Help... don’t know who to believe | ADHD Information

I don't know about the bipolar and ODD business. You haven't described anything that fits with those. The DSM diagnostic criteria are online if you google them. Sounds like the labels are being tossed around with little care. Sounds like the school psychologist is the one mentioning bipolor. What's her background? In the US the school psychologist is not a PhD. They are basically administrators, and are not qualified to diagnose any mental health conditions. You can find the educational requirements of a school psyche online as well, and they are not in the same ballpark as a real MD or PhD, not even close. The title of school psychologist is misleading, IMHO. As for the meds, they are really for the ADHD regardless of the supposed ODD. Maybe he's being aggressive at school because something is not working for him there. Wrong teacher, wrong classroom, teasing...ask him.Jessica N40003.8784143519[QUOTE=Logan'sMom]

My son started very young with sensory issues (it was identified at 2yrs but looking back he had symptoms since birth!) He started OT at 2yrs and it helped trememdously! Like Bethann, my son didn't feel pain so he was "sensory seeking" in that area. Translation: he was sooooo rough with everyone and everything that other kids didn't want to be around him. And he never even realized he was being rough! He also has auditory sensitivity and the theraputic listening has helped a lot. One of his main problems has been in his vestibular system (inner ear). It affected his balance, muscle tone, he walked funny etc. Since starting OT 1 1/2 years ago, he's much better!

We didn't realize that he also had ADHHHHHHHHHHHD until 3 yrs. The syptoms were always there I just didn't know what they were. I have to say that the ONLY thing that has ever worked for his ADHD is medication. He literally cannot function properly in this world without it! He's also on medication for anxiety and since we've gotten the right "cocktail" of medicines...WOW what a difference! Nothing else we've tried has ever worked.

(btw Bethann, I think you and I have the same child- or at least clones of each other! I swear everything you've said is EXACTLY like my son!)

WOW this sounds like my son too, i feel a bit better now knowing that there is kind pepole out there to share with what i'm going through & everyone who has posted on this thread with there childs symptoms it's just like what my son has.

The doctor ruled out Bi polar & the child psycologist will not be returning to our school in September when school starts back, i just think she knew that there was something else wrong with Ryan & she did say that she is not qualified to give a diagnosis & i believe that she got the Bi polar mixed up with AD/HD, but if it was not for her going on about the Bi polar i would never have found out about the AD/HD.

I have cut milk out of his diet & sweet sugary things, s lets see how things go.

Once again thank you for taking the time out to reply to my posts

[/QUOTE] joinDubai40003.9540393519

[QUOTE=Jessica N]I don't know about the bipolar and ODD business. You haven't described anything that fits with those. The DSM diagnostic criteria are online if you google them. Sounds like the labels are being tossed around with little care. Sounds like the school psychologist is the one mentioning bipolor. What's her background? In the US the school psychologist is not a PhD. They are basically administrators, and are not qualified to diagnose any mental health conditions. You can find the educational requirements of a school psyche online as well, and they are not in the same ballpark as a real MD or PhD, not even close. The title of school psychologist is misleading, IMHO. As for the meds, they are really for the ADHD regardless of the supposed ODD. Maybe he's being aggressive at school because something is not working for him there. Wrong teacher, wrong classroom, teasing...ask him.[/QUOTE]

He gets angry when other kids bother him/ insult him or when the teacher gives him work that he can not do. he just has no self control & he says to me "mum can you get me some medicine to make me nice" after he has lashed out to his friends he feels bad about it & knows it wrong but only after.

As far as schools go i have no other choice it's the only school that will take him & the only school in Dubai that has a suport system in place.

Schools are a money making business out here & if there is a child who needs extra help it's just not available also if there is a child who is not hiting the grades it look's bad on there school statistic's & will put off other parents of traditional children sending them to there school. In Dubai your child has to fit in to the box or don't bother coming, we just got lucky & found him a place in BILD...so sad i know.

joinDubai40003.9532175926

(btw Bethann, I think you and I have the same child- or at least clones of each other! I swear everything you've said is EXACTLY like my son!)

