of you come in contact with. I really hope you find the best thing for all of you. Don't give up hope.

No teachr has the right to tel you to get your child on medications. Ask to see the test scores of the reading tests. Ask to have them do a reading test while you are there. Ask for the actual reading tests that he failed before so you can take him hom and practice with him. A teacher, a principal or anyone else in that school that is not had any training in the medical field cannot tell you what to do with your son. They are only supposed to advise.
Take your son to the doctor and tell him what happens to him on the meds and see if he has any alternatives. Press the doctor for a direct answer and don't leave there until he gives you a yes or no. There are other alternatives to this medication. Check natural or holistic websites. But don't let this teacher tell you what has to be done with your son medically. Fight for your sons rights and for your rights.

I wish you luck and don't stop until you have what you need for your son.

I know exactly what you mean! We are using a supplement with Omega 3 and DHA and it is helping a lot. If you want more specifics, let me know. L.

I give our children the following supplements: Source Naturals Attentive Child wafers, Nordic Naturals Children's DHA Chewable Soft Gels, and a children's multi-vitamin daily. I get these from our local GNC store. A friend who has children with ADD/ADHD uses them after they stopped medications because of bad side effects. They recommended that we might try it with our son who was diagnosed with Autism. We have not had any side effects from these supplements and our son seems to be doing better at school. From what you have said about his grades at school I do not see how he could fail. You might talk with a doctor and consider trying the above mentioned supplements and ask you son if he feels better. Another friend of ours who has a children with ADD/ADHD has put their children on special diets, used special blankets that are supposed to help the children sleep deeper and better and also uses a special stool I think it is called a t-stool that the child has to balance while sitting and working at their desk. I know that it is upsetting when a teacher recommends medication. Hopefully, his teacher really cares about your son and wants him to enjoy school more and maybe did not know that you had already tried medication unsuccessfully. Hopefully, you can talk to the teacher about other options that could be better for your child and hopefully, the teacher will be encouraging as you try to find what is best for your child.

I agree that natural products are the best way to go. We always try to avoid medication when possible for anything. We have found a natural line of supplements, that parents have found to be helpful. you have had lots of respones with lots of info, so message me if you are interested. M.

Maybe he's getting anxious at test time - just a thought. That happens to lots of kids and is NOT neccessarily an ADD issue.

Hello,
First off I teach at a school for kids w/ LD and ADHD so I am familiar with both sides of this arguement. Teachers are the greatest people in the world! However, we are NOT doctors!!! I truly believe in some cases medication can be a blessing, esp. when the child is not reaching his/her full potential. It sounds like your son is doing great and working hard. I would keep an eye on him bc the teacher might be picking up on potential warning signs that could inhibit his learning in the future. Mel Levine has written some fantastic books on this, he has a practical and realistic look at kids with ADHD and LD.
Just because a 9 yo has some focus problems does not mean he has ADHD. There are so many great docs who can correctly dx this condition, in most cases the child would rather be doing anything rather than be in school! Diet and exercise are important too! Kids who eat less sugar and play outside (not TV and computer) tend to be able to focus better during the day.
Good luck to you! Mother's instinct is strong and you must do what is best for your child!

If your boy is getting good grades like that, leave him be for a while. Our son is so skinny from med.s AND he's still only getting a C+ in english. Our son needs to stay on med.s because he is soooo impulsive and distruptive in the classrooms. We're feeling stuck. He's lost some of his personality too. Off med.s, his grades dropped significantly. If your son is not disruptive and is getting above B grades, you might want to just give him a break.

Boys are not designed to sit in class all day that way. They need to be active, jump around. Thats how they learn. Diet is very important. Dont give the meds. Do whatever you have to do. I homeschooled my kids and worked full time without any help. Some serious educators admit how boys learn different, they separate the boys from girls. The boys actually jump up and down tossing a ball learning their mutiplication tables. You probably could spend just a little time with him and improves his reading above the teachers level.

I sorry, you did say his "teacher", not his "doctor" correct? No teacher should ever tell you your child needs to be put on meds. They can share concerns with you, but not diagnose. My daughters 4th grade teacher ruined her. She kept telling my daughter and me she had ADD. Finally took my daughter to be tested and guess what..... NO ADD! The doctor actually said she wished all her patients that have ADD paid attention like my daughter. And, the doctor was furious that the teacher had put my daughter through so much. You do what is best for YOUR son. Also, if his grades are so high I would ask a couple of questions, 1st, how are his grades so high if ADD is such a problem for him (did he earn the grades or not), 2nd Is it attention span problems or outside influences (during reading are other kids talking, playing, recess going on outside his classroom). sorry about the soap box. I was a substitute teacher for 6 years. I could tell some of the kids who "really" had ADD. Some kids that had been diagnosed just seemed bored to me, so I gave them something to do. I think the school systems are getting too dependant on meds to put the kids in a stupor.

DO NOT GIVE HIME DRUGS!!!! He is a perfectly, above normal child. A drug is not the cure, it is a cover. He is not wanting it, so perhaps he may try a little harder on his own. He is 9, for God's sake. REward, dedicate time to him, listen to him. He sounds awesome, dont dampen that with a drug. Look into a vitamin alternative, or diet change that could help. But, I really dont think he sounds like he has an issue.... maybe check the teacher!!! Good luck and God Bless.

Don't do it!

My friend has a son with severe ADD and she's had some amazing results from using this diet:

http://www.feingold.org/

As a teacher of 8 yrs I can tell you that no teacher is suppose to tell you to medicate your child. They are not even suppose to mention it. Teachers are to talk with the guidance councelor and then the councelor sets up an appointment with you. I don't believe meds are always the answer...sure I had a few students I wish were on meds, but that doesn't mean they needed them! I just had to work a little harder with them. I also had an assistant that would come in a couple of hours a day and help me with them...more one on one. I would take it slow and see if he really needs the medication. Also, you can try changing what he eats. Many preservatives and addatives can cause behavior changes. I have seen this first hand. Do some research on it. Hope this helps and good luck.

