My 8Yr Old I Believe Is ADD and Need Some Help

ADD drugs will only work if he needs it. My daughter takes them and it has made a world of difference to her. It has really helped her grades, and I feel better because she has the the taks next year in third grade and I feel she will be ready.

I took my kids to LaRue Eppler, who is trained in something called OneBrain. It helps by reconnecting the synapses and connections between the hemispheres. When my 14 yr old isn't in the throes of too many hormones, I can really see a difference in how he manages his schoolwork, and my 11 yr old daughter is now so inspired by her new-found comprehension that she's already working on a book!

The other ideas presented are all really good. Diet is key. I'm a big fan of trying the alternatives out before resorting to drugs, and found that NAET treatments helped to eliminate the possibility of food triggers for behavior. My acupuncturist does these, but no needles for kids. Dr. Steve Homoky at Coit & Spring Creek is who we use. Good luck!

www.blockcenter.com - website has lots of info, the doctor is great and has written a fantastic book that parents can use step by step to figure out the root of their child's problem. The majority of the time, it's nutritional deficiencies, hidden food allergies, toxin exposure (vaccinations and the environment - including mold in schools), etc. For kids and myself it ended up being all of the things. However, my younger son and myself had tremendous improvement with a GF/CF diet and addressing the nutritional deficiencies. Since I was impacted longer, I've had to do tons more detox for mold toxins and heavy metals. I still have some OCD and some ADHD, but the impact on life and work is minimal and indeed the OCD is actually somewhat of a benefit as I have a job that requires attention to detail and I do my job better than many, many other people due to my compulsion for completion and accuracy. That's why I personally think the drugs are so bad as they totally blunt some core characteristics of our personalities that make us unique. Also, the research shows that as well as stunting physical growth, the drugs also stunt brain growth, thus the problem is self perpetuating once the drugs are started. So, it's great for you to consider that as a last resort option. My younger son still has the energy of an energizer bunny, BUT he can focus fairly well on school work.

hi, J.. my son who is now almost 14,has add, and also border line autistic tendencies. i know just how you feel. i do not so much have advice as i do support for you. be strong for your son, and i hope you believe in God, you are going to need Him. i have always had to be my sons inspiration when he starts to feel his self-esteem slip from teachers and others always telling him he is doing something wrong.or when he is not afforded what is due him under the 'no child left behind' act in his school. what you need to do is make sure your child is diagnosed by a dr, then the school usually does so also. once this is done, certain accomodations are available to help him be the best he can be in school. go online to add websites, this info is there, in addition to your rights and your son's rights.be prepared to meet with his teachers to discuss a plan of action-and stay on top of monitoring for compliance. it will be quite demanding-but so worth it for your son! i was very opposed to medication-but finally had to add that to our plan of action. my son was trying his hardest, the teachers were as well, but in the end, he had to have medication to help him along.he was becoming so frustrated. you will need to do research to determine the best diet for your son ( i limit giving him sugar on school days)so that nothing affects his ability to focus and be on-task. i kid you not, it is a constant battle, it will require perserverence on your part, your sons,his doctor, and his teachers, all working together. you will need a check-and-balance system to make sure he is turning in all his work in school, that he understands it, and that the school is doing their part.but as time goes on, your son will do well. a good,loving mom is going to be his best asset, what makes all the difference! you will be at the end of your rope sometimes-but keep working for him! i wish i could give you more-but know that there are many like us, and be thankful that he has you! take advantage of all there is out there to help him-God bless, and best of luck!

I know on April 23rd the Shelton Learning Center is having Dr. Swanson give a talk on ADD/ADHD which might be good for you to go to. He will be covering treatments controversial and otherwise. It might give you a good place to start.

Here is a link to the site:
http://www.shelton.org/education/school/school.php?sectio...

My son went through a phase when he was 4 and his teacher wanted him to be tested for ADD. I changed his diet (got him on some good vitamins and started Omega 3's). It seemed to help a lot. But I'm sure every child is different.

Best wishes to you in finding a solution without having to resort to drugs.

If you want a natural alternative. Grapeseed extract- the bottle that says proanthyocyanidins on the back. It is at the Vitamin Shoppe. Mine happens to be Country Life brand. Take 1 capsule for every 100 lbs. Basically 1 mg per lb. If you take too much it won't hurt. You will just pee it out. You can also open it up and pour it in a liquid if you wish.