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my cry for help lol.

BETHAN you said something very interesting.....'He also needs it in social situations like family parties, etc. , as they are very overstimulating for him'

This is Ryan to a tee. he can play nice with 1 child any more & it's sensory over load, he hates going shopping in the malls as there is to many people for him to cope with & just runs off & there is just no talking to him, he pleases himself, i pay a babysitter when ever i have to go shopping as i know he just can not cope with it.

at one point he could not even stand loud noises but i have got him on the therapeutic-listening head phones & cd's this has made a massive improvement..the school does it & i think its from South Africa.

I have NEVER been able to take him to the cinama but since starting the therapeutic-listening he can handle going to the cinama.

I will send Greyhoundmom03 a Pm now thanl you so much for your offer of help.

Jo-Ann

Jo-Ann, it sounds like your son is alot like mine. It is total sensory overload. Do you know about it? google it for info. The symptoms changes. My son could't feel pain, but now he can. He didn't like washing his hair, hair cuts, but now he doesn't mind. He used to love roller coasters, now he is afraid, etc.

grehound is a great source for you!!

sending you both my very best!!

Sorry forgot to add that the doctor has said he HAS AD/HD & ODD i'm just waiting for her to get back to me to talk about medication this will be on monday or tuesday when she calles me in for a chat.

[QUOTE=BETHANN]

grehound is a great source for you!!

sending you both my very best!!

[/QUOTE]

Ryan has to have his feet on the ground he hates rolla coasters, spinning, climing he sees danger & he is afraid of it as his anxity kicks in & he thinks he is going to die...bless him.

I knew nothing about SPD but i have looked into it since i was told my son had it.

He loves massage & he has 1 hour every night & i also do brushing for 20 mins each night with him, he was so out of sinc but this has got much better since he went to ST Andrews School here in Dubai. http://www.british-ild.com/ this is the school he goes to it has been a massive help to me & can not thank the staff enough, they even do parents classes every tuesday to help educate us parents on what our children go though, so i would say i was up to speed on SPD but this AD/HD & ODD is all new to me & realy need help & to study this more as we have only found out he has it 5 day's ago.

Logansmom,

How old is your son now? Mine is 12.

sounds like at school he is easily frustrated, adhd symptom as well. Lashing out at friends and feeling bad is also common, again it is not having self control but being impulsive, frustrated, etc. and yes, our kids are great kids and feel bad afterwards because it is not really them!! Our doctor said our son's adhd got in his way until meds when his true personality was allowed to come out!!

I agree with Bethann about the lashing out and frustration. My son is much younger but was having issues like that also. It has to do with the impulisvness of ADHD. They act before their little minds can think about consequences and in many cases they absolutely cannot control the behavior without help. My son used to say "it was an accident" all the time and it used to frustrate me because it looked pretty deliberate to me! Then I learned about ADHD and how hard it is for these kids to control their impulses and it all made sense. Good luck and hand in there!

Bethann, my son is 4 1/2. I know... very young ... but he is so sever that the something needed to be done immediately or his self esteem would have been shattered. I'm hoping that because we've caught it so early that he will have a better time as he gets older...hopefully!

Yes, I agee with your statement with catching it early, AND finding this place!!

My regret is not medicating before our son began kindergarten, he truly suffered.

Hi All.

I'm a british mum living as an expat in Dubai for 3 years now & have 1 Son who is 9 years old.

When my son was born he was a bad sleeper & when he got the the age of 2 he was very hyper. then when he got to school age he struggled with his reading & writing & always got below avarage in his school reports, so at the age of 6 we moved to Dubai as my husband got a job offer with private schooling fees paid for & we thought he would do better in a private school.

