Estherfromjerusalem
Well-Known Member
My son phoned me this evening and told me that his almost six-year-old son (my grandson) has just been diagnosed as having ADD. He underwent thorough testing by a pediatric neurologist so I am sure the diagnosis is correct. Ritalin was recommended. My son and his wife wanted to hear my opinion about whether to give the child Ritalin or not. My daughter-in-law is a bit of a health freak, but not extreme. I told my son that one of my younger sons took Ritalin when he was about 10 years old, and it did help him in the classroom, but it caused knee shaking and it disturbed him so much that he stopped taking it. He was also very small and I understand that Ritalin suppresses appetite. Is that true?
On the other hand, my sister's son was diagnosed ADD when he was in his twenties, and started taking Ritalin then (he had to fight the medical insurance to get it, but he won in the end). And since then he has finished his first degree, done a second degree, held down a regular job, and started a relationship with a girl whom he is going to marry this summer (he is now 38 years old). So those are my two experiences of Ritalin.
I was wondering what your opinions are? If any of you have any interesting experience with Ritalin with a child around that age, I would be interested to hear it and grateful for your sharing. Just to fill in the picture a bit, this is a child who is NOT hyperactive. On the contrary, he doesn't really move enough and has to be encouraged to do physical activity. He is very talented artistically, drawing amazingly (his mother is an artist), and intellectually he is developing really well.
Love, Esther
On the other hand, my sister's son was diagnosed ADD when he was in his twenties, and started taking Ritalin then (he had to fight the medical insurance to get it, but he won in the end). And since then he has finished his first degree, done a second degree, held down a regular job, and started a relationship with a girl whom he is going to marry this summer (he is now 38 years old). So those are my two experiences of Ritalin.
I was wondering what your opinions are? If any of you have any interesting experience with Ritalin with a child around that age, I would be interested to hear it and grateful for your sharing. Just to fill in the picture a bit, this is a child who is NOT hyperactive. On the contrary, he doesn't really move enough and has to be encouraged to do physical activity. He is very talented artistically, drawing amazingly (his mother is an artist), and intellectually he is developing really well.
Love, Esther