Was just curious how many of you have ADHD kiddo’s who have hypoacitivity vs hyperactivity? My ADHD son has 1 speed SLOW. He shufflles his feet, talks slowly and softly, walks slowly and completes tasks slowly. He is a very quiet child who prefers to do things on his own. He has friends and likes to play, but work is usually done on his own. We have tried different medications for him but has been deemed a non-responder. His inattention has been improving since receiving help for the academic areas he struggles in. His teachers say he is a good friend, very well behaved, concerned about others and the enviroment, but they still find him to be a frustrating student. He is very unorganized and extremely difficult to motivate. What types of strategies seem to help these students? This child will be entering 9th grade next year.
Re: hyperactivity vs hypoactivity
The main thing for slow processors is to give ‘em time. Making adjustments in schedules so that he doesn’t have to crank stuff out makes the most difference. With organizing, aargh… start with one target to organize and succeed in. Fortunately, high school (and even more so, college) cna be a more flexible environmnet schedule-wise.
Re: hyperactivity vs hypoactivity
My son came home from college this weekend and told me he was learning to adjust to his Ritalin but wants to try Metadate (8 hr.). He actually said that he is more “social” when he takes his medicine and I can attest to that. It helps him focus and carry on a conversation. He has come a long way to even be able to tell me that! He is still disorganized and waits until the very last minute to do things. He will wait until the night before a paper is due to start it, etc., and then stay up all night to do it. Yes, that makes me crazy, but thankfully, he is away at college living in a dorm so I don’t see it first hand!
Janis
Re: hyperactivity vs hypoactivity
There is a subtype of ADHD known as ADHD inattentive which displays inattention and almost no hyperactivity and almost no impulsivity.
Hypoactivity can be associated with ADHD - inattentive.
As a generalization, the central nervous system stimulants/alerting agents is the single classification of meds which tend to temporarily reduce the symptoms of ADHD in some people, not all people.
The ADHD meds do not work for everyone.
Perhaps the weakest known stimulant is coffee/caffeine compounds/caffeine and the strongest Adderall (prescription medicine).
That’s my understanding.
Best wishes.
Re: hyperactivity vs hypoactivity
Funny you mention caffine as one. We have started to allow him to have a Dr Pepper before going to school which has plenty of caffine. This seems to wake him up and allow him to focus. We tried Ritilan and Adderall both and they just put him to sleep even at the lowest dose. I would like to thank everyone for their responses and wish you all a joyous holiday season.
Re: hyperactivity vs hypoactivity
My son self-medicated with caffeine before we had him diagnosed. He somehow knew it helped him, so he’d put about 3 teaspoons of coffee in a cup with some hot water and drink it quickly. This was in high school, but he way.
Janis
In regards to strategies, I would suggest structure and lots of it. I have a 15 year old who is a slow mover. Ritalin did nothing for him but Dexadrine that helped put him in gear. Another slow mover I tutored is on Adderall…just the right dosage helped him open up, be attentive talk and also and tune in. Too much and he was a slow mover again. Both of these boys made principals honor roll and the meds made the difference for them. What meds has your son tried? Perhaps a non-stimulant would work for him, like zoloft?