Ritalin of neurotherapy?

Post Reply New Topic

My AS dx 8 yr old son exhibits some ADHD qualities that I am starting to think I should try and do something about, in order to make life easier for him. I am researching my options, but would be interested in what other people think.

Err . . . whoops. Heading should have read "Ritalin OR neurotherapy?", but I can't work out how to change it.

Honestly, only use ritalin as an absolute last resort. See some of the threads here about ritalin and you'll see why. There are actually natural remedies out there that apparently do the same sort of thing as ritalin minus many of the harmful side effects etc.

At age 8 he shouldn't need to be on drugs unless he's really really out of control. I personally took ritalin as a last ditch resort as I wouldn't have passed year 11 and 12 without it. Maybe at his age try relaxation techniques and that sort of thing instead.

Avoid any types of psychiatric medication, especially for children that age. Their brains are still developing and any mind altering drugs could leave them worse off. The last thing you want is your child developing more mental health issues in the future.

I recommend that you keep track of his diet. Reduce or eliminate any types of foods that contain stimulants ( sugars, caffeine ), processed food, preservatives, additives, and any other questionable ingredients. Get a thorough medical examination, allergy tests and it would be a good idea to get him tested for diabetes. Also, observe his environment. Monitor what he get's easily distracted with and what he hyper focuses on.

I do not think that anyone could give here a reasonable and responsible answer. Ritalin is a "hammer-drug" and, as some research suggest, too often used, on the other way there are cases in which this drug is reasonable to use for children.

Such an assessment can't be done via a forum, but must done be professionals. If you think the first professional option is wrong, try to take a second one.

^

I took ritalin and adderal when I was younger. Although they work great they are very hardcore drugs. Caffeine is a much safer alternative even though it doesn't work as well. I'd probably just try to get my kid to have some coffee or tea in the morning.

Neither. Get an ADHD coach. Use Ritalin if it's needed to help him learn how to organize himself.

If you do nothing, he falls further and further behind. He needs to learn impulse control, organization, and planning. Ritalin won't teach him those things by itself. If an ADHD kid takes medication, it ought to be because he can't concentrate well enough to learn to manage his own ADHD; if he takes it after learning, it ought to be because he can't concentrate well enough to use the strategies he's learned. If it takes an unacceptable amount of effort to organize yourself without ADHD meds, then taking them is an option you should consider. You don't want your kid burned out at age 10.

So: Meds by themselves aren't very useful. He's already behind. And if he learns how to organize, he may not need meds (or won't need them after he's learned, or will need only a lower dose). Get a therapist or counselor who can help him organize. By high school, it will mean something like sitting together once a week and working out a planner. Now, it may mean something more intensive--checking homework every day, keeping him on task while he does his work, teaching him how to inhibit impulses to do things that might be unwise.

Neurotherapy (neurofeedback) is less effective than either Ritalin or regular therapy... in fact, no effectiveness past placebo can be proven at all. Sure, placebo effect is significant all by itself; but you'll get it with regular therapy too, so don't.

Some kids with ADHD do need medication. However, it is not always necessary. If he has a mild case, especially if he is not impulsive (hyperactivity and distractability by themselves can be much more easily managed), he may not need it.

Ritalin is not the only ADHD medication. There are many others. Some are non-stimulant. Try a very low dose first--about half of the smallest pill they've got. Sometimes kids get started out too high and it "doesn't work" because they're getting too much. Extended release is different effect from "all at once" regular pills.

Also consider home-schooling him so he does not need to sit still. If he's in the subgroup that needs to move while learning (a kinesthetic learning style), he may benefit. Home schooling past sixth grade requires that you yourself are well-educated enough to effortlessly do things like algebra, English literature, or chemistry--in other words, probably a college degree. So remember that if you can't teach high school you will have to re-integrate him into regular classes sooner or later.

Who's saying it?

Right. The people who are selling neurofeedback. And it's big business, too.

Most of what I got when I googled it was case studies, testimonials, and "scientific research" with a small number of participants, no control group, no random assignment, wait-list instead of sham treatment, etc. Doubtful at best. The studies I could find all had fatal flaws that would get me a failing grade if I designed them for an engineering class, much less tried to get them past a competent researcher.

