Girls with ADD - Page 8

Tom Earp · #**106** 08-19-2005, 04:23 PM

Try Chiropratics and see what they say!

DeltaEtaKP · #**107** 08-20-2005, 03:10 AM

I don't know if I'm just lucky or what, but I have learned to channel the ADD. I multi task a lot, and it kind of gives me drive... Like, I have 4 jobs, hold an exec posistion, take a full course load and still have plenty of time for friends. Since I have trouble focusing, doing EVERYTHING helps me. It gives me a constant change of pace...
Sometimes, it sucks though. Before (sometimes during) tests, I get anxiety attacks because either I can't focus to study or I can't focus to take the test. I skip things a lot, too. Such as on scantrons or whatever I'll jump around and answer different questions in the wrong space or on essay tests, I'll completely skip over questions. Luckily, my professors understand and most of them are proud that I am able to do so well without medication.

PhiPsiRuss · #**108** 08-20-2005, 05:39 PM

Speak to your doctor about switching from Ritalin to Focalin. Its a much more modern and advanced version methylphenidate (what ritalin is) with fewer side effects and much greater efficacy.

Quote:

Originally posted by bekibug
*Raises hand*

I have ADD. Textbook case, apparently, in several textbooks. Currently on Ritalin 10 mg. It's helping. A LOT.

ZTABullwinkle · #**109** 08-20-2005, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
Speak to your doctor about switching from Ritalin to Focalin. Its a much more modern and advanced version methylphenidate (what ritalin is) with fewer side effects and much greater efficacy.

Actually that is what I was on...Focalin XR. Made me TOO jittery. I guess people react in different ways to different things.

PhiPsiRuss · #**110** 08-21-2005, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTABullwinkle
Actually that is what I was on...Focalin XR. Made me TOO jittery. I guess people react in different ways to different things.

People do react to different meds in different ways. That's why you need a good doctor, preferably an experienced and specialized psychopharm, who can help you figure out what works best.

Dionysus · #**111** 09-14-2005, 07:18 PM

I read on another forum that today is the 2nd annual National ADD Awareness Day. I didn't know anything about this. Anyway, I just wanted to pass this on.

valkyrie · #**112** 09-14-2005, 09:39 PM

LOL that's awesome. Had I known earlier, I would've made a point to be very aware.

I'm up to 20mg, by the way. Oddly, it almost seems to affect me less than 15 did.

James · #**113** 09-14-2005, 10:38 PM

Here is an article on ADD thats good actually . . .

http://smart-drugs.net/ias-attentiondeficit.htm

Unfortunately its longer than a lot of you ADD people can get through

valkyrie · #**114** 09-14-2005, 10:50 PM

Hm, it kind of lost me when it got to the high protein part. That's just not going to happen for me.

James · #**115** 09-14-2005, 11:15 PM

They just found that too much variation in blood sugar levels would lead to ADD symptoms. Our culture gets a lot of processed sugar

ansturge · #**116** 09-15-2005, 09:17 PM

Quote:

OK, I'll chime in, though I'm not a doctor and don't play one on TV. ADHD manifests itself in a variety of ways, so one person with ADHD won't necessarily behave exactly the same as someone else with the same diagnosis. I'm not hyperactive, but there are some telling things in my life, like the difficulties learning social skills, getting organized, and staying on task.

this sounds like my story -- because of insurance i am not on meds right now, but adderal XR worked well for me --i couldnt remember to take my second dose of my other meds-- i would have it in my pocket and still forget to take it until it was too late in the day to take it.

i wasnt diagnosed till i was 23-24 -- i was in therapy for something else when my therapist picked up on it and tested me for it

It REALLY explains a lot about me

AXO_MOM_3 · #**117** 10-04-2005, 10:55 PM

GRRRR...Here we go again! We put daughter 2 in the highly gifted program thinking the challenge would keep her interested. There's a TON of work to do, and everything is very accelerated. Daughter seems to be really trying with her homework which is what I see. Her teacher says she is behind everyone else academically in comparison and is not keeping up in the classroom. When she is interested in the topic, she is tuned in. Otherwise, the teacher says that she is not paying attention, spaced out and a "body in the room".

In a nutshell...I have nationally normed aptitude and achievement tests that indicate that my child scored better than 99% of the children who took the same tests, which puts her in the top 1%. Granted - so are the rest of the kids in the class. (All are 95% and above) She is one of the youngest students in her class, and has kids over a year and a half older than her in the class (due to "Readiness"). According to the teacher she is "behind" everyone else in the class and her work is not of the same quality in comparison.

Daughter thinks she is doing just fine, and wants to stay in the program. Does not appear to care about her grades or being as the teacher says "clueless".

We are doing a few mods - preferential seating, a buddy to help with organization (packing things up, unpacking bookbag, etc), some modified assignments. The teacher does not seem to have time or is not willing to do much more.

Should I move her to a less challenging program now, or give it more time? I personally feel that no matter what setting she is in we are going to experience the same ADD behaviors - so shouldn't we address that first? I am also looking at getting the dx and possibly medicating so she can focus, which I REALLY do not want to do at this point. (Have any of you been taking meds since you were in the third grade?) I don't know what the heck to do!

