We think that our son maybe ADHD?

I've heard its hard to find out really if a child is ADHD, their is no blood test to take to tell for sure and it could take months to really find out. I think that my son is ADHD and my husband thinks he just being defiant and a boy. I think that sometimes I am going to loose my mind and he needs something, meds. therapy but something because after years and years of telling him the same thing over and over again it just doesn't sink in and I can't believe that he is that defiant, HELP!!!!

whatever you do make sure that you get professional opinions from multiple areas. Do NOT take a pediatricians word for it alone. Take him to a child psychiatrist. There is also a chance that he could have different mental health issues - such as Oppositional Defiance Disorder for example. And remember YOU are the parent when meeting with professionals. If it doesn't seem or feel right to you don't feel pressured to take their advice or diagnosis. Mental health diagnosis and medication is not an exact science.

Great response from Fauna!

drugs for treating ADHD are no joke and most times manifests more serious conditions too, making a bad situation way worse.

just want to add, also look at diet and make sure he isn't eating too many sugars and processed foods. keep his sugar level stable, low GI diet is very good. sometimes, diet supplements help ie Vitamin D, best to talk to your dr. though if you're not sure.

Trust your mother instincts. Men have a way of looking at matters as black and white. Sorry guys.

I went to my mother years ago to let her know I needed help and my dad's idea was suck it up and deal with it. My mother know deep down inside that something was wrong, but choose my dad's side.

Years later, I've had to deal with the decision they made and it not only led me to a alcohol addiction, but untreated mental illness. Please, whatever you do is get your son a second opinion and get him help. You won't regret it in the long run.

can someone answer me this....
How come ADHD becomes more popular as times passes and about 50% of kids have it now, but years ago you never even heard of it?

Honestly, I think a lot of parents have just lost control of their kids. I see it everyday...weather it be someone i know or just seeing someone at a store. I think putting your child on a medication for this is the worst thing to do and there has to be other ways to work with the child.
As an adult I don't want a mind altering drug, so i am pretty sure your kids don't either. do some research online for alternative methods, work with moms that experience the same situations!
and i always say...boys are more challenging than girls, but that's just my opinion.
i would say most doctors solution now is to just put the child on a med and call it a day :(
it's sad! i wish we had doctors that were more attentive and caring. i know several kids with ADHD and i see that the parents just don't work with them enough or give them the time & attention they need. that makes the problem worse.
i hope things start to turn out better soon!
my post is not intended to be mean or direct towards you, more so things i've seen every day and just my honest opinion.

:)

A diagnosis will take about 15 minutes. Go to a pediatric psychiatrist, though, don't rely on your pediatrician. Good luck.

EDIT: Please get your advise about whether to medicate from a doctor, not a relative of someone who had a bad experience. Many children receive complete relief with medication.

I've grown up with my brother having ADHD. Believe me, he was the class clown, the problem child, defiant to the umph degree; couldn't sit still ever. He couldn't follow instructions more complex than one step at a time. He suffered through school -- and this was back when no one knew about ADHD that much and teachers weren't all trained to deal with it, either. My mother got calls after calls of complaints from teachers through the years, she had such a hard time with him. One teacher was so hard on him though, she'd take away his recess every day (the stupidest thing to do to a hyper kid) and make him sit alone in the class room while everyone else was outside and played. He never got to get his energy out! And she wondered why he got worse.

My mother tried ridalin (sp), the worst WORST medication -- don't ever EVER put your child on this. My brother became a drone and developed ticks and horrible side effects. My mother immediately took him off, thankfully.
I've done extensive research on this, in college and so forth, I've done papers on studies on ADHD.
Do not put your child on drugs for it. You're at an advantage that teachers are better trained now for it. (I've also worked as a teacher with kids with ADHD).
Kids are normal to have trouble sitting still, some are more active than others, we must be aware of that. It's NOT normal to expect them to sit still at a desk all day long.
Kids with real ADHD (or ADD) have trouble following too many instructions at once.
My mother noticed that she couldn't tell my brother to let's say: put your dishes in the sink and take out the trash and wipe your feet before you come back in.
He'd get all confused and mixed up.
You'd have to say: put your dishes in the sink.
Let him do it. One thing at a time, not a load of things. That applies to everything -- including school work. Remember this.
Let him have active run around time, he has a lot of energy, and he actually LEARNS by being active.
And remember that they WILL grow out of a lot of the trouble making, acting out, and super hyperactiveness.