[hjmom]

My DD has struggled throughout school. She is a senior in High school this year and has still shown some 'abnormal ' behavior. For example we were at a senior meeting and instead of listening to the college presentations, she and another girl was playing with an ipod. I think at her age, she should be interested in her future, because it'll be here in 5 months. But maybe I expect too much For a little background, she has a brother, three years younger, who is classified as gifted, does wonderful in school, extremely motivated, etc. So I really worry if she's more normal and I hold her to higher standard because of him.... Not sure.

Anyway, she was evaluated for add by an educational psychologists when she was 8. He said his test did not indicate add but it's hard to dx and all the questionnaires did, so he could dx her with add. She's never been hyperactive. We recently took her to a therapists with hopes we'd help her resolve some of her struggles. After a couple of sessions with the therapists, she feels my DD should be on ADD meds. We went to her pediatrician to follow up on this, and he prescriped 5 mg adderall for two weeks and then to increase to 10 mg for two weeks and then see him about further plans.

She's one who will really struggle in a class, and once we find out about it, we work with her and she'll end up with an A in the class. She complains she can't concentrate with background noise and we see it at home. She can't have a conversation with anyone if the tv is on, even if it's something she's not interested in.

Any advice on the adderral, her situation or ADD in general would be much appreciated! She's going off to college next August and I really would like her to be as independent as possible. She wants to go to college and major in elementary education. She currently has a 3.5 GPA(with a lot of struggles on our part and hers) and has been accepted into the college where she wants to go. But she will not have us there to remind her to do her homework. Any words of wisdom would be very helpful!!

[hjmom]

I realized I didn't elaborate on the first time she took add meds. Last year, she was so frustrated with classes, we spoke with the pediatrician and he prescribed focalin for her. She took it for about 4 months, said it didn't do much good and she didn't want to take it because it gave her headaches. This time, I think the therapists has helped her understand and feel better about the meds, so she may be more open to continue them. Don't know, we'll see. At 18, she has to want to take it... We had a long discussion before we went to see the pediatrician and she was confident that she felt she needed the meds and wanted to pursue that. So far she thinks the 5 mg she's taken for 3 days has helped. But I know that is way to soon to know.

[Snoopy]

Kathy,

I'm sorry I missed your thread. How is your DD doing? Is she using any ADD meds at this time?

My DD has ADD. She is 17 and was dx'd at 7 years old. She has been on many of the ADD meds including Focalin and Adderall.

She felt Focalin didn't help much and seems to prefer Adderall. She has finally admitted to needing them. Her driving is unsafe when she hasn't had her adderall.

Our main concern is her weight. She is petite and most of the ADD meds decrease her appetite. She is 5' 2 and weighs 98 pounds. If she loses weight her doctor will take her off Adderall. She has been told she needs to eat 4000 calories a day.