If you have a children's hospital or university with a child development group, you might contact them for a child development specialist for an evaluation. I would not wait on an evaluation as the sensory issues are there now and I know how bad it can get the longer you wait. We were in crisis before the final diagnosis and we were scared for our daughter's safety by that point.
You can try a positive reinforcement behavior plan as newmom mentioned. There is a very long thread on this (ogram's marble system at the top of this section of the board).
Try things for sleep such a 1mg meletonin (break up a 3mg tablet), and good sleep hygiene. Because my youngest never slept much, we had to get improved to make sure the behaviors were not from sleep deprivation or being made worse from it.
Thank you all for your replies. I've fwd. them onto my husband.
I think we may go ahead & make an appt. for the new ped out here where we are now that specialize in ADHD instead of getting the runaround at her old ped office.
I'll keep you posted! Thanks again & hopefully you won't get sick of me asking questions! :)
Jenn :)
Most here will recommend certain type of doctors for an evaluation & maintenance. Psychiatrists, psychologists and neur-pshyc. seem to be the norm for most diagnosising. I went to 2 out of 3 for evaluation but maintenance I go to therapist and ped. I have a wonderful therapist and pediatrician (who both specialize in ADHD/ADD)
Welcome to this helpful and supportive place.
What are the issues at home?
In the early grades, I was always told what a sweet, bright, helpful child my youngest was. At home she was impatient, hyper and very impulsive. I could not take her places like grocery shopping becuase I had to keep her from touching everything and getting into things and never had a chance to shop for the things we needed. It was such a struggle with increasing conflict. As school became more challenging for her and we had homework struggles, the conflict at home was unbearable. At school, she just shut down and was quiet (the teacher liked quiet). The doc thought that my youngest was keeping it together at school to not be seen as different (though she knew she had problems) and the stress came out as aggression at home where she was free to let it all out and know that we still loved her. Once she was diagnosed and treatment was started (meds, positive reinforcment plan, IEP), the stress and anxiety eased and we got our sweet little girl back. Things are good now, not perfect, but perfect would be boring.
Thanks Vickie!
Well, I guess I should say that we are in the very very beginning stages of getting her tested. We've known for about 2 yrs. that she might have it but then over the summer we knew she needed help. I called her ped today (who brushed me off & told me to wait 2 more years) to get a conference with her & my husband. I was told that they'd send me a paper for her school to fill out & then go from there. The problem is, is that she's fine in school, classroom wise.
At home there are good days & bad days. Bad days include, temper tantrums so bad that the neighbors look at my house..., she hits, kicks, screams, yells, she harasses our dog, she's impulsive, she doesn't stop moving, jumping, tapping, clapping, singing, talking, she has no patience, everything is now, she doesn't sleep well, while sleeping she kicks, talks, walks, etc., she's overly bossy, has to control everything, constantly interrupts...doesn't like a change in scenery, the list goes on.
I can't take her to the stores, she'll throw a fit if she can't get something. She's very high needs. I'm also thinking she might has sensitivity issues as well. She doesn't like clothes. She doesn't like socks or shoes on, they bother her, tags in shirts/pants, doesn't like loud noises, but she talks really loud, doesn't like smells, constantly telling me that something doesn't smell good, etc.
I mentioned this all to her ped in March & the ped said to wait til she's 7. Summer came & she got worse. My husband & I thought she'd get over it when school started but it really hasn't. We've put it off because we didn't want her labeled. My husband has ADD & was never formally rx'd. He suffers & can see now finally how not being rx'd has affected him growing up in school & in his adult work life.
I guess I'm just trying to find some info on all of that. Her ped doesn't seem to really "get it". We just moved so I'm thinking that I might be moving the kids to a more local peds office anyway & by chance they specialize in ADD/ADHD. When my daughter was having trouble sleeping & the Melatonin wasn't really working they sent her to a neurologist that said that it was a maturity thing (the possible ADHD) & that if I wanted her to sleep that she could prescribe me something to give her. I declined for the time being because I wanted to find out if it was something more than just not being able to sleep!
Thanks for the reply & sorry for the book! :)
~jenn :)
I'm new here! I thought I'd jump right in!
My 5 1/2 yr. old daughter is great at school but at home it's another story! I've read that girls are different than boys with ADHD in that respect, I just haven't really found anyone that can relate!
Anyone??
jenn :)