Q: MY SON IS 5 YRS OLD AND HIS SCHOOL IS REQUESTING AN EVALUATION FOR ADD/ADHD. HE HAS EVERY SYMPTOM OF ADHD, FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE. HE IS BECOMMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT, AND BEHAVIOR AT SCHOOL HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I FEEL LIKE THERE IS NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. HOW EFFECTIVE IS MEDICATION, AND CAN MY CHILD STILL HAVE A CHANCE AT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE WITH THIS DIAGNOSIS? I REALLY NEED HELP.
A: I’m confused. You’ve done the research. You know that your son’s behavior is typical of children with ADHD. The school is requesting an evaluation which will give you even more information. I can only guess that you are hesitating because there is a part of you that doesn’t want to accept that you have a child who has a problem. It’s hard, I know. Having a child with special needs isn’t what any parent has in mind. But the good news in your case is that medication often helps, especially when coupled with efforts at home and at school to help your son learn how to manage himself.
Please take your child to a child psychiatrist who has experience working with children with ADHD. You (and his teacher) will probably be asked to fill out a “behavior check list” to help the doctor understand the extent of the difficulty. If your son does have ADHD, the doctor will then want to try a medicine. If one doesn’t work, the doctor may want to try others until the right match is found. It’s important to observe your son’s reactions carefully so you can give the doctor the data he or she needs during this trial period. But medicine alone won’t do it. You and the other adults in your child’s life need to do your part. Make sure that you educate yourselves by reading and by seeing a child counselor for support and practical suggestions. Intervening early and well is the key to giving your boy a successful life.
I wish you well.
Dr. Marie
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