Should i let my wife put our child on medication to help with a learning disability?

Question

I don't think a 9 year should be on any kind of drugs to help with learning. Please I need advice......

Answer 1

I understand your concerns about putting a child on medication. (my daughter has ADHD & ODD, as well as dyslexia).

My husband & I asked a lot of questions of my daughters pedestrian, I also did some research about the medication (Ritalin).

After some discussion with my husband we decided on to give it a trial run for about a fortnight. We noticed within a week dramatic difference  in our daughters behaviour, she was calm and we could actually talk to her without her jumping around, or over talking us etc.

After a lengthy discussion about the medication and the impact of this medication, including how it made a difference and the potential issues from the medication. We decided to keep her on the medication for  a term,  and re-evaluate at the end of the term, and after speaking with her teacher and the paediatrician, obviously our daughter had a say in it too, her words were when asked what she felt the Ritalin did for her she said "It stops all the thoughts in my head jumping around and I can think clearly, as well as not have to wriggle as much" she was 9 at the time.

Her school teacher said she had noticed a difference within a month of her being on the medication, she was much more settled, and was able to complete her class work, with minimal fuss. Even her grand parents commented on the difference.

So we decided to keep her on the medication, but would only give it to her through the school term, and not over the weekend or holidays. And we'd use behavioural modification when she was at home, as well as strict diet without junk food, colourings, preservatives and sugary foods.

Ultimately the decision should be done with consultation with your wife and the pediatrician, after you have done some research, and what the impact it can make to your child's education,  which will all support your decision for taking or not taking medication.

Answer 2

Knowing what kind of disability would be most helpful in giving advice. In my opinion and belief...I don't believe in drugs (all). Just for instance, I have Adhd and have had it as long as I can remember. I went through school without drugs. It was tough, however it is do-able. I tried some meds during college to see if it would help me concentrate and found that it made things worse but only in the sense that I didn't know how to do things when I could only hear one thought at a time.

The point I am trying to make is that I and others learn how to live and manage life WITH their symptoms, and if they don't learn how to do that they will be on drugs for the rest of their life because they won't know how to do things without drugs and manage life with their symptoms.

I hope in my babbling...I was helpful or  at least gave you a different outlook on it.

Answer 3

As a teacher, I can tell you that I have had students who have been placed on ADD/ADHD meds and it has worked wonders for that child.  I have also seen children placed on meds and it was a horrible experience.

If you decide to give meds a try, it's important to remember that just because a med. works great for one child, it may not be the med for your child.  You have to find the right the med and the right dosage.  Unfortunately, that sometimes means trial and error.

There is really no right or wrong answer - you have to do what you feel is best for your child and if you decide to give  meds a try, you have to be willing to give them time and be willing to find the right med.  If you decide not try meds, you just need to meet with his/her teachers and see what modifications/accommodations can be made to try to improve  your child's learning.

Answer 4

Interesting how you word your question..."Should I LET my wife... OUR child"  Have you gone to the dr. with your wife and child?

Medications do help children with ADD.  That being said, many children can be helped with a change in diet, routine, etc.  If you are concerned with the medication, you need to speak up now.  If you are willing to do the research, and work on the routine and diet you may find you do not need medication.  Or, you may find other medications with fewer side effects.  You may also find that what your wife has proposed is best for your child.  But you'll have the piece of mind knowing that you did what you could to make sure the right decision for your child was made.

Answer 5

It is illegal for schools to mention anything to parents about meds.  Print this out and give it to them, that'll shut them up--

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c1...

If child is failing it is the SCHOOLS fault. They are either not following his IEP plan or not changing it to something that WILL help him pass.

THey are just wanting him to take meds to make it easier for him and they dont' want to help him.

Answer 6

What is your child's classification ?

If it's ADD/ADHD. I would not recommend it at all.

This is anecdotal, but...

  If you can remember when you were a wee boy you too had loads of energy. What's happening now is that kids are not able to burn off all this energy and act out in class or at home. They sit in front of screens all day either playing video games or watching TV. If their watching Nick, Nick jr. or the like, these commercials are quick and to the point. In essence they have to be because of their audience.

