Is this really ADHD?

[blossomhill]

A few weeks ago I posted about dd and that the paed. had mentioned that he felt dd had ADHD.
Dd can be very hyperactive but we have noticed a pattern. Dd's hyperactivity is really bad when she is at school. This week (it's half-term) I can honestly say we have not seen any ADHD type behaviours at all! We also noticed a huge improvement in her behaviour in the summer holidays.
Can a child with true ADHD switch it on and off? I didn't think so!
I also recently bought the Dr Christopher Green ADHDbook and it says that children with language disorders (dd definitely has this 100%) can mimic ADHD behaviours.
Any advice on this gratefully received. Have gone off of the medication idea and am going to try an organic diet (hopefully). If anyone has advice on this again I would be really grateful!
Thanks in advance Blossomhillxx

I just wonder if with the right input and drug treatment my brother may have avoided the route he's gone down. I wonder if the addiction is a symptom of his bigger problems, he's medicating himself.

jakbrown, after reading a book on O.D.D and ADHD, older children/teenagers can turn to drugs, usually like alcholics they hide from what is really bothering them.

I do feel very sad to hear about drug abuse, if only there was help before it got to this stage.

I know with my own ds who is only young. You have to try and get the right help fast and it's not easy. larsxx

Lars,
Yes, I am beginning to realise that his addiction is part of a bigger problem. I feel for him because, unfortunately, his parents (my dad and his second wife) had their own problems with alcoholism and also I think less was known about ADD at the time (it was 17 years ago). So he has been left to flounder. Anyway, looking to the future it is great that children with attention problems get early intervention now . Although mums often have to fight for it.

Lars... you talk alot of sense!

jakbrown....thanks for that ...actually i have a similar experience to what you describe of your brother....which did influence me in my decision to put tom on the medication.
My stepson (now 21) was diagnosed with ADHD at 9 and then Asperger's at 16....by then he was 'well down the rocky road' and though they put him on ritalin ....he had had too long struggling in a world that did not understand him- and which he didn't understand....he spent his final year of education at a unit especially for kids with AS- and this did help- but by the age of 17 he was known to the police and eventually at 18 was convicted of a series of peti-crime (including theft from own mum/granny etc) and spent 18months in prison.
As a youngster i had a real soft-spot for him and believe now that due to me probably being asperger's myself (undiagnosed) that i recognised in him alot of me- so i had alot of time for him. I felt cheated when he was in prison- and now he has withdrawn totally from any contact with us.

The key point here i believe is that in medicating MY OWN SON i am desparately hoping that we can then invest quality time instructing him (and the drugs make him better able to absorb the info) so that in 10 years time he will not have been in prison.

Going back 10 years ago....i would never have imagined my stepson being in prison.

Mrs F, I really empathise with you. I think you're doing a brilliant job with your DS, doing all you can for him

I'm wondering if my brother would benefit from Ritalin? He is currently in rehab (but for how long?) on methadone.

hi to everyone, i came across mumsnet looking for information on adhd as we believe this is what my 13 year old sister has, she is on self destruct and we are really at our wits end as to how we are to help her. We arranged for her to be assessed but she has refused to go.She has had problems since she started school but we were told she was just being lazy fast forward to a year ago and after plenty of years of struggle for us all she was finally diagnosed with dyslexia, we have had no help with anything and now she is completly out of control, she refuses to go to school and if we try to force her to go she becomes very physical. Her school are now fed up with the whole situation and dont want her there anymore.We have researched adhd and most of the symptoms sound just like her, it is really differcult for the whole family and i was just wondering if anybody can help with any information.

clare1980

Can I suggest you start your own thread...(ie go to topic and create new conversation)..you may get more responses relevant to your needs.
Best of luck.

Would suggest that you get a copy of the book Understanding ADHD by Dr Chris Green to read. This book helped us so much when our son was first diagnosed with ADHD.

Surely your sisters school should have approached the Ed Psychology and Behavioral Support Dept in your area.

Why dont you arrange an appointment to see your sisters GP to ask him/her for help regarding your sisters probs.

Think a new post would be a good idea because everyone here will offer you loads of info and support.

Good Luck - remind your sis that its her behaviour thats the problem - NOT HER - give her a big cuddle and reassure her that you just want to help her as much as you can - because you love her.

In our experience ADHD kids have such a low self-esteem and need to be reminded constantly that they are really good kids - they don't believe they are so you have to constantly tell them that they are OK.

Thank you for your support
All my sisters school seem to want to do it continually exclude her.
Because she has had no help she has given up on trying, we have tried to help her with her learning she is learning at a 6 yr olds level but she throws it back at us. she has just about wreaked my parents marriage as she has to come between them, she has become very violent towards me my mum and my daughter who is only 4 when she doesnt get her own way.
She knows there is something wrong with her and she thinks the only way to sort it out is to be put into care. she is a lovely girl and can be so nice then out of nowhere comes so much hatred.
she sleeps all day long and we have just found out that she has been taking drugs and sleeping round hoping to become pregnant because she feels if she has a baby it will always love her.
She has tried several suicide attempts and all self harm.

OMG Claire - I really feel for you. It must really hurt you seeing your little sis like this. She is lucky to have you to care for her.
Please go and see your sis's Doc and talk to him -before its too late.

Good Luck.

Hello Jaysmum - you should be in bed!!!!!
Blossomhillxxx

OHHH I've been rumbled!!!!

Still can't shut off!!!

Head is buzzing and Ive got brain drain

Will try to get to sleep at some point tonight!!