Kids with ADHD

Crikey! That sounds really stressful. I have in the past been concerned about the erratic behaviour of my three year-old son, but in the end I concluded that he was just a three year-old. And my son. You’re obviously way beyond any doubt that your boy has a real problem, though. If I were in your position (and I might be in three years’ time), I would speak to someone at the school, who must have come across this before, or my GP.

Good luck.

Posted over 2 years ago by Spammed tipped with 1K

Hiya,

Thanks for the response :) I should have been more specific about his problems…..

He’s an emotional time bomb, and his triggers seems almost completely random. He’s hurt other children in school, punched his teacher in the face, punched the head teacher in the arm, and has daily icidences at school. He’s recently kicked my husband in the face, he steals from us, lies to us, pulls fits, and has great difficulties relating to others. He’s started to self harm (bites himself, or punches himself in the head) and through all of this his self-esteem is plummeting and he cries cos he can’t work out why he does these things, and can’t control himself like other kids.

We have a pediatrician, an educational psychologist, and a psychiatrist….....all of whom he only sees quarterly, and all of them seem to be useless…..just give him medication and see what happens in three months. He’s been diagnosed for nealy 2 years, and has still not had an actual one-on-one session with any mental health people.The parents at his school have demonized myself and my husband because of my sons behavior without realizing that he can’t help it and we are working (day and freaking night) to help the situation and work out ways of coping with this.

Unfortunately we have been left alone to cope with this, the only help we’ve been given is for at school (although we’ve asked for help and stratagies at every school meeting) and that is not helpful to two very stressed adults trying to play amateur psychologists, and work full time jobs in London.

I know it’s a pretty heavy thing to post on a site like this, but I’m running out of ideas. I’ll give loads of kudos to anyone that can help. :)

ADHD parents going crazy help

Posted over 2 years ago by AngelBob tipped with 1K

I found alot when I was researching it that alot of teacher and even proffesionals still don’t know alot about it and can sometimes make it worse. Some of the kids I saw medication worked for and some it didn’t, in most cases it was the last.

I think thats why there needs to be more organizations like the one I mentioned which is run by people who do understand it, and have experienced it first hand, the best interview I got was out of a slightly older kid with ADHD, he wrote a book to help his teachers understand him, as he realised they didn’t have a clue how to deal with the things he couln’t control.

I know it’s extremely hard however if harnessed correctly because these children have such active minds and think in different ways they can often grow into brilliantly creative individuals.

Posted over 2 years ago by kristine

A quick Google found these support groups:

LONDON

North London, Andrea – ADD Information Services, Tel:0208 906 9068 Fax: 0208 906 9068 – Edgeware, Middx. Email click here Website: http://www.addiss.co.uk

Enfield, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD Support Group, Sarah – Tel: 0208 373 6227, Fax: 0208 373 6223, Minicom: 0208 373 6270,Tracy – Primary ADHD Mon – Fri 9.30 – 11.30 am, Tel:0208 292 8438, Rona – Teenage ADHD Mon – Fri 9.00am – 4.00pm Mon-Fri on 020 8373 6209 at Enfield Parents Centre

Harrow, Therese – Tel: 0208 373 6227 Email:click here

Lambeth, Tanya (information line only after 8.30 p.m.) – Tel: 0208 761 6600

South London, Sue – Tel:020 8769 1667 – Streatham, London Website: http://www.btinternet.com/~black.ice/addnet/slondon.html

South London, Jill – Tel:0208 770 4547

Bexleyheath, SNAP (Special Needs Access to Provision), Carol McCall, Tel:01322 – 556300, Fax:01322 – 554466, Bexleyheath, Kent Email:click here

West London, Jenny – Tel:020 8384 0936 – Bedfont, Middx. Email:click here

They may be able to help, offer practical suggestions or, at the very least, provide some respite/support to you as his parents.

Good luck.