Turn off the boob tube and go outside ! Ride a bike, fly a kite ....  

As a Special education teacher in the inner city you should see the wonders of recess! Kids return to class worn but more focused.

Answer 7

I've honestly never heard of putting a child on medication for a learning disability.

I've worked with kids who are on meds for Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity.  Is this what you wife is talking about?    Has your child been evaluated?  or diagnosed with ADD or ADHD?   Does the child have serious problems concentrating?  Does the child have  serious misbehavior problems at school?  What does your child's teacher think about all this?  Have you personally spoken with the teacher?  

There's just not enough information for me to judge what is going on with your little one.   I'm not one for medicating kids unless they can't function without it.  

However, if medication is being discussed, you need to be a part of the process.

Answer 8

i think you should at least give the medication a try and if it doesn't seem to be working or causes any negative side effects take him/her off of them... its worth a try if it helps.

Answer 9

the best way is to love yr child and teach him to learn playfully.teach him with examples. this will help him to understand better.  watch hindi movie taare zameen par. it is based on this topic. it will help and guide u.

Answer 10

I wouldn't trust any diagnosis made by a school. Only your child's Dr. can make a diagnosis. Schools push to medicate because it makes their job easier because they have zoned out kids.

Answer 11

Not for a learning disability, I'm a special education teacher and I haven't heard of a med. to help with LD.  That being said I would make sure all options were exhausted before putting your child on medication.  What supports and accomodations have been put into place?  You are your child's best advocate, do your homework, find out about this medication and what else can be done for your child.  Nine years olds are full of energy and are easily distracted, they must be stimulated!  Is all that being taken into account?  I'm not anti-meds but I don't think we should medicate children to dull their senses either.

Answer 12

is it prescribed by the doctor?  sometimes meds help kids concentrate, like with adhd.  if you're worried about it maybe you could give the meds only during school to facilitate learning? if you feel uncomfortable with this, maybe you should learn more about the learning disability your child has and if there are alternatives.

Answer 13

your question reflects the fact that you think of your wife as a child.  "let her"??  this is a conversation between you, the child's mother, the pediatrician, the teacher, the child, and the school pyschologist -not you and Yahoo.

Answer 14

I live in the only state in the union that provides monthly psychiatric appointments for students who receive psychiatric medication, mostly for ADHD. It was once my job to arrange those appointments, and I still encounter the files of soem of those kids, if not the kids themselves.

I've known kids that take medication, and their teachers are surprised to find out that the student has any kind of disability. I've known kids whose parents were dead set against medication, and everybody in the building had figured out that the kid had some kind of disability.

I knew one kid that seemed to have two states: medicated (and zombie-like) and unmedicated (out of control). We got the medicated state at school, and home got the unmedicated state. He did seem to come appropriately alive very briefly in between.

I've known kids who have prescriptions, but the family gives it to them sporadically, so it never seems to work. Sometimes the students don't like the side effects, so they refuse to take the meds. Some of those will "self-medicate" with substances they buy on the street, but the doctor can try a new prescription if you keep the doc in the loop.

And I know of at least two cases where the parents stopped giving the medication. A couple of months later, we find out and realize that nobody noticed any changes! I guess those particular kids didn't need the medication after all.

Answer 15

Without more information, this question is hard to answer.  Are we talking ADD/ADHD?  If so, I would say put your foot down and say "no, it is my kid too."  Ritalin stunts your growth and can have some other long-term side effects.  Strattera will make your kid feel awful all day.

If you are being told your kid has ADD, turn off the TV for a couple of weeks and just spend time together doing other things. Your kid is unfocused.  Keep the distractions to a minimum and spend some quality time with your kid.   Remember those drugs were the easy way, the alternative  takes a lot of time and effort, but that is the cost of sticking to your beliefs and sticking it to whomever suggested the drugs.

Answer 16

I would get a few opinions and take notes/videos before starting the medication and after-

I would give it a trial run-just because you start a medication doesn't mean you have to use it until he graduates.

I have seen kids appropriately medicated, overly medicated, and unmedicated.  The kids that really needed the meds were more successful and happier when they were properly treated.  ADD/ADHD drugs can be very successful when used properly.