acs-
It sounds like you and ds have found ways to manage his attention issues. So no need to pursue a formal diagnosis unless you see him struggling with life skills and schoolwork.
I suspected my son of having attention issues for a long time before we sought medical treatment. I tried behavioral consequences, charts, alternative medicine, cranial sacral therapy, dietary changes... NOTHING seemed to make a difference. He was actually diagnosed ADD through an assessment battery when he was eight, and it was not until he was ten that I gave in and called the local ADD specialist. HE had to start from scratch and do his own diagnosis, and yes, he also said DS has ADD. We hoped this guy would have ideas on coping strategies, but all he does is prescribe medication. We held off another six months and then decided to try medication. DS is on the lowest dosage which seems to affect him. I am exceptionally cautious about giving him the meds, and we tend to use them only on school days. There is a clear difference on the days he doesn't have meds- he can take hours to just shower, get dressed and eat his breakfast!
DD 8 has recently started ADD meds as well. They are really helping her with focus. Her math books used to be full of doodles and very few completed problems. I could be sitting right next to her and see her attention wandering all over the place- anyplace but on her work. When she has had her medication, she can concentrate on the things that are not her favorites.
I would not encourage anyone to put their child on meds until they have exhausted all other possibilities. If there are still glaring issues, then medication could be extremely beneficial.
