Detention hall for 6 year old... | ADHD Information

Michele - I can certainly relate to your story with my son who's now 10 (dx at 6 with ADHD/ODD). It was/is a tough road, and I wish I would have found this board back then (I've only been on a few weeks) when I was trying to figure out what was best for my child and was getting very little help/info from the school.

Always remember - you are his mother and times may get frustrating where you constantly 2nd guess yourself and feel inadequate - this board is wonderful for support. We do the best we can with what we can and it is a constant learning experience with ups and downs.

Please see the pick me up thread - I'll bump it.

Best of luck to you

Well, they sent home the form that was filled out after his outburst in school that landed him in D-hall....and I have to say I am a bit disturbed. The teacher writes that he was basically out of control, but what really hit me is where she says he took off his shoes and repeatedly smelled his 'Smelly feet" as she put it while rubbing them in his face and refusing to put his shoes back on properly. When she asked him once again to put his shoes on correctly he yelled at the teacher that he HAD them on. Since she could not get control of him she called in the principal whom said that he was very calm for him, but did write that he saw him "out of control" ealier and suggested my child needed more self control. Sigh.

This got me thinking. He seems to respond very well to men, I suppose it is an intimidation factor, but he will not listen to women. Have any of you all noticed this with your children?

Edited to add that when he got home he said he had fun at detention hall.

LonerGirl39033.4476851852

What he is doing in school isn't typical ADHD behavior. If you can get him to another psych and have him re-evalutated, that would be good. In the meantime, he definitely needs a behavior modification plan in place in school.

Good luck!

[QUOTE=barb]

Good luck!

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Thanks Barb and I completely agree with you that the behaviour seems MORE than ADHD. I tired to tell his pychiatrist this when I first took him at 4, but she told me all they could give him was an ADHD diagnosis at that point. I suggested that perhaps he actually was bi-polar. She pretty much looked at me like I had three eyes and told me there was no way they would ever diagnose him with Bi-polar, not at such a young age.

She also told me that he couldn't be 'properly' evaluated at such a young age - So when he was 5 I pushed for it, but everyone but me seemed to think he was doing just fine. Which is one of the reasons we left. The doctor he sees now is probably not qualified to do much more than hand over a prescription so I am going to have to do some real searching for another psychiatrist. And here all I was thinking all I would need was an IEP and perhaps an increase in meds. I guess because at this point I've pretty much even convinced myself that ADHD is the only issue here since everyone else {ie. His father, doctor, etc} seems so unconcerned I assume these are 'normal' reactions for a child with ADHD.

I just want to say thank you to everyone whom responded. It has been a very tough week with the boy and his outburst this morning just took the cake. This evening went much better. I was able to get some housework done. Thank gawd or we would be wearing dirty clothes to school and work tomorrow. I say this as if we've never actually done that.

To answer some of the questions asked - He does not have an IEP. I am only somewhat aware of what this is. Please pardon my ignorance, but when I mentioned this to his Kindergarten teacher last year she made me feel very silly...Like I was asking for something I really didn't need at this point. I will say I had less issues with his K teacher than his teacher this year, but his K teacher also didn't share a great deal of information and was horrible at communication. His teacher this year communicates, but seems really super tough on him and I can't decide whether I think this is good, helping him be responsible for his actions - Or if I disgaree with her pushing a set of rules and standards on him that he is clearly incapable of upholding.

He was diagnosed with ADHD by a psychiatrist because his pediatrician said she wouldn't worry that he was simply "spirited" and I was thinking yes, by the devil.

He is now currently seeing another pediatrician because we had some issues with the psychaitrist - Long story short - We live in a small town and there simply are not enough doctors to go around and when we needed a refill his doctor would be practicing elsewhere and we would sometimes have to wait up to 4 days to get a prescription[Doctor insisted on seeing him monthly for his prescription for Adderall]

I will check into the websites you mentioned and I will most assuredly be back with questions. Thank you all so much!

Michele

Michele..I don't have much advice for you with your school issue, but I wanted to say welcome to the forum, and wish you luck.

I also want to say - do not give up on your son. He needs you, and as hard as it is I am sure that you love him with all your heart. But, you also need to take care of yourself as well. Perhaps you could find a sitter or a family member to help out just for an hour or two once in a while so you can have a break..it will be good for both of you.

As hard as it is to do, we started our 5 year old on meds a few weeks ago, and for the most part it is really helping him. It makes me feel good when his teachers tell me positive stories about his days!

Check out the Alternative Methods section of the forums...there are many natural supplements and things that you can begin right now. If you are confused with all of the pages there, just send a private message to one of the success stories and I am sure that they will tell you what dosages have worked for them.

Hope this helps

I'm new here. I just found this forum. I feel like I need to connect with other parents out there because I swear I might be losing my mind. I won't get into the specifics, but I will say that my 6 year old has been diagnosed since he was 4 years of age.

Anyway, I get a call from the school yesterday that my son will be serving detention hall after school today for bad behaviour. I know what a shocker. I have to say this has me really concerned. He was actually kicked out of daycare when he was 4 years old. I don't think the path he is going down is a good one and I am concerned for his future. His doctor/doctors of the past have always took this "Well wait and see" approach with him. And I'll be honest I think I'm losing my mind.

What can I do as a parent - a single mother at that - to release some of the stress. I feel like I can't count on anyone. No one wants my son around because he is so mean and wild and when he and his little brother are together they are hell on wheels. I really need some advice, right now. Or just some encourgament to keep going. I feel like giving up. Thanks. Michele

LonerGirl39030.3096643519Hi & welcome!! I really can't give you any advice since I am new still to this. My 7yo dd was recently diagnosed with ADHD/ODD. She starts her meds tomorrow. It is a very frustrating roller coaster. I always get phone calls that my dd is either in the office & I need to come pick her up or she is kept after school. This happens almost every day! Don't give up, stick with us & keep reading & asking questions.....I have. Everyone in here I'm sure would love to help!

Since you have a diagnosis and the school is aware of obvious behavior issues, they are not supposed to give him the same punishment as the other kids unless they have a clear understanding that the behavior he is being punished for is not related to a disability. Thats the law. You can make an issue of it but by then it will be too late since the detention is today.

Send an e-mail or a letter, return receipt requested and request a meeting to determine eligibilty for your son to have an IEP under OHI (other health impaired). Explain that you have a diagnosis and that he is being disciplined for behavior that is caused by the disability so you want to see him get an IEP with behavior modification. They will probably tell you that he will need a behavior assessment done first. That is ok. You now have the proof you may need in the future that they are aware of the ADHD.

This will get them started on looking for ways to help him. If you let us know what they say to that, we can help you keep moving ahead.

Check out these sites. www.wrightslaw.com www.schwablearning.org

The first is a legal site for special ed issues and the other has fantastic articles. Have you checked out the articles on this site? There are very good ones here also. The more you know, the better able you will be to help your son.

Hang in there! We're here for you.

I am sending a hug.

My daughter was having trouble at school and home and no one wanted her to come over to thier house any more. We have been lucky to find a couple friends who are also ADHD so the parents are more understanding. My daughter had a significant amount of progress with a behavior plan the school put in place with us. If you can get it in an IEP, you will be able to rely on it for a few years to come, even when the teachers change each year.

Was your son diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a pediatrician? Psychiatrists (and neuropsychologists) are better for diagnosing and managing ADHD and sorting out all the issues that can be comorbid (oppositional defiance disorder, depression, anxiety, etc).