Anyone have any advise | ADHD Information

Ok you experienced parents out there. Here is one for you.  My recently diag. ADHD son went to the pyscologist today and now I am so upset.  We have been on (2) meds (metadate cd 10 &20 and centura 18 & 36) but are really not seeing any positive results.  I had fiqured it was time to go to pyschiatrist so when she agreed that did not surprise me.  The hard part is that it will be over a month before he can see one.  The other part that upset me was that she said my son would not be able to go the next level of school which would be Kindergarten next year because he just was not stable enough.  That school was to stressful for him.  This all my be true but I need someone to talk me through this.  As a mother you just don't want to hear that you child is behind.  As far as learning I have seen no delay (abc's, 123's, colors, shapes, etc.) He knows how to write his name and everything else for his age.  He does have a speech problem but has been in therapy.  It is lang. development and arti u something. I am not sure but not learning disability.  Someone out please talk me through this and calm me down!!!

I wouldn't worry about putting kindergarten off for a year either.  The extra time for social and emotional maturation is especially beneficial for boys.

But out of curiousity, how long had the psychologist known your son?  And have you talked to his pre-k/childcare teacher about this?  They could offer you a valuable opinion about how he compares to the other children, but will probably tell you not to make a decision about it until April or May.  I've worked with preschoolers for 8 years now and I've seen children who were remarkably immature in the fall catch up to their peers by the spring.

Also, if you get his meds straighten out between now and then, that could make a world of difference.

The psychologist has only know my son for 2 sessions and no I have not talked to his teacher yet.  I am not really going with what the psy. said about the school thing I am going to let the school and myself fiqure this one out. The old saying that mothers know best usually is right.  I well just consider all of my options.  Yeah you are all right about the meds and still having some time. Who knows he might do a complete turn around.

 

Thanks everyone!!

Hi! Please don't feel badly about your child possibly having to wait a year for Kindergarten.  Children in other cultures often start school at an older age, when they are more mature and better able to cope.  I think that ours is one of the few cultures that really rushes kids into school situations.

Having said that, however, I totally understand that we do live in THIS culture and our kids have to cope here. As accomplishment-driven as our society is, I still think that a lot of children would benefit from starting school at 6-closer-to-7 than younger.  Both of my sons were born at the end of summer, which made them very young fives when school started.  They were both there academically, but could really have benefitted from another year of maturation.  I almost pulled my oldest out of Kindergarten around Thanksgiving because he was at such a loss socially and emotionally!  Luckily, by the end of the year, he was okay, but I often think that if we had waited to start him, he would now be more of a leader in his grade and more confident. Your son can only benefit from starting school more confident and with his meds situation worked out.  Good luck!!

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It is hard to feel like you are starting over. Discuss this with the Psychiatrist when you get the appointment, including you hope to have your son ready for kindergarden. Take in all of the testing that was done by the psychologist. Getting your child properly diagnosed (including any co-morbid conditions) and working with someone experienced with med management will be very helpful and may go quick enough to start kindergarden when you are hoping.

We had to wait 6 weeks for our first appointment with the psychiatrist that the psychologist recommended, but it was worth it. We worked out my daughter's treatment during the summer; took a break from treament at the start of school to get a baseline connor's chart filled out by the teacher; and then optimized the meds to the needs of school and homework. She is doing great now.

I will keep you and your son in my thoughts as you go through this journey.