We had great difficulties with one of our daughters (who we new was ADHD) but decided to do nothing about it, unless she lost her self esteem.
She was referred to the various professionals and they very quickly diagnosed her with ADHD. They encouraged us to put her on Ritalin, which we were very reluctant to do.
Eventually we reluctantly agreed.
It was awful seeing her character being taken away. As time went on and we got to know more about Ritalin, the more horrified we became about some severe side effects.
One day her teacher called us in, and begged us to get her off the Ritalin. He said that he would rather have her without the Ritalin and said he could live with her problems in class. Our dentist was also horrified when he knew she had gone onto Ritalin, and he urged her to come off.
After a year we told the specialists that we would no longer let her take the drug, and took her off.
Its been bloody hard dealing with her, but we would never let her go back on Ritalin.
Do you know the worst thing about having a child who has ADHD, is the way your own family has a go at you for your inabilty to handle your child correctly. It caused severe family issues and for many years we broke contact with all of them.
Now, although she has problems, she is growing up into a well mannered young lady. OK she gets hyper and that is difficult to deal with becuase it always happens when she is most excited and cannot come off her perch.
All I would say to parents, is make sure you are doing the right thing for your child when you let them go on Ritalin. Don't let the pros talk you into it. Find out fully what the side affects are and don't let the pros fob you off with weak answers to that.