I dont believe my step son has ADHD-help!

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My step son, aged 10, was recently diagnosed with ADHD, I truly dont believe he has it. He isnt in our care and we are feeling very powerless to do anything about it. His mother claims he is out of control and that his teacher begged that he be put on Ritulin which was started a month ago! It is now school holidays, the son is with us but didnt bring his medication with him (apparently because his mother knows we dont approve). What are the repercussions of starting and stopping Ritulin like that? When my step son is with us he is an angel, energetic yes, highly intelligent yes, talkative yes, but, in my opinion displays none of what are deemed to be the negative sides of ADHD. He has had trouble at school with teachers and not doing his work yes, but I believe he is too advanced for what is being taught at his level and is more than likely bored to death. This could cause some behaviour problems, couldn't it? When his mind is being challenged he thrives, can focus completely and is extremely excited by it, he thrives on info and takes it all in. We only rarely have disciplinary problems, in fact, increasingly rare, he is very well behaved. What are the repercussions for a child taking Ritulin who doesnt have the disorder? Does it sound to you like he does? Are there degrees of ADHD? Could he just be very mild? How do we find proof/ convince his mother/teacher that we are right, if in fact we are? We arent allowed to have him re-tested because we arent the fulltime parents. There must be something we can do!

Sally, you seem to be forgetting that not all people with an attention deficit are hyperactive, your step son may be one of these people, who is inattentive but not hyperactive. Well, go figure.

Thanks for the response. No, I am aware that attention deficit doesnt always mean hyperactive, except that his diagnosis is ADHyperactiveD and in all the time I have spent with my stepson doing homework, reading, everything around the home, I have never felt he was struggling to concentrate or focus his attention on what he was doing, quite the opposite in fact. His ability to stay on a task has often impressed me,particularly his reading,especially for a 10 yr old (he read Lord of the rings at 8).

Well let me see if I can answer a few of your questions.Q) What are the repercussions of starting and stopping Ritulin like that?A) Not much other than the effects of the medication are not there of course. Ritalin's effects ware off rather quickly, so if his medication has worn off even an hour before you see him you will see little or no difference. As for "is it bad for him to be on and off his medication" -- No not really in this case.Q) He has had trouble at school with teachers and not doing his work yes, but I believe he is too advanced for what is being taught at his level and is more than likely bored to death. This could cause some behaviour problems, couldn't it?A) Yes this behavior is very common with ADDers.Q) What are the repercussions for a child taking Ritulin who doesnt have the disorder?A) The child would be VERRRRY HYPER. Think of a person who has taken Speed -- this is what you would see. He would be running around, could not slow down, etc. until the drug wears off then he would crash.Q) Does it sound to you like he does?A) I am not a doctor but it is possible.Q) Are there degrees of ADHD?A) You bet there are. Some people have a harder time than others.Q) Could he just be very mild?A) Sure. Q) How do we find proof... we are right, if in fact we are?A) I don't know. You may want to see him on his medication so you know can see the difference and judge for yourself. Also you can see if he can sit down, concentrate, or even sleep on the medication. If he can he probably has ADD.From what you wrote you seem to think that his proficiency to read is linked with ADD/not-being-ADD. Unfortunately this is not the case. Some ADDers are very good at reading, enjoy it, read well above their age level, and can go through thick books in a short period of time. Some ADDers have lots of difficulty reading and will avoid it as much as possible. My suggestion is do some research (coming here is a good start), keep an open mind about it, and talk to your step-son. Please realize that ADD does exist, and it is not all bad. An ADDers mind works differently but that is OK. Good LuckPS-- This is probably a hard time for your step-son. His world is changing, he is probably trying to accept his diagnosis. Even if you believe that he does not have ADD, be as supportive of him as you can. I am not saying support his medication if you don't believe it is right, I am saying support the BOY, he need your love. If you think he does not have ADD don't discuss it with him and don't say that it doesn't exist or anything like that around him. You have a right to your opinion, but don't let your opinion get in the way of being the best mother you can be to him.

ADD and ADHD is over-diagnosed. I suggest that you ignore the diagnosis. If your child is intelligent but lazy, then encourage him, or punish him, in order to make him stop being lazy. There is no reason to get him on ritalin or adderrall. They ARE addictive. Over the years you will need higher dosages for your child, and withdrawal can cause extremely erratic, schizophrenic-like behavior. I strongly suggest that you act as though the diagnosis never happened. I have seen people go from childhood to adulthood on ADHD meds, and, boy oh boy, it ain't pretty.

oh and one more thing: if he read Lord of the Rings at age 8 and has no reading difficulties, then he definitely does NOT have ADD/ADHD. one of my best friends was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD at the age of 11. his parents rejected it and refused to give their son medication. Today, he is at Duke University with nearly straight A's. He was misbehaving at the age of 11 because of stress and family problems. ADD/ADHD is overdiagnosed. of course it gives more money to prescription drug companies.

