http://www.adhdandmore.blogspot.com

ADHD and More is a really informative blog that contains “Essays, articles, news releases, my story as a parent of an ADHD child and more…”. It is an interesting mixture of information on treatments, ADHD facts of interest and personal insights. The blog’s author is Liz Swanson.

Liz Swanson

This former Valley Girl now lives in Pennsylvania. I love gardening, sewing, crafts, music, my cats and chocolate but most of all my hubby and daughter. I am a stay-at-home mom but have an “on call” job as a professional organizer. I volunteer with Art Goes to School, a nonprofit that visits the local elementary schools to teach art history and appreciation. My blogs are about things in my life, my family’s life or friends’ lives – cats, gardening, ADHD, hobby income like ebay and craigslist, mental health issues, recipes and (unfortunately) cancer.

Here is a sample post:

http://adhdandmore.blogspot.com/2008/10/our-stories.html#links

13 October 2008
MY DAUGHTER’S STORY

When my daughter finished kindergarten her teacher told me she was “young” and worried that she might have trouble getting tasks completed in 1st grade, even eating lunch in time. As the years went on my daughter continued to be “young” and did indeed have difficulty meeting deadlines and time limits with her assignments.

In 4th grade her school started handing out letter grades and report cards. I helped her study for tests and quite honestly she sometimes seemed like an airhead. I’d tell her a fact, then immediately ask her a question to which the fact was the answer and she’d guess something else. It was frustrating.

In 5th grade she confused this information with that information. Most of the facts were in her head, but they were a jumbled mess, not organized at all.

She’s been tested by several experts and now sees a psychologist twice a month (for anxiety) and psychiatrist (anxiety & ADD) once a month. And she’s on Adderall- I noticed a difference right away with the meds at home. Most of the forgetful stuff is gone and she’s on top of things.

Last year, in 5th grade she received mostly D’s on her report card and yet she scored high on state tests in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, not to mention the school’s counselor telling me my daughter’s IQ was in the 130’s.

This year is starting out with A’s and B’s. I had fights and frustrations with the 4th grade teacher (didn’t want to make sure homework was written down or books were brought home) and with the 5th grade teacher (everything under the sun he refused. he even told the school counselor no on her requests! ) My fingers are crossed that with alot of hard work, maturity and med’s, my daughter succeeds in school from now on.