My 12 yo has tourettes and for years his bio mother just treated him as if he were not trying to concentrate and when his head would turn up with his eyes he got in trouble for (rolling his eyes). I actually took him to doc for tourettes and they said his ADD was not bad enough for meds. It can be very frustrating but if you put in the effort it can be some what controled. We spent alot of time teaching him alternative habits if you want to call them that to moving. He rolls his fingers counting them. We tried several things till this one stuck. We have basiclly replaced the lack of attention with an OCD, we would make him sit down and watch the news (because it requires the most concentration) sitting up not relaxing back and then ask him questions after. It helped him to learn to focus. We started out with 10 minutes then increased. His grades came up in school and he can remember tasks at hand. We did not enable him by offering the excuse of the tourettes, we explained each time this is for life and he must learn to focus. We let him know we understand it is harder for him then others and we are proud of him for working to overcome this. We make sure he understands that by making A's in school it is a much greater achievement then the other students because he has to put forth twice the effort. We also would remind him when his ticks are acting up. If his head was jerking we would just say head and he would become aware of it and has taught himself to control the worst of it to the point that unless he is at home relaxing no-one notices. We talked to his teachers and explained what we do the when they are talking to him if his head jerks or his eyes roll they just say head or eyes and he corrects it and no-one is the wiser. We also got him a PSP because it helps teach him to concentrate. It is a long and never ending process but it will help greatly when he gets out in the world. My son-n-law actually is in the army with it, he is the one who taught him to finger roll and count. Good Luck

J.,

There is a great nutritional food supplement that has helped kids with all kinds of issues and I belive your son can benefit from it as well. If you would like information, let me know.

Blessings!

Many Dr's are quick to label ADD/ADHD and prescribe meds. There are other proven alternatives that can help improve focus and behavior in children. Diet can play a huge role. Do some research on the Feingold diet/Gluten free diet. I applaud you for seeking out natural alternatives!!!

In case you haven't heard of adaptogens, they are a category of herbs that help the human body adapt to stress, support normal metabolic processes, and restore balance. They increase the body's resistance to physical, biological, emotional, and environmental stressors and promote normal physiologic function. A lot has been discussed recently about adaptogens, even Dr. Oz on Oprah.

I highly recommend an incredible book titled Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief by Winston and Maimes. To watch a video on the history of adaptogens go to www.TunguskaMistNow.com to learn more.

Many parents have had wonderful results using the Tunguska Mist Adaptogen Sprays to help restore balance in their children and improve their focus and behavior. Teachers often comment that the student's grades go from C's/D's to A's/B's.

My husband and I have been taking adaptogens for a long time, and we're passionate about helping people reduce the damaging effects of stress and restore balance NATURALLY! Good luck and God Bless:)

Hi J.,
I am a licensed Yoga for the Special Child (R) therapist working in Fort Worth. I work with children with all sorts of diagnoses and use yoga exercises to improve concentration and lower stress.
For more about the therapy, please see my website at www.yogapotential.com or my teacher's website, founder of this approach, www.specialyoga.com.

Peace and Joy,
M.

Hi J.,

I would like to offer some help.

The Cerebellum Center offers the DORE Program which is proven to be very effective with the treatment of ADHD/ADD, dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Tourette's is an interesting diagnosis that can show signs of ADHD, but if your child is able to be helped by the DORE program, they will be able to determine that with a lengthy questionaire.

The DORE website is www.dore.co.uk and The Cerebellum Center's site is www.cerebellumcenter.com

I hope this helps!
S.

When my youngest was 4 the daycare wanted me to get him tested for ADHD. Which he may have. I wont say that he does not. But we did not want to put him on meds if we could keep from it. Don't get me wrong there are defiantly kids out there that need it but not all do. We cut out most sugar out of his diet. Also we tried to keep as much red, blue and yellow food colorings out too. Yes that's not the easiest thing in the world to do. One thing you might check if you haven't already is make sure he's sleeping good. My son does not. He tosses and turns all night. We had to have his tonciles (sp) taken out to help him sleep. But he still doesn't sleep great. He's the worst when he doesn't have enough sleep.

Good luck and God bless you with what ever decision you make!

I would highly recommend geting his neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, etc.) tested. It's a bit of a different approach, but one that bears consideration. My niece has ADHD and has had success with a more holistic approach. (She's also been on medication.) I live in Bedford, but know of many health care professionals in the DFW area who can help you with this. If you'd like more information please don't hesitate to let me know. It REALLY is worth your time. It's a non-invasive test utilizing urine and the results that you may see are remarkable. I wish you the very best!

I know it is becoming unpopular to admit that you give your child ADD medicine, but it has made all the difference for my son. He has been on medicine since he was 7 years old. We started on Adderal, but switched to Focalin two years ago. Focalin has been much better for him, with fewer side effects - just loss of appetite. One thing to be careful of is the tourettes. Many people feel that the ADD medicine has triggered or increased the tics associated with tourettes.