Hey guys. It's been a while since I have posted anything on this forum. No reason - just busy but I need your help.

I have an appt. with a Neurologist tomorrow for my son Aidan. He has major issues with focus and is lacking terribly with his academic skills. I want to try medication but my husband is against it. We practice ABA with him at home and he is doing great, made great strides with personality, social skills, very few meltdowns, follows direction well etc., but he will not focus on his schoolwork to save his life. I want him enrolled in a Kindergarten program next year with a full time aide and I feel we don't have a lot of time to waste here. However, my husband is comfortable with just going with the flow and that his progress academically will come. I agree, but when?

I want to try this and if the effect is messy, I will take him off the medication. I need my husband and I to be on the same team. Can you guys give me some direction and some example stories of the good, the bad and the ugly with medication. I'm kinda torn here on what to do.

Aidan will be 6 years in July. Thanks so much.

Bea

Bea
Mother to bbg (7/28/03)

Educate yourself on the growing number of children with Autism. Awareness Counts.

www.autismspeaks.org

Bea,

My sons neurologist told us he is having great results with a medication called Buspar. His name is Dr. Harry Chugani and is in Michigan out of Childrens Hospital of Michigan located in Detroit. Contact him for more information.



Children's Hospital of Michigan
3901 Beaubien Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 745-5788

Liz~ Proud Momma of BGB trips
Born on June 28, 2007
Lucian 3 lbs 1 oz
Zoe 4 lbs
Aiden 2 lbs 12 oz

I'd be cautious about putting your son on medication just yet. I did some research on diff. meds re: my 11 yr. old ggg triplets. They all have symptoms of ADHD, borderline ASD, and we opted for going the non-medication route. Trying to watch diet, and I added cod liver oil to their daily routine. I don't know what ABA is that you mention, but it apparantly is helping. Do you think that some of his lack of focus might be just on his age? My girls were like little balloons when they were younger, and I felt like I was always having to pull their strings back down to earth. I even home educate them. It's not been an easy road, but they do grow out of it, and grow into more maturity. I have also been doing research on how vigorous exercise BEFORE schooling helps to release the proper hormones in the brain that improve concentration. We often take breaks and do some exercise, or run around our cul-de-sac before tackling the harder subjects. Also be encouraged, the myelin sheath that covers the brain and spinal cord is not fully developed in our little ones until the ages of about 8 - 10. I don't remember exactly how this plays with education, but it has some bearing on it. Anyway, add to that the fact that they were premies & triplets - and you can probably add an additional delay onto that. My girls did not begin to read fully until they were past the age of 8. So, hangeth in there, friend. Follow your maternal intuition, pray A LOT! and just spend time with your little ones. Expose them to as much as you can, read to them, and most of all, be patient. Blessings, Laura

I don't have any experience with medication but I am not ruling it out for the future. We do GFCF diet, cod liver oil, probiotics and a good multivitamin. So far so good but my kids just turned 5. I do have 10 year old nephew with ADD and they are considering medication as he has been struggling with focus for the last 3 years. I think each family has to do what is right for the child and all of us may take different roads to get there. I just want to wish you the best of luck and keep us posted on what you decide to do and the results.
Blessings,
Tracey
GGG 2/04

Bea,

One of my boys has been diagnosed with ADHD and possible Asperger's syndrome. He had a horrible time focusing. We had him on stimulants for just under a year. We tried Adderal and Focalin. They both helped his ability to focus tremendously but the side effects were disturbing. His appetite was very poor (and he could not afford to lose any weight to begin with). He also became kind of anxious and sad when he was on the meds. We started homeschooling teh boys in December. At that point we took my son off the meds. It was hard at first because he couldn't focus.

We have since made some changes that really seem to be helping. Before we start school we have them jump on the trampoline for about 20 minutes - or do some other kind of strenuous physical activity. I have also been taking my son to a homeopath. The homeopath has give him some remedies that really have helped. I was very skeptical at first but there really is something to this. I have seen enormous changes in his ability to focus as well as his social skills and eating habits (trying new and different food), no more tantrums, less sensitivities to sound. In the last few days he sat through an entire movie in the theater (3D movie where he had to wear glasses no less), played a game of chess with DH, colored in a coloring book, etc. These are things he couldn't or woudln't do 2-3 months ago.

So - on the medication, I don't see how it can hurt to give it a try - just be on the lookout for side effect. Some kids do very well and don't have many side effects. Sometimes you have to try a number of different meds. Just know that there are other alternatives as well. The homeopath we see claims that he can help kids with autism symptoms - he definitely has helped my sons symptoms.

http://www.brianandcharlie.com/blog
^Alexandra^, Brian, Charlie 07/28/2003
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When my daughter was 4 we were totally against medication. After 1.5 years of trying homeopathic things, we decided to give in. We tried adderal, ritalin, and focalin. Focalin worked a bit, but then she had side effects and we took her off. Than we went to the gfcf diet, no red dye or high fructose corn syrup and a naturalpathic allergist. We did that for 4 months and saw no difference. Back to another psych and meds. She now slept through the night. whew. Her ADHD was awful.

After a year with that guy we have moved to a psychiatrist that deals with kids with autism. He told me that adhd meds don't always work with children with autism, so tackling other issues is the course we are taking. Maggie also has anxiety. We are going that route. This has been helping with her meltdowns and how quickly she may lose it, but her attention is still not there.

good luck. it's a long road......
Karen

Mom to 5 Beauties