Sally, i dont think i can be any more frank than i am now. DO NOT GET YOUR STEP-SON ON THOSE DRUGS! THEY ARE EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE!!!

oh and one more thing: if he read Lord of the Rings at age 8 and has no reading difficulties, then he definitely does NOT have ADD/ADHD. one of my best friends was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD at the age of 11. his parents rejected it and refused to give their son medication. Today, he is at Duke University with nearly straight A's. He was misbehaving at the age of 11 because of stress and family problems. ADD/ADHD is overdiagnosed. of course it gives more money to prescription drug companies. Sally, i dont think i can be any more frank than i am now. DO NOT GET YOUR STEP-SON ON THOSE DRUGS! THEY ARE EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE!!!

QotSA456 -- You are welcome to your opinion; however, I feel I must correct a few misconceptions you have. you wrote "...if he read Lord of the Rings at age 8 and has no reading difficulties, then he definitely does NOT have ADD/ADHD." Well that is TOTALLY INCORRECT. In my previous post I noted that some ADDers accell at reading, and others don't. Likewise some are very good at math, while others have great difficulty with simple math skills.About the Addiction fear. You are part right, these medications can be addictive in SOME PEOPLE. An ADDer processes the medication differently than most people, so addiction and the withdrawls are not the same. Also the strongest part of addiction is the MENTAL addiction. ADDers resent that they need a medication to help them think straight, they don't want to be on it ... they would rather just be normal, so the chance of mental addiction to it is extremely reduced.And you said "I have seen people go from childhood to adulthood on ADHD meds, and, boy oh boy, it ain't pretty." I would like to know what you mean by "not pretty." I known quite a few people who have gone into adulthood on medication and others that were able to be off medication ... neither way un-pretty. About your friend who is now at Duke: good for him I am glad that he is doing well. Maybe he never had ADD, maybe he grew out of it (many do during puberty, but not all), maybe he has good coping techniques (most of us do), Maybe he has not his the point where he can not go on unaided, and maybe he drinks enough coffee or Mtn. Dew to self medicate. I know that these are all options, I have seen people or personally experienced them all.I hope this has answered some questions and helped to resolve misconceptions

your post is extremely biased and incorrect. i stated facts, not opinions. ADHD is a way for the prescription drug companies to maintain their success!

QotSA456--
My post was no more biased or incorrect than your post. You did not state facts, they were your opinions. I will admit that some of what I had stated were observations, but much of it is fact. It is interesting and sad that you feel so strongly that ADD is made up by drug companies to make money.

I often wish there were a simple blood test to tell if a person is ADD, but there isn't. And if you think that it does not exist because there is no blood test remember there is no blood test for Depression, dyslexia, "shell-shock", and many many other disorders.

You just want that poor woman's stepson and every other child in the world to grow up as miserable as you. You're a sick bastard.

QotSA456--
Please note that I never told her to put him on drugs. I gave her information, suggested that she research the topic further, and Love her step-son. I never made a judgement on whether he was or wasn't ADD. I did say that it was possible based on what she stated and the word of a doctor.
I understand that you have different feelings on this topic than I do. That is fine with me; I enjoy a good debate. However; you have become rude and accusatory (name calling is not part of debating). Just so you know let me clear up a few things.
You said: "You're a sick bastard."
However; I feel quite healthy and my parnets were married more than 5 years when I was born.
You said: "You just want that poor woman's stepson and every other child in the world to grow up as miserable as you. "
However; I did not have a miserable childhood nor am I miserable now. I do not want anyone to have a hard life; that is why I try to help people see that ADD does exist and an ADDer can have a more fullfilling and enjoyable life with some help.
I do not want everyone on drugs. I want ALL people to have a chance to realize their potential. For many ADDers that is with medication, for ALL PEOPLE it is with suppport of loved-ones.
I wish you and yours health and good life.

Hey ADDult, why not register and join in on some of the other topics?

Tell him to sell the ridilin to classmates it what my friends used to do

you mentioned about him reading lotr... its very common for people with ADD almost hyperfocus on things that are very enjoyable to them such as reading, video games, etc.... and kids with ADD usually are very strong in reading/writing

anonymous-its perfectly safe to go on and off ritalin it works while you take it, and while you're not its almost out of your system already...the only "side effects" is that some of his behaviors might return while not on meds