[luckystarmom]

My advice is that you only medicate if it is truly affecting a child's ability to learn. If a child cannot learn to read/write by second grade, I would first test them for a learning disability. After that, I would try different forms of teaching.

Medication would be the last resort.

[Humidston]

Boy, you are soooo on the money! Your kids are blessed to have you for a Mom.

In our case, my son was unable to read and in a special ed class in 3rd grade. The day he returned from school in tears was the day we hit the panic button. He was throughly tested and placed in private school that specialized in dyslexia. Drugs were never even an option back then.

It was touch and go, and the road was not easy, but with patience, love and hard work these kids can grow up to be great adults!

[Zipporah]

RE kids not reading by the 2nd grade.. having some knowledge of this.. many times it's not the kid it's the curriculum..the method of teaching reading.. do a search on outcome based education.

[FourPeas]

Medication would be the last resort.

That's always been my belief, too. There are times when I think we may be at the last resort.

Thankfully, academically he's doing well. He's progressing well in his reading, which I think may take off if my suspicions are confirmed that he needs glasses. (Not that the concept of trying to keep eyeglasses on a hyperactive five year-old is my idea of fun.) At his yearly check-up several weeks ago, both of his eyes tested at 20-40. The doctor recommended we wait until next year to see if it changes, but needing glasses early runs in my family; my dad needed glasses at age four. I plan to have him tested again within the month. Being able to see better, in and of itself, may solve some problems.

Thanks for your input.