Oh, you'll probably see some improvement; but remember--the brain will take any opportunity to better itself; and what you'd see would be about the same as if your doctor had secretly substituted a placebo treatment.

You would see similar results for teaching relaxation exercises, which may be of marginal help but most likely only gives useful improvement in very mild cases.

You're probably looking at a five percent improvement over doing nothing... if that. Medication and therapy, especially both, and especially combined with family therapy, are much more effective and much cheaper.

A better idea:
http://www.help4adhd.org/en/treatment/behavioral/WWK7

Annie2, here is a search link on research papers for neurofeedback.

Google Scholar Search: Neurofeedback

When doing your research between ritalin and neurotherapy, please take into consideration that there are plenty of research information available for any types of drugs due to the abundance of funding from the pharmaceutical corporations. For Callista to imply that neurofeedback is big business is an overstatement. It's pretty obvious the cash cows belong to the pharmaceutical companies. If Callista was to write a paper based on his/her remarks, he/she would definitely fail.

Neurofeedback, 40 sessions, $100 each, not covered by insurance: $4000.

Ritalin: Covered by insurance.
Your cost: Probably $0, depending on whether you have a co-payment.
Your insurance company pays: $100 brand-name or $40 generic per month.

Total cost:
Once-weekly neurofeedback sessions: $400/month
Once-daily Ritalin: $40-$100 per month, if you don't have insurance

BTW, in between:
Occupational therapist or counselor, 1/week, at $25/hour (probably covered by insurance): $100 per month

Free:
School counselor or special education teacher

Bigger business, times four at least. The only reason the people making the pills earn more is that they sell to more people.

Figures accurate to +/- about 50%. Costs vary widely.

Yes, let's go with the cheaper alternative. After all we are dealing with an 8 year old child. He is merely a robot at that age and he shouldn't have any problems dealing with the possible side effects from ritalin ( heart palpitations, tachycardia, increased blood pressure, excessive central nervous system (CNS) stimulation (can cause convulsions), psychosis (toxic or organic), depression or sadness, dizziness, headache, insomnia, nervousness, irritability, attacks of Tourette's or other tic syndromes, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dry mouth, weight loss, growth suppression, blurred vision, leukopenia (low white blood cell count), hypersensitivity reaction (skin rash, hives, fever, joint pain, peeling skin), and anemia (DEA, 1995) ). I'm sure his already sensitive and wonderfully autistic wired brain can overlook all these side effects since it costs practically nothing to alleviate and not cure possible symptoms of ADHD.

My personal opinion is that you need to go with what works for you and your son. No one knows him better than you. My little guy is 10, and is an Aspie. He also has severe sensory issues, ADHD, and Tourette's (just to keep it interesting ) and any choices I have made in regards to his care is based on what I think will work for us. We tried all sorts of therapy before resorting to meds. In the end, Straterra was our choice and it was been awesome. No side effects. But we went for years trying other options and we do it in conjuction with other things that seem to work well with his body (like KST through chiropractic care). In the end, each child is different and you have to go with what works for them.

Side effects of untreated ADHD:

Failure at school, social isolation, family problems, thrill-seeking and juvenile delinquency, dangerous impulsive actions, depression, suspension and expulsion, being disliked by teachers, being rejected or bullied by classmates, impulsive criminal acts, feeling like a failure, losing important documents, having poor financial management, debt and bankruptcy, locking yourself out of your house, auto accidents caused by poor concentration, being unemployed or underemployed, being unable to find a career where you fit, having an extremely disorganized house, being unable to keep a planner, being chronically late to appointments or to work, losing your job, being unable to inhibit emotions and getting into arguments easily, relationship problems, switching jobs often, drug abuse to self-medicate, gambling addiction and other stimulus-seeking behavior, difficulty in college leading to dropping out, poor self-esteem, perfectionism and over-organizing, underachievement, being unable to make use of one's talents, poor social skills, an increased risk of accidental death due to carelessness, lack of responsibility leading to an unhealthy lifestyle, poverty, homelessness, the inability to plan ahead, the inability to save money, compulsive spending, bad parenting skills, and death by suicide.