is medication necessary for ADD?

That 2nd url is:

http://www.net-haven.net

That 2nd url is:

http://www.net-haven.net

That 2nd url is:

http://www.net-haven.net

http://millermom.proboards107.com/
is a very good site to read up on meds.

It’s also a very good site to read up on many kinds of alternative therepies. The moms there really do their research!

Another site that is good for support is http://www.net -haven.net. We hold chats on various subjects 5 nights a week!

Drop by and mention LDonline and I’ll give you a free ice cream cone!

peace,
marge

There are different types of ADD. Only specific types are responsive to medication. For more information about different types of ADD see http://www.amenclinic.com

How was the ADD diagnosed? There are quite a few disorders that mimic the symptoms of ADD. Auditory processing disorders are one, sensory integration disorder another. Even undiagnosed food allergies and food intolerances can cause symptoms that look like ADD. Borrow the book “Is This Your Child?” by Doriw Rapp from your library to check out allergies and intolerances.

If the ADD was diagnosed solely on the basis of questionnaires or by a general practitioner, then it’s only a guess. Typically what is done by a GP is to try medication to see if the symptoms respond to it or not.

There are types of ADD that really benefit from medication — the ones caused by chemical imbalance in the brain. Impulsivity is often a symptom of this type of chemical imbalance.

Many aspects of attention are trainable, however. (Impulsivity is not.) Programs such as Interactive Metronome (http://www.interactivemetronome.com) and PACE (http://www.processingskills.com) do a good job of training those aspects of attention that are trainable.

Nancy

I agree with Nancy that it really depends on the type of ADD. This needs to be thoroughly investigated.

My son has ADD/Inattentive type which responds to medication but the side effects are such that he can’t tolerate them. He has found behavioral modifications and organizational helps that keep him on track. He also takes an naturopathic supplement to help him concentrate. It works for him. :)

There are many, many different ways to help someone with ADD, if that is what it is.

My dd’s ‘brain’ Dr. described it to me very well. Most people are neurologically disorganized in some matter. Our kids who struggle are just more so than most. If you were to do a brain scan/map of an ADD person, what it shows is a certain part of the brain is overactive and other parts are asleep. The purpose of ADD medication is to ‘stimulate’ the part that is asleep. Different medications stimulate different parts of the brain. So in some cases, if you take a medication that is actually stimulating the part of the brain that is already overactive, it’s going to make the situation worse. Unfortunately, that’s why many times it’s trial and error on trying to find the right medication.

Interestingly, most disorders also show unbalanced neuronetwork activity in the brain (OCD, Depression, bi-polar etc.) Science is now being able to pinpoint and diagnose the disorder better based on brain activity. There’s growing interest now in brain imaging/scans so you can really diagnose what exactly you have. (brainmattersinc.com is a company that specializes in this area. Have never done it, I think it’s expensive. Dr. Phil has actually had them on his show a couple times!)

Regardless, there are other ways to ‘wake-up’ your brain and re-balance it without medication. Exercise, Breathing, motion (like dance or balance), sound therapy(we have been very successful with sound therapy), homeopathic etc. Most of these are not a quick fix and take time and effort to develop (just like any workout program).

the girl i am taking care of was diagnosed with ADD/inattentive type
she had problems concentrating and paying attention, so she was prescribed a medication ( do not recall the name). she seemed to be doing a little better but one morning i forgot to give her a medicine and i noticed that she was completely in different world, i was shocked and afraid that she got so addicted to the medication that she would have to take it for the rest of her life?
is it normal? and usually do people with ADD take medication for the rest of their lives?

Yes, it is very normal for someone with ADD or ADHD to take medication for the rest of their lives. My sister does take “breaks” from her meds when she is on vacation and doesn’t have to focus but when she is working they are necessary.

The neurochemical issues behind the disorder tend to require a medication that puts those neurochemicals back into balance. It is the inbalance that causes the problems.

what do you think about some natural medicince.
i found some information on internet
has anyone tried them?

I would be very cautious about using a product found on the net without consulting a professional. My son does take a “natural” product but it was prescribed for him by a naturopath. It works okay for him since he can’t take stimulants. Naturals, however, did nothing for my daughter.

If the child’s meds are working for her and allowing her to do well at school with minimal side effects, then please continue to consult with her doctor and keep her on the med.

I agree with Nancy3. There are many factors which should be evaluated to find the underlying neurological problem that is causing the ADHD behaviors. Besides the ones she mentioned, I would add sleep apnea and vision problems. Poor nutrition can be a contributing factor as well.

Does your child have academic challenges ? What are they? What behaviors are you concerned about? Does he or she have tactile hypersensitivities? hypersensitive to sound? have a runny nose or other chronic allergy symptoms? Snores? These are just some of the questions that must be asked to get a full picture of your child and what is going on.

this website has some useful information about treating ADHD - medication, behavioral therapy, etc. [url]www.aboutmh.com[/url] hope it helps!