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ADHD - Just diagnosed - any tips

79 replies

Jillxx · 14/08/2001 20:59

My 6 yr old girl has now been officially diagnosed with ADHD, she is on 1 Methlphenidate 5mg tablets 3 times a day. She has been on the tablets now since April, her attention span and willingness to learn has improved lots, also she is alot calmer but she does still have angry outbursts etc...is this usual? How do you know what to punish and what to let go? Have been checking out the internet for advice etc but there are so many differing views. If I ignore a lot of the bad behaviour then surely she will never learn right from wrong and that what I say must carry some weight as I am the Adult - although I sometimes wonder!?! Also how do I encourage my husband to believe the diagnosis?He works full time and when home does not give as much attention as I feel suits, he has not been behind me in the 4 years I have been going to different health professionals trying to find answers and now he is sceptical and believes she is spoilt and naughty and just needs stricter discipline but throughout her childhood so far I like to think of myself as having been firm but fair and consistant, I do believe the diagnosis how do I make him?Any ideas, tips, etc please forward them on as I feel very alone on this at the mo. and nervous that I inadvertantly could make things worse by not doing something I should or by doing something I shouldn't. Please help!

OP posts:
Mel · 20/03/2002 22:05

Finally remembered a really good book! 'The Good Child Guide' by Dr Noel Swanson. Easy to read and VERY good!! Would recommend it to anyone having problems, of any behaviour.

Carriel · 20/11/2002 21:56

Hi there
I have no experience of this but received a press release and phone call from a company today claiming some new breakthrough. It may or may not be of any use to you but thought it was worth at least putting on the site somewhere - just in case it turns out to be helpful. Warning- it's long!

ADHD -A natural way to solve hyperactivity and learning deficiencies in Children

Manchester United Kingdom 15 November 2002

The increase in anti-social behaviour, learning and concentration difficulties in children is now a serious subject for many parents.

As if bringing children up wasn't difficult enough, recent years have seen a sharp increase in child behavioural problems in the United Kingdom.

In a new study, the NICE institute says that about 73,000 school-age children in England and Wales meet the diagnostic guidelines for ADHD.

Recent research has confirmed what many researchers have thought; that there is a serious link between diet and these issues.

Research conducted in US and European studies have shown that children with learning and concentration problems and antisocial behaviour are often deficient in three fatty acids:
.. EPA,
.. DHA and
.. GLA

Our brains contain 60 % fat, out of which a major part belongs to the so-called essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA, DHA and arachidonic acid (AA), an end metabolite of GLA. They are essential for proper cognitive skills, such as learning, concentration and memory, as well for vision, hearing and normal behaviour. People with learning and concentration problems and asocial behaviour are often deficient in these fatty acids. A daily supplement of these three fatty acids, EPA, DHA and GLA, may correct the failure and improve the cognitive skills and behaviour.

One of the first products to apply these newly discovered associations is ABC-EPA Neurobalance a new "brain nutrition" product developed by Dr Matti Tolonen for normalising the functions of the human brain. Based on solid science, ABC-EPA Neurobalance corresponds closely to the latest scientific research in this rapidly proceeding area.

Background Material available:

More-

Product Description:
Learning, Concentration and Behavioural Problems and Hyperactivity (ADHD)

ABC-EPA Neurobalance is new "brain nutrition" product developed by Dr Matti Tolonen for normalising the functions of the human brain. This is no empty promise but rather based on solid science. ABC-EPA Neurobalance corresponds to the latest scientific research in this important area.

Our brains contain 60 % fat, out of which a major part belongs to the so-called essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA, DHA and arachidonic acid (AA), an end metabolite of GLA. They are essential for proper cognitive skills, such as learning, concentration and memory, as well for vision, hearing and normal behaviour. People with learning and concentration problems and asocial behaviour are often deficient in these fatty acids. A daily supplement of these three fatty acids, EPA, DHA and GLA, may correct the failure and improve the cognitive skills and behaviour.
The fatty acid paradox of the brain
Despite the fact that the docosahexaenic acid (DHA) is the commonest fatty acid in the brain, and the persons with dyslexia and/or ADHD often are deficient in DHA, it is the eicosapentaenic acid (EPA) which is the most efficient nutritional supplement for the correction of the problem.
This paradox is explained as follows:
The reason for DHA deficiency is a genetically determined over-activity of an enzyme, phospholipase A2, which breaks down DHA molecules in the brain cells. EPA inhibits the activity of this enzyme and thereby spares DHA. Moreover, ingested EPA turns into DHA in the brain whenever we are deficient in it.

