ADHD can now be diagnosed as young as 4

[JASMAK]

I think that it is probably good...I am not for shoving medicines down a child's throat though. I just think if a child needs support in school, they should be getting it, and if that means getting a diagnosis younger, in order to be elgible for that support, then I am for it. My brother wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until AFTER he quit school, left home, and got into the wrong crowd. He got no support from the school whatsoever, and was simply labelled a 'bad kid'. He is now a druggy and criminal. I would rather a child accidently mis-diagnosed and get extra support, than a child not diagnosed and slip through the cracks.

I can honestly say that we tortured ourselves over the decision to medicate Ollie, we argued over it for weeks until deciding to try him on the lowest dose possible. For us, our min concern was his school, he was falling behind in a big way because he just didn't have the concentration/attention. My worst fear was letting things continue how they were until things, like your brother, were too late by that stage.
School has noticed a big improvement from him this term and I believe its a combination of the extra support he is getting and the medication. Its by no means a miracle cure, he is still difficult and challenging, I wouldn't want him to be any other way really than a typical 7 year old boy, but it does seem to help with his symptoms.
As parents we just do what we feel is best for our child

And I would never judge anyone who did medicate their kids. What I meant was, and I should have been more clear, is that if the meds are necessary and make a marked POSTITIVE difference, then for sure. There might come a time when I will have to make that decision for my own daughter, with ASD, and the last thing I would ever need is someone judging me on that very hard decision, at the same time, I would never do it blindly without research and proper thought into it.

 

[JASMAK]

I am curious if those who so-call don't 'believe' in ADHD have actually either had a child who was diagnosed with it or have a close relative that was diagnosed? And, I am sorry for those who feel if they are a teacher and 'know it all' about certain dissabilities...the most ignorant people I have met regarding dissabilities have been teachers.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

ADHD vs cancer. Now there's a comparison. I have experience with "hyperactive" kids and there has always been an underlying reason for the behavior. I think people are too quick to medicate because they want to normalize a child's behavior. Why find alternate solutions when you can give them a pill? It's a load of crap in my opinion.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Yay teachers are ignorant now! Well damn it! All my years of education for nothing! Lovely.

 

[JASMAK]

Yay teachers are ignorant now! Well damn it! All my years of education for nothing! Lovely.

Anyone can be ignorant, and I never said YOU were, I said the most ignorant *I* have met have been teachers...in fact, I must admit, the teachers I have met have made my daughter's and therefore my life pretty much hell since she started kindergarten last year. Are teachers really all *that* educated anyways, in dissibilities, I mean? lol...they aren't here! Even the ones that so-called are...have really lost the plot! Oh well...guess at the end of the day, it's a job. Take all that as you like, but your comments regarding ADHD aren't swaying my opinion in any way! lol

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I was educated in California so maybe it is different than Canada seeing as children in the USA are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. In fact if a child is unruly or difficult it is the first conclusion that is made. So yeah it's hard for me to believe it's real.

 

[LoraLoo]

An ADHD child is so much more than just Hyperactive, or Unruly

The Government recognises ADHD as a DISABILITY. Thats how I see it with my child- as a disability. It make's me sad that he isn't going to have the same sort of life other children have- even now at 7, he doesn't have any friends, he cant socialise in the way normal 7 year olds do, he can't play out as he is a danger to himself, he is impulsive and can't judge situations very well.

ADHD has to be shown in at LEAST 2 settings aswell- eg. Home and School. If a child is experiencing difficulties at home, often the behaviour is fine at school, and vice versa. I have no idea how diagnosis works in other countries, but I can tell you than in the UK it can take months and months for a child to be diagnosed, the child will be assessed in different situations- school, home, reports will be taken from teachers and so on, medical history looked at, the mothers pregnancy looked at.

As parents, I was quite aware that we were being assessed to, and just for your information, the report said ' I have no concerns over Ollie's parents ability to cope with Ollie' Further on it says 'Ollies Mum had a normal, full term pregnancy, she did not smoke or drink alcohol through the pregnancy'

So to those who think its a childs background, how do you respond to that. Please tell me how my parenting skills can make one child have (or have not in your opinion) ADHD, and yet my other two children are completely fine? My eldest child could not be any more different to Ollie.

ADHD doesn't just effect the child, it effects the whole family too, do you really think any parent wants their child being labelled as they grow up?

ETA: Also yes this is in the News and Debates section, but the debate was whether diagnosis should be made at 4, not whether ADHD is a real disability or not. Perhaps another thread should be started for that instead of parents feeling like they have to defend their child, as I for one can tell you how hurtful that is.

 

[Eve]

God I wish I wasnt on my phone!

 

[deafgal]

I think so called "normal" kids (or people in general) don't know how to socalize except their own kind. they reject (or feel very awkward/uncomfortable/pity around them) and even bully, mock, made fun of people who are different.

Like I wrote, I have plenty of family members and friends diagnose with ADD/ADHD (since as a child), and I socialize them better than I do with people without it. they have more patience and energy to deal with someone who is deaf like me. (they repeat and write to me. other people don't even have the patience for it) and all of them refuse medications

 

[Ozzieshunni]

^^That is a HUGE generalization.

