ASD, ADD/ADHD or any other condition - how/when did u make the decision to medicate?

[Yael]

Hi everyone,

I have a 6 year old with technically aspergers, but he isn't a classic aspy and is has traits from all over the autism spectrum. We got his diagnosis when he was a few months off 5, but for most of his 4th year had been trying to get a diagnosis. He had back then (haven't bothered to re-do the test with the amount they cost) and auditory processing disorder, fine & gross motor delay and a sensory processing disorder, along with being on the spectrum

He started speech when he was around 3.5yrs (weekly), OT around 4 (weekly, then fortnightly), and regular psychology sessions around 5.5yrs. We have repeated him in prep this year, as last year was a total disaster.

When we were first testing him, as I knew he was quirky and not normal from around 1.5 yrs old, then did a WIPSY (?sp), and they told me he couldn't have ADD/ADHD as his ability to concentrate on tasks that interested him was too great (up to around 40 mins at a time even when he was 3-4). If he doesn't want to do it, or isn't interested, you might as well rip your fingernails out as that will be less painful then trying to battle with him. He is getting better as he gets older, but in some ways harder as we face to more rigid education system. He was also shown to have an IQ rather high above normal.

He is making great gains in therapy, compared to the child before (which is hard to do as it is hard to know how much to attributable to therapy and how much to natural maturation), and OT has been incredible with learning how and why is is so strong and sensory seeking. As typical with kids on the spectrum, his attention and concentration is all over the place, one day her can know the alphabet no problems, next day only remember 2 letters. Gets very frustrating for everyone involved. The last 2 - 3 months have been really hard. His behaviour is off the wall, and I don't know what it is from. We normally have bad behaviour for around 2 weeks when he is going through a growth spurt or a developmental solidification etc, but this is too long.

The straw came today when even my OT turned to me and said that she thinks we should go back to the paed and have the medication talk. She is no pro-medication at all, and is a big believer in therapy, but even she said we are giving it everything financially and mentally, and we are barely containing him, and he isn't able to concentrate enough to actually get better or move forward in his learning etc.

This was the one thing (and my own hang up I openly admit!) I wanted to avoid, I didn't want to medicate my child unless it was a last option. He doesn't abscond as badly as he used to, but still runs away (luckily it's only to the car etc, but when he lost the plot last year he ran in front of a car)... I feel like if I got through that without medication, how can I do it now. I don't know how to openly evaluate this with an open mind, looking at his needs and whether he does need it, what the pro's and cons are etc, but I owe it to my son to try and get over my issues and approach this from the most logical place.

It's hard to find evidence based results to make an informed decision, as every child is different and it's hard to know how much therapy was used before medication and whether therapy would have done the job etc.

So I'm turning to you guys out there, whether you went for it in the end or you chose to keep going without it, but how did the conversations go?

I must admit I'm totally shattered, I'ld say worse than when we got the diagnosis. It felt like then there was a place to go and things proactive to do about the issues I knew he had, and this feels like I've failed.

Thank you in advance, because I know none of you out there ever made your decision lightly, and sharing personal information is hard.

Yael

[~*familyof3*~]

Hi Yael. My eldest ds12 has adhd i tried everything out there that i could before resorting to medication. I too didnt want him on it,but wow im glad he is now on it.
What made us decided was his schooling was failing as he just couldnt sit long enough to do any work,he also is bad with change so if there was a relif teacher in he would freak out and run away so would be sent home on thoses days.

It took a few trys to get a med that worked best for him,and he only has it on school days ect. But even thought he is on meds it doesnt fix everything we still send him to see a psych here and there as she helps him with ways to cope when things are hard.

Medicating a child is a very personal choice and dont think theres a right or wrong answer because what worked for one may not work for another. Best of luck in your choice wishing you the best outcome.

pls excuse the spelling mistakes on my galaxcy

[meow]

What have you done in the way of diet? Personally I couldn't choose medication if I hadn't at least tried GAPS first.

[MantaRay]

hun. What a really tough place you are ing

I think you're next step is to go and have the talk. You don't have to agree to anything, but having some more information might help. I would be very reluctant to medicate myself, but I wouldn't rule it out either. A good friend has a child who is on ADD meds and this is really the only way that he can get through a day at school. Sometimes when neither choice is attractive, you consider something you wouldn't have otherwise.

I think investigating diet is a great idea for something else you can try first if you are able. It is time intensive, especially at first, and it can take time to work out which foods have been an issue so that you don't have to be more restrictive than necessary. I know my DS reacts to sugar and preservatives - I can see the difference in his behaviour and concentration after he eats them. He is very similar to your DS - high IQ, some ASD traits, some ADD traits, low muscle tone and sensory things going on. I think food sensitivities go hand in hand with all of that.

I wish you all the best hun, and would like to hear how you go. It's good to hear from you although not good to hear that things are still really difficult.

[~clover~]

I started DD on meds about 2 weeks ago. I now wish I'd started her earlier. We tried all the suggestions from the OT first. As well as diet, etc.

Its been 2 weeks & the difference we are seeing already is amazing. Her teacher couldn't praise the changes enough today.

It is a hard choice, & very personal. I've asked her teacher to not mention it to anyone who isn't working with DD, because its a very small community & I had enough disapproval when I was just thinking about it I will tell them when I'm ready (this includes family) & I will have the proof of her improvements when I do. For npw I'm not ready for the questioning & judgement.

I had the prescription for the meds for about 3 months. Sitting in my bag, getting screwed up & covered in goodness knows what. One day I filled it before it got completely trashed, because I still wanted that choice. They then sat up the top of my pantry for almost 12 months.

Then I got her mid year report. I cried. She'd pretty much not learnt a thing in 6 months. We tried some new strategies, but there just wasn't the imrovement she needed. She was getting better, but needed constant attention/reminders. And nothing was actually sinking in.

She can now be given a list of things to do (eg. get pencil, open book, read questions, answer questions), & do them. Before her hand would've been up asking what to do next after getting out the pencil. Then after opening the book etc. It was literally in one ear, out the other.

Best decision I've made so far

[*Efjay*]

Really happy to read that it is working so well for your DD. That must be such a relief. Keep us updated with her progress