Posted over 2 years ago by Babb tipped with 2K

Thank you Kristine and Babb :)

I had googled it previously and been in contact with a few places, (although I’ve copied all the numbers Babbs posted, thanks again!!) I just found it a bit random and thought that someone who has expirienced these probs before might know of a lesser known organisation; sometimes these places are like little secret societies and don’t advertise, you have to kind of stumble upon them.

Kristine, the doc you made on ADHD, was that for school, or would I be able to look it up online? I haven’t seen a doc on the subject yet, it sounds especially interesting as it looks at how society deals with it. I would be really interested in seeing it if thats possible. Also the older kid who wrote the book….was it published or just a private thing? I would be very interested to read it, (and pass it on to the school), if it is available. And thank you loads for that link. I’m going to check it out now and ask them to send me some info. Thank you sooo much, thats a brilliant start!

Kudos all around :)

feeling optimistic

Posted over 2 years ago by AngelBob

Hi

It was for university, I don’t have a copy mine was ruined but I think I know someone who does, I’ll ask them, when I have more money and experience I hope to make a better documentary on the subject with a crew that isn’t a bunch of lazy students.

the kid who wrote the book was about 9 or 10 he is actually the son of the woman who runs the liverpool ADHD project above. so they should be able to let you know about that too. they have a few things written by the children, there one of the few places i’ve seen that involves the children rather than just trying to learn how to deal with them without their input.

Posted over 2 years ago by kristine

It sounds like you have a real interest in the subject, the world needs more people like you!! It’s too bad it was a uni documentary, but if it is available by any small chance I would definitely pay for postage.

That book sounds brilliant, I will definitely be in touch with the school. they have a few things written by the children, there one of the few places i’ve seen that involves the children rather than just trying to learn how to deal with them without their input. (still can’t do italics!! lol) I think that’s brilliant. It’s so difficult to try to understand what’s going on with them as their thought process isn’t always logical, and that would give a whole new perspective into this disorder. Before now I never even thought to look for a book written by an afflicted person. It just never occurred to me.

Do you study psych?

Posted over 2 years ago by AngelBob

No I studied film, But in the final year we got to chose the subject of our documentarys I have always been interested in human behaviour especially in children and having suffered with dyslexia and behavioural problems myself at a younger age it was just something I really wanted to do. It was eye opening and the people I met were amazing which is why I wan’t to come back to it and do a better job at a later stage

Posted over 2 years ago by kristine

Sorry to hear that your son has ADHD, my son had ASD, ADHD and ADD. Combined it makes him act three years younger then his peers. He is 9 and although acts like a 9 year old, he reacts like a 6 year old. He had harmed teachers at school, biting one on the arm so bad that she had a mental breakdown and left the school. He self harms and plays up at home and school which is slowly pushing my wife into depression. He acts a lot better with me than my wife.

He is under the doctor at the local child development clinic but in reality I don’t think this is helping him. We’ve tried to get him interested in various things, his main lines of interest are Animals and Dr Who. I built him a computer designed for his needs which he loves and is slowly getting into game playing on it. Not sure this is good for him long term as it may make him more solitary. He enjoys the computer or internet games and looks for praise when he wins. This we give him and it does seem to make him want to win more just to get the praise.

He is on Rispatol 1.5g/day. Not sure if this is working for him or to keep him quiet for the teachers?

I do work for my local ASD school – their website is www.hacs.org.uk – one I build for them. My son is on main stream school at present but may have to attend a more special secondary school in a couple of years time.

So Angelbob – I fully understand your position in this matter having been there and still am.

Posted over 2 years ago by cobo04 tipped with 1K

(“He is on Rispatol 1.5g/day. Not sure if this is working for him or to keep him quiet for the teachers?)”

It may be hard to get an answer thats logical but ask him when he’s in a calm mood how he feels when he takes it.

ritalin gets a really bad press but one child on it told me he feels that all the things in his head become all ordered and he can concentrate, which is obviously good for him, but it work differently for other kids and can space them out a bit.

