Aimcifer,
First of all you are very lucky that the teacher recognizes that yur son is not acting out intentionally. I'm glad he's not in trouble all the time.
Of course you should go to the best psychiatrist you can find to direct you in a proprer diagnosis, but this to me sounds like it could totally be ADHD. My son had lots of these behaviors in kindergarten --he didn't ever use the bathroom on the playground, but his friend did if that makes you feel better!
We started medicating him at the end of 2nd grade and he's so much better and happier and balanced in his life. He seems relieved and so proud of himself. I'm so grateful that we had teachers that supported our not medicating him until we were ready and now I am grateful for the supprot we get in the ongoing process of medicating him.
My son is now on 54 mg of Concerta daily. I'm not suggesting you medicate your son now. I hope you can find a brilliant psychiatrist to help you. It's made a world of difference for my wonderful, smart, successful and beautiful son. Who now is the "Boy Who Can!"
A lot of it does sound like ADHD combo type.. which is not able to focus, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. Peeing outside is impulsiveness. He had to go right then and there and doesnt think about the consequences. Same with outbursts in class. A lot of kids feel if they dont say what they are thinking right then and there, they will forget! -- and often they do forget! And, to them it's very important so they dont want to forget! My son always interupts me when I'm speaking to someone else and his reason is that if he doesnt tell me right then, he'll forget what he wanted to tell me. My son is 7 and in first grade.
He was not medicated in kindergaten, and let me tell you, it was bad then and things got worse in 1st grade. Medication has made a world of difference for him/us, though we are not at our ideal dosage at this time.. but I sooo can see the light at the end of the tunnell!
My son also continously talked, sang songs, made noises .. it's all part of the hyperness and impulsiveness .. these 95% went away with meds. Of course, usual playing/talking out loud is still there .. but he doesnt countinously make noises for what seems like nothing better than to just to hear his own voice!
You can ask the school to evaluate him and it is no cost to you. I would also talk with his pedictrician and or go to a neuropsychologist. We just see the pediatrician and he's been great! And, we've had to change meds and dosages several times. Maybe you can get to the pedi quicker and talk about medications just to get some quick help, then ask for a referral for the neuropsycholigist.
I would suggest starting a behavior chart to get him into a routine. Ask the teacher to do one at school too. Have him sit next to her in class if it's possible. That was a big help with my son in Kindergarden. And, I suggest getting some medication as that will really help him.
I also have my son's teacher provide a weekly progres report, on Fridays, letting me know how he did for the week. If it's not good, then no video games over the weekend. It's important to also have behaivor modifications .. starting the chart and rewarding for good behavior and taking things away for bad behaivor is important to help them learn right and wrong actions. The first few days can be hard, but then it works pretty well!
Hi all. My son Joe will be 6 in a month and he is in kindergarten. He'd been diagnosed ADHD combined type when he was quite young, and has had no form of treatment. Since he was so young I didn't worry about the diagnosis. Before school started I spoke with his doctor about whether we should try to implement any plans of action, and he said no, don't worry about anything unless Joe has trouble in school.
At the start of the year he did have some problems (very emotional, not following directions, etc.) The teacher and I worked on a plan of behavior and that did help him out somewhat. Things have since gotten much worse. His teacher and others (principal, speech therapist at school, playground monitors) have noticed strange things. He spaces out, talks to himself (either just talking, or humming, singing songs, reciting poems, etc), wanders around the classroom, etc. He's seemingly less able to finish his work. He's interrupting more, is more emotional, and has been actually doing a few dangerous behaviors such as running out in front of the busses. He also dropped his pants on the playground to go pee instead of asking to go inside (in the middle of winter, of course.)
I've noticed differences at home too- he's not listening well at all and often doesn't respond when we say his name. He's emotional, seems to be acting out more, etc.
His teacher doesn't think he can consciously control his behavior. She says he is the same sweet Joe he's always been and is not deliberately being disruptful or anything. The school can't really do anything at this point except watch him more closely. I have called his doctor and we will be able to see him at the end of the month.
So my long winded question is, do the behaviors I've described sound like and ADHD thing, or is there something else going on? I'm obviously very concerned and am driving myself crazy while we wait to be seen by the doctor. Thanks for any input.
I think you're doing the right thing. Ask the docotr for a referral to a neuropsychologist have the evaluatiosn repeated. After age 6 the testing is much more comprehensive. It's funny after the first of the year the curriculum changes and things get harder. Kids react differently, I'm noticing it with both my girls. Does he see the speech pathologist or is she just in all the Kindergarten classrooms?He sees the speech pathologist out of the classroom- he has delays from mild to severe (though he's made a lot of progress and probably won't need therapy much longer) and has been in speech therapy since he was around 3 years old.