ADHD

Discussion in 'Off Topic Area' started by Smitfire, May 24, 2017.

  1. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    Any parents or other people have any experience with ADHD? Particularly with children?
    My daughter is experiencing some issues (CONSTANT fidgeting, chewing her skin/hair/clothing, distraction, not listening, under-achieving at school, etc) and it's something we're starting to look into.
    She might just be an easily distracted scatty kid but the chewing in particular has gone into overdrive.
     
  2. Latikos

    Latikos Valued Member

    I don't know much about ADHD aside from the usual.
    But I wonder how old your daughter is?
    Someone I know has a son, who's "clicking" a lot (I don't have the words to describe it in English; it's similar to clicking with the tongue), but he's diagnosed with a Tic-disorder.
    We talked a lot about it, because I have the jerking, I mention below, plus making hissing noises at time, even thought it might "only" be OCD-related.

    My point being: Tics aren't necessarily jerking movements; and young kids have them rather often and most of the time it goes away by itself as they grow older.



    Not sure about other places, but here lots of kids get home-diagnosed with ADHD, but the problem lies often elsewhere.
    Not saying that's the case with you! But what we often get are kids with ADHD (again: Home-diagnosed), who just lose their ADHD when we, as trainers, are consistent with what we say.

    Then we have one boy, who is actually in treatment for it.
    Mostly the problems are that he will lose control about how hard ( as in used strength) he works and will sulk in a corner for a few minutes.
    It's surprisingly rare, that he won't listen, actually.
     
  3. bassai

    bassai onwards and upwards ! Moderator Supporter

    My lad's on the spectrum (working diagnosis of mild autism) , what your describing does sound a bit similar.
    It's a bit of a tricky situation as you don't want to be seen as overreacting (we didn't) but I'd speak to your doctor for an opinion , have spoken to her and asked if she's worried about anything ? The symptoms can be similar.
     
  4. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    She's going through a very tearful/emotional stage at the moment (crying at the slightest thing) but we can't nail it down to anything in particular. Just thought it was one of those stages where she's finding about herself, getting used to feelings etc.

    She's really struggling with maths at school (she's bright and a great reader though) so that could be one of the roots. Knocked her confidence.
     
  5. bassai

    bassai onwards and upwards ! Moderator Supporter

    How old is she ?
     
  6. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    She's 8. Part of the problem I think is that I treated her and her mum to a girly day out and manicure each. BUT...she had to curtail her nail biting and let her nails grow. Which she did but I think she's transferred that behaviour to biting the skin on her thumbs and chewing other stuff.
     
  7. Morik

    Morik Well-Known Member Supporter MAP 2017 Gold Award

    I have ADHD and was diagnosed when I was 3 or 4.
    I am in my mid 30s now and still struggle with it.

    - I was put on medication. This may or may not be something that would help your child, discuss with doctor(s). (I am fairly confident it helped me a lot.)

    - My parents had me attend many sessions, both individually & in a group, of behavioral therapy for ADHD. Basically developing mental mechanisms to work around some of the downsides of ADHD--how to be able to stay organized (enough), how to refocus your attention, and lots more. I don't really recall details, but it probably helped some.

    - This may be just my type of personality, but I found it nice to learn about the actual mechanisms by which ADHD affects my brain. Not sure if it actually helps me in any practical way, but having an understanding of what is going on in my brain at least makes me feel better, somehow.

    - Boredom/tediousness/etc can be an almost physically painful thing for people with ADHD, especially in children. This can cause essentially uncontrollable urges to move around/let out some energy/etc, which generally is disruptive to others around them. Having strategies to mitigate that would be good.

    - As others have noted, it is also possible that this is autism, which has some symptom overlap with ADHD.
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2017
  8. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    Really good advice thanks (where is that thanks button!?!).
    I don't think it's autism. My wife was a teacher and taught children on the spectrum so she has some experience (albeit not wide ranging and all children on the spectrum will be different of course). Aside from the things I've mentioned I'd say she doesn't exhibit some of the other markers for autism.
     
  9. Simon

    Simon Administrator Admin Supporter MAP 2017 Koyo Award

    Hope you get the right diagnosis and some advice / medication that helps.
     
  10. bassai

    bassai onwards and upwards ! Moderator Supporter

    I've heard of girls entering puberty that early before ,I'd book a doctors appointment for a chat and go from there.
     
  11. Madao13

    Madao13 Valued Member

    I had similar problems with your daughter since I was very little.
    In order to perform well at school, something really important for my mother,
    I had to spend all day at home studying, because in order to study for 2 hours
    I needed 4-5 hours instead, because I couldn't focus.
    I used to spend time daydreaming even while taking exams.

    I never found a solution. I am still struggling at university, the moment we speak.
    Now that I am a little older, I have found some tricks that help me.
    Tricks like the pomodoro technique or listening to white noise tracks while studying.
    The last couple of years I managed to study a lot better thanks to them.

    Also, I don't know if medication is the right answer here. Having read various topics in forums with people sharing their experiences about ADHD,
    I have seen that they are a temporary solution for most people at best.

    On the other hand some people think very highly of meditation and have found it very helpful.
    I have tried it a little bit, but for me it's hard as hell. Very similar with studying a boring subject.

    It's a bumpy road and a constant struggle, but from what I get your kid is young
    and that's really important imo. A lot of room for improvement!
     
  12. Smitfire

    Smitfire Cactus Schlong

    Damn....thought I had a good few years before tackling that side of things. :(
     
  13. kandi

    kandi Valued Member

    Hi spitfire... I've got an 8 year old as well. She's constantly distracted by everything. I wonder if adhd would have already shown up by now? Perhaps not... I'm not a GP, but it sounds like a more recent thing for your daughter. A trip to the paed might help :) hang in there
     
  14. Tom bayley

    Tom bayley Valued Member

    EDITED TO REMOVE INCORRECT INFORMATION,

    My ADHD was diagnosed 2 years ago and I am 51!

    Bottom line, speak to a qualified professional, either a psychologist with a recognised qualification specialising in AHHD or a Medical professional.

    I have been doing some research. A Psychologist with a recognised qualification specialising in ADHD can make a diagnosis. But only a psychiatrist can prescribe drugs.

    If you would prefer not to have any official record you could pay a psychologist to do a private assessment.

    If you don’t mind your daughters school becoming involved – you can talk to the school to get an assessment from an educational psychologist.

    If you go via your GP you may have to wait up to a year for an assessment.

    If you go to your GP they will run through a check list to see if ADHD is likely. If enough of the ADHD boxes are ticked they will refer on to a psychiatrist , this will involve another more exhaustive check list and an in depth interview with the psychiatrist.

    Having a psychiatrist involved can scare people a little but the reason is that ,should your Daughter have ADHD, and should you decide to go down the route of drug therapy, the drugs are controlled substances they can only be prescribed by a Psychiatrist.

    Or to as I put it more bluntly to someone the other day - Seeing a psychiatrist for ADHD does not mean you are mad. It just means you have a greater range of coping strategies to chose from.

    Hope this is helpful.
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2017
  15. Tom bayley

    Tom bayley Valued Member

    .
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2017

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