Posted over 2 years ago by kristine

AngelBob – I wish I had something to contribute to this thread, but I’ve never had first-hand experience of someone with ADHD.

What I wanted to say was, considering how many irreverant (and sometimes downright rude) threads we have, it’s really nice to see that underneath it all, we can be a helpful and supportive community.

Oh AB – For italics, just put an underline before and after the word/section you want italicised. Just don’t leave a space between the underline and the text.

Posted over 2 years ago by pottytime tipped with 2K

What I wanted to say was, considering how many irreverant (and sometimes downright rude) threads we have, it’s really nice to see that underneath it all, we can be a helpful and supportive community.

What he said.

Posted over 2 years ago by Babb

Can’t be here for long right now, but in my past and present experiences with my 12yo son, I have two words for you, Angelbob: food additives.

If that sentence seems patronising, please feel free to say – my skin is reasonably thick.

coca cola tango starburst petit filous baked beans the list goes on

Posted over 2 years ago by CarmenM tipped with 1K

Kristine

Thanks for your comments – this is exactly why we (wife and I) told the doctor not to prescribe Ritalin, it as bad press and in America it has been known to cause heart failure on teens who have taken Ritalin for more then 10 years. this is the basis that a number of medial people dealing with ASD related problem children are now suggesting change of food to more organic. Although it had recently been proved that children with ADHD have retarded temporal lob formation of the brain. This retardation is about 2.9 years, this explains why children and Adults (ASD related problems do not go away with age), are always three years behind their peers in social/emotional outlook.

I have asked him how he feels before and after taking the medicine, his answer does vary but is almost consistent in that, before he feels like his brain is about to explode due to all the talk (excess brain activity – whiteout), after taking the medicine he feels calmer, there are no ‘voices in his head’ and he can focus easier. The medicine lasts for 4 hours per 0.5g. So he takes 0.5g in the morning and is given 1g at lunch time in school – the medicine comes in quicklets – easily desolvable tablets which taste of mint. He takes these by himself.

As he is getting older (okay he is just 9 but..) he is maturing and more able to take stock of things, over the past few months he had improved in school many fold, the teachers are much happier with him, as are his fellow pupils. He is better at home and more considerate with others. So maybe as he gets older he will get better, although he will be dogged with ASD for the rest of his life.

When I take him out to somewhere where he can run around and left off steam, I don’t give him his medicine as he is often too involved in doing something to either need it nor think about what is happening. So maybe use the findings of a previous study into brain activity, change the subject to one where he feels too involved in to worry about what is happening in his brain. this is one of the reasons behind building him his computer. He is playing games on it and winning, this gives him the same buzz that he gets from his ASD related brain activity but in a different way. this is my NLP training coming out here. but it seems to work.

Posted over 2 years ago by cobo04

Cobo sounds like your doing an excellent job and the computer is a great idea, I don’t think at this stage you should be worried about it making him more solitary because as you know it’s practically impossible to get someone of his age with ASD to integrate well socially.

As a child I was very socially awkward and only ever had 1 or 2 close friends as more would be to many to think about and confusing, I cant imagine how his brain deals with such situations, it must be 100 times more frustrating.

while making the documentary I did talk to a nutritionalist (appologies if this is the wrong word) and she was great, changing of the diet to a more organic one wont solve the problem completly but it has been known to help alot.

Posted over 2 years ago by kristine

I eventually sought help and support from this organisation

Posted over 2 years ago by CarmenM

I’m desperately trying to find out but i can’t seem to anywhere…. could someone tell me what ASD stands for? It says “Atrial Septal Defect” on google!

Posted over 2 years ago by faith

Could someone tell me what ASD stands for?

I thought it stood for Autism Spectrum Disorder but have since seen it flagged up as Acute Stress Disorder.

Posted over 2 years ago by CarmenM

These is the problem with abbreviations in medicine, they can stand for multiple things!

Autistic Spectrum Disorder makes sense though- cheers!

Posted over 2 years ago by faith