school and home behavior | ADHD Information

Oh also about the marble system will it work on a 4 year old?My son is 4 years old and was diagnosed two months ago.  After several trys at different medications we are currently on two ( Clonidine and Rispidal ).  My son goes to a special development preschool, he's been going there for over a week now.  I asked his teacher how he was doing as far a paying attention/focusing etc.  She said he's doing great at all that and adjusting very well, my problem is at home and in stores.  He still throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way (throws himself on the floor or sometimes throws things), in the store I dread taking him in them because he still runs around and touchs everything.  The only place he didn't act up in was the car dealership where I had my car serviced, he sat there and waited for my car to be done.  How is it he can act one way and different in the other?  Any input would be appreciated.

they have now discovered that floresent lighting affects kids with ADHD. it sends them over the edge. mine were so feral when we went to the shops but never realised it was the lighting. i now have the boys where a baseball cap when we go to the shops and it has been fantastic, they havent run off or run around, they have stayed with me and it was great. although u still have to remember that they r kids as well, so i also use the marble system, and i havent had a problem.

Hope this helps

Angel

I noticed that lighting made a big difference with my son also... he would
melt down consistently in stores with exposed fixtures. I couldn't figure
out why he could handle Walmart, of all places, until I noticed that their
bulbs were covered. He also couldn't handle being able to see large
expanses of the ceiling or the store itself, so the high aisles at Walmart
helped him feel secure, I guess. I realized this when I noticed him putting
the hood up on his sweatshirt when we went in the grocery store. In the
summer we started to use a baseball hat instead. Now he is six and he
can handle most situations without a problem (though there are a couple
that I am still afraid to try). And I never would have attempted the auto
shop- good for your son!

Welcome NNJpolive,

You state that your son is taking Rispidal. Rispidal is commonly given for children with bipolar disorder, not ADHD. What is your son's diagnosis? Also, for children that do have ADHD, when they notice or discover something that really sparks their interest, they have the ability to hyperfocus meaning the child will settle down and focus intensely on whatever it is that is capturing their attention. If you care to share, more information would be helpful in terms of the exact diagnosis

My son was diagnosed adhd in august.  I don't know why the doctor put him on rispidal, I was afraid at first to give it to him b/c it's for bipolor.  I'm going to call his doc monday and ask him about that, he might prescribe something different.  You know I thought about the lighting also in stores and I do think it does affect him b/c when we went into Burlington coat factory the lighting is dim and he was a perfect little boy didn't run off or anything.  I am going to try the hat thing too b/c I need to go into Sam's Club and he does go nuts in there I can't keep him with me.  Since he doesn't do well with stimulants is there a suggestion I can ask his doctor to prescribe.  Thank you for all your input on this.

 

Frustrated in Indiana