Interesting Conversation About ADHD and Boys With Our Doctor

We have recently moved so I took my son to a doctor that came highly recommended by our peers. The purpose of the visit was to establish a relationship with the new doctor and to start my son back on his ADHD medication.

Our previous doctor’s office hadn’t faxed my son’s records so I was filling the doctor in on all that has happened to start our son on medication. We were chatting away (as in the doctor was caring and took his time with us) and several things he had to say about boys I had heard before but never from a doctor. It was quite an interesting conversation, here are some of the highlights…

• It should be mandatory for boys to be in some kind of sport to burn off extra energy.
• If they are in too strict of an environment they will act up.
• It is normal for boys to be wiggly in their seat.
  
• If a child can do his chores and follow simple directions then he probably does not need medication.
• Sometimes a child will get behind in school work. That’s fine. They are young enough that the work can easily be made up.

• Boys will usually outgrow ADHD or at least learn how to manage it.

Please understand that my son is nine years old so he was partially referring to his age group in some instances. Yet in the others, he was referring to boys in general.

My question to you is at what point do you decide to put your child on ADHD medication? Have you noticed a difference in their behavior and school work? Is there anything you would like to add to the above list?