K., I don't have time to read all these responses to prevent redundancy...but skimming them was a thrill - a thrill to see so many advising you not to do it. YOU are in charge - not the system.

And I am amazed that learning styles are not considered for him - my friend's daughter was labeled mentally disfunctional ONLY because she was a strong auditory learner and had to sit in the hall to take a test - having someone read her the questions. Nothing else about her abilities was off. Ideally, learning visual, auditory and hands on is best...but some are strongly one over the other two. Not a disfunction! We strong visual learners get label smart - not fair.

I have a lot of testimonies come my way where moms of ADDs have had tremendous success with quality nutrition - just a good multi vitamin (and Flintstones won't work :() AND a good antioxidant. These moms gave their children the multi from Melaleuca and used their antioxidant grape seed extract (which crosses the brain barrier) and noticed very noticeable differences in the first month. I can send you some testimonies if you wish to see them.

I have to stress - quality is important...and you cannot find it on the store shelf - I have scientific proof as of Auguest 2008.
J. B.
www.joyboudreau.com

Two things - one is that the side effects you mention from his medication are usually dose related (meaning the dose is probably too high for him). There are lots of different types of stimulant medications out there and there may be one that works a lot better for him. He should not lose his personality on medication - he should just seem like he's "having a good day" most of the time. If you decide to add medication again, I would go to a child psychiatrist first who can help you find the best med and dose for him.

Second thing - does he have a section 504 plan or IEP at school that allows him some accommodations on his tests? Like extra time, testing in a separate environment away from distractions, tests read aloud (not for reading tests, obviously but for other tests) and things like that? Is he having any other problems in the classroom other than on tests? If he is, they could try doing a daily report card with several behaviors on it like "work completed on time, homework turned in, has all materials ready for class, raises hand and waits to be called on" - all with only a certain number of reminders. Teachers mark yes or no for each one (sometimes there is one set of behaviors for morning and one for afternoon, etc). They send it home every day and you reward him with privileges or small rewards for doing a certain number of yeses.

Best of luck,

L.

You talk to the doctor and listen to your gut and your son...let him know it's just a check-up to see what the doctor thinks. I personally don't see the need if he is able to make such wonderful grades. Did you ask her how he's getting such wonderful grades and not passing the exams?? Something doesn't sound right...I agree with the other mother about getting together with the principle and the teacher and see what's going on. You may even try asking him questions about the book he's currently reading. My daughter is 10 and last year had a problem with reading and recalling what she read, she was reading too quickly. My very best to you and certainly, if it causes too much stress to your son to have the medications, I would be more concerned with that rather than moving him up in a reading program....

There are many other causes of concentration issues. It could be medical (such a lead toxicity, diabetes, or anemia), mental (such as stress or a need for attention), or it could be that your teacher just feels stressed and doesn't want to do her job of directing a single student while trying to direct the whole class.

He could even be gifted and just plain old be bored by the assignment at hand. Try to pinpoint when he is unable to focus- is it after he's finished an assignment, during a test-maybe he finished early and has trouble waiting for others to finish, or is there some other cause of it such as a friend he wants to impress or show off for.

I think teachers are too quick to yell for medicating students when they should be looking deeper to see what they can also do to assist a child's focus back to learning.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time I checked teachers did not have enough medical training to diagnose a child or to recommend medication. Yes, they may have experience with other children who were medicated, but they should consider the fact that all children are different. In addition, as parents it is our RIGHT and our RESPONSIBILITY to take care of our children in the way that we believe is best for them. I would talk to his doctor and go with your own feelings and knowledge of your own child about medicating him.

I hope your little man is not too traumatized by that teacher! It really gets me when teachers try to exercise their hands as medical diagnosticians. As a nurse I have seen it all. One of the biggest issues I have seen is teachers with too many kids in their classes who just want their brightest (and most challenging because of their intelligence level) students medicated so they did not have to spend extra one-on-one time with that particular student.

Well, that is my soapbox...I truly hope you are able to make a decision about your child without the worry or concern for his passing or failing. Would it help for you to talk to the principal or another school official? Can he get, or does he need, a different teacher?

Best wishes....

Have you heard of a juice called MonaVie is suppose to work wonders......all natural juice, but it is expensive.........then again, can you put a price on good health?

My 75 yr old parents and diabetic brother are trying it out now, so I'll let you know how they do on it, but its suppose to help anyone at any age. If its not for you, ask a "natural health store" to suggest ideas.

No meds please, especially if he doesn't want them again. Can't she just pass on the grades and her recommendation alone??? Good luck.

Hi i've only been a mom for soon to be 14mths but i can already tell you that if your son is making the grades he should be without the meds an is in control of himself then tell the teacher that she doesn't know better an tell princible you want to switch teachers if he doesn't take it to the board of education... He may talk out loud in class or act out a lil bit an that may make her think that he needs the meds but if not then that teach is just tryin herself... Don't let the teachers push you around you know whats best for you kids an only you... Make sure to ask his Doc an see what they say or if there is any diff meds they can put him on that doesn't bother his tummy or a lower dose... Hope i've been some help to you...

C.

PLEASE PLEASE Do NOT medicate him. My son, now 21, had ADHD and dislepsia when he was a child. I come from a family of doctors all of us decided not to medicate him. I gave him coffee 4 times a day, also he received therapy; that helped him. Now he is perfectly fine and going to the University.

I strongly recommend not medicating your child. Visit www.dherbs.com. Listen to your child this time.