ADHD Questions for a 5 year old girl

I need info on ADHD. I'm concerned my DD 5 might have it, but I'm not sure where to start. I'd like to know what your experience has been like. Any info on how your child was diagnosed, if they are medicated, symptoms they showed, if un-medicated then what do you do to help?

From an early age I knew she was far more active than 95% of kids her age. She's constantly moving, talking, fidgeting. I realize this is normal in little girls, so I've waited until she was in school to see how she would do. So far it hasn't been good. The teacher has pulled me aside and said that she is not sitting AT ALL for class, she's not socializing with the kids, and she shows little interest. She is prone to at least 1 tantrum per day. She also said that she's very bright and creative. Which is good, because I was starting to feel like crap.   My hubby doesn't even want to entertain the idea of ADHD, so he's no help.
Anybody want to help me out here?
TIA

Sounds like ADHD  

Go to this site:
https://www.msu.edu/course/cep/888/ADHD%20files/DSM-IV.htm
This is how they would diagnose it.

Im worried about the same thing with my 4 yr old son. We cut out red dye #40, cut down on all other food dyes and give him 1/2 cup of coffee each morning. It seems to help. The info i have found shows that not all kids respond to those things though.

My son is 4 and is also always moving, talking and doesnt listen well. He isnt in school yet, im nervous to find out if he has ADHD or not. His daddy has it so he very well could. :/

Quoting Amberchik78:" Im worried about the same thing with my 4 yr old son. We cut out red dye #40, cut down on all other food ... [snip!] ... 1/2 cup of coffee each morning. It seems to help. The info i have found shows that not all kids respond to those things though."

Coffee? Do you have a link to any of the diet stuff?

My little brother who is 4 is the same way but my parents refuse to have him on medication because of the bad side effects my cousins had. I was diganosed \ADD and was on medication for a while but the only medication that we didnt hear horrible things about was very expensive ($500 a month) and not covered by our insurance and made me feel like I was high. One of my cousins was suicidal and tried to kill himself because of his ADHD medication when he was only 11. As soon as he was taken off of it he felt fine. Those are some things you may want to look into.

Before medicating you can try the diet change, or behavioral therapy. Ive heard BT can work well if you keep your child in it.

Quoting Jays*Mama:" Sounds like ADHD   Go to this site: https://www.msu.edu/course/cep/888/ADHD%20files/DSM-IV.htm This is how they would diagnose it."

Thank you for this link. I can say that she does 90% of those things if not more. I'm about to start looking for diet info as well.

Quoting Jays*Mama:" Before medicating you can try the diet change, or behavioral therapy. Ive heard BT can work well if you keep your child in it."

Unfortunately I live in a small community that doesn't have anything like behavioral therapy. So right now that's not an option.  

Quoting AddNewNameHere:" Thank you for this link. I can say that she does 90% of those things if not more. I'm about to start looking for diet info as well."

I think im going to as well. Im in school for Social Work and we have to take a DSM class which is basically studying the huge book they use to diagnose things. When i looked at the ADHD diagnostic criteria i was like wow my son pretty much has probably 90% of them as well   but it can be different for younger children. Have you thought to take her to see if she can get diagnosed?

Quoting AddNewNameHere:" Unfortunately I live in a small community that doesn't have anything like behavioral therapy. So right now that's not an option.  "

Hmm ok, even just a counselor in the area who specializes in ADHD?...most counselors have experience in that area.

Quoting Jays*Mama:" Hmm ok, even just a counselor in the area who specializes in ADHD?...most counselors have experience in that area."

There's only 300 people in my town. Most of which are seniors. The school here only has a handful of teachers that teach different grades integrated into one class. The closest I could get to a trained counselor would be more than an hour away.  

I've heard adding a gluten free and dairy free diet can literally make ALL The difference with ADHD. They use it as a type of treatment for kids with autism too.

Quoting CRSx2Mommy:" I've heard adding a gluten free and dairy free diet can literally make ALL The difference with ADHD. They use it as a type of treatment for kids with autism too. "

I'm just reading up now about how bad milk is for ADHD kids. I'm going to try and switch some things up in her (and likely the whole familys') diet. I'll look into gluten now too. Thanks.

Quoting AddNewNameHere:" I'm just reading up now about how bad milk is for ADHD kids. I'm going to try and switch some things up in her (and likely the whole familys') diet. I'll look into gluten now too. Thanks."

np! you could always switch to lactose free dairy too.. and there is gluten free EVERYTHING nowadays. GL mama!