Hi everyone,

My name is Danielle, I am diagnosed ADHD since a few weeks now and
on medication. Mother of 3, I just celebrated my 40th b'day a week
ago. Our first son Samuel is 7 and also ADHD. (Other 2 children
were adopted and not ADHD)

Samuel is getting Ritalin and it has made wonders for him. Because
I am also ADHD I thought his behaviour was "normal" and never
thought much of it until the teacher told me that he was really
difficult in the classroom. Samuel was an "agitator" and very
disruptive. But the real problem came when we thought he was
dyslexic. He could not learn to read despite him being rather
intelligent. He speaks 3 languages fluently and so we were
told "perhaps this is the reason". But I was also raised 3lingual
and I could not see the point of the argument.

Ritalin had initially some not so good side effects the first 3
weeks: he slept not so well, he eat less and cried 3 times in the
evening. Big sobs, really heart breaking. I was really concerned
and particularly about the food because Samuel is a thin boy and the
last thing we needed was for him to loose weight. All these side
effects diseappeared soon and now all is fine but much better: he is
happy and so are we.

But my life also changed dramatically since I take Concerta. I am
not hyper agitated the whole day but totally exhausted between 11
and 15h. I don't feel bothered by noise and movement anymore. This
makes a massive change in our lifes because I can now go in a group
and hear the person who talks to me and only her. I am not yelling
at my children because they make normal noise or jump about! I can
listen without interrupting. I can write without too many spelling
mistakes.

One thing I want to ask other members: do your children have
problems learning to read? Our son is fine when is has Ritalin but
when the effect vanes, he cannot read anymore! I am really at my
witt's end because we live in Germany and he goes to French school
and we do not have professionals who can help him in French.

What did you do about reading problems? Any suggestions?

Thanks
Danielle (French/Italian, living in Germany)