my daughter is 5 years old and diagnosed with adhd

my daughter is 5 years old and in kindergarten her teacher insist she needed to be tested for adhd so i did the doctor confirmed. so is 5 really to early to be on medication?

[dollyn]

First have the Doctors tested her for other things that also look like adhd?These days the Doctors hand these drugs out as if it candy.

Have you looked up the side effects of these drugs and what it can do to a person ?Some of the drugs are just like speed,and what it does to a child body is very scary.

Your Daughter is only 5 years old and they want to put her on drugs that go straigh to the brain, and can do damge to other parts of her body.And once it is done it is to late to change your Child.

Cant the School just give her the help she needs with out drugs?They should be able to do a IEP on her to help her.

I would try giving her Vitamin B6 and Omega 3-6-9 and  Childs Multivitamin and see if that helps.These Vitamins have helped my son after being on them for about a Month when it comes to him and his learning better,and it aslo helps to have the right Teacher's.

My guess is that the Doctors didn't check her blood levels for anything! And that they didn't test her for any thing that can look like adhd!  

Can you please tell us why the School wanted your Daughter tested for ADHD and what she is like at home and around other people and places?

[Sandman2]

  The school wanted her tested.  So she was.  A doctor confirmed she has ADHD.  Apparently, the doctor is also interested in starting medication.  So its now your choice.
    My first question would be - is the a doctor experienced in treating ADHD in children. Is the doctor a general practitioner or a specialist like a psychiatrist?  If the doctor is a specialist, than his experience should be helpful in making your decision.  
     The second question is really the most important.  What do you know - and are willing to find out about ADHD?  Medication is not a magic bullet.  It will help, it won't solve everything.  If you want your child to grow to her full potential, than you need to become an expert in what ADHD is and how to work with it.  A good starting point is, "The ADD/ ADHD Answer book," by Susan Ashley.
     My opinion on your question is that the school year is almost over.  Typically kids don't need to start in kindergarten and girls starting is probably more unusual (unless this is really a severe case)  You have made it this far.  I don't think it will be necessary for the rest of the year.  However, you should definitely get a 504 special ed plan done to protect her for next year.  Of course, we are only talking about the school.  If your life at home is a living He--, than it's something you might want to consider.
     Next year, if you have learned how to work with ADHD children, and if the teacher she is getting knows how to work with ADHD kids, and she has a 504 Plan.  Its possible she won't need medication.  But many times parents will find out they need to use medication until the child is mature enough to learn coping skills (assuming the parents take the time to teach the child those skills).  
    It really comes down to how hyperactive the child is and the support system.
Hope this helps.

[allmymarbles]

Yes, she is too young. Get another doctor. And I would get on he teacher's back if I were you. She has no business diagnosing your daughter. If she wants to be a doctor, she should go back to school. Hopefully she would make a better doctor than the one you now have. That guy is recommending you put your daughter on drugs that can have serious side effects and create long-term problems. She is only five, for goodness' sake.

[benjimom]

Give us more info about the type of doctor who diagnosed this.  The school thinks any behavioral issue or out of the norm behavior is ADHD.  TO them it's all ADHD and it can be a million other things.  I would maybe see how she does over the summer and if she has issues in 1st grade, then reevaluate.  Also, those surveys/questionnaires you fill out aren't really diagnostic.

Just do your homework too and really be up to date on things.  Because I feel like a lot of teachers don't have the child's best interest at heart and a lot of doctors aren't really takign the time to properly assess a child.

What is she doing in school that leads them to believe she has ADHD/