What natural remedies or medications worked for your 12 year old child with ADD?

Question

My son does have ADD - NOT ADHD - He is very mellow but VERY distracted and inattentive at times which is affecting his grades. We've tried Adderral (which was too strong), Daytranna & Strattera did nothing. Any similar situations and results? This has been an ongoing since the 3rd grade - he's now in 6th grade.

Answer 1

I have a friend who became SUPER strict with her daughter, MADE her learn self-control. ADD    IS a self-control issue, my friend figured out triggers for her daughter and now she makes straight A's with NO meds!

Answer 2

You should ask Nancy Stein:

http://www.disaboom.com/forums/37882.asp...

She's an expert doing a Q&A week at that link, and she gave me some really great advice about my niece. She makes probably more than my house is worth to teach children with special needs in New York at a private school, so getting free advice from her is pretty neat.

Answer 3

Most children with ADD is often bored or can't stay focused, what ever he or she loves to do writing, drawing etc. please feed him the tools to help develope his talents, this will help him to focus more, ask he or she wat intrest them the most and allow that child to express himself.  Be stern in what you do or say or do with your child ask Doctor what is it you can do for your child too help he or she focus more...

Answer 4

our situations are very much alike... only i have been struggling with the ADD since 1st grade with MY 12 year old son that is in the 6th grade. This past November, I had my son in to the doctors for his 60 day check up and to get a new prescription written. His doctor said to me that day and every visit before that ADD is just as much his problem as it is mine in that we both have to deal with it and I can't just let it all lie on him. So, I got to thinking... I started asking my son son some questions... Does he like to take the medicine? his answer was no. I asked him if he thought the medicine worked and he said yes. I asked him if he thought that if I helped him stay on task and have daily contact with his teachers ( if needed ), if I provided all the materials he would need to stay organized,  would he want to try and come off the medicine? and he said yes... I am happy to announce that he has continued in his honors classes ( not with the A's he used to have ) with a B average and feels more like the rest of the kids... I am not a doctor, so PLEASE don't just take him off cause it worked for me, but my son's case was mild just as yours and together we are getting through it and he actively helped make the decision therefore it is important to him to do the best that he can.

Answer 5

I'm 23, but I have struggled with ADD for as long as I can remember.  The only thing that has helped me is counseling, and really scheduling things.  Like creating a really strong routine and writing everything down that I need to do through the day.  It's a really frustrating disorder, but it can get better.

Answer 6

No similar problem - I just thought I would share that I take my 11 year old to an acupuncturist for lung problems and he and I got talking about ADD - his suggestion is to remove all preservatives from the diet, especially Gatoraide.  We are trying this too for her and it is really hard but I have noticed an increase in her lung function so.....just thought I would share.

Answer 7

We found that it was actually a food allergy and controlled - I mean CONTROLLED - his food intakes (sugar, etc.).

Read this: http://addadhdadvances.com/foodallergy1....

Answer 8

Have you ever tried diet changes?  Some people have found that they can eliminate or reduce ADD (and ADHD) by changing the child's diet.  The primary one is to extremely limit sugar and starches (no breads, pasta, rice or potatoes and no sugar items, no flour).  You can still have grains - whole corn, whole wheat berries, etc.  Generally, you eliminate all of that stuff for two week and see if there is improvement. If so, add back a little bit and see how it goes.

Some people found going to scratch cooking alone was what they needed because the child apparently had a sensitivity to food additives (dyes or flavorings).  My brother actually did this due to an allergy and he found that his ADD was significantly improved as well.

Do some research on diet changes to see what has worked for others.