ADHD - To medicate or not

My son is 7, and just been diagnose with ADHD, he not the hyper, or depressed or anxious, he is just inattentive. One recommendation given by Psycologist was discusssed with a Psycharist on the possibility of medication.


I been told not to medicate him by some, while some ADHD books says medication will help.


Does anyone have advise on this?

Does anyone have any experience with alternative treatment ?

Anyone tried Cogmed, NeuroDevelopment or Kinesiology.


Thks

Was your son diagnosed with ADHD or with ADD?


What has his teacher recommended? I would involve the teacher in this discussion.

I am a primary teacher and parent of an ADHD kid. I could speak on this all day, but I'm rushing out the door, so here is my best quick advice:

1) Examine all options before medicating so if you do medicate, you don't question your decision. Other people will question it and you will feel guilty if you're not completely sure.

2) I'd really suggest you see an Occupational Therapist because there are an amazing number of physical weaknesses which can contribute to ADD and which can be helped with exercise and various activities and changes in routines.

3) See a naturopath. Dr. Arlene Yik is outstanding. She is a recognized Canadian doctor who uses natural remedies, but if they don't work well enough, she will advise you to see a mainstream doctor. She will assess your son for many things like allergies, mineral deficiency and they have many nutritional supplements which can really really make a huge difference.She is in Integrated Medical Imaging on Stanley St. in Lan Kwai Fong.

4) We use Bright Spark which we order online from www.nativeremedies. com.

5) Start reading and experimenting with what works. Talk to the teacher. Form a partnership. Join F.O.C.U. S. group in HK to meet other mums in similar situations. Learn their secrets.Help your child.


Good luck.

Not intending to challenge the Medical authorities/or psychologists...etc...


However, I really think in the recent years, HK students have been diagnosed with ADHD (and ADD) more often than ever before.


(Yes, I question how accurate it is).


A friend who is a professional in this field "hinted" that alot of it is just "business" tactic....


I really think if a child just can't "focus" is a matter of a phase, and matter of approach in teaching ... and "training" the child.

Not necessarily ADHD or ADD.

Thanks for the advise notyou, it was vey helpful.

Can you recommend any Occupational Therapist.


Thanks again.

My son has not officially been diagnosed with ADD but the symptoms are all there. I have tried to change/control his diet and have used Rescue Remedy occasionally though I see very little change in him. I am certain he has a problem with focus and concentration.


I prefer to go down the homeopathic way and looked up Bright Spark as mentioned by notyou. Did it really help your child, notyou? I am also bringing him to a homeopathic doctor for mineral testing. At this point, I'm greatly concerned as I have seen firsthand his lack of attention and I'd like to help him as much as possible as he'll be starting Y1 soon.

has your son watched a lot of TV or played videogames/computer games?

If so, i would remove these sources of hyperstimulation. I would encourage the child to take up a sport, anything, from tennis, to fencing, or swimming.


Change the diet (less meat, more veggies, less sugar, more fresh fruit) and add some supplemennts (a good naturopath can suggest the right ones)


And spend more time reading with your child.

You need to stimulate his imagination.

Selda, TV is kept to a maximum of 30 mins a day. Video/computer games are not allowed at this point as I feel its too early. He plays football once a week, bikes everyday and is generally at the pool during weekends. Loads of activities to stimulate him.


I spend time with him everyday doing various activities like simple math, reading (he reads v.well), junior scrabble (which he enjoys) etc. But he obviously has to make a great effort to concentrate and focus. I have had to make the tough decision of keeping him back a year (he is a Dec child) and I really dont know if this is fair to the poor boy.

My Daughter is now 15 years old she has ADHD and Learning disability. We lives in Canada (Toronto)came from HK. She was on medication for a year or 2 (they almost kill her) when she was 7 year old she only weight 38 pounds!, that is one of the side effect of the med. but mind you that doesn't do to all kids one of my friends son is on the same med. didn't do a thing to him. I thank God for one of my friend told me to see the Chinese acupuncture Dr. it helps her a lot the Dr. told me if she see her even earlier (before 7 year old) she only need a few treatment, but she was 9 when we meet her. But make sure you get the right Dr.


