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The number of kids being diagnosed with ADHD is astounding.. The question than becomes "should I medicate my child?" Honestly, I answer: it depends.
Prior to school age it is difficult but not unheard of to see a child receive this diagnosis. I knew by the time my daughter was four that she had inherited ADHD from her dad. With some children it is very easy to pin point, others might take some time. Care needs to be taken at any age when we give our patients a diagnosis. Children have come to me already labeled with ADHD and a few weeks into my work with the child I discover a significant trauma in their back ground or in day to day life. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can look very much like ADHD. Does that mean the child is misdiagnosed? No, not necessarily. There can be co-morbidity of issues, but I would not jump to treat ADHD until I have looked closer at that trauma history and perhaps done some work around that issue.
Once a child enters school I suggest to parents they look again at whether medication is needed. Some children do need a stimulant medication such as Ritalin or Adderall to get through the school day. If a child is placed on such a med, Parents need to be alert to afternoon “crashing”. I know when we tried my daughter on Ritalin, by the afternoon the child was hardly able to stay in her skin. It was not the med for her.
In some cases, I might suggest behavioral strategies before medications tried. Making sure your child is in a structured classroom and then has structure at home to complete homework and other tasks. If the child knows what is next, there is less time to worry and/or get lost off topic. Outlining the day for the child enables them to stay focused on the task at hand. If there are seven homework papers, one begins by teaching the child to do one at a time. Simple home tasks should be set up the same way. Telling a child with ADHD to “go clean your room.” is simply not fair. This child will have no idea where to begin and perhaps get half the blocks picked up before finding an old action figure and then is lost in play. Make it more like a game with lots of structure. Suggest the child go and put all the “blue things away.” Then he is to come back and tell you when the blue things are picked up. You can then instruct him to pick up all the round things. Bit by bit, it gets done! In this way the child also learns organizational skills, often lacking for children with ADHD.
If structure and hand over hand guiding is not working, the child might benefit from medication. While there are many good prescription medications on the market, some parents would rather take a holistic approach before jumping into monthly psychiatry or pediatrician visits. There are some great Omega 3 products in many health food stores that can be very helpful. One of my favorites (and my kids) is Gummy Omegalicious. One packet of gummy’s with Omega 3 formula, DHA, EPA, Vitamin C and Lycopene are delicious dietary supplement that can help with Mood, memory and the brain! If this too is not giving the child enough to be more focuses in school, it might be time to have a medication consultation.
Take time, do some reading, educate yourself. Then you can make the right decision for your child.
