Living with A.D.H.D. by Patricia Chadwick There has been much controversy around the condition call A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity) and it's counterpart A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder WITHOUT hyperactivity). Over the years many have argued for and against treatments and even whether or not the condition was REALLY a learning disability.I'm here to tell you, that it IS real and for my son, medication was the answer. I'm not a doctor. I'm not a neurologist. I'm not even a school psychologist. But I am a mom who lives with a teen that has A.D.H.D. We've struggled on and off over the years trying to determine if my son did have a learning disability and if we should use medication to treat it. To make matter's more complicated, my son didn't totally "fit the mold" when it came to the disorder. He was very bright, did fairly well in school, and did not get in trouble.
But a mama knows her child and I knew something was wrong. He was very disruptive at home, talked a mile a minute, couldn't sit still at the dinner table, rushed through his homework, was very disorganized, was very impulsive, and was very aggressive with his siblings. I requested to have him tested in the second grade. The school psychologist sent me to a pediatric neurologist who diagnosed my son with A.D.H.D. and prescribed a treatment that involved the controversial drug Ritalin.
Ritalin made a big difference in our family life. It immediately calmed my son down and he began relating to others in a positive way. He was now able to focus on his homework, and the Ritalin even helped him have much neater handwriting. The side effects of the drug were very limited. We had to be sure he didn't take his last dose too late in the afternoon or he would have trouble sleeping and he bit his fingernails. Not a bad trade-off.
I used to have hope that my son would outgrow his A.D.H.D. , but research now shows that the disorder is generally not outgrown. While some people develop "coping skills" in order to live with their disorder and are be able to wean themselves off medication, others may have to be on medication for the rest of their lives. There are many good books now available on the topic of teenagers with A.D.D and A.D.H.D. and much greater support for those who have the disorder.
As my boy has grown into a teenager, I can see that he has outgrown some of the traits of the disorder, but some characteristics have gotten more noticeable. When he moved into the Middle School and then High School, his deficit in test-taking abilities really came to light. While in elementary school he could ace a test, in secondary education, he'd fly through the test and often times score very low. While his grades were still decent, his low test scores really lowered his average. He now sees how the Ritalin helps him focus and study during school, so he rarely forgets to take it before school.
Over the years others have disagreed with my decision to use Ritalin to treat my son's disability. Some even questioned if he did indeed have any disability, feeling he was just undisciplined. But deep down, I knew I made the right choice for my son and our family.
Will he stay on Ritalin as he grows into an adult? I'm not sure - that will be his choice. Research is now showing that many adults do have A.D.H.D. and A.D.D. and that medication does indeed help them have a better life. I will leave the decision up to him, and will support whatever he decides.
If you have a teen with a learning disability, whether it is A.D.H.D. or some other disability, I encourage you to seek help and a valid treatment. Don't let yourself be influenced by the negative comments of family, friend, and acquaintances. You know your child best. Evaluate the options and choose what is best for your child. You will be glad you did.
Patricia Chadwick is a freelance writer and columnist in several online publications.
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Her articles can be viewed as well on the Christianity.com network. Patti is also the author of "History's Women - The Unsung Heroines" available in e-book and print formats at:https://www.webbserv.net/historyswomen/form.htmlPatti Chadwick, Editor
http://www.historyswomen.com
http://www.parentsandteens.com
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