Latest neurological research from Oxford and Sheffield Universities suggests that supplementation with EPA gives good results in dyslexia, ADHD, schizophrenia and other related neurological conditions. It is therefore, that ABC-EPA is rich in EPA, while DHA and GLA are also present as adjunct substances, although in lesser quantities.
Every ABC-EPA Neurobalance capsule contains the following ingredients:
.. EPA 90 mg
.. DHA 63 mg
.. GLA 10 mg
Who may benefit from the product?
Persons with:
.. learning, concentration and behavioural problems, hyperactivity (ADHD)
.. dyslexia (reading and writing difficulties)
.. dyspraxia (developmental co-ordination problems)
.. other neuropsychiatric conditions with neurochemical abnormalities in the brain metabolism

Dosage:
Initial loading: Begin with 5 to 6 capsules per day. This initial dose starts a correction in the metabolism of the neurotransmitters in the brain. The effect is normally seen within 12 weeks. According to the latest research a daily dose of 500 mg EPA (corresponding to 5 or 6 capsules) is required. Take half of the dose with breakfast and the other half with supper.
Individual variations: If you want to start with a smaller daily dose, you can do so, but be prepared to experience an improvement more slowly, during the next few months. On the other hand, some individuals seem to respond positively before 12 weeks, and they may then shift over to the maintenance dosage.
Maintenance dosage: The maintenance dosage is normally 2 capsules per day. We recommend that you step down gradually from the initial dosage, first to 4 capsules per day for a week, and that you follow the response. If everything goes well, step further down to 3 capsules for another week, and then to 2 capsules per week for good.
You should note that if the symptoms come back; increase the dosage to 3 capsules per day. Research suggests that if the daily dose of EPA falls below 180 mg/day (corresponding to 2 capsules of ABC-EPA Neurobalance), some individuals seem to get a relapse.
In other words, the need varies from one person to another. Therefore the patient, his/her parents, teachers and the medical professionals should carefully monitor the effect of the dosage in order to find the ideal daily dose.
The above instructions apply to children over 5 years and adults. Although children are smaller than adults, the metabolism in their developing brains is more vivid and they need the same amounts of the essential fatty acids as adults.
For children under 5 years we recommend a different approach:
Start with 2 capsules per day for one week. Increase then to 4 capsules per day for the next week and thereafter to 6 capsules until 12 weeks have come to an end.
Then you may gradually step down, first to 4 capsules per day, for one week, and then to the maintenance dosage, i.e., 2 capsules per day. With this approach the child gets accustomed better to the taste of the capsules. If the child cannot swallow the capsules, they may be punctured and the content extracted and mixed with the food.

Over dosage:

ABC-EPA Neurobalance consists of natural product with no harm to the health, as the essential fatty acids are physiological substances and we are all born with them. The body is fully able to take care of them in our metabolism. Even if one would eat a whole package at once, it would correspond to the same burden for the liver as 2 to 3 table spoonfuls of olive oil. Our body would clear it soon without any adverse effects.
Pregnancy and lactating:

ABC-EPA Neurobalance is to be recommended as a beneficial dietary supplement for all expectant and lactating mothers, as the essential fatty acids contribute to the normal development of the baby's brain.

1st Vitality - Mission Statement

If you are someone who is considering turning to alternative and complementary solutions to your health, well-being, or have a particular problem that conventional medicine hasn't solved - then you've reached the right place. We are advised by one of the world's leading nutritional specialists Dr. Matti Tolonen and offer a wide range of products from his professional product range. Our goal is to provide you with a unique range of high quality health improvement products at the best possible prices.
www.1stvitality.co.uk

Company History

1stvitality formed in November 2001 is owned by 41 year old Lynn Ferguson, a qualified podiatrist, who suffered from Arthritis and Asthma and turned to alternative remedies to re-gain her health.

A firm believer in natural remedies Lynn has formed a trading partnership with the World renowned Alternative Health specialist Dr Matti Tolonen from Espoo in Finland.

