5 yr old social butterfly | ADHD Information

I'd get a private OT evaluation for the fine motor skills. Many five year old girls prefer to socialize rather than pay attention in class, so I'm not sure that's relevant. I would wait until age 6 before taking a close look at the concentration issue, unless it's really off the map. If it's off the map, then you should get a private ADHD evaluation now. Spend some time in class if you are not sure.

Mydd, aged 5 yrs old started kindergarten 2 weeks ago. She has not been diagnosed with ADHD, but her non-biological sibling does have it. I have noticed some similarities - difficulty with fine motor and concentrating on a task and LOTS of energy, but the similarities stop there.

My 5 yr old is the happiest, well adjusted child I have ever met. She remembers and recalls everything she sees or hears. My oldest is the total opposite. "Surly" is the word that can often be used to describe her disposition. If not for the extreme opposites in personality, I would have considered my youngest  a sure bet for having ADHD, too.

Today, I got an e-mail from d5 yr old dds Kindergarten teacher (started 2 weeks ago) over noted concerns regarding lack of fine motor control and wanting to socialize as opposed to paying attention in class. This is basically the same evaluation that she got from last year's preschool teacher, although the preschool teacher did not say anything regarding lack of fine motor control.

So, the question is, do I  head straight to the counselor's office and request an ADHD eval? She is only 5 - is it even safe to start her on meds if that is the issue? Do I wait a month or two to see if things get better?

 

 

My ds was diagnosed at 5 with ADHD. It was clear he had/has it. He had
fine motor skill problems as well. Handwriting was terrible, couldn't use
scissors well, etc. Now at 8, still can't tie shoes, handwriting good when on
meds. I am not saying that your dd has ADHD. What my point is, is that my
son was tested at school and the fine motor skills issues were found.
(ADHD testing done privately) He was able to work with a special teacher in
helping him to develop these skills during the PreK year. You might want to
see about that type of testing. As for ADD/ADHD, see what the year brings.
Keep in contact with the teacher and see if there are some things you can do
at home or in the classroom that would help her.I agree with above. I'd get an OT eval for the fine motor delay. My 6 year old (has not been diagnosed with ADHD either), has fine motor issues and some social issues, also has sort of intermittent issues with staying on task and needing redirection (a diagnosis at some point won't shock me). She, however, is quite different from her older sister who does have ADHD, along with co-exisitng LD's. My point, my 6 year odl started OT in preschool and with a paush some speech langauge (for social) and grew by leaps and obunds last year. She can wirte a sentence in ehr journal now and you could read it. For sure not the best writer, but couldnt even form all her letters last year, could barely write her name. I'd take it one step at a time. The behaviors need more than 2 weeks, it's all brand new to her. The handwriting, I'd pursue now.

 I'm not against meds, but try to hold off medicating for as long as possible.  Different kids maturate at different rates, so the fact that your five year old is acting young and doesn't quite have the skills that are expected is not necessarily an indicator of a problem.  You didn't say if she is a 'young' five year old or an old one...in otherwords, did she 'just' make it age wise into Kindergarten or is she closer to 6?  Many parents wait a year before starting a young 5 year old in school. This often results in a more mature and focused child who is generally older (and often bigger) then the other kids in their class,  giving them an advantage throughout their primary years of education.  Then the advantage disappears in Junior High, but the benefits will have already been reaped.  We did this with our oldest and we have never regreted the decision.

Paul

Thanks for the advice - I did get an OT eval scheduled and we will see what happens. I just want to say, that if this is #2 child with ADHD for us, I might need to be medicated! Seriously - she is an absolutely deligthful child - so loving and easy going, which is just the opposite of my other with ADHD!!

When I read information on girls with ADHD, if she does have this, she would definitely be the "Chatty Cathy" type. Until last year - she was the preschool favorite. I think last year, she lost a lot of confidence as the the children were required to do lots of fine motor skills as well as the girls getting to the stage of wanting a "best friend" which she cannot comprehend. She wants to be everyone's friend!

Her preschool teacher commented that she was "too social," which is consistent with what we are hearing now. In additon, this year's teacher said she won't complete work unless the teacher or aid is standing next to her and engaging her.

The only thing that keeps me from rushing for that ADHD eval is that child can remember everything and anything that she sees or hears. We compared her performance now to the end of the year requirements. She has met all objectives, with the exception of the writing and needing to read a little better. She is at mid-year for the reading already....