Re: New ADHD meds

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Learning Disorders Chatboard

Re: New ADHD meds

by Heather Berkley

Jun 20, 2011

I am a teacher that has a child of her own taking ADHD meds. It was a difficult decision to medicate my son, but finally decided to do it (he started them at the age of 6.) There are side effects to any medicine. The biggest side effect that I see is lack of appetite.

Please don't be upset with parents that aren't sure about giving their children meds. It's a hard decision. Each person has to wiegh the pros and cons. For my child it has worked and I work with his loss of appetite.

I know it's can be challenging having an unmedicated ADHD child in your classroom as I have these students as well. Just remember that they bring a new level of energy to the room and give them activities to do that help them with this energy.

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Kath/KS Yes, it is sometimes difficult for teachers to see past our struggles with the child in class. I had a boy this past year who was not on meds (he had them, his parents decided to no longer give them after they saw how he reacted to them). I really appreciated how they talked with me every week (often after each DAY) to talk about what happened an...See More

Jun 20, 2011

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parents talk On 6/20/11, Heather Berkley wrote: > I am a teacher that has a child of her own taking ADHD > meds. It was a difficult decision to medicate my son, but > finally decided to do it (he started them at the age of 6.) > There are side effects to any medicine. The biggest side > effect that I see is lack of appetite. > > Please don'...See More

Jun 20, 2011

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Melissa I was the special education teacher, and behavior modification supervisor. I suspected in kindergarten that there was something off. I had the school psych write up an observation. Started behavior modification techniques including changing diet, sticker charts cubes etc. In 1st grade continued with the charts, cubes etc since they worked well with...See MoreI was the special education teacher, and behavior modification supervisor. I suspected in kindergarten that there was something off. I had the school psych write up an observation. Started behavior modification techniques including changing diet, sticker charts cubes etc. In 1st grade continued with the charts, cubes etc since they worked well with him (much to the teachers dismay). All while the dr told me "he will grow out of it." Finally pressured the dr to look at all of the evidence (2 1/2 inch binder) full of rewards, consequences, observations, and behavior charts. She did not want him to put him on any medication because "there are no educational side effects" in other words he wasn't failing. Bothering everyone around him wasn't good enough for her. Finally put him on medication half way through 2nd grade and everyone is finally able to see how amazing of a child he can be.

On 6/20/11, parents talk wrote: > On 6/20/11, Heather Berkley wrote: >> I am a teacher that has a child of her own taking ADHD >> meds. It was a difficult decision to medicate my son, but >> finally decided to do it (he started them at the age of 6.) >> There are side effects to any medicine. The biggest side >> effect that I see is lack of appetite. >> >> Please don't be upset with parents that aren't sure about >> giving their children meds. It's a hard decision. Each >> person has to wiegh the pros and cons. For my child it has >> worked and I work with his loss of appetite. >> >> I know it's can be challenging having an unmedicated ADHD >> child in your classroom as I have these students as well. >> Just remember that they bring a new level of energy to the >> room and give them activities to do that help them with >> this energy. > > It is a hard decision. I too am a teacher/parent of an ADD > child. I started in the first grade to find out what was going > on with my son. It was not until the seventh grade that he was > finally diagnosed with ADD. I will be working to get him a 504 > plan, but will have to look towards meds if this does not > help. Until that time it is very frustrating and constant > reminder to myself that he behaves the way he does because of > his ADD. We implament small steps at home to help him. As a > teacher without all the tools needed because regular classroom > teachers may only have a class or two on learning > disabilities, it is very challenging to remember in the > hurried pace of the classroom to help these children. I have > been lucky to teach small classes, 12 - 22, and have been able > to really give individual attention to each student

Jun 20, 2011

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