Looking for advice on the best way to handle this new development.  My son has been losing ground after a great 4 months of 5mg of Focalin XR and clonidine.  We are seeing more emotional fragility, increased defiance, and inability to stop physically bugging his 3 yr old sister (backhand hits, kicking on the couch, and today, arm twisting--she does give it right back, but again, she is 3).  Yesterday he got into a conflict with his best friend and it deteriorated into a kicking match with my son using the F word.  This morning, he used the word hell and fricking several times during a tussle with the sister.  We lucked into an appt with our pediactric neurologist tomorrow to look into upping the focalin XR dosage.

Appropriate punishment/discipline for the swearing?  I was all for the soap in the mouth but my husband felt removal of all priveleges would work better.  So we have two days of no TV, computer, nintendo DS, etc.  He is taking a break from his usual routine of 5 days a week day camp this week after attending all summer.  Is punishing him after the fact a mistake?  I did not address it this morning b/c I was trying to get the 3 yr old to preschool.  I just found out about the incident with his friend late this afternoon.  I'll never know how much of this is his age, his adhd, the fact that he may be a candidate for a higher dosage.   Profanity is not used in our house, he claims he picked at camp.  He seemed to realize his misstep and expressed mild remorse.

His meds do NOT seem to be working, or the best ones for him.

I would contact his prescribing doctor immediately and work on the meds.

If he is taking "something" to help him, then it should be doing the job. It obviously is not. Maybe he just needs an increase, not sure till you try

My son has had success with guanfacine in addition to the concerta that he is on. It helps with impulsive behaviors.

I do know that when the meds wear off and he is in overstimulating situations, he will use lousy words, thinking he is impressing those around him.

Start with his meds, once you get it where he should be, he should be successful each day, that is how you know - he will be successful, not a zombie under the medication, just plain and simple successful!!

I think my biggest struggle is battling in my own head which behaviors are ADHD related, hormone related, teen related, just my daughters personality, med related........makes me CRAZY!

Anyway, it does sound like he's being overly impulsive...that would be meds.....

the swearing........it's age///they all do that. All you can do is what you're doing. Keep reminding him of language that's inappopriate. Consequence are fine, but two days of lost priveleges seems a bit harsh. It should be short and immediate IMO. How about charging him something every time he swears? A dollar in a jar, or 15 minutes loss of something, tv time, or earlier to bed, or having to come, something like that?

Your son may be going through puberty and when the hormones are changing sometimes the medication or dose needs to be changed. However, I wouldnt assume such aggressive behavior is as a result of the medication not working. At this point I wouldnt focus so much on what punishment should be but rather why your son is acting out so agressively all of a sudden. If his behaviors are something he has no control over at this time, finding out the cause and treating it will resolve the issue. Punishing him for what he can't control is not helpful.

I agree that the prescribing doctor should be contacted immediately to determine whether its a medication issue or whether something else is going on. All children go through stages of being defiant, using inappropriate language and feeling conflicted due to hormonal changes but there are some behaviors that are extreme and require immediate intervention working towards resolution. Good luck and please keep us posted.

My son is almost 13 and this is a major problem for us. I have been battling this for 1.5 years since we started puberty. Those raging hormones make everyone crazy. My son will tell me it is my fault and that he learned it from me. I don't cuss and remind him of that. I think it is being done for the shock factor. I am trying to figure out some new tactics since my son is 5'5", just a couple of inches shorter than me. He doesn't listen to Mom but jumps when Dad calls him on the language.

Discuss the possiblity of puberty with the doctor. They can run a simple blood test to check his hormone levels or tell by a physical exam.

I went back and reread your post--it sounds like he needs a med adjustment or change from the description of his behaviour. What happened at his doctor's appointment yesterday?

I often find that the punishments are harder on the parents than the kids.

have you tried other meds trying to help with tics? I know those must be so hard on you, as well as your son.

Others here have dealt with those. They seem to find a better med that helps with the adhd and has no tics, or less tics sometimes.

some even stop the meds due to the tics, really tricky subject. I just feel so bad for these little guys struggling with adhd.  

and then just when you think help has arrived in the form of a med, it brings with it something horrible.

Have you tried other meds???

Hey Trix,

my son also has sensory integration. They come and go and are always changing. He is 11, not sure if I mentioned that previously. It was diagnosed in Early Intervention. He also is speech delayed, quite delayed. I think the speech is interwined with his sensory, just my opinion from reading.

Have you tried other than focalin any other adhd meds? there are others here on the board whose children have tourettes as well as adhd, and sensory. Post it out there, someone will respond.

I would try another med, just my opinion. And yes, they are guinea pigs and we are the mad scientists trying all and anything to give them a better life!!

Hang in there with the rest of us, and keep posting!!