Lynn has set out to offer an information rich experience for visitors to the website dispelling the myths and claims surrounding AC medicine.

The site contains over 60 specialist products released following more than 15 years of research by Dr Matti Tolonen and his associates in Finland.

1stvitality is now one of the definitive information resources for alternative and complementary medicine on the Internet with more than a thousand pages of information.
Dr Matti Tolonen

Dr. Matti Tolonen is assistant professor at the University of Helsinki since 1978, having graduated as a physician in 1968. From 1970 to 1984 he was Chief Medical Officer at the Institute of Occupational Health (Helsinki and from1978 to 1988 he also acted as Company Physician for IBM (Helsinki). He has been Advisor at the World Health Organization (Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen and in the Headquarters in Geneva) on several occasions.

Dr Tolonen took up Nutritional Medicine in early 1980s. Since then he has been both a strong proponent and vocal critic of alternative medicine and he believes that Nutritional Medicine has both strengths and weaknesses, just like conventional medicine. Dr. Tolonen has published a number of books and several papers on the effects of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and other nutritional factors on health. His bestseller book Vitamins and Minerals in Health and Nutrition (Ellis Horwood, New York, London, Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore) been published in English, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Finnish.

Dr Tolonen has been Member of the scientific board of several journals in the domain of Nutritional Medicine. He has published articles in numerous national magazines in Finland, Sweden and Spain. Based on his research and practical experience in Nutritional Medicine, Dr. Tolonen has developed a number of popular dietary supplements

#

www.1stvitality.co.uk

"A content rich encyclopaedia of Alternative and Complementary concepts"

For additional information, contact:
Lynn Ferguson
1st Vitality.co.uk
+44(0)1928 797042
+44(0)1928 713427
[email protected]
www.1stvitality.co.uk

zebra · 21/11/2002 07:40

er, isn't all the last message just flogging one company's product?

I think it would be helpful to say where EPA & DHA is naturally occuring... oily fish, IIRC. Oh, and human milk, of course.

My cousin's eldest has ADD -- my cousin's middle child has Down's Syndrome, but it's the ADD child that gives the most grief. A lot of sympathy to Jillxx & others.

aloha · 21/11/2002 10:07

you can also buy natural oils blended to give a good balance of essential fatty acids in the health food section of the supermarket (my local Sainsbury's stock them) I use them myself in salad dressings and give them to ds from time to time. I also give him salmon in fish pie.

Ermyntrude · 21/11/2002 10:44

Actually, I've heard of Matti Tolonen in the past and have heard that he has a very good reputation in this area. Although I haven't tried these I'd be willing to give them a go.

Ermyntrude · 09/12/2002 16:31

Further to my last bit, I've now bought the tablets. They've only just arrived and I've put James on them but it's far too early to see a result.

I'll let you know what happens (please, please let it be good)

charliesmum · 09/01/2003 22:55

Hi, we have just had our middle child diagnosed with adhd and autisim ,her behaviour is chronic to say the least and has always been bizzare at times . She is 10 years old now and we have always put her behaviour down to her being manipulitive and a bully, we have always done our best to disapline her but its like talking to a brick wall she just has no idea why you tell her off and gets very angry at you for doing so. Our eldest child has autisim also but he is right the other end of the spectrum to Ellie he is with drawn quiet and very obsessive with things and has has set routines he keeps to or chaos happens Ellie is very talkitive ,refuses to as she is told for the millionth time of telling, she dosnt think at all she just barges her way through things with out thinking and carries on with what ever regardless for enyone elses feelings ...to be honnest it has come as a shock to us as we have always thought of children with autisim to be like our son and not like Ellie at all . What we need to know is since we have only had the diagnosis for a few days now and are new to the adhd part what happens from hear on in??? whats next are we to be just left to it now or is there somewhere we can get assistance for her , ive heard of the medication Ritalin ...dose any one know if it might help, calm her down?what does it do ? or is there a better rout to follow a natural way ?.

MandyD · 09/01/2003 23:05

I used to work in a special needs school and have seen children with autism (only the "quiet" kind like your son) and those with ADHD. But have not seen those with both syndromes together. I would hazard a guess that Ritalin might help to calm her down, but that it should be used as part of a wider behaviour management programme developed in conjunction with the educational psychologist and perhaps complementary therapies as well (eg. the nutritional/fish oil supplements mentioned on here).

