Four year old? | ADHD Information

If the symptoms have to be present before the age of 7, then when does he get diagnosed?

 

I just know that  when DD was 5 and started Kindergarten I was told by 3 Psychiatrists to wait until she was at least 6, they would not diagnose before 6-7 because it would not be accurate. These were Psychs from a very prestigious childrens hospital, and I trust their judgement.

DD was eventually diagnosed at the Amen clinic, and they will not even consider seeing a child before age 7.

 

have you had bloodowkr etc done to rule out other causes? there are SO many things that can mimic ADHD, and best to rule them out first.

Just wanted to jump in and say I also homeschool, my ADHD child. she is now 7 but we know something was wrong at 4 and talked to her physican about it. Sunday school and story time at the library was on our clues; they could not control her. she just would not set and listen, was totally out of control no matter how much you talked and told her to behave she just couldn't. She couldn't set and watch tv or a movie any longer then maybe 10 minutes on a good day. I would go ahead and talk with your family doctor about it and he will help with getting your son tested. Now that we understand more about ADHD we are very glad we did start her on med's at a young age. On strange area where we now see she is needing a med adjustment is in her speech.. we never noticed it when she was younger but if her med's are not right she can not talk right..  it's like her brain is racing faster then she can say the words and she gets very upset with herself to the point of crying and hitting herself in the head; as if she understands that is where the problem is going from. She is on Strattera and taking Liquid Heath Attention for adhd  which gives her the omega oils. For us everything looks to be on track and she is doing great. Of course homeschooling helps, if she is having a off day I can adjust that's day lessons to be more active and not as much set down bookwork.

Joyce

Annewith5

It dose sound like their are some Add symptoms but I would have him evaluated and then a second opinion and maybe even a third to help with the fellings you may be wrestling with!

But what ever you do this place can be an excellent way to vent the stress you are going through! I will be praying for you!

Melissa - 3 kids Robert 8- ADHD Julia- 3 and Dominic- 9mos

Annewith5,

You are lucky that you have other children to compare your four year old to (in a home and in a homeschool setting). This can aid in getting an early diagnosis. Some of us only have other ADHDers and are ADHD ourselves, so we think this is normal until school failure occurs. There is evidence that early intervention can lesson the potential issues later in life (things like anxiety and depression) due to untreated ADHD.

Many doctors will not diagnose ADHD until the school years. This is because part of the diagnosis includes exhibiting some of the symptoms in more than one setting (like school and home). So by 6, the child has been in a school setting. Also, it is better to discern normal immaturity from ADHD, but severe ADHD can be diagnosed quite early (if the symptoms are so different from the normal range of behavior that it is obvious). Also, with young kids, the diagnosis can evolve as they exhibit additional symptoms and appear more different from their peers.

THe part of the diagnosis of symptoms before the age of 7 and duration of at least 6 months has to do with making sure that you are not dealing with symptoms brought up due to head injury, illness or other cause.

So starting the diagnostic journey at this time could be useful, or you could end up with a "wait and see if things get worse" diagnosis. This is why I suggested the developemental team approach.

I hope this helps.

vickie39097.5893634259

 

edbson...My son was diagnosed at 4 and I am so glad that a responsible doctor was able to determine his needs along side our observations and the preschools.  My son was impulsive and had a very difficult time sitting still and keeping his hands to himself along with other ad/hd symptons.  Our doctor ordered a glucose tolerance test (finding out that our son had reactive glycemia resulting in a nutritional diet) and had a QEEG test done in conjunction with his observations and other data collected by myself and my son's teachers and counselor.   To tell someone that no good doctor will diagnose at 4 is ridiculous.  With the right doctor and the right team working together a 4 year old can receive the help needed and yes can have ad/hd. 

annewith5...  the best to you in finding out what will be best for your 4 year old.   You sound like you are on top of things and your child is in good hands.

 

Sounds like a normal 4yo boy to me. I would wait until he is in school and see if he has symptoms then. Keep track of them now though, because any good psychiatrist is going  to want to know when they began. the criteria is symptoms beginning before age 7 and lasting more than 6 mos to a year. No  good psych is going to diagnose at 4 though.

"Sounds like a normal 4yo boy to me."

