Gifted/ADD?/now what...

[cptofthehouse]

I find it ironic that so many of these young people who are fooling around with illegal drugs, alcohol are really uptight about using bonafide meds for bonafide conditions under the direction of a bonafide doctor.

[lindz126]

think its hard for teens especially to feel "different" and the meds seem to reinforce that for them. I've noticed my daughter mature about her view of ADD and aud processing disorder and meds--now recognizes her differences but w/o feeling bad--she never wanted to have accomodations at school--(felt it was cheating) but recognizes how it actually is fair because she works harder and slower to process info and put her ideas together. She has been given extra time on her SAT/AP exams---and I am grateful for the acceptance of these learning differences.

[3xcharmed]

Mom2three, Talk to your Dr. again, sounds like he is on to large a dose. Also, remind him to eat before taking his medication. If he is having a difficult time paying attention during they day you really should not be afraid to keep him on meds. Also, at his age he should be able to tell you if they are helping him focus in class (doesn't mean he will become more organized). If he doesn't notice a change, he may not have ADD.

[3xcharmed]

mom2three, I read your original post again and I am wondering why you have him on medication in the first place. If he is a talented student and is doing well in school is the purpose to have him get better grades? If so, that is not a reason to have him on meds. Perhaps he is daydreaming in class because the class is not challenging enough for him. Are there AP classes or local community college classes he could take for more stimulation? ADD can be a somewhat non-scientific diagnosis but for those kids that suffer with it, it can be socially and academically debilitating and medication helps.

[mom2three]

We had never really considered meds or an "official" diagnosis of my son's ADD, until his big brother fell apart in college without the structure we had been providing him. Big bro ended up going through various campus services, plus outside evaluation, and the upshot was that undiagnosed ADD had left him poorly equipped to handle the challenges of college, and that led to depression, etc., etc. Rather than watch the same thing happen to his (WAY spacier) brother, I decided to have him evaluated. Plus, younger son had issues with "missing" stuff that was going on in class, and claimed to be trying to pay attention but not hearing the teacher give important instructions (like due dates on major projects). This was leading him to become frustrated, so I thought we'd look for some answers

After the diagnosis, I thought the recommended meds would allow son to develop some habits and routines that the attention issues made difficult, and once he had some habits (and the habit of making habits) the meds would become less important.

I'm not giving up on meds entirely. But I am frustrated that there was no guidance from the psychologist who did the evaluation on other strategies beyond medication. Also, the more I've been reading, the more I'm wondering if it's really ADD, or if it's a side-affect of the "gifted" thing. (the list of "symptoms" of these two "ailments" are remarkably similar).

Whatever the label, son needs to develop his organizational skills and ability to focus on the boring, at least in class. He doesn't like the way the two meds he's tried so far make him feel. Someone recommended a non-stimulant med, and maybe we'll try that before we give up.

[3xcharmed]

Did you have the evaluation done by your school or privately? I don't know about your state, but in mine, the school is required to support a child who has been mandated with a learning disibility or ADD. The testing is usually done by the school psychologist and accommodations are detailed in a written document based on the results of the testing, and teacher, professional, and parental imput. For example, you could request that he be placed in the front of the class away from any distractions (like a window), or that someone check daily that he has copied his homework down. In addition, this educational/psyc evaluation will be necessary if he qualifies and chooses to seek services in college. Unfortunately, in college many kids forget to take their medications, or follow up on services - so picking the right college is very important (I think there is a whole thread on that). I understand your anxiety and ADD can run in families. But if your son is doing well in school, the issues you presented can probably be handled without medication.

[Shrinkrap]

This might be reassuring about letting go of the meds

3-year follow-up of the NIMH MTA study. [J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007] - PubMed Result

"RESULTS: At 3 years, 485 of the original 579 subjects (83.8%) participated in the follow-up, now at ages 10 to 13 years, (mean 11.9 years). In contrast to the significant advantage of MedMgt+Comb over Beh+CC for ADHD symptoms at 14 and 24 months, treatment groups did not differ significantly on any measure at 36 months."



Controversial, I know, but this might mean kids/familes who learned skills did just as well with or without meds in the "long" term. I think it's also been shown that for adults, without the skills, medication doesn't change the outcome.

[Treetopleaf]

Another idea: Read the book "How your Child is Smart" by Dawna Markova. She identifies learning pathways that lead to attentiveness or inattention, and knowing this might help your son to understand contributing factors towards his inattention. By reading that book I finally understood why lectures don't help me very much; the auditory pathway is my weakest route to learning, and it sometimes puts me into a daydreamy state. If I take notes - making the information more visual and tactile - it helps me to pay attention. By contrast, I've had to advise my kid to read some material aloud, as her auditory pathway is her strongest one and sometimes reading assignments are a struggle. The books is full of these sorts of suggestions. Every little bit helps.

