Re: ADD/Ritalin
William Paul (billp@P3.NET)
Fri, 8 Mar 1996 17:58:02 -0500
Sharon wrote:
>After reading all your posts on ADD, I'm wondering if my own child has that
>same problem. He six and has always been highstrung, but now that he's in
>first grade and has to try to learn to read, he's having a very hard time of
>it.
Dear Sharon,
I'm posting this to the list as maybe it will help others. My son
Bill was diagnosed in the 3rd grade (he's now in 8th). He was having a very
hard time concentrating and staying still, and his teacher decided she could
get him to shape up. The ensuing loss of self-esteem drove my 8 year old to
talk about killing himself and it was during a meeting with a counselor that
I first heard the terms ADD and ADHD.
The first thing I can tell you is that all children exhibit the
symptoms at one time or the other, it is only if it happens consistantly
that real concern sets in. The main problem with the disorder is that there
is no medical (blood/urine/etc.) test that will tell you definetly.
Find a competent health care professional (we used a pediatric
neurologist) and have him thoroughly checked out. Bill's tests included;
Psychological/Intelligence testing ( by a certified School Psychologist),
complete physical, lengthy questionaires which were filled out by the
parents/teachers and a neurological exam. We even had his eyes tested to
rule out a visual perception problem.
The hardest problem I faced was allowing my child to be prescribed
Ritalin after he was diagnosed. I couldn't understand how a stimulant was
going to calm my son down and make him pay attention. You see in an ADD
person this stimulates the part of the brain where the self-control center is.
BTW don't think that this is a magic pill which will fix everything,
it just helps them to do better. Most courses of treatment also include
psychological counseling, behavior modification, and educational
accomadation/tutoring.
How's Bill doing now? Thought you would never ask. Life Scout (3 MB
& Service Project away from Eagle), Honor Student, and receiving his Ad
Altare Dei Medal this Sunday.
Hope this helps, and if you have any specific questions e-mail me privately.
YIS & WWW
Bill Paul U.C./ASM
Cradle of Liberty Council
Delaware District
W.W.W. Unami Lodge #1
I used to be an Eagle...NE-IV-69
Email Address billp@p3.net
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
