There is definitely a difference in mental processing when a child takes or does not take medication. Children gain faster in IM when they take their medication. Even the effects of over-the-counter cold medications can often be seen in scores during IM. It is also important that pre-testing and post-testing occur in the same state of mind. For these reasons, I recommend children go through IM training on their prescribed medication. Parents may then experiment towards the end of training with your doctors permission to find the new, correct dosage.
Early and mid IM training, I can usually notice when a child has forgotten to take their meds on their very first task of the day. They perform about 10 - 30% worse typically. At the end of IM, if the child has reached the elite range of timing, solidly, sometimes then, I can no longer tell if a child has forgotten his/her meds. Their numbers do not seem to impacted by the medication any longer. They can maintain focus with out the medication now, some, not all.
Maybe half of my students reduce or get off meds eventually with IM training. Others do not, or need more sessions to get to that point. Some parents see enough gain that the child can function off medication well enough, though meds are still somewhat helpful. I can’t tell you how IM will effect your child's need for meds. Every child is unique and different. My own son, after 7 years of using various attention medications has not needed any medication since he went through IM in 2003. To be truthful, we were aftraid to not use them at first and tried to maintain them the first 6 months post IM. We experimented and used them some, like on test days, but ended up deciding he didn't need meds any more. Please discuss medication change with your prescribing doctor.
