you know, when they study the brains of those with ADHD, there're noticeable differences...that are helped by the medications of those that need them.

it's NOT just a behavioral issue, it's a chemical imbalance of the brain.

I feel the need to add my two cents here.

My son is four and has been diagnosed with ADHD. I knew at around age two there was something wrong. He was always acting out could never sit still, would yell scream and even hit, punch and bite. I had taken him to The Hospital for Sick Children, his pediatrician and even a center here that deals with special needs children. The hospital and the pediatrician both diagnosed him with ADHD when he was three. Thinking to myself that it just sounded like a quick fix and did not want to medicate my child. So i decided to go to a behavioral management counselor that specializes in dealing with this type of behavior. I was at a lost. Time outs were not working, taking things away was not working. and since I do not believe in physical punishment as a form of discipline I that that the counselor was my best bet. But when even they could not help him. Then as a last resort I went back to the doctor and had him put on the medication. And I must say just from one pill a day, with in a week I had noticed a HUGE difference. Like somebody else has already said. I do not use it as a crutch. It is not to cure him but to help him. But he is in kindergarten now and is doing GREAT! He can spell, count to like 30, knows his ABC's forwards and even almost backwards. He is an extremely bright child. He even knew how to use my laptop touch pad instantly. Which I was amazed by cause it is not the easiest mouse to control for a four year old.

So in conclusion. Sometimes there is just know other way. And sometimes you just have to resort to the medication that is out there to actually help.

Healing factor and immortality. While we're on this X-Men thingy......

The adamantium laced skeleton and retractable claws would be pretty damn cool.

my daughter is ADHD Without Hyperactivity. she also has some learning disabilities, particularly with mathematics.

when she was twelve, her mother couldn't cope, and i got her full-time. i immediately took her to the doctor and then had her tested for LD. we set that kiddo up an IEP, incorporated extra special education into her day...and adderall.

the adderall turned things around for us. hailey went from...losing herself in space to being able to focus her thoughts. frustration went out the window...and life became much more pleasant for her. no more crying because she couldn't wrap her head around things...no more F's...she moved into being a student who has a chance at an education and a future.

her math skills will NEVER improve...she's 22, and might be on a sixth grade level. might be. numbers jumble and move in her head, similar to dyslexia. but in other areas...she improved so very much.

with the right child, medication is crucial. with the wrong one...it's very detrimental. the key is in figuring out which one you have.

in order to get disability for it, here...it has to be VERY severe. my best friend's son has to be in a self-contained classroom for his...and you have to see the doc that the social security people send you to, as well.

mine wouldn't have qualified. hell, my special needs kids don't even qualify...

Now....once that gets done (yeah, right) if only all the people who really don't have Bipolar could be cut off as well!

I was diagnosed with severe debilitating ADHD when I was a child, my mother didn't know what to do with me and she asked one of my teachers what she should do, the teacher freaked out when the subject of Ritalin came up and told my mother that she's would be ruining my if she put me on Ritalin, I agree my mind races with words images and I find it hard to concentrate sometimes, inspiration strikes like lightening and I must write something even if its on my arm or a cocktail napkin, I cant sleep sometimes because the violent imagery is so real I'm afraid I might be harmed, I hear my friends voices speaking too me from the dark corners of my bedroom, songs play in my head that I've never herd before and that never will again be heard, and I talk to myself a lot I call my conscience Mr. Meep because he's an angry bastard but he keeps me from doing something stupid... But through all that I learned self control, how to control the boundless energy that ADHD brings and I would be far worse off if I'd been medicated so I'm glad I almost failed fourth grade because I couldn't pay attention for more than a few minuets... I turned out to be a better person for it... I wonder how I would be if I were hopped up on happy pills

My son was diagnosed as ADHD when he was 8. I took him to three different doctors and the school therapist before I would even accept that. They put him on Ritalin once a day Monday through Friday. Then it got upped to twice a day Monday through Friday. Then moved to 7 days a week. During all this my son started losing weight he couldnt afford to lose. Not sleeping. So then they wanted to give him meds to increase his appetite and other meds to help him sleep. I was like what the hell? He's only 8 years old?!!! His personality changed. My son doesn't have a violent bone in his body. One day.... He picked up a kitchen chair and threw it at me. I was horrified. I took his meds. Flushed them down the toilet and we work together. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Eventually it sticks. We also used charts by the door in the morning.. Remember your homework and bookbag. That kind of thing. I will admit he is not the best student in the world. But he does try and I will NEVER medicate him again. He's 17 now and it's gotten better. There is just some part of him that is ALWAYS moving. I've learned to not even notice that he can't sit still.

It was almost impossible for me to concentrate. I'm very smart but barely made it through. My mom was there and tried everything she could. I would have been able to focus better had I had meds

I didn't get beat when acted up (but got spankings and groundings) and I will not beat my son. He got spankings but I won't just smack him.

I was taught respect and seeing my mom feel disappointed was worse than any spankings

If that is going on, then both the SSA and the family are at fault. In Ohio, people are provided with a recertification date just after the 18th birthday. If it is not completed with six months, the benefits cease.

But again, the problem there lies with the diagnostician....

Children with ADD or ADHD.. what ever...Just channel it.. put them into sports or something else they enjoy.

people over medicate for everything.
I am in the medical field.. its to common.

PEOPLE... YOU DONT HAVE TO TAKE A MEDICATION FOR EVERYTHING!
what happened back before these drugs?

Yes, yes, now we're getting somewhere!

Ritalin, Concerta, and Aderall are the most commonly prescribed medications.

Social Security does not continue following the eighteenth birthday after a diagnosis of ADHD or ADD without a verified diagnosis by a psychologist. For it to continue, the person must be severely afflicted and truely have this disorder.

My issue is not at all with the parents, but rather the individuals incorrectly diagnosing these children. It's not unlike how everyone is suddenly "bipolar"....

The doctors have the control here.

my son is ADHD and I would have been diagnosed if they had that then. He is on Ritalin but I won't let him use it as a crutch. He tried to say when younger that something happened because he forgot to take his meds. I wouldn't let him get away with it and told him...it's only to help him...not cure him.

He is a strong young man now. (still takes it but doesn't rely on it). He knows he is accountable for his actions and his school work.

He wants to get a degree and become a cop...which I'm proud. He doesn't try to use it as a crutch anymore and is a better person for it.

I won't let anyone use that excuse for him either.

everyone in life has things that they can use to blame or as a crutch. Being strong means not using them

I believe there are reasons for things....not excuses