They all concluded that she has a hard time focussing on the person who is
talking to her (ie. doesn't following instructions, seems off in space most of
the time).

Are there any books out there that can help her concentrate/focuss on the tasks
at hand?  How can I make her to be a good listener?

Thanks for your help.

Kathryn  (mu...@bnr.ca)  

skt

The other had more severe problems and significant behavioral problems.   He  
was put on Ritalin by a psychiatrist whom he saw about the behavioral problems.  
The Ritalin didn't work well, so the doctor upped the dose.  I told him I was  
concerned that Tom might have other problems, but he didn't really respond to  
my concerns or feelings.  He just upped Tom's dose.  Finally I and Tom's school  
had to really assert ourselves to have Tom evaluated better, and he ended up in  
Children's Hospital psychiatric wing for nine weeks.  Turns out Tom has other  
problems (neither here or there.)

What's the moral of this story?  Well three points, from my experience:
        1.  Is it that she WON'T focus or CAN'T focus?  If she CAN'T focus,  
books are unlikely to work.  The problem may be biochemical.  Be careful of her  
diet (especially sugar, artificial colors and flavors - I am convinced from my  
kids that this has an affect.)  

        2.  If you believe that this kind of thing can be biochemical, get her  
to a good doctor.  If the doctor does not ask you a lot of questions about her,  
and probably even give you a LONG survey SEE ANOTHER DOCTOR.  If the doctor  
does not address your concerns, SEE ANOTHER DOCTOR.  This diagnosis is so iffy,  
that you need a doctor who really respects you.   YOU know your child best.

        3.  If the doctor prescribes Ritalin, take it with a grain of salt.  
Don't have your kid taking Ritalin when she doesn't need to, i.e. weekends,  
summers.  George never took Ritalin the first couple of weeks of school, then  
after I talked with his teachers, we would start it.  It was a bit rough on  
him, BUT HE KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT, and that was how we realized he was ready to  
get off it.  I talked to his teachers one year (beginning of 8th grade) and  
said that he would probably be going on Ritalin and they ALL said Why?   He is  
doing fine!!  So he never started.

ADD is pretty controversial, and Ritalin (which is a form of speed) is also, so  
you need to process this advice through your own personal filter.  This is what  
happened with my kids, though.

Kathryn,

I don't mean to be thick and literal; however, have she had her eys sight
checked recently ?  I had similar problems in 5th grade (distant history!)
and my eyes were the problem.  However, in this 'day-in-age' I assume I would
have narcotics thrown at me for attention deficit disorder... :-)

Anyway, good luck & God bless...    JLS
--

=========================================================================== ====
Jerry L. Storrs, System/Network Manager ||   "He gives grace sufficent
Dept of Chemical Engineering, NCSU      ||      to survive any test.
   sto...@che.ncsu.edu (preferred)      ||    That's the painful purpose
   sto...@eos.ncsu.edu                  ||      of the wilderness."
                          <><           ||                    (Michael Card)
=========================================================================== ====
Any statement made is the explicit belief of the writer and not the employer.

Certainly eyesight, and hearing I might add, should be checked.  Absoloutly the  
possibility of food allergies should be checked.  Most importantly the child  
should go through a thorough medical evaluation before starting Ritalin, and it  
should be carefully monitored.  

Being so flip about it really doesn't help anyone.  And incorrect information  
(like calling Ritalin a narcotic) really doesn't help.  

Forgive my semantics!  :-)  I am (obviously) not a professional when it comes to
'drugs' or 'narcotics'.  I also did not intend on  being '
|>Certainly eyesight, and hearing I might add, should be checked.  Absoloutly the  
|>possibility of food allergies should be checked.  Most importantly the child  
|>should go through a thorough medical evaluation before starting Ritalin, and it  
|>should be carefully monitored.  
|>
|>Being so flip about it really doesn't help anyone.  And incorrect information  
|>(like calling Ritalin a narcotic) really doesn't help.  
|>

Forgive my semantics!  :-)   I am (obviously) not a professional when it comes
to 'drugs' or 'narcotics'.  I also did not intend on being 'flip'.  I realize
that my statement should have had more explaination with it, but I had been
called away and just added the   :-)  to the end.

Plus I was not aiming my comment in any direction except to say that there ARE
(unfortunately) professionals who will ride a bandwagon when it comes along.
This includes attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, abuse, etc.  I have know
several people  who were diagnosed with a 'problem' only to have second opinions
reverse the diagnosis AFTER severe side effects from the treatment came about.

