What does ADD medication actually DO for a person with ADD?

I'm a grade 3/4 teacher and I have a child with 'mild ADD' in my class. He is 8 years old and has never been on ADD medication. His mother says she isn't opposed to the idea, if I think it would be beneficial ('if he's doing absolutely no work'). I'm just wondering what the medication actually DOES to the brain / body. How will it help him? What is it supposed to improve exactly? THANKS!!! :)

Tee: It's not ME saying he has ADD, it's in his report. Anyway, I'm not jumping on the medication bandwagon, I'm just doing a little research to see if medication might help him to concentrate in class and/or make stronger connections between behaviour and consequences.

He does have an eye problem (he just got classes this month) and he certainly has a learning difficulty, but there's more to it than that.

Its very simple. My daughter has ADD and she takes medication for it. The medication simply slows the brain down a bit and calms it down from producing all of those "crazy" chemicals in the brain which causes the child to become hyperactive and unfocused. The child becomes more alert and calm. It all depends on the dosage amount though...the dr.'s gave my daughter a high dosage and she complained that the meds made her feel like a "zombie". Make sure that the boy does not get a high dosage. And make sure that the boy gets the medication because studies show that children with untreated ADD will later,in their adolescent years, grow to do drug abuse and also suicide.

nothing ADD doesnt exist. it is a totally made up problem for kids who have other things wrong with them. he may have a learning disorder and just acting up. he may have eye or hearing problems. examine those options before you say a kid has ADD.

Hi there, this is a hard one to explain. The medication will help him concentrate on his work and help him get along with other kids. Without the medication you will find he gets frustrated easily and cant keep still. They tend to sometimes get a bit violent towards people when they cant get there own way or get a point across.They also tend to yell and scream at you.