WideWebWitch · 09/01/2003 23:49

charliemummy, you may have seen this site but there's an ADHD support group called Adders here

WideWebWitch · 09/01/2003 23:50

charliesmum, sorry! Confusing you with someone else entirely.

Jimjams · 10/01/2003 09:23

charliesmum- ritalin is quite a controversial area. I'm not saying don't use it (my son is ASD- pretty passive like yours so it's not been an issue for me), just research everything first of all. It does come with side effects (heart attacks being the latest I've heard of!!) and has never been properly tested on children. On the other hand it does improve concentration. There should be loads on the internet for both camps- I'd read everything before deciding one way or the other.

Fish oils have been found to be hugely beneficial for ADHD (and autism-probably- although less clear than ADHD). Eye-Q or Efalex are two well known brands. Youc could try both and see what works. It might take 6 weeks- 3 months to see a result. ProEFA (similar to Efalex) made a huge difference to DS1's dyspraxia.

HTH

charliesmum · 10/01/2003 20:38

Sounds like i need to read up alot on the subject, Thanks for your help .

tallulah · 10/01/2003 22:27

My son is 13 & has been on ritalin for several years. It doesn't so much calm them down as help them to feel and behave like normal children. There is this popular image of children being drugged and zombie-like- believe me, nothing could be further from the truth.
Without ritalin my son is a nightmare. With it, he's a "normal" 13 year old. It has side-effects, but what doesn't? Kids whose brains are wired this way are more likely to turn to artificial stimulants, according to research, and uncontrolled ADHD can do a great deal of damage to the child and the family. I think there's too much scare-mongering by the media.

Jimjams · 11/01/2003 08:44

tallulah- hope you didn't think I was condemming anyone for using ritalin. I wasn't. I have a very good friend who's daughter is on ritalin, and their life would be pretty intolerable without it. I just meant that becuase it does have side effects it is important that charliesmum is aware of them before using ritalin. I would say this of any drug. For example because of DS1's gut problems Calpol can be an absolute disaster for him. I do use it, but only when absolutely necessary (so for example before xmas when he had a temp of 41). It's always a toss up between side effects and potential benefit. Again becuase of DS1'a problems I avoid anitbiotics like the plague (if you ask me they kickstarted most of the problems he now has), but of course I would use them if he had an infection that wasn't clearing up. Of course with a few exceptions doctors are very behind when it comes to the autism/gut connection and so it is up to me to be aware of potential side effects

EmmaTMG · 11/01/2003 13:14

A very dear friend has a child with ADHD and is reluctant to use ritalin. She has therefore tried Efalex. However her child is aware of the horrid taste of it in anything she tries to hide it in. Has anyone out there got any suggestions on masking the taste, she has just had a 2nd baby (6 days ago) and although she copes remarkable well I'm sure a little help would go along way.
Thanks

charliesmum · 11/01/2003 23:00

Well im going to try the omega 3 essential fish oils capsule thingies first befor the appointment comes up with the doc just to see if it will have an effect befor i jump in to the "big stuff"ive 6 months to try it out on all 3 of mine . I do understand your concern about Ritalin as its an anphetimine and so is speed and we all have heard of the potential damage that it causes .I dont fancy the idea of medicating my child but if it will help her to get on in life then im willing to give it ago .Since we have 2 with autisim and adhd i just wonder what is the hope for our latest edition ?? will she have it also .Ive read alot about this omega 3 and 6 fish oils and they seem to be a natrual alternitive and has no known side effects , they are known as a "brain food" and have been used in the treatment of many brain disorders with much sucsess .I guess since our youngest (18 months) has a good chance of developing this herself it will do no halm to introduce it to her also it might even lessen her chances of getting it altogether.

Lara2 · 13/01/2003 10:50

tallulah, I'm with you re media scare mongering about ritalin and dexedrin. ADHD is caused by a chemical in-balance in the brain which these medications re-balance. They give 'thinking' time to people who have ADHD, who are often extremely impulsive and unaware of the consequences of their actions at the time. The medication, helps them think about the consequences of actions and basically makes them less impulsive. They are 'speed', but have the opposite effect (without 'doping' as they would on a child without ADHD. A child with ADHD can tear a family apart ( I should know!!) and you're right, you have to look at the broad picture - medication or no family is often the choice. Boys with un-diagnosed/untreated ADHD have a higher chance of ending up in trouble with the police and of ending up in prison. It seems a very small price to pay to give your child ritalin or dexedrin.

