Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

You are the child I thought I'd never see.
For years I'd dreamed of you,
Though your father eluded me.

News of you brought forth in me such a joyous feeling.
The thought of you, my dream come true -
Leaving my head reeling.

I loved you so much, even before first-sight.
My holiday baby, born Thanksgiving night.

God blessed me with you after many long years.
I give thanks to Him each day - for listening when I pray-
For all the laughter and tears.

You are my little Dudie,
That you'll always be...
I praise the Lord for sending you to me.
Love, Mama

(Photo: Tanner and his daddy moving cattle on horseback. 1999)

I long suspected that my boy suffered from ADHD, but when the thought first struck me, he was too young to be tested for it; he was three years old.

At the age of three, he started pre-school for half a day. He enjoyed going to school, but he had trouble with impulsivity, maintaining relationships with other children and learning at the same rate as the others. He stayed in pre-school until just before his fifth birthday, and his behavior had gotten much worse by then.

His kindergarten year saw no improvement. In fact, I was a frequent visitor to the school to have discussions with his teacher.

During all this time I had been scouring the Internet for more information on ADHD, and natural remedies. I cut so much out of his diet, you'd think he'd starve to death. I gave him supplements; I did everything I could to treat him without medications. Nothing worked.

In first grade, he was being sent to the principal's office almost daily for acting out in class and throwing things. I picked up a brochure on ADHD and read it. I was flabbergasted to read all about my child. He was exactly as described in this literature. So, I shared this information with his first grade teacher. Her response to me was something that in another life may have provoked me to violence.

This woman told me that because of her thirty years of teaching first grade, that she would know an ADHD kid when she saw one; that my son was just naughty. I told her that I never knew a teaching degree was equal to a medical degree, and I stormed out of the room.

A few days after this, the principal called to have me come get my son, he had been misbehaving. When I arrived to get him, the principal informed me that if my boy didn't improve his behavior, they would have no choice but to expel him from school. He told me that he was a danger to other children. This from the same principal who did nothing while my oldest boy was being beaten up at school a few years earlier.

School let out for Christmas, and I took my son to the pediatrician. He was tested and diagnosed with ADHD. He was put on medication.

The first day he took medication I could see a change. He was calmer and more focused. He seemed happier too. My guess is that not being yelled at all the time to stop something was one source of his happiness.

By the time he went back to school, he'd been medicated for a week. I went to pick him up at the end of the day (he'd been kicked off the bus) and the teachers were smiling at me. One teacher asked me, "What did you do to him? He's not the same kid."

I marched into his classroom, followed by the other teacher, and announced to his teacher that she should quit practicing medicine because the pediatrician diagnosed my boy with ADHD, and she could stick her 30 years where the sun don't shine.

From that day on, he has not been sent to the office for behavior issues. He is now about to enter the sixth grade.

ADD : Attention Deficit Disorder
The inability in a person, typically a child, to focus their attention for any length of time. Lack of concentration. However, the term is now more commonly used in reference to adults with ADHD.
ADHD : Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
a behavioral disorder that is characterized by the child's inability to concentrate, exercise physical self-control; or to act impulsively. Demonstration of excessive hyperactivity.

The difference between the two, typically, is the hyperactivity.

Both are more common in males than females, although the reason for this is unknown. ADHD has presented itself in 3 to 6 percent of all children worldwide. More talked about in the United States, ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorder in children.

Dealing with our school officials has never been what I call fun, but in relation to my youngest, it began as a nightmare. I wonder if it would have been easier if we lived in a big city. It is getting better though.

First we have the narrow minded first grade teacher, then we have the idiot principal who never took my Special Education testing requests seriously, and a Special Ed teacher who doesn't like to hit the ball, but would rather drag her feet around the bases after someone else hits.

After my son's behavior improvements were acknowledged, no one seemed to care that he was not learning to read. He went into the second grade well behind his classmates in this area. I asked for Special Ed testing because of this and was ignored until he was in the fourth grade. I had to threaten lawsuits to get it done, but it finally happened. And guess what...! My son is learning disabled too. He has a significant reading disability.

And, when one cannot read well, they tend to not do well in other areas.

My boy could not keep up in class and rather that focus on teaching him to read, they just pulled him aside and gave him extra help getting caught up in his assignments.

By the end of fourth grade I was back in school demanding that they really try to help him learn to read rather than keeping him caught up on class work. I told them that if he could read he could stay caught up on his own. Finally, someone listened.

After my last tantrum to the school, they began using alternative teaching methods and tools with him. He has difficulty expressing ideas through writing. His fluency needs work. So, they let him type now and are focusing on his keyboarding skills to complete his assignments. They put a sound filter in the classrooms so that background noise is muted, helping his concentration.

He is an auditory learner, so some of his assigned reading is taken care of with audio books.

My son cannot read at his grade level, but he's no longer five years behind. He can read one year below his grade level now.

Through all of this, I have learned that he is a very bright child, and retains information at an above average level, which is another reason I pushed the school so hard. I didn't want to see his intelligence wasted.

He enjoys school a little more now than he did when he felt 'stupid'.

ADHD Drugs by Name

* Adderall, Adderall XR
* CONCERTA Oral (this is time-released)
* Daytrana TD
* Desoxyn Oral
* Dexedrine Oral
* DextroStat Oral
* Focalin Oral
* Focalin XR Oral
* Metadate Oral
* Methylin Oral
* Ritalin Oral
* Ritalin LA Oral
* Ritalin SR Oral
* Strattera Oral
* Vyvanse Oral

My child takes Concerta. He does very well with it; he suffers no ill effects from it at all.

Well, it is that time once again. I've gotten school clothes and supplies shopping done and school starts again in three weeks.

Thanx to some private tutoring over the summer, I really think my son will have a successful sixth grade year. Is he really going into the sixth grade already? Wow!

His reading has improved over the summer, and I am confident in his ability to keep up with his class, although he may still need a little help, but not as much as before.

He has been on medication for five years now, and with each new year comes new successes for him.

If your child had ADHD, don't let your school system jerk you around. Get after them to make sure your child gets the best education possible; they are required by law to see to this. Don't allow others to make you or your child feel stigmatized in any way.

Having ADHD is not some form of retardation. Your child may have learning difficulties, but is probably also very intelligent. Never give up on your kid.

Tanner is now through the sixth grade. He has made huge improvements over the last year alone. I am so proud of him!

Once I got the school system to play ball with us, things really started to turn around. I got him tested for Special Education, and learned of his reading disability; something I truly knew was there all of the time. Finally, after getting the school to test him, they got with the program. Tanner is now reading almost as well as the other kids in his class. That is HUGE!

If your child struggles with school, get involved. Push your school to help your child. Be relentless. How your child does in school will effect his life forever. Do whatever it takes to make it a positive experience. Have regular meetings with teachers and other school staff. Make a list of goals each year, and track progress on those goals. Work for your child. You are the only advocate he's got. It'll pay off.

"I doubt that the imagination can be suppressed. If you truly eradicated it in a child, he would grow up to be an eggplant."

Ursula K. Le Guin.