Need help..possible ADD/ ADHD 5 year old Frisco, TX (treatment, medications, disabilities)
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My son was labeled a discipline problem for his first couple of years of real school.
He has Asperger's and Sensory Integration Disorder. Early he was diagnosed with possible ADHD (although I never thought it) and I've now understand it was his MANY sensory issues (can't sit still, can focus on long periods of time when wants to, chews on things, climbs on things, won't wear "soft" clothing - try finding "hard" socks & underwear! - and much much more). You mentioned the controlling factor - that is common with sensory and Asperger's.
But it could be nothing or ADD- this is just my experience
and I agree with jimj about the school advice!
The psychologists at first mis-labeled him as possible ADHD, ODD, mood...and unfortunately it REALLY does matter (I won't go into detail about how labels have negatively affected us, just trust they have). AND they just put him on a bunch of medication - nothing really worked, in fact he had horrible reactions on the ADD meds!
I would try a developmental pediatrician or a neurologist. Sensory issues can seem similar to ADHD (yet they are different, and treatable with Occupational Therapy).
I would have him tested independently by a psychologist who specializes in educational testing. The reason I suggest it be done privately rather than through the school system is because the school will only get the results if you want them to have them and will not be able to "label" your child with the test results.
Take it easy. He seems awfully young to be diagnosed with Add/Adhd. He is only in kindergarten and kids that age are not going to sit still, be quiet for long periods of time and pay attention. Boys are usually slower to develop these skills.
I would have him tested independently by a psychologist who specializes in educational testing. The reason I suggest it be done privately rather than through the school system is because the school will only get the results if you want them to have them and will not be able to "label" your child with the test results.
Take it easy. He seems awfully young to be diagnosed with Add/Adhd. He is only in kindergarten and kids that age are not going to sit still, be quiet for long periods of time and pay attention. Boys are usually slower to develop these skills.
The collective 'school' inability to "label" is a mere reflection of fact. For the most part, no staff member in the 'school' is qualified to render a psychiatric diagnosis. So school testing would not even be an option for me.
1. Is he emotionally mature enough to be in kindergarten? A generation ago, K was all about playing and getting used to social situations, separating from parents, etc. There wasn't the "sit still and learn" that goes on today. In my opinion, it's too bad, but that's another subject! So, kids can be intellectually ready but not emotionally. In my daughter's preschool you could sign up for testing through the Giselle Institute (of Yale U) and they would see each child one on one for about 20 minutes and let you know their thoughts on emotional readiness (which includes the ability to sit still, etc). It may be that he needs to start K at 6 (or redo K). That does not mean there's anything wrong with him--each child develops along the same path but at a slightly different rate.
I will also note that the 2 top private schools in our area have a June 1 cutoff for being 5 to start kindergarten (rather than the Aug-Dec. cutoff of most public schools in this country). Additionally, they have about 25% of children repeat kindergarten. This are schools feeding the Ivy League in HS--they recognize that MANY children are not able to handle K at 5.
2. What is he eating? Several studies have shown behavioral issues often labeled as ADD, ODD, et. etc. can be linked in many cases (not all cases) to preservatives and coloring, etc. in foods. Once these kids were put on healthy, organic foods (non-processed--the processed organic foods are not much better than processed non-organic) behavior cases improved dramatically.
Personally I would not have a "professional" evaluate him until you have tried changing his eating habits and considering whether he is just not ready for K. Children are far too easily labeled and drugged these days for what is often normal behavior.
Our kids (as a whole) are eating processed crap, are playing at school for all of 20 minutes a day, are expected to sit still starting at age 5....is it any wonder they act up or can't sit still??
I previously posted about my 5 now 5 1/2 year old having problems in school, and the posibility of adhd. After a few long conversations with our pediatritian she put him on a very, very small does of medicine. It seemed like a miracle cure for about 60 days. I have researched and researched ways to help him do better as it seems we are back to square one. I am taking him to see a neurotherapist / psycologist to see if they can get a formal evaluation for him. I don't know if anyone has heard about it or knows, but has anyone had experience with EEG biofeedback therapy? I am grasping at straws to prevent Frisco ISD from labeling my child. I am sure there is some damage already done to his esteem by the constant disapline he receives at school.
I previously posted about my 5 now 5 1/2 year old having problems in school, and the posibility of adhd. After a few long conversations with our pediatritian she put him on a very, very small does of medicine. It seemed like a miracle cure for about 60 days. I have researched and researched ways to help him do better as it seems we are back to square one. I am taking him to see a neurotherapist / psycologist to see if they can get a formal evaluation for him. I don't know if anyone has heard about it or knows, but has anyone had experience with EEG biofeedback therapy? I am grasping at straws to prevent Frisco ISD from labeling my child. I am sure there is some damage already done to his esteem by the constant disapline he receives at school.
