My son is 11, he was diagnosed with ADD two years ago. We have tried various medications, they have always been low dosages. The first one was Ritalin 2 times a day 5 mg each.
Then we tried Adderall 1 time a day 10 mg.
Then we tried Concerta 1 time a day 18 mg each.
He was taking Concerta for 3 days and started having a continous tic in both eyes so now he is off of it for good.
My son has a problem with organization, and understanding things that need to be explained, great speller, but if he has to do math, science, or social studies it gets too complicated for him and he doesn’t want to try. Same with housework, he hates to clean or help out around the house and would rather everyone just leave him alone. It is starting to effect the way my 6 year old girl acts, she sees him act the way he does and decides its for her too. I cannot tell if he actually has ADD or if he is suffering from Depression and I don’t really want to continue another round of medication. He is bossy towards his friends, cannot take blame or responsbility for anything, hates his little sister, yet loves his little brother, and overall its like he enjoys making the rest of the family miserable if we go out on family outtings. The only testing that was done was by evaluation forms from the teacher and my husband and I. I take him to talk to the doctor and he only tells them what he thinks they want to hear. I don’t know if he even knows how to be honest about what he feels inside and it is killing me. I don’t want him to be perfect, I just want him to be the son he use to be when he was little. The worst part is not knowing if this is just his personality or if it is something that needs to be treated with medicine. I have been on medication for 6 years for depression and it has helped me immensily, I only wish my parents had taken me as a child so that maybe I would have enjoyed my childhood more. Any advice would be helpful to me.
Re: How can I tell if its ADD or laziness?
He was diagnosed by his pediatrician, your right, I do not have much faith in her and currently she is sending me a referral to a psychiatrist. I just never know what to expect, he definitely has some issues with anger and resentment. I just don’t want him to think there is something wrong with him that allows him to be this way. I don’t want him using it as an excuse and so far, thats what he has done. Excuse not to eat, to fail a test, to not remember his homework, all of those things and more.
Re: How can I tell if its ADD or laziness?
He of course could have depression,he could have ADD,he could also have a learning disability.
Reading your post this is what I hear you say:
He was trialed on meds,but he had side effects and instead of increasing dosages,they just changed meds.
The Dr. is not confident as to what is the matter,and doesn’t appear well versed in diagnosis of ADD.
Your son sounds like he has social skills problems,hard time organizing,mood swings, and difficulty in school.
The one BIG thing I read was” I just want him to be the way he used to be” Did something happen in his life that changed his personality? Was he a different baby,then he is a child? Has things happened after he started school?
You need a good physician who is familar with ADHD and Learning disabilities. I would have him tested for both. BUT,if he was doing well,and all of a sudden,he changed,then you are probably looking at an emotional component.
Re: How can I tell if its ADD or laziness?
From what you’re saying, your son has some of the classic signs of a learning difference or learning difference and/or possibly ADD. Difficulty with organization is one of the most classic signs and difficulty with staying on task. Doing chores around the house requires focus and focus on uninteresting things and the same goes for working to understanding the complexities of social studies or science. Those things require him to stay on task and that seems to be hard for him.
You’ve had him on three different medications at impressively low (and possibly ineffectual) doses but you don’t say why. Whether your son would benefit from medication or not could only be ascertained if he was given a sustained trial on medication at the right dosage level for his weight.
Medication issues aside, raising ADD kids or kids with learning differences can be a tremendous challenge. Their ADD and/or their learning differences can interfere with their ability to learn social behaviors and that their ability to get along with other children.
Raising two ADD boys of my own helped me to understand that family outings could be more work than fun. We learned the hard way to tailor our outings to what they could enjoy. Our outings needed to be short and structured or things went awry.
Is there a local chapter of CHADD in your area? It might help to be in touch with other families of kids with learning differences or ADD. Do a search on the web and you’ll find the names of organizations and their support chapters in your area.
Re: How can I tell if its ADD or laziness?
