Stimulant drugs do not cure ADHD. These medications only help people with ADD or ADHD to have better control of their behaviours so that they can be productive academically, when they are at home, or when in social gatherings. Therefore, stimulant medication can be viewed just as a `tool' to alleviate problems related to ADD or ADHD. To be truly effective, stimulant medication should be taken together with behavioural skills training.
Most parents are very anxious about giving their children stimulant medication, especially the side effects. There are quite a number of possible side effects. The common ones are:
* Appetite is suppressed, which may lead to eventual weight loss or stunted growth.
*Those on medication may feel uneasy and have problems sleeping.
These two side effects should be noted with much seriousness, but more often than not they can be remedied by altering the dosage level or changing the time of taking the medication. If remedies are necessary, the best people to approach are the ones who prescribed it as they should be familiar with the medications. If after remedial measures have been implemented and the side effects persists, then the prescribed medication may not be suitable for the kid/s concerned.
There are also some other concerns that parents have when their ADD or ADHD children take stimulant drugs. One of them is that their children may become less intelligent or creative. However, as far as research is concerned, there is no evidence that medication can affect intelligence or creative juices. Some people claimed that medication improves their intelligence or creativity. Todate, there is also no evidence to support such claims.
One other concern which parents have is the resultant side effects upon taking medications for the very first time. At times, these kids feel very down and emotionally unstable after taking the medication for the very first time. More often than not, these side effects usually happen upon the first intake of medication or when the dosage is inappropriate. Generally these problems are short-lived and often subsides after several hours. If they do however persist, it is best to sought the advice of a medical practitioner.
Foremost on most parents minds is whether their ADD or ADHD children need to take medication forever. However, no one has a definite answer to this often asked question. As mentioned earlier, medication helps kids to cope with their surroundings. A lot of ADD/ADHD children do get better after medication as evident in their behaviours, and often they are able to cope without further medication. But for the rest of them, including adults who have ADD or ADHD, they may require continuous medication to asist them to function more effectively.
Are ADHD and ADD different? Get the answer from a popular website http://www.adhdquestionsandanswers.com
Old Wives Tales and Other Things That Just Might Help with ADHD
Here are some tips that I have picked up from parents that I have met over my 15 years working with ADHD kids and their families. These are not clinically tested.
Is it ADHD or Bi-Polar Disorder?
Bi-Polar Disorder, or Manic Depression, is characterized by mood swings, sometimes extreme, ranging from depressed to normal moods, or from depressed to manic episodes. Manic behaviors are often very similar to "hyperactive" behaviors, including motor restlessness, irritability, temper outbursts, sleeping less, or having higher levels of energy.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is Not Related to I.Q.
It's important to know that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Intelligence, as measured by I.Q.
ADHD: A Dialogue With a Non-Believer, Part Five
Dear Sir,
It was with some interest that I read the article What You Should Know About Attention Deficit Disorder by Edward W. after having it handed to me by a member of our church.
How To Combat Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD
With bouts of inattentiveness, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity, millions of children in the United States are plagued by attention deficit disorder. The chronic disorder, which is also commonly referred to as ADD or ADHD, has the potential to continue on into adulthood, where issues of self-esteem, strained interaction with others, and poor performance in school or work often takes place.
ADHD and Television
Can television actually cause your child to develop attention deficit disorder?
Tips for High School Teachers with ADHD Students: Organizing Your Students
Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate themselves to our children! We know how difficult it can be working with ADHD children, so here are your teacher tips for the week, brought to you by the ADHD Information Library and ADDinSchool.com.
Why Take An Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) Test
There are many symptoms that a person suffering from ADD will display These include a lack of organization, restlessness, inability to concentrate, agitation and impulsive behaviour
Beating the Energy - Tips on Raising ADHD Child
We see them as glowing, energetic kids on playground, schools, or just about anywhere. We often call them rowdy, troublemaker, naughty, etc. Most people say these children just have so much energy. But what do super hyperactive kids mean nowadays? Health experts have defined this kind of actions as behavioral disorder. We know it better as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or simply ADHD.
ADHD: Some Survival Strategies for Parents
In our last issue we posted some of our suggested Survival Strategies for parents, and then asked readers to contribute some of their thoughts or tips. Since this newsletter is already running pretty long, I'll only list a few of them below.
Can Recommended ADHD Diets Help Minimize Symptoms?
A growing number of parents are turning to diet to help ease the symptoms of their child's ADHD. More often, ADHD-related diets are used as a way to either minimize dependence on medications or as the first step to manage ADHD symptoms before turning to drugs. But how effective are ADHD diets recommended by many experts in the field?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 101
Introduction
This is a type of mental disorder, which occurs primarily in school-aged children but can also be diagnosed for the first time in the late teens esp., if some of its symptoms are left unnoticed.
How Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) Diagnosed?
Assessing whether a certain individual is suffering from Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder or not is far harder than it appears to laymen like ourselves. This is because, not only does it?s symptoms largely overlap those of hyperthyroidism etc. they are also largely exhibited by ?normal? human beings some time or the other every single day. Therefore the first important step towards diagnosing the disease is to consult a trained health care provider regarding it. Things only seem scary when we are treading over 'new ground', so to speak. Take small but deliberate steps and a positive end will begin to appear on the horizion.
Fat for Attention Deficit Disorder Treatment
Hyperactivity-is it normal behavior or ADHD(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/ADHD.html)? A little over-exuberance is expected in growing children, but what about when a tendency towards impulsiveness, a lack of concentration, and sometimes excessive physical activity are carried on into adulthood? Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADD or ADHD) is defined as age-inappropriate behavior, specifically:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity in the Classroom: Hints for Classroom Teachers
Since one out of twenty children have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the US, it is important for teachers to understand both the myths and realities of the disorder. Here are some thoughts that teachers should consider:
1.