Confused | ADHD Information
Hello everyone, I am new to the forum. I have an 8 year old son who was diagnosed with adhd at 5. He was soon given concerta which was a god send, attention improved grades improved to straight A's. He has been taking it for a few years with a few dosage modifications. Now to my problem we recently changed schools, and he is in the 3rd grade. The school has already labeled him as a problem child, and I am concerned because concerta seems to be working to an extent. We took him to a psychologist who tested his I.Q. and other things, and he scores between the 115-120 range in I.Q. And he has an anxiety disorder that we are trying to get help with. So now we are trying to find out what we can do for him he has straight A's but always gets in trouble for the smallest things like fidgiting, humming, and taking longer to complete tasks( things other children would not get in trouble for). Our new psychiatrist wants us to get genetic testing before she can treat him? Is this kind of test common? Has anyone had a similar problem? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. ThanksI'd ask why they want the genetic testing, but dont just assume it's the wrong move unitl you know why they want it. Obviously if the only concern is ADHD there's no reason for it, but there may be a reason. My daughter has had genetic testing (not because of her ADHD), and it is just a doctors exam and blood test.Usually bloodwork, EKG's and EEG"s are done before meds, but genetic testing is a new one on me.Ask what the genetics testing will be identifying because I doubt that it's for ADHD. What is the doctor getting at exactly? And why not just move on to the next child psychiatrist instead of jumping thru those hoops. Given all that you have to go through with an ADHD child, this I would not be willing to do.
Have you thought that the school is a bad fit and considered transferring him elsewhere?
Most of this happened because we moved him to a new school this year for 3rd grade for a better education. When we initially saw the anxiety kicking in we contacted his previous school (at the request of his psycologist) and the principal said it would not be fair to the teachers to take him back (mind you this was on day 12) this year, but next year we could bring him back. That makes no sense to us. At this point , we are thinking of trying another child psychiatrist. I am worried about the anxiety issues and what we can do to fix it, not genetics. It appears to us that his teacher does NOT want to deal with him. Every suggestion that was made by the pshychologist she has done the opposite of it. Moving him has brought this on and I am worried to make another move. Why do teachers feel the need to turn there backs on these kids, the kids can't help it. He got a detention for fidgiting; for crying out loud.
I hear your frustration. Today my 7 year old was tapping his pencil on his desk. The teacher yelled at him, "Get out of this room!" and he had to stand in the hall. She skipped right over her classroom discipline procedure - no name on the board, no missed recess, just yelling and shaming. We're trying to work through how to handle this because we're afraid if we march in there with guns ablazin' , she'll marginalize him even more. This is agonizing.This is the most frustrating thing of all. Are teachers in this day and age not educated on ADD and ADHD. My son has been put out of class for nonsense reasons (it doesn't seem to take much) like you said. For a child that spends most of his time out of the class or in lala land as she calls it, plus homework hall ; how does he manage to have the HIGHEST grades in the class. He is getting it, I think he is bored. She likes to single him out, and when he asked a question , he does not answer. He is terrified of her. I have asked that he be moved to the other 3rd grade class and no response yet. The kids in school are so cruel..He is 8 1/2 years old and weighs 46 pounds. He looks like a 5 year old and the kids are so mean. The teacher needs to focus on these bullies and less time on my son's doodling. I think all schools should have a faculty inservice on how to deal with ADD and ADHD and whatever other disorders are out there.
Does your child complain about being bullied all the time. I hate to send him to school. It breaks my heart. He is the most loving and tenderhearted kid I have met. Kids with ADHD are usually very bright. The teachers need to cut them some slack.
My little guy is so happy-go-lucky that he's pretty much oblivious to the negative feedback he gets from other kids. He is sweet, kind, and smart - and like you, I think he may be bored. I am getting so tired of hearing "he's bright, BUT...he's in his own world...he's off in space...he can't follow directions." We're in the process of trying to help him, but meanwhile I am so afraid that his little spirit will be broken. Today I asked him how he felt when the teacher sent him out of the room, and he said he was scared. Are these people on a power trip or something?Thought this was interesting...what about you guys?
