noise sensativity a side effect? | ADHD Information

My  7yr old DS is on Metadate CD, 20mg a day.  He seems to have a noise sensativity issue. He askes me to turn the car radio down or off and this morning told me that when I yell at him, it makes him dizzy cause he doesnt like the loud noise (This morning was a bit extra frustrating with him not getting ready after I asked him like 50 times to do everything and I yelled, which I'm trying very hard not to do anymore!!)

My DH also doesnt like loud noises. He's not medicated, but I suspect he has ADHD also.  DH says that he can hear so well, that loud noises hurt his head.   So, I'm thinking this is not a side effect, but maybe just his "personality" or just a symptom of ADHD ????  It's just that it seems to be more prevelant since he started meds. 

What do you think?

Also, this morning I asked him how he feels on the meds and he told me sometimes at school he feels dizzy, but he likes it cause he feels better in school than not on meds and it's not all the time that he feels like this.  He said when he's not on the meds he feels like a rocket ship spinning all around in different directions.  He said he doesnt want to stop taking his meds.

(I asked him thanks to another post I read yesterday who was speaking with her 3 yr old and he said he feels like a glider on meds, and a fright train when he's not on meds!)

Does this seem ok, or should I bring it up to his dr?  I'm not sure if dizzy then is the right word he means to use, yet that is all he can think of....???

my daughter gets dizzy from certain meds. I've learned over the years the difference of that as opposed to rushing ADHD thoughts. When her symptoms are out of control, and she's all over the place, she tells me her head feels "spinny", if she's dizzy from meds, she says dizzy. I've asked her like when you say my head is spinny, she says no not that. And I know how she is acting so I've learned dizzy means dizzy, if it persists address meds and lower dose or switch, if spinny persists, up meds .  I'd keep asking him ways to describe how he feels when he says he is dizzy. Try to make comparisons like when his meds are worn off or other situations. You'll figure it out. No matter what, if he doesnt like it and it persists, it's worth mentioning.

Thanks!!!   I get motion sickness easily, so when I think of being dizzy, I think of feeling nausous too... but because he said he likes it, and perfers to be on the meds than off, I'm thinking he's not feeling what I think he is. That my definitiion of dizzy is not the same as his.   So, I'll keep asking questions! 

 

We go back to the dr on Monday and I dont want to sound like I dont know whats going on with him! ......  now if I could just get that teacher to call me back so I will know what to tell the dr about how he's doing in school....

 

I think that the possibility is good that the meds increase either the sensitivity to or the awareness of loudness in your son's hearing.  That's what's occured with me since taking meds, and I can't tell which it is, but loud noises bother me more now than before meds.  I've always had sensitive ears, especially as a child...my father would turn the table saw on in his shop and I'd be outta there!!

many times a sensitivity to sound can be a symptom of an autistic disorder like asperger's.  Many kids with ADHD also have asperger's or they actually have asperger's which has many of the same symptoms.

Just a thought.

Welcome back Glen....

I wonder if Asperger's is like ADHD--a spectrum syndrome where traits may vary considerably in strength or severity depending on the person (i.e. mild vs strong)?  Given that ADHD's been recognized in the US for half a century (under various names) and Asperger's barely a decade and a half, I'm really doubtful about doctor's getting up to speed on diagnosing Asperger's in adults when most still seem to grope around trying to diagnose ADHD in adults!  

Thanks everyone!  I spoke with his dr and dizzyness is a side effect of Metadate, and since DS says it's not every day, and that he still likes his meds cause it "makes him be a good boy in school" we decided to stay with it, but watch it. 

His dad is sensative to noise, and I'm now thinking it's also just another side effect that I'll continue to watch. 

BTW, his dr uppsed the dosage from 20mg to 30 mg of Metadate.. today is his first day so we 'll see how it goes!