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Hi, I am Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D. I, will be moderating this forum.
I have been a Moderator for a few years now. I have a Master of Social Work degree. I also have a Ph.D., from the University of Marylands Institute for Child Study. I have been helping adoptive and foster families for over twenty-five years now. I am the Director of The Center For Family Development, [url]www.Center4FamilyDevelop.com,[/url] which specialize in evaluating and treating adopted and foster families and children with attachment disorders. On a personal note, I was adopted as a child, a ғkinship adoption, and am the parent of three children, one of whom was adopted.
I would like to see an open and free ranging discussion on this Forum. I am happy to answer questions and would like to see others contribute their experience and expertise. I hope that, even when the topic generates strong feelings, that everyone will remain respectful and avoid personal comments against others. I will lend my expertise as an expert on attachment, attachment disorders, mental health issues, and about adoptive and foster families. As a licensed mental health professional in several states I will provide information about treatment, effective strategies, and what the professional literature may bring to bear on questions of interest to participants of this Forum.
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I read a suggestion on another board somewhere that may help. The parent woke the child up a little early and gave them thier medication in bed, then let them go back to sleep until it kicked in.
If you don't have any issues with your son eating once he has taken the meds, this might work.
Also, you might consider implemention some type of reward system. My son's behavior specialist helped me implement a system when he earns chips for good behaviors and chores. This was a great motivator for my boy. When he gets enough chips, he gets his allowance. You can very the rewards based on what works for your family/kid.
Good luck.
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I have been waking my son up 1/2 hour before he needs to be up. Giving him his meds and letting him fall back to sleep. For the past week everything has been working. But some of his behavior has not changed. could it be the medication or just him? Ex. when he is asked to do something he first acts like I'm not talking to him like I'm seeing through him, then he says he didn't hear me(has a hearing problem in one ear) and then throws a fit when asked to follow through and do the simple task, like i'm puling his teeth out to put his dishes in the sink. It takes a good 20 minutes of discussion and still no result. He does see a therapist 2 times a month. What should I do? talk to him about what should be done? Talk about med changes? I'm lost and having 3 other children I don't want them to think its okay to act the way he has been.
What you describe is "more" than just ADHD and there is probably more complex issues going on. I'd suggest you have him evaluated by a licensed mental health professional who has substantial experience and training in helping adopted and foster children, particularily children with trauma-attachment issues. You can find such a person at [URL=http://attach.org]Association for the Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children[/URL] . If there is not someone near you, contact the nearest person on their list of registered clinicians and that person can probably recommend a more local person.
regards,
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I heard that Stratera was a new drug for the treatment of ADHD. I read a pamphlet on it and saw that one of the risks were stunted growth. My son has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and this drug scares me. I believe his case is mild and will try to start this coming school year with behavior modification only, but if that doesn't work...what is your thought on Stratera for kids? Thank you.
The side effects are less dramatic than for stimulants...fewer eating and sleeping problems. However, I'd suggest that you discuss this with your child's pediatrician, who will be familiar with other health issues and concerns, including short stature. If you want to try behavioral methods, then be sure to find a licensed mental health professional who is trained in treating children with ADHD.
regards
even though this post was old, and it seems like its up and running again, id like to comment on what brian said about ritalin being like cocaine.
just like too point out...that alot of cocaine users say they use cocaine to calm themselves down, it has a soothing effect....like ritalin has with people with ADHD
alot of people use drugs to feel 'normal'
my point.......if you refuse to give your child medication that helps him feel 'normal'....like ritalin for ADHD...then some children will grow up and find some drugs to self medicate themselves...like cocaine....
i cant tell you how many addicts that had a secondary DX say that the drugs/alcohol had helped them feel 'normal', only because they were never being treated for what might of been wrong.....ex: ADHD, bipolar, depression....etc.
i just dont want people to think that by giving a medication to a child so he can learn and function in school and is scared that he is taking 'cocaine' will not give the proper medication to their child.
they do grow up, and some do seek out alternate routes to help them cope better. some unheatlhy routes.
dadfor2
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The use of medication will not lead to a child becoming a drug abuser. In fact the opposite is true. If a child with ADHD or BiPolar disorder is not properly treated, usually with medication, then they are MUCH more likely to abuse drugs as a teen and adult. One of the red flags for ADHD in adults, who do not have a previous diagnosis or were not treated, is abuse of pot or alcohol.
regards
no, there are no connections between the two.
children with attaachment disorders, there is no majic pill to help that.
parents of children with attachment disorders need to learn a whole different way to parent them.
its alot of hard work, but it has to be done because these children will be adults before you know it.
some people have brought their child to an attachment therapist since regular kind of therapies did not work for their unattached child.
it is possible for a child to also have both illnesses. but sometimes, which seems like ADHD, is in fact not.
but no, ADHD and attachment issues are not considered connected.
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My 5 yo son started kindergarten this year and it was evident he was having problems the first week. All papers he brought home were half done. He lost interest real fast in anything the class was doing. I went to a conference with his teacher and she told me to have him evaluated for ADD. He is now on ritalin and it has been almost a month.
Homework is still a problem because the med has worn off by then. I can't keep him focused and we end up in a battle of wills. It is funny that he can sit for 2 hours and watch a video but can't/won't sit for 15 minutes to draw a picture or write his numbers. And he can't remember his letters even 2 minutes after he writes them.
I am feeling inadequate as a mother because he is probably going to fail kindergarten and I don't know how to help him get past his inability to focus.
Any advice? I am new to all of this. My brother is ADHD and I remember what my mom went through with him and it scares me.
Thanks,
Missy
My daughter is 12, and homework is still a problem. For a while I was given additional medicine for after school. But I don't want to rely on that. Since your son is young you can start with all the general advice given for add and homework. Find a quiet place, have the area set up nicely (clean no distractions). Take a break (jumping jacks or something active) then return to work. On days there is no homework, try the routine with something of your own. Have a snack when completed. No tv until the homework is finished. Time is on your side with a plan in place. :)