If a 3 yr old girl is diagnosed with AD/HD what is the best treatment?

Question

So I've got my niece while her Mom is on bedrest the next 6 months of her pregnancy she really can't get up much or lift more than 5 pounds in her condition. My niece has horrible behavior, I mean the worst. She is 3, going to be 4 in October, but she acts like a child that might've just turned 2. Still potty training, throws tantrums, very very low attention span, acts out, screams, hits herself. I've seen kids do it before but never to this extent so I scheduled a checkup along with them to do some AD/HD testing on her. But when I took her for a sick visit today, he said, I think you're right about AD/HD too, it's pretty obvious. But what treatment should we expect? Will she have to start medicine at her age? Therapy? Both? Her Mom thought she had it but she didn't want to put her on medicine, but she is open to it now because the girl isn't growing out of this. Really she would rather do something else, but if it's what she needs she'll do it. Are there other options as well?

Answer 1

A gun so the baby can shoot herself.

Answer 2

Please don't but that baby on medicine, she is to little. Parents will do anything to get there kids to calm down. but that is the worst thing you could do. She could put on weight and have no personality from the meds. I have seen it happen. The children get very weird when they are on medicine for ADD or ADHD. Find activities for her to do. Keep her busy with her mind and body. She just has a lot of energy. The hitting thing might for attention I don't know. Good Luck.

Answer 3

MY 4 YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY IS BI-POLAR/AD/HD..AND I THINK IT TAKES A LOT OF LOVE AND HUGS.TO GET THING IN ORDER .HIS IS NOT ON ANY TREATMENT FOR IT.I THINK HE IS GETTING BETTER AS TIME PASSES. I DO NOT WONT HIM TO BE ON ANY MEDICINE,SO HE IS NOT.THEY ARE VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE AND NEED A LOT OF ONE ON ONE .BUT HE DONT GET ANY NAPES AT ALL.HE SLEEP FROM 2 TO 4 HOURS A NIGHT.HE GOSE TO BED ABOUT 2 AND GETS UP AT 6 AND IS READY TO GO.

Answer 4

don't jump straight to medicine it often isn't necessary. A change of diet should help if not eliminate the problem completely. Restrict the amount of sugars and carbs she takes in and that should help significantly. If it doesn't help enough put her on an all organic diet. Incorporate exorcise as well as she may just have too much pent up energy. take her to the park and let her run it off. If none of that helps then i would ask for a sample of the medicine the doctor suggested and test it for an agreed amount of time. Say one week or one month. If you and her mother and the doctor feel that the medicine helped the most then go with that, however use it as a last resort and if it doesn't seem to be helping take her of of it. A lot of time children that young aren't actually ADHD it is just the way young children are and they will eventually grow out of it. They say the best time to diagnose ADHD is around 4th grade.  Hope all works out

Answer 5

she's 3.  Very few kids that are diagnosed with AD/HD ACTUALLY have AD/HD.  Usually it's just because the parents/caregivers can't deal with a toddler's behavior.  

She probably acts like that because she's a spoiled 3 yr old.  Please don't put her on medication yet.  Try different options, look at different ways to reach her, kids learn in different ways.  It's typical for a preschooler to have a very short attention span.  find something that she really enjoys doing and just watch how it keeps her attention!  

I used to babysit for a 9 yr old that was diagnosed AD/HD (she REALLY shouldn't have been).   I watched her mom give her the meds one night just before bed and she was so drugged and out-of-it within minutes, she had trouble brushing her own teeth and had to be helped into her pj's.  

Yes, some people really do need meds for this, but it seems like everyone immediately jumps to this conclusion because a 3 yr old is hyper...they are supposed to be hyper...they are 3.  

-It's not uncommon for a 3 1/2 yr old to still be potty training, especially if there has been a change in the house recently.

-She throws tantrums because she's never been taught how to handle her emotions.

-She has a low attention span because she's 3.

-She acts out, and screams because she doesn't get the positive attention that she craves, so she's desperate for ANY kind of attention, even if it's negative.

-She hit's herself because she's punishing herself for something, she probably doesn't feel worthy, she already has low self-esteem.

Solve the problems, don't just hide them with medication.

Answer 6

Doctors only treat AD/HD with meds because that is what they were taught in med school.  Some children do have a definate need for medication, but it is also very important to look at the sleep habits of the child, diet of the child, and how much TV the child watches.  A child her age should be getting 12-14 hours of sleep a day, and on a regular schedule.  (dr weisbluth, healthy sleep habits happy child, read it)  We as americans feed out kids way too many sugary "fun" foods that are loaded with artifical color and other additives, some children react to these kinds of foods.  I would elliminate TV totally from this child just to see if the acting up does not have something to do with it.  This is what I would try first.  Seeing how the mother does not have the time or energy to deal with this.... meds seem like the only option, but for the sake of the child.... I would try something different!

Answer 7

My nephew was diagnosed with ADHD at six years old. But they had tried many different options before they put him on medication. He started the medication at seven years old. His doctor told us that I child can not be diagnosed with ADHD until they are over the age of five. If I were you I would not put her on that medication until she is older. My nephew has been on several kinds of medication. Most of them made him like a zombie. My nephew is fifteen now and he is still on medication but he only has to take one pill a day and it is a low dose. I would really think about it before you put her on medication. I hope they find out what's wrong with you niece.

Answer 8

don't give your niece a lot of sweet food..basically,sweet food will make them more aggressive..so cut the sweet food dosage in daily food intake..