ADHD

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I was diagnosed in grade school back when the diagnosis was fairly novel. Had to see a psychiatrist all the way up in Tulsa (grew up in Edmond, just north of OKC). Was one of the only, if not the only child in a large school district who was both in the gifted & talented program who also had an IEP.

The meds (ritalin) did help in school and did help with some of the impulse control. On the downside, I think it took its toll on me as a social person. Off the meds, I was a troublemaker, on such good terms with the Principal that we kept a running chess game going for when I was sent to the office (which was frequent). That of course, made me one of the most popular kids in school... On the meds, I ended up being pretty much a loner who wrote programs in BASIC for fun. I was one of those.

At the age of 14, entering high school, I started refusing medication and still do. While the doctors offered analogies like glasses being used to correct vision and medication being used to correct ADHD, I didn't and don't buy it. ADHD is just who I am and who I was meant to be.

So I'm a disorganized, impulsive trial lawyer which means I will always have to have a good assistant to help me keep my stuff together. I've adjusted rather than medicated. As a parent, I'm pretty likely to pass on this condition (and I probably deserve to, but my wife is innocent). I tend to favor medicating children until they are old enough to decide for themselves.

My husband is ADHD and also doesn't medicate for it. He favors not medicating kids until they are old enough to choose for themselves. That's the tactic we're taking with our youngest, who has been DXd with it.

Youngest DC has such a huge, charming personality that I'd hate to squish it. I also have concerns about the long term effects of ADHD meds on the brain, whatever the industry says about its safety. That risk/benefit analysis is something every parent has to weight for themselves, though. I don't think there is a clear right answer.

BTW, there are enough gifted kids with LDs that we now have a label for them: twice exceptional (2E). You weren't the only one, just the only who was identified and getting appropriate school and treatment. Your parents were doing a good job.

Thanks for the chess story. Both of my kids spend too much time in the principal's office. The downside to having crazy, genius children is that they're crazy.