So when we got out here none of the main stream schools would take him & had to send him to a specialist school that has class sizes of 6 to 9 children & 1 teacher & 2 TA'S, also they offer OT therapy under the same roof.

So after 6 months in the school there found out that he has SPD & dyslexia (so do i so hence my bad spelling) they have worked wonders with him & he is no longer hyper & is much calmer now with 2 OT a week & 1 dyslexia class a week & he sees the child psycologist once a week.

i do know that certain food's & drink's send him hyper like coke, orange, bright colourd sweet & sugary things.

Now after seeing the child psycologist for 1 year she said she thinks he has Bi polar as he has been agressive towards the other kids in school so off i go to see a doctor a female austrailan doc I do like her & trust her but she is saying that Ryan my son has ADHD & ODD & is thinking about giving him conserta as ritalin here is realy hard to get hold of here & runs out of stock all the time.

At home he is a happy loving boy & i never get any trouble out of him but he is the only child so no one to fight with, he has such a big funny personality & is very mature for his age.

Ryan also has anxiety & panicks over dieing & when given coke he says his heart goes funny like beats too slow or too fast.

Now i have looked into the stimulant drugs & know they have an affect on the heart & this scares the hell out of me.

What bothers me is that i have read so many reports on food intollarances & ADHD having the same simptoms & i know that ryan is alergic to loads of things that send him crazy hyper.

What to do ?? this is where i'm at right now just need someone to talk to about this.

As i live in Dubai i don't have any family suport around me & i'm feeling very low & scared about it all.

Any advice would be great

ms.mom40005.5396412037

Agression towards others isn't a sign of bipolar necessary. I don't agree with that at all.

I honestly think your son may have ADHD and is frustrated, impulsive, hyper, etc. and does his very best to keep it together at school, but it isn't working anymore for him. At home he is comfortable, only child as well, and can entertain himself with what he wants to do. Our son was the same, but in school would show all his adhd signs at that age.

I would suggest trying to find a pediatric neuropsychologist who can perform an evaluation for your son.

I also found that medication is the only thing that helps my 12 yr old son. He was medicated just shy of 7 and wouldn't have lasted in school this long without it. It also got worse for him as he got older, not sure why but it did. So the meds were a saving grace for him. He also needs it in social situations like family parties, etc. , as they are very overstimulating for him.

My son also has sensory integration, has trouble with self regulation - coming down from recess after running around as an example, etc.

Also, if he is adhd, usually there is a co-morbid as well. My son has sensory AND anxiety. Anxiety is very common. I wonder if his hyper isn't brought out by foods, but because he has adhd?

I honestly do not believe it sounds like bi-polar, but I am not a doctor. I think it sounds like ADHD and Anxiety. You do need a formal diagnosis by a doctor.

Get the diagnosis so you can rule out and in things, then we can help with what to do. If it is adhd, school and social will get difficult due to him not being able to control "things" for himself and upsetting others. Get the diagnosis

I hope this is of some help. Please post again with any questions.

I agree with Bethann but will add that my DS (13 and has ADHD and possibly anxiety) is definitely affected by some foods. If he eats dyes, artificials and some salicylate foods he becomes VERY hyper. If he stays away from those foods his hyperness is very much better - he only gets hyper in exciting/overstimulating situations and it is very managable usually. Anyway, you may want to check out the Feingold Program (feel free to pm me with questions). For some kids dietary changes can be very helpful.

You should still try to get a definite diagnosis and if he needs meds, don't be scared of them just make sure he has had a physical and has had his heart checked before starting (many doctors do this before starting a child on stims). Medication can really help.

Good luck!

Greyhoundmom03,

You are a well of knowledge!! I have no history of experience dealing with foods, etc affecting my son. Thank you for your comments, very important your speaking from experience.

I did have his preschool teacher who wasn't of much help for my son at all think that my son's "problem" was too much sugar, NOT. He had ADHD since birth!!

I am sorry to not have more information, just experience mothering a ADHHHHHD son, successfully, if might add