[BCEagle91]

A suggestion for kids that are hyperactive and disorganized: have them take a college course during the summer and guide them through the organizational stuff that they'll have to deal with at the college level. It's probably easier to deal with boredom issues and organizational issues with only one class and with parents around to ensure that the child gets things done on time. And the parents can explain and demonstrate organizational tools to the student at this time.

[bessie]

I was just reading an article this weekend that said Omega 3 Fish Oil has been proven to help with many things, including ADD, depression, and bipolar disorder. I was researching it for its anti-inflammatory properties but now that I know it is helpful for ADD, I think I may have certain family members give it a try. Maybe your son wouldn't mind taking supplements instead of the prescription drugs.

[missypie]

I'm reading this thread with great interest as I simply CANNOT send my 11th grader off to college next year unless his organizational skiils and study habits improve. He has Asperger's and is ADD and takes Concerta, but, of coure, it does wear off as he is doing homework.

I just ordered a couple of the recommended books (Amazon.com was $5 less than Barnes & Noble, by the way.)

Interesting about the fish oil supplements. Last week my eye doctor told me to take them. Now you're saying they help with ADD. The idea grosses me out....do you smell like fish or taste fish when you take them?

[lindz126]

missy==my daughter started on Vyvanse which lasts longer and helps her deal with the extra work she has as a junior with AP work etc. my daughter is looking forward to college with trepidation as she recognizes the support she still needs -- we are looking at colleges close enough to home (1-3 hr drive) that if she needs addl support of a visit she can know its there. she toys with living at home but I encourage her to believe she can do it...

[cptofthehouse]

I do want to warn everyone that a child who is on meds should probably be monitored pretty closely his/her first year. THere are so many temptations for kids when they go off to college. Dealing with the freedom, independence, responsibility is a lot for many, and with "everyone" happily imbibing, it is very difficult to say "no". In my experience, many of the kids who are on ADD meds sell or share their stash to others. Yeah, I know, you don't think yours will do it, but I know many very nice, terrific, responsible kids who have gone down that path. In doing this, they are not only illegally supplying others with a med that has potentially harmful side effects, they are depriving themselves of their meds. This is an abuse that is rampant, and no parent should consider their kid above it until after the fact. And, yeah, they are technically drug dealers when they start doing this stuff.

Lindz, Vyvanse scares me. That is one that should be monitored carefully, and mixing with drink and other drugs can be a real disaster.

All the meds, supplements, admonishments, etc will not take the place of maturity. If they can strike a good balance during these difficult years, it does get much easier for most of them. These are truly the difficult years for them as their hormones, moods, emotions are in a turmoil as they try to become adults, try to fit in, try to be great, try to be cool, try to be good, try to be bad, try to do well....the list goes on. My heart goes out to each of these students, and to all of us parents as well.

[emeraldkity4]

isnt Vyvanse just a medication taking advantage of Adderal XR whose patent is running out?

I have been on Adderal XR for years and of all the medications I have tried to assist my ADD/dyspraxic symptoms in the past 20-30 years, it works the best, with the fewest side effects.

[mom60]

We have been through this all. Son is finishing up his freshman year of college. He would not have made it to college without the meds. He had support in middle school but when he went to a large high school he just had a list of accommodations for his teachers. It was up to him to ask. He has ADD plus LD. His grades and concentration improved dramatically on meds. We had to try many to find the right one. Like several of the posters children he did not like what the meds did to him. If you are not already getting your meds prescribed by a psychiatrist I would suggest that as a first stop. They have much more experience then your family MD. My son tried many different meds.. different dosages and for a time took Adderall XR in the morning and then regular ritalin for his night class at the community college. He did not take it on weekends and usually took the summer off.
My son felt it took away his personality. What the meds did was curb that impulsiveness that got him into trouble.
My son then went off to college. We set up meeting with the director of disablities. They worked out accommodations that get sent to his professors. He can have extra time for exams and a distraction free room. He has to ask. Of course first semester he didn't. A couple of his grades reflected this. Plus he decided he did not need meds. 2nd semester he has still used meds only occasionally. His class load this semester is of the nature that in 2 of the 4 classes he is taking he can get by without meds. We will see how the grades come back. Once the grades all come in we might have to sit down with him and his psychiatrist and work out some sort of compromise.
It is not easy dealing with an ADD personality. My son is very stubborn and he is not one who is easy to get to do something he doesn't want to do. We can't insist he take the meds. What we can do is set a boundary as to what we will pay for and what gpa he needs to keep. He has a scholarship that requires a 3.0 to keep. He must keep it to stay at his present school.