Why is a "label" a worry? I'd rather know what's wrong and if my son is labeled ADHD or LD I can deal and work with that. As for self esteem, kids tend to bounce back pretty good if what is wrong is found and worked on, the key is finding out. Our issue is they didn't figure out all that was going on until he was 16 making school pretty much hell for him until now, trust me you don't want that...
Why is a "label" a worry? I'd rather know what's wrong and if my son is labeled ADHD or LD I can deal and work with that. As for self esteem, kids tend to bounce back pretty good if what is wrong is found and worked on, the key is finding out. Our issue is they didn't figure out all that was going on until he was 16 making school pretty much hell for him until now, trust me you don't want that...
I am not so worried about labeles per say...but when a school gets the notion that your child might be adhd , they seem to think that medicine is a magical cure and quit trying to actually work with the child in a way that he/she might actually understand. My problem is the moment our teacher learned we put him on meds she immediatly stopped working with him (behavior charts, etc) and thought that he would be like all the other kids which is not the case at all. He is going to see a neuotherapist Thursday for a definitive answer as to weather adhd is actually the issue. Until then I don't some kindergarten teacher constantly disaplining and ostrasizing my child, when he is doing something he can not control. She tries to say he is not listening like the other children, and askes if we have changed is meds etc.
Basically i am trying to get a firm diagnosis by a person qualified to make the true dianosis and not be pushed by some little teacher who really isn't educated or willing to educate herself on the issues. I don't want her telling the school and other teachers that the is adhd or ld until I tell them he has a problem, she has already labeled him as a problemed student, and the other kids in his class are picking up on it too. Then I will go through the red tape at school to get him the help he needs, hopfully with a teacher that gets it.
Sorry...I am just very frustrated. I am trying to protect him and his feelings, and keep him happy. I don't want him to become depressed or frustrated with school at such an early way.
I am not so worried about labeles per say...but when a school gets the notion that your child might be adhd , they seem to think that medicine is a magical cure and quit trying to actually work with the child in a way that he/she might actually understand. My problem is the moment our teacher learned we put him on meds she immediatly stopped working with him (behavior charts, etc) and thought that he would be like all the other kids which is not the case at all. He is going to see a neuotherapist Thursday for a definitive answer as to weather adhd is actually the issue. Until then I don't some kindergarten teacher constantly disaplining and ostrasizing my child, when he is doing something he can not control. She tries to say he is not listening like the other children, and askes if we have changed is meds etc.
Basically i am trying to get a firm diagnosis by a person qualified to make the true dianosis and not be pushed by some little teacher who really isn't educated or willing to educate herself on the issues. I don't want her telling the school and other teachers that the is adhd or ld until I tell them he has a problem, she has already labeled him as a problemed student, and the other kids in his class are picking up on it too. Then I will go through the red tape at school to get him the help he needs, hopfully with a teacher that gets it.
Sorry...I am just very frustrated. I am trying to protect him and his feelings, and keep him happy. I don't want him to become depressed or frustrated with school at such an early way.
I understand, we went through this as well and I feel for you. No, meds don't make them "just like everyone else" all they do is help them do better but it's no silver bullet. I'm glad you're going to the neuro, once you get a firm diagnosis sit your child down and explain it to him. If in fact he is ADHD he will need to understand he is different so he can understand that he has to be involved in what happens. As he gets older the kids will know he's different and that's just a fact, it's how the school deals with it that matters.
Good luck with the Neuro, I'll be interested in what happens...
A lot of the time food allergies are mistaken for a neurological problem. My son has extreme allergies to dairy and sugar, which were mistaken for ADHD by his Kinder teacher and his pediatrician. I took him to a specialist and she got to the root of the problem. We cut out all dairy and most of the sugar.
There are also a lot of chemicals in the food most people feed there kids and they have a direct affect on the brain.
Before you medicate try a food allergy specialist. I know some kids do have problems which are not related to allergies, but it's worth it to exhaust every avenue before he gets any drugs.
From what I understand, the reason so many schools are jumping on the ADHD wagon is because they get special funding for special needs students.
A lot of the time food allergies are mistaken for a neurological problem. My son has extreme allergies to dairy and sugar, which were mistaken for ADHD by his Kinder teacher and his pediatrician. I took him to a specialist and she got to the root of the problem. We cut out all dairy and most of the sugar.
There are also a lot of chemicals in the food most people feed there kids and they have a direct affect on the brain.
Before you medicate try a food allergy specialist. I know some kids do have problems which are not related to allergies, but it's worth it to exhaust every avenue before he gets any drugs.
From what I understand, the reason so many schools are jumping on the ADHD wagon is because they get special funding for special needs students.
A neuropsych will figure it out and as for the funding thing at least here our son costs the school money. They really don't get anywhere near what they are ordered to do so they resist it. It's just easier for them if the kids are medicated, it doesn't always benefit the kid but it sure benefits them!
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Kindergarten hell - Frisco, TX
