Why We Chose ADHD Medication for Our Son

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Difficulties at an Early Age

At a very young age, our son started to exhibit delays and a lack of emotional regulation. We thought if we worked with him, he would catch up and he’d be ready for school in time. We had done it before with our older kids, and it worked like a charm. The potential of ADHD or any neurodivergence was the furthest thing from our minds.

Except, it didn’t work–nothing was working. His lack of emotional regulation and little to no progress were taking a toll on us as parents. He was sensing the tension and stress as well. We felt defeated and slight sense of guilt that maybe we weren’t trying hard enough.

We were told time and time again by our pediatrician and his therapists that he would catch up. It was only a matter of time. He started preschool and the problems got worse. He started to hate school. Our son struggled to make rectangles when he should have already perfected the rectangle. When we tried to practice at home, he had huge meltdowns at the mention of the word “rectangle.” In his mind, rectangle meant impossible task. Time to practice the impossible task!

At meeting after meeting with teachers and administrators, we were told that we were asking too much of him to be in a standard classroom. He just wasn’t keeping up with the rest of the kids. Again, I tried to compare him to my other children and even told the teachers that they said the same things about his siblings and they caught up. They insisted this was different. Though I didn’t understand exactly what our son was dealing with, I knew I would have to advocate for my youngest much more than our other children.

Could It Be ADHD?

It wasn’t until my sister-in-law approached me as I was struggling with him. I vented, and I told her about our struggles with our son–how it seemed that as he grew, so did his rambunctious character and his inability to sit still. Having a child with ADHD herself, she told me that he was exhibiting signs of ADHD.

Why We Chose ADHD Medication for Our SonIt never occurred to me that there was anything else going on other than his slight delays. I looked into ADHD symptoms, read books on it, and learned that our son indeed had ADHD based on what he was exhibiting. I also learned that I probably have undiagnosed ADHD as well!

Finding Ways to Cope

We learned how to be more empathetic and patient with him and to find ways to make his schoolwork a little more bearable. Because of his delays, he had a 504c plan in place so we asked for accommodations like breaking down his assignments and one on one work whenever possible. Even with those accommodations, his grades declined rapidly. I communicated my frustration with our pediatrician but he insisted on waiting until he turned seven. He said that some children grow out of it by then.

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I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for. I was hoping there’d be some sort of alternative therapy, just not medication. There was NO WAY I was going to medicate! Not my son. I’m as crunchy as they come, and my son would not be taking a long-term medication that could potentially alter his character. No way!

I tried Omega-3 fish oils, reducing his sugar intake, and every recommendation that was given but nothing provided any meaningful results. He did occupational therapy where they provided him with tools to help with routines, and we also tried play therapy. Still, I saw no real results that helped him in school or completing tasks in general.

Getting a Diagnosis

He finally turned seven and during his annual check-up, I expressed my concerns. Our pediatrician recommended he be evaluated. My husband and I both filled out our surveys, and his teacher filled one out as well. I still wasn’t sure exactly what this evaluation would do, but I was glad we were on our way to a proper diagnosis.

We had a follow-up appointment, and his pediatrician confirmed that, based on the surveys and his declining attention span and declining grades, he most definitely has ADHD. She prescribed us medication immediately.

We expressed our concerns, and though our pediatrician did a good job of easing all of our concerns, I was still not on board. Of course I was going to do my own research when I came home. Everything checked out. (Yes, I know I shouldn’t trust the internet over my pediatrician, but the internet allows me to read and research at my own pace!)

I learned there were no long-term effects that had been found. The effects of the medication wear off by the end of the day, and the only possible long-term effect would be a SLIGHT stunt in growth though that couldn’t be proven to be directly correlated with the medication.

Considering Medication to Manage ADHD

Even though my son was only seven, I wanted to be as transparent with him as possible. I told him that we were considering the idea of giving him medication to help with his concentration. He was, surprisingly, not at all opposed! This kid opposes everything, and the idea of daily medication was not a problem for him! I was a little shocked.

I was still very afraid and hesitant. We decided to hold off until the kids went back to school from the holiday break. I expressed my concerns to my sister-in-law, and she said the only side effect she’d seen on her child was a change in mood for the first couple of days. She told me how it helped so much for school and how the teachers can tell when he doesn’t take the medication. I was still very unsure sure.

Choosing Medication To Manage ADHD

The first day back to school from break came. We decided to go for the trial run, still unsure but desperate to help our son. When I picked him up for school that day, I got the confirmation I needed. He ran up to me and told me, “the medicine didn’t work! I didn’t concentrate.” Though it sounds like my son said something negative, it told me that he was desperate to be in control and focus.

Being able to concentrate was not in his control, and he wanted something to help him be in control. I knew that feeling all too well and realized–maybe I could have benefited from ADHD medication as a child!

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The medicine did in fact help, and I noticed a change on the first day. He broke down in tears during a video game fight with his brother later that day. It led to his glasses being broken. When I asked him what happened, I was expecting him to yell and run off like he usually does. Instead he said, “I wanted my brother to stop screaming, I asked him politely to stop, and he didn’t, so I yelled and started crying. I put my glasses down gently to wipe my eyes, and the dogs stepped on my glasses.” This was THE MOST descriptive explanation my son HAD ever given in his seven years of life. I couldn’t believe it.

Changing the Narrative

I see medication for ADHD in a totally different light now. We’ve seen such a change in our son, in his confidence, and in his grades. Our son needs something to help him function on a daily basis, and he was struggling. I don’t want to make my son feel like he cannot function, like he’s different because he cannot do what other kids can.

Medication for ADHD is not a shortcut to get your kids to behave like robots. There is a negative connotation that I even bought into. That needs to change.

This was by no means an easy decision for us, but it was definitely the right one. I am not a bad parent for giving my son something he needed. My only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner.



The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.

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