Monday, May 09, 2011
I need some advise on how to deal with admitting that my son may need medication for ADD! We were asked by the school to have him tested on the connor scale and I was in such denial I never did anything with it! Now that he is about to go into the middle school after a rough 5th grade year I am realizing that he might really need some medical help with his ADD! He hasnt been formally diagnosed yet but Im sure after some research and based on the school opinion that he has ADD. No hyperactivity just lack of focus. I just need a place to vent and talk about it so I am happy I found this SharePost!
Thanks for your post and welcome to ADHDCentral.com.
The first step is to take your son to the doctor for an evaluation. There isn't really any reason to think about medication until he has been diagnosed. School personnel, such as teachers, are not qualified to give a medical diagnosis and just because they think he has ADHD does not mean that he does. It is important to speak with your doctor and find out for sure.
That said, I remember when my son was diagnosed and I wasn't sure about giving him medication. I decided to give it a try, knowing that I didn't need to make a commitment for medication, just be open minded for a few weeks and see what happened. Actually, it took much less to notice a difference. The change was immediate. He listened, he read, he sat still. It was amazing to watch the change.
There is some information on the site that might be useful for you:
Diagnosing ADHD in Children
So You Think Your Child Has ADHD
Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Beginning Medication
Tips for Parents When a Child is Diagnosed with ADHD
I hope this helps. Please feel free to vent, talk, discuss or ask questions here on this forum.
Eileen