9 yr old w/ADD?? So confused.. | ADHD Information

Hi all. I am new to this and I am looking for some help.   I have a 9 year old son. I have noticed about a year ago, he started making these odd noises.  Almost like a grunting sound.  And he hums, and twitches his face like he has a nervous tic, licks his lips (and not normal licking...it's like he's trying to get his tongue up his nose or lick his whole face), makes odd movements, and gets distracted or "off task" easily.  He always did talk a lot, but over the past 6 months or so it has gotten worse. A lot worse.  His noises are constant, he has to be moving, twitching, licking his lips, and talks non stop interrupting everyone because he just can't wait his turn...  his sleep walking has gotten worse too. He always did sleep walk, but only a few times a week. He talks in his sleep and sleep walks every single night.  It's like his body is never at rest.  I don't know what could be going on with him.  I had asked the doctor about it last school year and he gave me a paper to have the teacher fill out.  He never gets out of his seat and talks out in class.  Everything seems fine at school.  I don't know if it's just that she doesn't notice the "other" things that he does or if he only does it at home.  So anyway, I passed it off and thought-ok, there is nothing going on..and the doctor seemed to pass it off.  He specializes in ADD so I figured he knows what he is doing. But it is now to the point where I hate to say it, but he's driving me crazy.  I have to tell him to stop making noises at least every two minutes.  Or to sit still, or whatever.  Am I a bad mom?  I don't know if I should call his doctor again or not.  I don't want to be one of those moms who "thinks" there is something wrong with their child, but at the same time, something tells me that his actions just aren't normal. Could this possibly be ADD?I wouls see a Child Psychiatrist, not a pediatrician. Have you ever heard of Tourette's Syndrome? Google it. It does not sound so much like ADHD as it does Tourettes. You would need to see a Neurologist for Tourettes, but a Psychiatrist would refer you if he felt that were the case.

Thank you.  I do want to share that after I posted my first message, I did speak with his teacher.  She also shared her concerns with me and she told me that he has indeed been doing these things in school. Most of the behaviors, but not all of them.  She also noticed that he is very off task and out of his seat.  He has the same teacher he had last year because she looped up to the 4th grade and she wanted to keep her existing students.  She knows my son very well and she cares deaply for all of the kids' well being.  She said she has notice a tremendous difference in his behavior and attitude since last year.

I had a neighbor who had Tourette's.  He would yell in the middle of being completely calm.  Are there different types of the syndrome?  My child doesn't "yell out" but he does have those other odd habits. 

I will read up on Tourette's.  I am also going to take him to a specialist.  Thanks for the advice.

taffi7439355.2822106481Read up. There are many different symptoms and it might be something completely different. That's the need for a good doc. have you neuro-phsych tested? If your insurance will cover it is worth it, if not alot$$$.I afgree it sounds like you meed to see a specialist to me. It does sound like Tourrettes but you need a qualified doctor to diagnose him.Good Luck

My son used to do the licking thing- it would get worse when he was trying to concentrate or thinking hard and he would ended up with severely chapped skin that extended nearly half an inch away from his lips.  Since treating his adhd it's all but gone away.

The humming/noise making thing can also be an adhd thing.  The older brother (severe adhd) of one of the children in my daycare does this almost constantly- his grandmother said it drives them all nuts.

You'll probably want to get an evaluation from either a psychiatrist or a neuropsychologist, especially in light of what the teacher told you.  And keep in mind that some kids can hold it together in school a little better than at home.  When I had my son evaluated the form that his teachers filled out did not report any problems (it was his teacher who called me and pointed out that he was constantly fidgeting and not paying attention though ).  The neuropsych dx'ed him after hours of testing and said that he probably could just hold it together in school for the time being and that he wasn't worried about the teacher's info being inconsistent with what we reported because of his scores on the tests (he scored less than 1% on the one for attention). 

I googled Tourette's Syndrome.  My eyes just about popped out of my head while I was reading the page.  Almost every symptom when it comes to movements is what my son does. Down to the T.  I did also learn that there are different cases, and some not as severe. While some people have the motor tics, others have the outbursts. Others still, have both. He doesn't have the outbursts, but all of the motor tics are there, and the constant squirming and movement and talking.  That scares me.  I noticed as I was reading there were symptoms there they he does that I never really paid much attention to.  Like the shoulder shrugging. He does that all the time when he has the facial tic thing going on.  And the head rolling. Well, my insurance is decent but not the greatest.  We don't have a deductible, which is good, but I think with any kind of mental health it covers 80% which isn't so bad. It depends on what is being done and for how long.  Some coverage is 50%.  I would have to contact the insurance company to find out exact coverage, which I have to have prior authorization for any kind of metal health care anyway. That sucks, doesn't it? Sad, but true. The insurance has to approve it first. But even better, I still have to begin with his pediatritian and be referred from there.  I can't just take him to see someone else first. So we will start with step one.  I am making a list of all the things I notice.  I am going to keep a very watchful eye on him up to the point he goes for his initial visit to the doc for this and keep a daily log. I also have the email from his teacher voicing her concerns. I am going to take all in with me to the doctor and we will begin with that.

Thanks again, you have no idea how this has helped me just knowing that there is someone out there who will listen to me and give me advice.

 my daughter has adhd she did  lot of face movements she wwas dignosed with trouttess a fwe monts ago, she hsd a few bad times at school where they wanted me to come a collect her, she wqs saying a certain swear word all the tim more when she was stressted or overcome, it is distressing to us as well as the child, ,i was told it can happen when they are going throu pubety, sally alway' had the thorat noises and te the facial expressions now we delevoped trouttess, she has clamed a bit without the adhd med..Keeping the journal is a great thing! Bring it to the pediatrician's with you and hopefully you will get a good refferal. Good Luck!