M.P.
W.,
There are many people who will tell you that ADD and AD/HD is WAY over diagnosed and that it's way too soon to jump to that conclusion when your daughter is only in kindergarten...but I would certainly do a lot of research on both sides of the issue. I was one of those who always thought that the ADD thing was blown out of proportion, even though my son did exhibit signs of it, and it is prevalent in my extended family. He was a straight A student until he reached 9th grade and then he absolutely cratered. Finally in the Spring of 10th grade, at the suggestion of two of his teachers I had him evaluated and he was "diagnosed" as ADD. How could this be, I wondered? How does a straight A student suddenly stop making good grades and spiral down emotionally. (ADD really does a number on a child's self-esteem) I have since learned that many children can "cope" with the ADD up to a certain point - for some it's elementary school, for others, junior or senior high, and some can hold it together even up to the point that they enter college. But then their coping skills are not enough and the symptoms become glaring. My son went to private school from Kindergarten - 4th grade. He learned to read in kingerdarten. I mentioned to a friend who did diagnostic testing for the private schools that he didn't like to read and she made a comment that, in hindsight, I should have paid attention to: "Good readers like to read. Those that are struggling don't. There's a reason he doesn't like to read - you should try to determine what it is." I didn't listen. I found out in 9th grade why he doesn't like to read: he can't focus. His mind drifts off while he is still reading. He was reading out loud just fine, but retained nothing. Another clue to the ADD, that I learned about later - poor handwriting. Kids also like to take things apart - "just because" and some tend to be procrastinators. I can remember my AD/HD brother taking apart all kinds of stuff - just to see how it worked. He still does this and we tease him about it. Didn't know it was an ADD trait until a few years ago.
I picked up a magazine at the doctor's office last week that I wish I had known about all these years. It is call"Attention" Information and Support for people affected by AD/HD. I believe a group called CHADD (www.chadd.org) is the publisher. Might be worth checking out.
In 1993, when I was exploring the ADD possibility, I came across a lot of material about food allergies and additives. I do believe that diet and especially additives probably play a role in some of the problems with learning and behaviour in our children, but I have also learned that ADD and AD/HD is a bona fide neurological disorder that should be treated. We wouldn't withhold medicine and medical care from a child that had a physiological disease, yet parents are frowned upon for pursuing medical help for their ADD child. I do realize that some parents are quick to pop a pill if their child "acts up" and there are certainly behaviour problems that need something other than a pill. Do your homework and explore all sides carefully.
My son started taking medicine the last 6 weeks of his sophomore year and made great grades for one 6 weeks. He took it his entire junior year and made mostly A's. Then he decided to pre-enlist in the Navy and they told him he couldn't take his medicine for a full year before enlistment, so his entire senior year has been without medication. We've seen a difference in both his grades and his behaviour - the way he interacts with others and with us. At least he's older now and can recognize what is going on . I think his high school years would have been very different if I had paid attention to those early warning signs.
Hope this helps.
