Attention Deficit Disorder

Dear Lisa ,

My son has always been jittery. He can’t get his act together and get ready for school in the morning. Now that he’s in 4thth grade, he is struggling with his school work. He’s always forgetting his homework assignments or his books at school and doesn’t know how to study for tests. My friends tell me that he probably has ADD. I don’t want to see my Pediatrician about this because I know she’ll just want to put him on medication and I don’t believe in medicating children for ADD. How do I get him to listen?

"He doesn’t listen- N.J."

Dear “He doesn’t listen”,

I wouldn’t let your concern about medication prevent you from seeking out the reason behind your son’s behavior. It is true that he seems to have many characteristics of a child with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) but other diseases should be ruled out first. It is a good idea to contact your son’s Pediatrician and discuss your concerns. Your son’s Doctor may want him to be evaluated by a Neurodevelopmental specialist, or ask you to have his teachers fill out Connor’s rating scale forms.

Connor’s rating scale forms are questionnaires filled out by you, your son and his teachers in order to ascertain information about his behavior and compare that behavior to that of a child with ADD. The scores from the Connor’s forms will assist your doctor in his diagnosis.

In regards to your concern about medicating your child for ADD, I would cross that bridge when it comes. If your child is diagnosed with ADD, you can talk to your doctor about alternative measures for treating ADD symptoms, which include preferential seating in the classroom, behavior modification and dietary modification.

The most important thing to do is follow up with your doctor and keep an open dialogue about your concerns about medication. Be assured that you are not alone and many parents of children with ADD initially resist medicating their children. Most doctors share your view and do not want to medicate a child unless it is necessary.

With careful follow-up, trial of natural measures and time, you will be able to make an informed decision. It is better to know what your child’s problem is so that you can better understand his actions and know how to treat him. Otherwise, your son may find other ways to make himself feel better on his own, which in the end may be a lot worse than any treatment prescribed by your Doctor.

Lisa Kelly R.N., P.N.P.,C.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Advice- Keeping Kids Healthy