Help, Possibly ADD dd

[mom31257]

I'm posting this on 2 boards because I wasn't sure which was best.
I wondered if anyone on this board knew much about ADD. My 11yo dd has always been the slowest to get ready, forgets where she put things, a daydreamer, etc. She was even slow to get ready when we were at Disney World and going to the parks.

It has really escalated the last few months (possibly onset of puberty??). She is really having trouble staying focused. I send her to do something, say in her room, and I go in later and she hasn't even done it. She's not always aware of what I told her. She had a performance today with her drama team, so she got in the shower. I went in several minutes later, and she was in there, but had done nothing. She didn't know why. She is frustrated at herself. I really think she doesn't want to be like this.

She was in private school K-2nd, and we've homeschooled since then. Her grades are excellent. She's a well-above grade level reader. In fact, she reads A LOT.

I printed off a list of symptoms of the inattentive type, and I think she has everyone of them. I showed them to my husband. He says that's him, also. I've suspected him of it our whole marriage.

Does anyone know natural ways to try treating this? I don't want to just go get a pill. I want to help solve the problem, if possible. I want to help her manage this, so she won't be in trouble with us for not doing what she's told.

Any advice would be so helpful.

Amy of GA
11yo dd
4(almost 5)yo ds

[Laurie4b]

One must read book is Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life by Sari Solden . It is a very encouraging book, and written specifically for the issues that face females with ADD. I would read all you can before you absolutely rule out medication.

Also, I don't have girls, but two of my sons were very similar to what you describe at her age. One has grown out of it; the other is still there. argh. However, with the family history, it's wise to check it out.

[georgiagirl]

Hi,
Well first of all, I have 7 children and almost every one of them and myself and hubby has ADD. I use DMAE, Ginko Bilboa, Omega 3 & 6 , Folic Acid. My son who is 12 uses it now and he says he can really see the difference. He has a hard time focusing and comprehending. Im not saying this is the answer but I know it helps my kids and I take it too.

[Dani n Monies Mom]

My dd12 is ADD-Inattentive. We used the symptoms checklist as well. Turns out we were correct. On the little you've written about her I would say she sounds exactly like my dd.

I think natural remedies are a great idea, but please don't rule out more traditional meds. If you get a really attentive doc., then you can explore all the options. Omega 3's are great btw. We happen to be using a very low dosage of concerta, which has worked wonders at relieving some of the frustration dd was feeling at forgetting things and not being able to focus.

HTH,
Ava

[tonygirl]

I have 2 kids with ADHD (combined type) and I want to stress also not rule out meds. Get a good Dr. one you can talk to and feel comfortable with. You will know a pill popping Dr. right away your 1st visit if that makes you uneasy keep looking. I want to say though you have to do more then just meds you have to make accommodations as well. Read about it try and get inside yr dd head and see things how she does. Bottom line is to help her be with meds natural remedies therapy or a combo and sometimes that's what it takes.:001_smile:

[transientChris]

I have two who are ADHD diagnosed. The youngest has in the last two years realling been making me think ADHD-Inattentive. My solution forher is the same one as for me (mild ADHD)- coffee, tea or iced tea. It works, is available almost everywhere and you get some added benefits like much lower chances of type 2 diabetes, and somewhat lower chances of colon cancer. Still very cheap, too.

[Camy]

I posted something along these lines in an earlier thread. Perhaps it may give you some help.

Here's the link: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43511

Blessings,
Camy

[Mandamom]

decide to use meds or not (and I wouldnt' automatically rule them out) she'll need to learn coping strategies for her future. She's old enough to

If you ask her to do something have her repeat it back to you -- over time hopefully she'll learn repeat it back to herself so that when she's an adult and her employer asks her to do something she'll repeat it to herself until it is done. Stick a white board in her room and if she goes upstairs to do something she needs to write it down upstairs.

Teach her money and calendar skills. She needs to be using a date planner all the time to track all of her activities and needs to learn how to schedule and plan for activities and research papers. Budgeting and money management are important skills that she might need a lot of practice.

There are other skills like this that she can start learning now that will help her when she's older.

My dh has a lot of issues related to ADHD so I see it from an adult perspective.

[Kathy in MD]

Just because you think it's ADD, doesn't mean that it is OR that it's only ADD. There are several other problems that display every single ADD and ADHD symptom. And sometimes they co-exist with ADD/ADHD. My ds's developmental pediatrician said that many of her ADHD patients needed less ADHD medicine IF they avoided the foods they were sensitive to. (She is now a DAN! doctor)

Here are a partial list of things my ds's dev ped investigated when trying to uncover why my ds displayed ADHD symptoms, though he didn't have ADHD: food sensitivities, SPD, nutritional difficiencies, heavy metal poisoning, and sleep problems (ds snored). Later we uncovered that my ds had developmental vision problems AND that his last ST didn't correct his underlying problems with deciphering speech -- she merely taught him how to speak clearly. Both of these problems display ADHD symptoms.

It's very posible that your dd has ADD, but I recomend that you have her throroughly tested so you can uncover all the possible problems that may be affecting her.

[bakerjung]

Could someone direct me to a source for the checklist?
Thanks!

[tonygirl]

heres one also just type in online add test quiz assessment questionaire and you'll get lots of different options http://addtestonline.com/