Okay - all you really bright people that have ADD and struggled with school, help me out! Anyone gifted with a learning disability? How about gifted, learning disabled and ADD? Ya'll always have great inputfor me to consider, so please share!

valkyrie · #**118** 10-04-2005, 11:03 PM

This probably isn't helpful because I've been out of school for a million years, but I was always in gifted programs since I was a kid and wasn't diagnosed with ADD until this year. I don't think it could hurt to try medication if she's diagnosed -- she can always go off of it if it doesn't help.

DolphinChicaDDD · #**119** 10-04-2005, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AXO_MOM_3
We are doing a few mods - preferential seating, a buddy to help with organization (packing things up, unpacking bookbag, etc), some modified assignments. The teacher does not seem to have time or is not willing to do much more.

Okay - all you really bright people that have ADD and struggled with school, help me out! Anyone gifted with a learning disability? How about gifted, learning disabled and ADD? Ya'll always have great inputfor me to consider, so please share!

Ok, so the 1st one I'm going to answer as teacher DolphinChica. It difficult to remember everyone's modifications. Espcially since I can't legally write them down because someone might find the paper and the "out" the child as having a disability. I'm lucky if I can remember the kids who have problems, let alone the kids whose parents have asked me to do something extra for them. Seeing how your daughter is in 3rd grade and I'm sure the teacher has less than 30 kids, she should be more accomidating (I'm 7th/8th grade and see 150 kids a day). But, as crappy as it sounds, unless your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan, or whatever the equivilency in your state is) then the teacher legally doesn't have to give any special modifications. I pay more attention to the IEPs cause I can be bought to court on them vs the "can you help my child by doing this request from the parent. If you haven't already, try talking to the teacher and explaining everything again. It might help. Just make sure you make an appt; I've already gotten pulled out a class because of a surprise visit from a parent, and that didn't make me happy.

Now, as learning disabled/slight ADD DolphinChica: Maybe there are other things you can try, small things that won't involve other students or the teacher. My mom (who is a special ed teacher and realized that I had learning problems despite the theory back in the day that "smart" kids can't have problems) had a small index card placed on my homework pad and on my desk and above my hanger in the coat room. It said something, "Do you have all your books? Have you checked your assignments? Do you have any papers to bring home? Are you sure you have all your books?" Seeing it 3 times and in my mother's handwriting, I could hear my mom asking these things and it helped me remeber to do all those steps. Another you can try (at home, which should carry over eventually) is everytime you see your child start to lose focus say something that will bring her back. My phrase is "Time on task." Even now, when I start to drift the phrase automatically goes through my head and I come back to what I was doing. I found ways around my disability (dyscalcula, like dyslexia with numbers) but I'm not gonna lie, it took me years. Hell, I'm still working on it. I would have loved to have help with this problem when I needed it, when it surfaced, in the 3rd grade instead of struggling through grade school, high school, college and post grad with it. Early intervention is always a better thing.

Try the meds. Give it time, too. Don't expect next week for everything to be fine. If it doesn't work out, try something else.

James · #**120** 10-05-2005, 03:35 AM

A really gifted program shouldn't have a lot of "homework". Homework is not challenging to a gifted student. homework is for plodders.

Is she assimilating the knowledge for the class? Is she testing well on the material?

I have noticed a trend in education in recent years to become more system oriented. Homework being a key component of the grade.

the Gifted, which I assume you mean naturally high aptitude people, which is different than regular IQ, don't necessarily respond as well to systems, they just want to learn the stuff, test and move on.

I was lucky, I went to a really progressive private school that gave over 100 plus grades per quarter and the total grade for each subject was derived by how well you tested on the material.

Quote:

Originally posted by AXO_MOM_3
GRRRR...Here we go again! We put daughter 2 in the highly gifted program thinking the challenge would keep her interested. There's a TON of work to do, and everything is very accelerated. Daughter seems to be really trying with her homework which is what I see. Her teacher says she is behind everyone else academically in comparison and is not keeping up in the classroom. When she is interested in the topic, she is tuned in. Otherwise, the teacher says that she is not paying attention, spaced out and a "body in the room".

In a nutshell...I have nationally normed aptitude and achievement tests that indicate that my child scored better than 99% of the children who took the same tests, which puts her in the top 1%. Granted - so are the rest of the kids in the class. (All are 95% and above) She is one of the youngest students in her class, and has kids over a year and a half older than her in the class (due to "Readiness"). According to the teacher she is "behind" everyone else in the class and her work is not of the same quality in comparison.

Daughter thinks she is doing just fine, and wants to stay in the program. Does not appear to care about her grades or being as the teacher says "clueless".

We are doing a few mods - preferential seating, a buddy to help with organization (packing things up, unpacking bookbag, etc), some modified assignments. The teacher does not seem to have time or is not willing to do much more.

Should I move her to a less challenging program now, or give it more time? I personally feel that no matter what setting she is in we are going to experience the same ADD behaviors - so shouldn't we address that first? I am also looking at getting the dx and possibly medicating so she can focus, which I REALLY do not want to do at this point. (Have any of you been taking meds since you were in the third grade?) I don't know what the heck to do!

Okay - all you really bright people that have ADD and struggled with school, help me out! Anyone gifted with a learning disability? How about gifted, learning disabled and ADD? Ya'll always have great inputfor me to consider, so please share!