ADHD and Ritalin

I have over 25 years experience working with children and for Children's Services in an Advisory role. ADHD never existed when I started teaching. There were other conditions that never existed then either, such as dyslexia and autism. Or at least they were not acknowledged or understood.

However I remember thinking 'this child really does try to spell or read and they genuinely just cannot hear the sounds and blend them in their heads' (dyslexia) and I remember asking the Ed Psych 'could it be that there are varying degrees of autism?' only to be told 'no'. Now we all know there is a continuum.

But I have never believed that ADHD is so commonplace. Yes, it does exist but it's rare. More often the attention deficit is due to upbringing; lack of consistency from parents and other significant adults, poor child rearing practices, bad diet, lack of exercise, and so on. It is interesting that your GS is able to concentrate under certain circumstances and his behaviour improves when he's with you lissieb. It is utterly disgraceful that he has been put on Ritalin.

Lizzieb have you looked at diet? I know of a case where reverting to a "stone age" diet i.e. without processed food of any sort made a huge difference. There was also a fascinating radio programme about mapping the incidence of ADHD across the USA and the correlation with the introduction and spread of processed (not only junk) food. I don't know enough to say any more but do look into it. Did ADHD exist in the past? It can be too glib to go for a diagnosis of ADHD for an otherwise lively inquisitive child, but it isalso too easy to say there were just "naughty children" however, nutritional evidence does suggest that there is a link with brain function, concentration and consequently behaviour.

lizzieb ,like you I have a grandson who may be diagnosed with ADHD (I say may, as his teacher has suggested this as an explanation for his ability to concentrate and his physical "liveliness" (I am yet to be convinced). He is 5 years old and again, as with your grandson is the most loveable chap. He is very much like his Dad (my youngest son) in that he suffered with glue ear from early childhood, and may also be dyslexic (a definite link with glue ear).

What we have discovered is a link between what he eats and his physical behaviour. His mum has cut out all sweet things and increased his intake of essential fatty acids and so far, so good.

He also can concentrate for long periods when he wishes, when he is with us or in a situation that he adores (looking for bugs, building lego etc.etc.).

My eldest daughter is a primary school teacher in Scotland and is concerned that some teachers (particularly those who do not have children themselves!) do find it challenging in dealing with lively boys. There are studies out there which suggest that young boys should definitely be taught in a different way than girls. My daughter has 3 boys in her class (boys that another teacher would informally diagnose as having ADHD), but she knows from having a lively boy herself, that they need to have lots more physical outlets than other children.....she moves them around more.....gives them time out and gets them outdoors as much as possible (in Scotland it is called Grounds for Learning).

So, unless as Mamie suggests, your Grandson has been properly diagnosed, and other avenues explored, he sounds pretty much like a lot of other lively boys who need some concentrated efforts to discover how they are best taught and respected as normal.

Hope all is well and that you get the answers you need.

lizzieb, I have been told that I am at the mild end of the ADHD spectrum and having done some rsearch I think that is probably correct. Lack of concentration and concentration do go together in ADHD.

I find it very difficult to concentrate if there are other people around or other things that need doing, or any other distraction I can think of (like Gransnet)but once I do get stuck in on doing a piece of work, the last trumpet could sound, the house go up in flames or a herd of elephants thunder down the road and because I am so concentrateed on my work I just do not notice. It is a family game to have long conversations with me when I am reading with the family member concerned, usually my daughter, making all my responses for me and I read on blissfully unaware. It is called hyper-concentration.

My nephew has a similar diagnosis and he too takes Ritalin and has for some years now. It is not actually a sedative, as I understand it, and its mode of action is not fully understood. However, my nephew is happy to take it as he knows that he cannot control himself and taking it helps him to fit in with hsi peers and get on with life a bit better. He is 15 now and has been on it some years. So - do not be horrified - it can in some cases be a positive thing.

It is a difficult one, as these diagnoses are inevitably slightly shaky as there are no tests that can be done - there are clear features however of both illnesses that can suggest the diagnosis. It is interesting when the two are diagnosed together, as autism itself can cause symptoms very similar to ADHD in some children.

Whilst you may feel uncertain about the diagnoses, there is nothing particular to be gained at this stage by querying them as they will unlock help and support for him at school which can only be valuable. It is wonderful that school are so supportive - this is not always the case. Because of the nebulous nature of some of the behaviour and the lack of clarity around what is naughty and what is pathology, some schools can be very unhelpful indeed, as in the case of my nephew, who is constantly in trouble at school with detentions and so on - and the family constantly have to explain what triggered the behaviour and how it might have been avoided.

Can you tell us a bit more about who has been involved in the diagnosis, Lizzie? Has he seen an Educational Psychologist and has he got a statement of Special Educational Needs? Have you or his parents seen the school's special needs co-ordinator? It would be surprising if he wasn't a bit troubled by everything that has gone on and obviously that can lead to hyperactivity and an inability to settle. I would collect as much evidence as you can and then you may be able to find out why the diagnosis has been made. There are quite a few of us on here who have worked in special needs and may be able to support you.

When we had a guest house in York, one of the guests had a son who was ADHD and he had Ritalin.
She would give it to him in the bedroom and leave him there while it worked, then take him out for the day after she had eaten her breakfast.
When we went up to clean the bedroom, there were always crisps scattered all over the floor and the bed, so the Ritalin obviously did not sedate him!
The mother was doing a Masters degree in Educational Psychology.

I'm afraid I have nothing helpful to offer, Lizzie, but am also appalled that Ritalin seems to be so freely prescribed to young children these days.