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My 8 year old son almost 9 has been diagnosed with ADHD. He has always been on honor roll and his main issue at school os focusing. He also has sleeping disorder and bad asthma and allergies. He has had time where he would be on 13meds at once for over a year. Now we are down to 7 meds. He has really bad short term memory. I mean he could of just stopped something and forget he did it 30 seconds later.
Another thing is ill ask him take the trash bag out the can, empty the small can into the bag you took out the big can so your dad can take it outside because you cant take it outside by yourself. "Ok mom" but instead he just took the big trash outside by himself and does nothing with the little trash.
He is in regular classes and still gets honor roll. In class he cant focus. They have 20mins to do an assignment or no recess. My son says ok and start doing other stuff. The teacher tells my son TJ you only have 5mins then he quickly does the assignment.

Sorry its so long but is this normal for ADHD?
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
   I definitely agree with Mark's last paragraph.  Given the meds he is/was on and prior conditions you certainly want someone besides a pediatrician making decisions.  Or at least you want to make sure that the doctor has complete knowledge of every med he is taking.  And it is possible that the lack of focus could be due to some of the things I mentioned in my last paragraph.
  However, my experience in elementary school indicates that an intelligent child can do quite well until the last part of third grade.  Typically, its about 4th grade that the lack of ability to focus will trip them up.
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5914096 tn?1399918987
Many of the symptoms you describe are consistent with ADHD.  The only thing from your post that I struggle with is that you state that he was diagnosed with ADHD primarily because of an inability to focus in school.  Yet you report that he is still on the honor roll.  This to me sounds as if he is able to focus.  By your use of the word 'still' makes me believe that he was on the honor even before being diagnosed with ADHD.  Typically, kids diagnosed with ADHD for inattentive behaviors in school suffer academically.  So, honestly, I don't know how to advise you regarding your question other perhaps seeking a second opinion.

Also, it sounds as if your son may be on too many medications.  Regarding the diagnosis and treatment for ADHD, this should be done by a psychiatrist.  If your son's pediatrician or family doctor diagnosed your son with ADHD and has prescribed him meds for this condition, please consider getting a second opinion from a child psychiatrist.  ADHD is not a medical condition.  It is a mental health issue and needs to be treated by a mental health professional.
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
   Hummmm,  sounds like the doctor that diagnosed your son didn't give you much info about ADHD.  Yes, what you are describing is very typical for ADHD.
   Intelligent kids with ADHD can usually do pretty well in elementary school.  Things to watch out for are long division in third grade and fractions in fourth and fifth grade.  Of course algebra in 8 can be deadly.  These are all things that kids have to pay attention to in class to know how to work the numbers.  And about 4th grade as homework starts to increase, that can be a real problem.  Lots of reports of kids spending hours to do 20 min of homework because they can't focus.
   So what to do?
You have got to become the expert on ADHD.  You are the one who is going to run interference for your son.  For example, to tell a child with ADHD that you will miss recess if you can't finish an assignment is cruel.  The child simply may not be capable of focusing long enough.  (Fortunately, your child is ok for now due to his intelligence).  But this is where a 504 plan is very important.
   I highly suggest that you buy the book, "The ADD/ ADHD Answer book," by Susan Ashley.   Around 10 bucks on Amazon.  Besides covering a ton of things that you will be wondering about.  It has a great section on 504 plans for school.
  Two very good sites that contain probably more then you want to know are:  http://www.pediatricneurology.com/full.htm        and
        http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about

    Also, many studies have shown that lack of sleep really makes ADHD symptoms worse and sometimes even may be the real reason behind the problem.   Point being is that you really want to also focus on his sleep disorder.  I should also note that some asthma medicines (inhalers) can be very stimulating and cause ADHD like behaviors.  
   If you have any questions about any of this - please post!  Best wishes.
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