Bad Habits or just adhd? | ADHD Information

my son was just dx a few months ago and has been on meds since.  while many of his symptoms seem to be improving, he still does show some signs.  example...he was always very impulsive and would act the "class clown".  i think it was something he developed over several years of school not so much because he's a riot, but it was how he "coped".  i think the laughs he did get helped him feel part of the group. this seems to be ingrained in him still like a 'bad habit".  he continues to say inappropriate things in class, although much more seldom now.  he also continues to write silly things on his class papers.

are these just bad habits, so to speak, developed over time? i wonder if they can be broken, like nail biting, or is it still part of adhd?

 

My 13 y/o son, and my 8 y/o daughter, both with ADHD, have been in trouble numerous times for the same thing. I think it was partly a coping mechanism, but mostly to entertain themselves because they were just that bored.  In addition to that, in trying to make friends, they were getting other kids in trouble, which eventually had the opposite outcome. 

i think it does have the opposite effect too.  and it gets worse as they get older.  but i constantly remind him that his school papers are to show his knowledge, not for jokes.  and constantly remind him that he's more than just a funny boy.  he has lots of great traits, but no one will get to know him for those if he's only being silly. 

i don't know how long it takes to guide them to better choices.  and to make those choices more instinctive.  

it's also hard too to differentiate between the "boy" and the 'adhd"...?

katwal, does he have an IEP or 504? you should be able to get this on a behavior plan. My daughter is 13 and in 7th grade and they STILL do  a behavior chart at school. Mostly for things like getting to class on time, passing in homework, not interrupting....etc., etc..., she gets so mnay chekc marks for each time she doesnt do these things, so many checks she gets a "snack pass" at the end of the week. If he doesnt have this, do your own. How do you know he does this tuff? From the school? If os, each time he doesnt do it, reward (however, points stickers marbles, whatever) after he gets so many he can be rewarded at the end of each week. It can be anything, stay up an extra hour on the weekend or something. It is partly habit, partly ADHD, but CAN be improved.Katwal,

We see the same thing in our 7 yr old ADHD son.  He has always been the class clown and displays excessive attention seeking behavior.  Meds help, but I attribute much of it to his goofy personality.  A behavior chart helped tremendously and we use a chip reward system at home as incentive for positive behavior.

It takes a lot of work to get the point across when it is OK to be silly and how much is too much.  The teacher also needs to be on board with reinforcing the target behavior for it to be effective. 

diane v:  his teacher used a chart just as you describe in school before he was dx/on meds.  at the start of meds she continued his chart, but his behavior was so much improved she discontinued it after two weeks.  he was pleased b/c he didn't like "being different" to the other kids.  he hasn't made a 180 turn-around yet, but i'd love to impress on him that these old bahaviors/habits need to go away.  i thought it would magically disappear with meds, but i see now that some of these issues need a little reward system on my behalf as well.

i'm annoyed that i read so, so much beforehand and all my research kept saying "meds help dramatically with behaviors".  i was really convinced that all it would take was a little pill each morning.

ps) no 504 yet, i'm actually getting ready to request it.

pss) his current teacher is excellent and really gets him so i'm lucky this year. it's 4th grade and a new teacher next year that i'm worried about.

but thanks much to all.

< =text/>_popupControl(); While we can do all that we can to help the attention and some behavioral issues, we can't do anything about our children's personalities!  I handle my son's predeliction toward bad jokes and acting the monkey by reminding myself that both my husband and I have brothers who think they're hilarious!