Your son is not lazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am forwarding ADHD—New legal Responsibilities for Schools from IDONLINE. Read it. Medication will help him focus but he will never be the child you want him to be but most ADHD children are sensitive, loving, caring, and want to please you! I am a teacher who discovered the hard way when my son was 6 that he too was ADHD. It is an everending challenge and he is 17. I have completed the required courses for my masters in special education. I also have found that most people do not understand ADHD. There is a great book called “Hunters not Farmers” and also “Driven to Distraction”. Check your library. Go to the local resource center in your public school division and ask for free literature on ADHD. It is available!! Children with ADHD function differerently because of a neurobiological problem. If you raise your child with a positive attitude that ADHD children are successful in many things, the child will be okay. Most people that I know that are ADHD are gifted because they can handle many things at once (phone, computer, radio on, and talk to you at the same time); most are survivors who are entrepenaurs who have had to really work hard to get what they want in life; My ADHD is truly a challenge when he acts out but short time punishment may work-long term will not”. Never give your child two tasks at once: If you say, “Son, hang up your coat and put away your shoes”. He will walk towards where they are, look around, and then come back to you and say “Mom, what did you want me to do?” Their brain can only handle one thing at a time. But, if you say, “Hang up your coat” —he will. Then direct the task, “Put away your shoes” he will. I know, my husband and son are both ADHD and there is never a dull moment in my house…Ha. My daughter turned out okay but felt there was a double standard (She is soon to be 21) now she is close to him and knows all about ADHD. Good luck!
Re: How can I tell if its ADD or laziness?
You are right, it gets frustrating at times because I don’t feel like anyone can really tell me if I am on the right track with him. The change to me occured when he entered school. He was happy up until then, so maybe it was frustration that has made him moody. When he was four a lady exiting the highway ran a stop light and hit our car so hard that it jerked him from his seatbelt (which was a lap belt) and threw him out of the car onto the road. He did suffer a skull fracture and I think that has alot to do with the learning problem. And I completely understand that, but not being around many kids with ADD I can’t tell if some of the things he does are just brought on by personality of turning into a teenager or just really not caring about anything. I think I will look into that CHADD organization, I believe they have one here and maybe they can offer some more help. I’ve read alot and have done research, but sometimes it helps knowing that other people are going through the same thing. Thanks for your help and advice.
Re: How can I tell if its ADD or laziness?
If your concerned and searching for help,you are DEFINITELY on the right track.
He could of definitely sustained injury in the accident you describe. There is something called a closed head injury ,which can cause definite learning and behavior problems. Most often, they also carry some sort of physical one too. A pediatric neurologist could investigate this. Again depending on whether this was an injury,you would approach it in a much different way then a learning disability,or ADD. You would do a lot of the same things too,but it would be an important peice of the puzzle.
Most often ADD kids were always different in some way,during early years before school,too. My two were also Hyperactive so there is a difference there too. My ADHD kids moved and tap danced in my stomach during pregnancy. They had poor social skills,wouldn’t share,would hit you over the head to get the toy. Have screaming hissy fits in the store,supermarket,church.
Before he could walk my oldest would move all his toys to the corner of the playpen and climb out only to fall over when he got there.
I knew deep inside of me they would have problems in school,wasn’t too surprised when they did,all in all,their behavior didn’t change from what it was,until they were diagnosed. If this isn’t true for your son,he might not be properly diagnosed.
Keep in mind every kid is different,it does take time and research,your doing a good job.
Re: How can I tell if its ADD or laziness?
Please know that even a correct diagnosis does not mean that one of the ADHD medicines will work well for your child. There are lots of children where a diagnosis is correct yet medicines fail for them. That’s the real world.
Here is the Amen website which gives a very large look at challenges like ADHD:
http://www.brainplace.com/bp/default.asp
There are other good ADHD resource sites also.
Re: How can I tell if its ADD or laziness?
I don’t have the best memory, but I seem to recall that the first studies of adhd began with studying brain injured folks who exhibit the symptoms that we asssociate with adhd. They were not profoundly injured I don’t think, it was subtle problems. A visit to a neurologist or neuropsyche would probably be a good investment.
I have a pre-adolescent also, some of the moody part could be age related, however, my son was moody from a toddler on, commented on even by his grandmother, lately it is worse. He also has a hard time dealing with his younger brother, the doc told me that at middleschool age, they don’t have a lot of patience with ‘immaturity’(ie. younger sibs). His brother is almost 10 and is an active adhd kid, his behavior can get irritating, however, the older boy is very good with the under 5 group.
As far as medication, first find out for sure what you are dealing with, then with the help of the doc, you might try some other meds. Ritalin and its relatives are not the only meds available for treating adhd but those decisions should be made with lots of info and a doc you feel good about. I hope I helped some.Best wishes.
Traci,
Depression can mimic ADHD in children, and depression does run in families. On the other hand, one of the hallmarks of ADHD is difficulty with mustering effort to persevere on difficult tasks. Some children who do not respond to stimulant medications may respond to antidepressant medications such as Wellbutrin, even if they are not depressed but instead are exhibiting ADHD symptoms. Who diagnosed your son? If it was your pediatrician, you might consider consulting a specialist instead, especially since it sounds like you don’t have much confidence in your son’s current doctor.
Andrea