Good luck.

To Salepepe, its much fairer for your child to keep him back a year now (and remember if he's a Dec birthday by keeping him back he is now in the correct year he would be in in the UK), than to have him struggle throughout his primary years.

If the diagnosis is correct, medication can have unbelievable results. Unfortunately, many more children are prescribed medication than actually need it. If you decide to try it, I would recommend getting your teacher involved. Do a pre-test of time on task, a math skill, a writing skill and have them fill in a short checklist of how they feel about themselves and their work. After 2-3 weeks do a similar test and compare results.


In my opinion, children that don't show marked academic and self-esteem improvements should not continue on the medications. For those that do show improvement, well, it is nothing short of life changing.


By all means try the other methods and makes sure to join FOCUS - they are a great support.

Hi there,

I recently learned that both my son and I have adhd so I've been experimenting with what works for both of us. I'm not a doctor, but here is my 2 cents. Hope it is helpful.

I tried Bright Spark and it helps some but it's not life-changing. however, my sister swears by it as her son has ADD. Still, it's effects are too subtle for us. Dr. Yik of 17 Stanley St. (IMI) also gave me some small pills made of chamomile. They calm kids/people down and taste yummy. They're good for daytime or bedtime and you really can't take too many. They're harmless. I give them to my kids before going to the dentist as they calm you down. I take them sometimes too. They're very cheap too, probably about $20HK for a hundred or more. However, the camomile only helps with the h part of adhd. the ADD or AD is the major part in my opinion. I'm having trouble getting my child to take what Dr. Yik gave us, so I may order some stuff which she said is not available here, but which is in chewable forms or which tastes better. The things which I have learned are better than Bright Spark and are totally natural:

1) If you or your child, whoever has adhd or add can handle it, Natural Factors, Learning Factors Smoothie Mix, Daily Nutritional Blend, Nutritional Brain Support. It's full of great vitamins and minerals. This helps me majorly!! My thinking becomes clearer it takes away my normally distractible state. however, it comes in a powder which is mixed with water, shaken and it is very hard to take the awful taste. It says it is 'wild berry taste' but ugh. It's gross. It has vit. B, E, D, calcium, iron, milk thistle and about 30-40 ingredients.

2) Second best is Sea Buddies 'Concentrate' Focus Formula. It works well too, but it doesn't have as many minerals or vitamins. However, it comes in capsules containing powder so if you swallow them, you don't taste anything. My son can't swallow them and I haven't had much luck opening the capsules and trying to disguise the taste in milkshakes, but I'm still working on it. I don't actually know what all of the ingredients are exactly. I have to look them up, but it includes DMAE, phosphatidylserine from soybean lecithin, N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), Taurine, and L0Theanine (Suntheanine brand). If your child can take the first one, it seems to work great but again, he/she has to have a strong stomach.]

fish oil works too.

I am planning to ask Dr. Yik for another better tasting type of supplement for my child. She said there are options if your child doesn't like these,b ut I'll have to ordr them.

good luck. hope this was helpful.

To notyou,


I have also tried BrightSpark and it is not so life changing but it helps a lot. Then I tried Dr. Sonal from IMI instead of the other lady. It seemed that the remedies she gave my son was easy to swallow and follow. I did not take any supplements from IMI and it still worked. Hope this is useful.

Can you please tell me which ones you found useful? I'd be really grateful!

I recommend this wonderful and free book I found online. It has articles about medicating, but also about herbal remedies. Some I saw are Learning Factors by Natural Factors (works, but doesn't tastee good), IQ, Focus Formula, Flavay, Flavay Plus and ADD Attention. I don't know if these are available in HK though.


http://www.adhdnews.com/ebook/ebook1.pdf

Hi.

I found something great for ADHD. If you have ADHD, apparently your working memory is very weak. Strengthening it will improve ADHD symptoms, attention and focus. There is a site called www.lumosity.com. It is cheap, only $7US a month, and the games are really fun. I'm told CogMed is better and available in Hong Kong. Has anyone tried it?