 

[deafgal]

probably so, but people tend to think ADHD can't socialize

 

[deafgal]

Ok, would you wait to medicate your child for asthma or any other disorder? This is no different!


My OH has ADHD that has not been diagnosed until now as a 27 year old adult. He has had so many missed opportunities from having no attention span or focus. I am pretty sure my 3 year old has it as well.

I'm sorry but asthma is a life threatened condition. It is nothing compare to ADHD as the condition itself does not damage your body like asthma does nor cause pain. And ADHD medications doesn't always help so people with ADHD are not required to take medications. Behavior management and therapy help more, IMHO.

 

[BlackBerry25]

I should have said treated rather than medicate.

Anyways,

No, a mental illness is just as bad as a physical one. If not worse, because it is a hidden disorder and people face such crap like we have seen here. Also, alaskagrown, you are from America where there is a more "shove pills down your throat to make a profit" mentality than there is here, so if anything you should be angry at your system but not be discrediting an actual disorder.

I don't understand why people think that there can be things wrong with other parts of the body, but if its the brain, its unlikely.

Also, maybe there is more ADHD today than in the 1960's, due to major major changes in our diets, environments, etc.

 

[BlackBerry25]

An ADHD child is so much more than just Hyperactive, or Unruly

The Government recognises ADHD as a DISABILITY. Thats how I see it with my child- as a disability. It make's me sad that he isn't going to have the same sort of life other children have- even now at 7, he doesn't have any friends, he cant socialise in the way normal 7 year olds do, he can't play out as he is a danger to himself, he is impulsive and can't judge situations very well.

ADHD has to be shown in at LEAST 2 settings aswell- eg. Home and School. If a child is experiencing difficulties at home, often the behaviour is fine at school, and vice versa. I have no idea how diagnosis works in other countries, but I can tell you than in the UK it can take months and months for a child to be diagnosed, the child will be assessed in different situations- school, home, reports will be taken from teachers and so on, medical history looked at, the mothers pregnancy looked at.

As parents, I was quite aware that we were being assessed to, and just for your information, the report said ' I have no concerns over Ollie's parents ability to cope with Ollie' Further on it says 'Ollies Mum had a normal, full term pregnancy, she did not smoke or drink alcohol through the pregnancy'

So to those who think its a childs background, how do you respond to that. Please tell me how my parenting skills can make one child have (or have not in your opinion) ADHD, and yet my other two children are completely fine? My eldest child could not be any more different to Ollie.

ADHD doesn't just effect the child, it effects the whole family too, do you really think any parent wants their child being labelled as they grow up?

ETA: Also yes this is in the News and Debates section, but the debate was whether diagnosis should be made at 4, not whether ADHD is a real disability or not. Perhaps another thread should be started for that instead of parents feeling like they have to defend their child, as I for one can tell you how hurtful that is.

Yes, I think this should be locked. I gotta say, I am finding this very sickening.

 

[LoraLoo]

I should have said treated rather than medicate.

Anyways,

No, a mental illness is just as bad as a physical one. If not worse, because it is a hidden disorder and people face such crap like we have seen here. Also, alaskagrown, you are from America where there is a more "shove pills down your throat to make a profit" mentality than there is here, so if anything you should be angry at your system but not be discrediting an actual disorder.

I don't understand why people think that there can be things wrong with other parts of the body, but if its the brain, its unlikely.

Also, maybe there is more ADHD today than in the 1960's, due to major major changes in our diets, environments, etc.

Very well put, and i couldn't agree with this more. My Brother in Law commited suicide last year. In fact, they couldn't rule it as Suicide, because he was suffering with severe Bi-Polar, instead it was recorded as 'Death resulting from his own actions' , so yes, mental health disabilities etc can and do cause massive pain in more ways than one

And you are right, just about every illness and disability is recognized and diagnosed more these days- it's called research xc

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I'm sorry anyone feels like they have to defend their child. I stated that from my experience as a teacher, I think that ADHD does not exist. It's a personal opinion. That's what news and debates is all about. Debating a topic. Debates do not often stick to the original topic. If people find that too painful, then they can stop posting/reading If I don't like how a thread is going, I stop posting or reading. It's my choice because this is the internet.

 

[BlackBerry25]

Well I find your viewpoint discriminatory towards people with mental illnesses, and I don't think that is what bnb or the debate section should be used for.

LoraLoo, my brother has paranoid schizophrenia, so I can relate

 

[deafgal]

from what I understand, ADHD is not a mental illness or learning disability. I think those who have AHDHD will be offended if you compare them to mental illness and such.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I'm not discriminating towards people with mental illnesses. I personally have depression. I don't believe ADHD exists. There is a BIG difference between saying that and saying all mental disorders are bogus. Please read what I wrote before generalizing my responses.

 

[LoraLoo]

from what I understand, ADHD is not a mental illness or learning disability. I think those who have AHDHD will be offended if you compare them to mental illness and such.

I think you will find you are wrong there. My Son gets awarded Disability Living Allowance, therefore, ADHD is a disability.