Lara2 · 13/01/2003 10:51

Sorry - don't know how that winking face got into my posting - makes it look facetious. NOT intended!

robinw · 17/01/2003 22:09

message withdrawn

shirls1972 · 03/02/2003 16:27

HI i have an 11yr old that i think might have adhd she cant cope with other children& has to be the centre of attention all the time,i feel very alone with her as i'm a sinlge mum with 2 other children to look after the youngest one has epilepsy,so i also find it very hard work at time,but my biggest problem is my oldest child.can any body give me some tips on wot to look for& wot to do with her .
yours sincerley
shirley

Lara2 · 03/02/2003 19:05

shirls1972 - the indications of ADHD are huge - you'd probably do best to buy a book and read about the different types. There's this thread and another one about ADHD and ADD (attention defecit disorder - the quiet dreamy ones), which can point you in the right direction. But you sound desperate, so here's a few I can remember off the top of my head:

  • poor concentration and poor listening skills *inability to remember more than 1 or 2 instructions at a time
  • inability to empathise with others - unable to put themselves in someone else's place
  • fidgety, squirmy
  • attention seeking
  • chews, picks at clothes
  • bright, but doing poorly at school
  • almost never makes eye-contact when you are speaking
  • impulsive - but understands/remembers a rule when reminded
  • although they may have poor concentration, they may have great concentration with something that they latch onto - often computers/gameboys/playstation. They then don't have to interact with others, which they have learned is hard for them

There's loads more - try going to see your GP and getting referred to a child behaviour clinic.Talk to the school - what have they noticed? How do they deal with any problems. The 2 threads on here, also have tips on how to manage behaviour. I have loads of sympathy for you - remember, you are doing your best!

3mum · 12/02/2003 12:45

My son has just been diagnosed with ADHD. His school are excluding him because he can't pay attention and fights all the time.

What do other people do about education? Has anyone been through statementing? What benefits does it bring?

Any information gratefully received.

Lara2 · 12/02/2003 19:43

3mum, lots of sympathy. You didn't say how old your son was. Who referred him for the ADHD diagnoses? You or the school? If he has been having difficulties with his behaviour in school then he should have had an IEP - an individual education plan. This should have been on the grounds of behaviour ( the fighting) and learning (the poor concentration). It should have set out exactly what his problems were and how the school was going to address them. EG: help from a learning support assisatant in class to help with his concentration, how many times a week this was available, who was responsible for overseeing this. It would also have had his targets set out very clearly and you should have been asked to read, discuss it and sign it at least once a term. The targets should have been reviewed every half term.

Have they got the evidence to exclude him? If his behaviour is that bad, they should have a pastoral support programme in place to support him in school as well as the IEP. The government is heavily into INclusion as opposed to EXclusion, and the school should have been addressing his needs. If his behaviour warrents a statement, then how easy it is to get one, depends very much on the county that you live in. Some counties are very good and address problems and the needs of the children very quicly, while others really drag their feet and make getting a statement very hard. A staement would mean that the education authority are legally obliged to provide your son with whatever help it says he needs on his statement. Hope this helps! Good luck!

3mum · 13/02/2003 10:49

Thanks Lara.

My son was at an independent school so they are free to exclude him if they want to. The school suggested the assessment but I paid for it privately. The difficulty I have now is that in the very inner London borough we live in, any half way decent state school is hugely over subscribed and we just won't get in (especially if we own up to his ADHD). So we seem to be particularly alone.

tallulah · 13/02/2003 16:58

3mum, your son has been diagnosed, you say, but is he being treated?
Mine changed from being like your son to a reasonable human being once we started on medication. Mine was considered too anxious for ritalin & started off on anti-depressants.
I would have thought that if he hasn't got a school place the LEA are obliged to find him one, unless you can find a more sympathetic independent school & explain his problems. My son was at independent school but only started there after the meds, so they didn't know what he'd been like. When they stopped being so effective & his true colours were revealed, the school really didn't know what to do with him. They tend to be more geared up for "normal" children. I do sympathise.