Being an experienced mom and knowing a lot of little ones from friend's and support groups - I wouldn't have brought up his symptoms on this board  if I thought he was a normal 4-year old.  I don't think it's "normal" to talk non-stop for 12 hours, constantly chew on his sleeve, no focus ability whatsoever, and being in a dreamworld for 90% of his day etc....

Since I homeschool my kids I can't wait for someone else to pick up the symptoms and I am trying to get the necessary tools to help him now.  From what I have been reading through all the threads - many kids are diagnosed at his age so I am not sure why you said, "No  good psych is going to diagnose at 4 though."  If the symptoms have to be present before the age of 7, then when does he get diagnosed?

Hi everyone

I'm new to the forums and my son is 4 and recently diagnoised with ADHD and ODD. I have a hard day, most days with him. I am having the biggest problem with potty training and him fighting with me and my husband, other family members and of course kids at daycare. Like I said I'm new to this whole thing. He is a only child and I dont know where to begin with him. If anyone can help me and give me some advice about anything pertaining to ADHD, I would absolutly love it. 

Amanda

Annewith5,

Hearing what you are saying about your son reminds me of mine. He is 4 and was diagnosed about 2 weeks ago with ADHD and ODD by a pedatric neuropsyhcologist. Just feel glad that you dont have the behavioral issues too. I have to deal with that everyday and let me tell you it is very hard. If I were you i would talk to my regular doctor about my concerns and let them take it from there.  That is what I did and after we start therapy the he will be my savior.

Amanda

 

Play therapy is a wonderful tool for kids.  They can use this to help them in expressing themself.  I attribute most of my son's progress to his time with his play therapist.  Play therapy is the best form of counseling that I think is available for kids under 10. 

Im not sure what kind of therapy they are wanting him to do, but i do know that we are all going to go through counseling. Ryley (my son) for his disorder and My husband and myself for advanced parenting techniques and to better understand our son.

Amanda

I am the mother of a four year old boy who I have increasing suspicions of ADHD.  I have always been turned off by the diagnosis because I thought it was over diagnosed etc...

I have five children and my older two are girls.  My son falls #3 in line.  He started these behavioral issues about a year ago and we wrote them off to him being a boy and acting differently than the girls.

Now I am beginning to really feel there's a problem.  He's in constant and I mean CONSTANT motion.  He never stops, ever.  We sit through church and he figits the entire time while constantly mumbling this or that.  He talks incessantly and is living in some dream world.  He took a liking to Star Wars.  It's like he lives in this little world surrounded by the characters he sees in the movies and rarely ever seems as if he is "present" to me.  He is always smiling and happy and has no negative behavior such as screaming at me or his Dad - just your typical sibling spats now and then.

I can't get him to ever focus.  When I really need him to hear what I am saying I have to hold his chin to force him to look at me and understand.  He's not being defiant, he just can't seem to really focus on what we are saying.  You have to tell him to get ready for his bath 4 million times over and over and over before he will get it.   Instead of getting ready - he flits all over the house singing or yammering on and on some senseless nonesense.  It's really very bizare and I don't even know if I am in the right forum or not.  I mean my 2-year old is more "present" than he is!

He often yells loudly when playing and can get out of control quite easily.  I just don't know where to turn at this point.  Fortunately my kids are homeschooled and I can work with him however I must.  I guess I need to really learn the tools on how to deal with him.  One last point and I don't know if it's related, though I did some reading on visual problems and ADHD - he was born with nystagmus in his eyes, which causes them to dart back and forth - though he has perfect vision.  He had a traumatic birth and his lung collapsed etc...I wonder if this plays a role?

Welcome Annewith5,

The evaluations can take time, but a good diagnosis is really important for proper treatment.

If you have access to a pediatric developement team (usually associated with a university or children's hospital). They can perform evaluations for all sorts of childhood issues.

If this is not available to you, you might want to express your concerns to the pediatrician and ask him/her to do a work-up to rule out some of the things that can mimic ADHD (thyroid issues, deficiencies, etc.). Then ask for a referral to a neuropsych for evaluation.

Side note: There is a relationship between difficult birth (like cord around the neck and other things that decreased blood/oxygen to the brain) and development of ADHD symptoms.

Where ever this journey takes you, you will find support here.