We started medicating DS after a complete fail in kindergarten. The teacher had been in daily contact with me about his inability to sit still, impulsiveness, continual interrupting, etc. She loved him and wanted to work with him at least until he turned 6 to see if he would make a maturity jump. At our spring conference she told me how smart DS is but how unable to learn or to show what he knows most of the time because of his behavior. I had to ask her outright about ADHD because she was hinting all around but would not say it.
She immediately agreed when I suggested ADHD and I set a neuropsych testing appointment. Of course I had to wait into the summer, 4 months, but the neuropsych diagnosed ADHD. DS' behavior was classic and his test results fit the ADHD profile-much lower WMI and PSI.
We went to our ped to talk about the diagnosis and he also went through the behavior checklists. He then discussed the pros and cons of different meds and we settled on Focalin. It's more expensive than generic Ritalin but our doc said he had seen fewer side effects with it and our son has come-and-go tics that could be exacerbated.
DS' K teacher had told me "When the medicine works, it WORKS. You will know immediately." Was she right! I gave DShis first dose on a church day that summer which used to be a day of suffering for me. DS was not just restless but very disruptive and required continual redirection in church. After every service I felt drained.
That first service when DS took his Focalin was like magic. When the meds work they WORK. He was able to sort of sit still and sort of behave!
DS is in 6th now. He is medicated at all times when attention and impulse control are necessary for a long period of time. The meds don't "drug" him or change his personality but enable him to tone it down to a bearable level. DS can put the brakes on his race car mind when he is taking the meds and he just couldn't without them.
Yes, the meds have side effects and they don't "cure" ADHD. Your DS will still need to learn to modify his behavior and he will still probably struggle socially. This is just part of ADHD, alas. The medication has improved my DS' quality of life tremendously though.