I care alot for the young people in this world and for the people who are
attempting to guide them in the right direction.  I would not intentionally
mislead people down any incorrect path.  I would like to thank you, Julie, for
bringing to my attention the fact that I had been misinterpreted.  And I will
close with another.........   :-)

                                        May the Lord bless you and keep you
                                                        JLS
--

=========================================================================== ====
Jerry L. Storrs, System/Network Manager ||   "He gives grace sufficent
Dept of Chemical Engineering, NCSU      ||      to survive any test.
   sto...@che.ncsu.edu (preferred)      ||    That's the painful purpose
   sto...@eos.ncsu.edu                  ||      of the wilderness."
                          <><           ||                    (Michael Card)
=========================================================================== ====
Any statement made is the explicit belief of the writer and not the employer.

I'm now convinced I was ADD and in some ways still ADD (ADDR ? I
forget), but I have to agree about the abuse of drugs to cure 'problem'
kids.

One of the kids I was a BB to was diag'ed as heavy duty ADD, well to
make a long story short, there was nothing wrong with the kid.
This kid was being pumped with every drug you could imagine. X, Doesn't
work try Y, try a bigger dose...

The 'experts' never once checked into the kids home life was like.

I don't have the ref's anymore, but there are elementry school now where
over 10% of the kids are on drugs for ADDH.

It is very very easy for a teacher/counsler to get a kid on drugs today.

Sorry but this just caugth a nerve...

-pete

However, there are children (and adults) for whom this therapy (Ritalin) is a  
lifesaver.  We need to keep that in mind also.  When appropriately  used for  
the right problem, Ritalin can be great!!!!  I have experienced that with my  
older son.  I think maybe this can be said of all drugs.  Used appropriately  
and conservatively, drugs are good.  For example morphine, an otherwise real  
problem drug, can be a miracle drug when used for a dying child experiencing  
the pain of terminal cancer.

Unfortunately there are indeed doctors out there who are too quick to prescribe  
any drug, teachers and school workers who would rather have less to deal with  
and thus encourage a pharmacological "solution."

IMHO, Ritalin is a good drug when prescribed appropriately.  How can a parent  
be sure that is happening?  IMHO and from my ten years of dealing with ADD and  
other special needs in my own kids these steps are important.

1.      Pick your doctor carefully.  If possible talk to other parents with  
similalr problems.  If your  kid is in a special ed program, that may be  
easier, as they are likely to have support groups going.  Otherwise you may  
have to hunt.

2.      Make sure  your doctor thorougly examines your child.  This should  
include not only a complete physical examination with hearing and vision checks  
but also an examination of home life.  The doctor should give you a long  
questionnaire about your child's behavior at home, which you should answer very  
carefully.  The doctor should listen to you carefully when talking to you about  
your child.  This diagnosis is made largely based on the parent's observations,  
so this is an important point.

3.      Other testing may be needed.  If testing for neurological problems,  
learning disabilities, psychological problems, etc. are suggested, do it if you  
can.  In many cases this can be done (for free) throught the school system as  
part of an evaluation for special education services.  Some of these conditions  
can be present also.

4.      If an ADD diagnosis is made, pay attention to how the medication is  
administered.  If your child needs to take the medicine when he/she is not  
going to school, why is that?  (It may be necessary for a really extreme case,  
but I don't know.)  If you have any concerns, get a second opinion.  Your child  
should have a vacation from the medication at least yearly, for at least a  
couple of weeks.  (My son used to take the whole summer off, and did not take  
the medicine when he did not go to school, but he did not have hyperactivity,  
just attention problems.)  Does the doctor start with a small dose (say, 5 mg  
doses) and work up?  

5.      After he starts taking the medication, watch your child and tell the  
doctor anything that seems strange.  Does your child have trouble sleeping?  
Does she/he seem to develop a "tolerance" for a dose after a couple of weeks  
and need a higher dosage? (In my son's case this was a clue that it was not  
working.  The two week window was most likely a placebo effect.)  Talk all this  
through with your doctor.  If necessary MAKE your doctor talk to you.  I belong  
to an HMO and they want to get you out of there ASAP, but I insist on time, and  
I found a pediatrician who believes I should have it.  I'm happy as long as  
they don't fire her for not turning my visits around fast enough.

Sorry this is so long, but I hope it is useful, and expresses better my  
feelings.

Julie (I need a signature, don't I?) Holm