Bullying is terrible. I wouldn't say this in very many cases, but I think that your son needs a new school ASAP. At our elementary school, bullying is not tolerated and there is a written policy as well as anti-bullying programs. The kids know what the expectation is. The bullying combined with the nasty teacher are probably making his anxiety worse. (A detention for fidgeting in 3rd grade? That's crazy.) I really don't understand why he can't go back to the old school. Is it in the same district? Is a private school an option?
I really feel for you. My son's behavior is more distracting than what you are describing, but we haven't faced the situations you are dealing with. It would break my heard, too. ((((Becky))))
Joy2
Here's an article from the Academy of Pediatrics. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/1 17/4/e601.
It says that concerns that increased pressures for school performance are associated with increased ADHD diagnoses may be justified.
I wonder if your son's ADHD symptoms are exacerbated by the environment at this new school. I assume that it is more academic because you moved him so that he would get a better education.
NoTellin39355.6481018519The Psych diagnosed in one visit?
The Plus is more than likely a co morbid, but if a diagnosis is made in one visit with no bloodowrk etc I would find another psych.
Clay, I'm confused about how your old school could suggest that he not return this year? Was it a school that you school-choiced to, or was it your home school district school? If it is the school in your district, they can't NOT take him. I mean, people change homes or apartments mid-year all the time and those children aren't told to wait until the next year.
I agree that diagnosing a comorbid condition after one visit and perhaps anecdotal stories from you is not appropriate. I would find another psych, perhaps a pediatric neuropsych, for a complete eval. Meanwhile, I think it's time to play hardball with the school to ensure that your child gets the education and treatment that he deserves.
No, Blake was diagnosed with ADD when he was 5 years old. Everything seemed to be under control until this new school year. We live in a city where public school is not an option, so we have to send him to private school. (the public schools in the New Orleans Area are not up to par) We have been to a pyschologist 4 times in the past month, a pyschiatrist that wanted genetic testing and a social worker through the Department of Social Services because our health isnurance does not cover mental health. THe school that he is now in works in hand with the psychiatrist we went to yesterday. He had ALL of Blake's paperwork from when he was first diagnosed until present so it was not a rash decision he made. He did some exstensive work before we brought Blake in. Blake does not deal with change well from what we can see. It never seemed to be a problem before now, but from the books I am reading 3rd grade is that monumental year. Blake has a very hard time expressing himself verbally. If he is upset, he can't drop it and forget about it, it stays with him all day. (I am not sure if I mentioned this before, he was pre-term, born at 32 weeks) I think the reason he did ok at the old school was because there were only 14 kids in his class so it was not as intense. There was more one on one which kids with ADHD seem to do well with. Big environments really get nasty. Now, there is a plan in our state that is called the 504 Plan under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that the school does have to adhere to and they are not. That plan states no timed test, they have to provide him a tutor if needed, he should be given frequent breaks , and they need to make sure he is on track and stay on -task. They need to check his assignment pad to make sure we can understand it (handwritting is bad) and he should receive extended time for all graded activities. He gets frustrated when he can't figure something out. . He has been asked several times by every specialist we have been to , what school do you like better and why and he conisistently says where I am now. Baffles me. It really is a good school, the kids are just cruel. Not only he is he the new kid in school but he is so tiny compared to them. His only wishes that he asked for were no more bullies, kids to stop lying about him and for his teacher to stop being so hard on him. We are being as pro-active as we can be.
I have started reading a great book... "It's Nobody's Fault" by Harold Koplewicz, M.D. I recommend everyone with a child with ADD or ADHD to read this book.
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I may have left out o few details, there is just so much going on.
Becky
Blake's Mom
Clay39357.4507986111**UPDATE**
We took Blake to a child's pyschiatrist yesterday and we found out that Blake has ADHD Plus. What the Plus is we are not sure about yet. Hopefully within the next week or so we will know more. We have to bring him to an occupational therapist and a speech therapist for a few test. He added Tenex 1mg to his regimen 1/2 in the morning and the other 1/2 at bedtime. Any concerns I should have on this medication. The school just called and he is having a meltdown....
. This is hard to go through. We just one good day......