my son has recently been diagnosed with ADHD he is 4 years old and he was kicked out of his school (pre K) I am very upset but nothing that I can do. I need any advice on this issue my son is extremely energetic and now he is starting to have a little mouth on him which he did not learn from me. He has been put on Metadate it is kind of helping but it wears off at about 2pm my son does not do a thing I ask him to do he is constantly up and down or doing this and that never focuses on anything HELP
I called his Dr. this morning and she scheduled him for Monday morning so we will see she said the medication should have been way more effective than it is so she said they will try something different and when they find the right one it will work and work very well. I called his school this morning and I had it out with them and told them that I coldnt do anything about it because they are a private facility but I did give them a piece of my mind and I actually do feel better. I will keep you all up dated thank you all for your opinions
I am sorry I can not give you any advice but I fell for you, my son is almost 8 yrs old and was just diagnosed. I have no idea yet what form of action we are going to take, or where we stand, but I feel for you!
((((((HUGS)))))))
I can understand why you are upset, yet take a deep breath, there is support. First, because he is hyper, try to give him as much exercise as possible....try getting a trampoline at home, even a mini, try creating a space for him to play nerf basketball etc. or get him into sports. When you can see that he's got a lot of energy, let him take a run and tell him that you notice he's got a lot of energy which is a great thing for sports, etc. yet not for the dinner table. instead of time outs, etc. ,try sending him for a run around the house or go with him outside and pick running laps from point a to point b.
As far as add is concerned, talk to your doctor about the issues you're having with it stopping mid day. Touch his shoulder and talk to him directly eye to eye when you expect him to do something, have him repeat it back to you, and only give him one direction at a time.
The good news is that there are several books and a great PBS special about ADD that you can research. Also, the school season is coming to a quick end and this summer you could help him learn coping schools and start over next year.
It's a lot of hard work, I'm a parent of a kid who is ADD and it has been a long and bumpy road for him. The great thing is, is that he knows that everyone has things they need to work on...(brother is hyper, other brother gets angry, sister slightly ADD, me impatient, etc.) and he is no different. This is not a handicap yet it can make things harder and he knows this.
I know you love your son, love him alot and try to be patient. Stand up for his rights at school. Find someone at the school who understands what ADHD is and how to deal with it.
(There are several kids in my daughters class who are hyper, the teachers can see outside and let him run a few laps when he's too built up. The kids have now started to understand what this buildup feels like and are starting to request running when they need it)...wow.
This may be more than ADHD, he may fall into the Autisim spectrum. Kids with Autisim also have ADD - ADHD and or ODD or some combination of all. Take MSG out of his diet right away, it makes these kids violent (mouthing off and won't do as they are told). Check out the Autisim Diet online, it's very difficult to follow, no dairy or gluten but kids on this diet respond well.
Contact Social Services and Head Start to see what programs are available in your area. You could also contact the head of the department at a local university that has a good teaching program. If there are no support groups or programs in your area start one. Also look online for national groups for Autisim and Learning Disabilities. The Association for Retarded Persons (ARP) may also be a resourse for you.
Keep asking questions and looking for help. I have 2 of 4 kids with learning disabilities and an Autistic granddaughter. You have to advocate for your kids. My experience has taught me that the two most difficult groups to deal with are teachers and nurses because they think they know everything and won't listen to you or blow off your concerns. Remember you know your child best--don't them intimidate you--fight for your child.
Four seems young for an ADHD diagnosis. My son was in second grade and my daughter was in third when they were diagnosed but neither of them have the hyperactive type so I don't know if that makes a difference. You might want to check to see if there is also a food allergy though. Sometimes that can make things worse as far as behavior. A really big one is Red #40 food color. You will not find any research on this or any doctor to back it up. I have no idea why becuase the difference it makes when you take Red #40 out of their (ADD kids) diet is incredible. I didn't need scientific evidence. The evidence was in my child's behavior. For both of them.
Also, I have just learned that lemon oil is very calming and helps with focus. Just a drop rubbed onto the bottom of the foot really works. You can get the oils at a healthfood store or I have even found lemon zest to work in a pinch.
My son has extreme behavior problems and ADHD and I have ADD and we both take Vyvanse and it works quick and lasts until he goes to bed, and even after it wears off for me I can somewhat focus. My son wakes up at 7:00, takes his meds at about 7:25 and goes to sleep at 8:00 and it has been a wonder drug!! I had to fight with insurance to pay for it, because it is a newer drug (or at least it was a couple of years ago) and it is cheaper for insurance to pay for versus most other ADHD drugs. What I have found out with other ADHD drugs is there are peaks and valleys - peaks when the meds have kicked in and valleys of when the med is not in his system anymore - and with vyvanse it is a steady flow of meds all day long. I used to work in a peds clinic and had lunches with plenty of reps selling their drugs and I can personally say that this drug is wonders!!
Good luck,
M.
I have two boys, one who has ADHD.
I would make sure that he has no sleep issues. I found that my son had sleep apnea (tonsills/adnoids removed after) and never had proper sleep. Even after the surgery he still has obstructive sleep and is using CPAP (mask) at night. Although this hasn't "cured" he's ADHD it has helped.
We tried Focalin XR & Ritalin but Vyvanse has been the best for him.
good luck!
I read that sleep deprivation can mimic ADHD. Be sure he is getting 10-11 hours a night.
"Kind of" helping isn't enough. I would talk to the doctor for advice. He may need a higher dosage or different medication. When all is right with medication, you will get "wow!" results. It doesn't sound like you're there yet.
Most ADHD medications will run out in the afternoon. Ask the doctor about a booster dosage of plain Ritalin. Most of us have to give this to minimize ADHD symptoms so our kids can get through after-school activities and homework.
The defiance is part of ADHD. When you get the medication just right, it will go away. We went through this with our son.
Our son was kicked out of preschool, so I can relate to what you're going through. It's a difficult road but it sounds like you're on the right track giving medication a try. Medication made enough of a difference for our son that he was able to attend a different preschool and do great, and he's continued to do great into the elementary school years.
Also look into behavioral therapy. Combined with medication, it made a real difference for our son and it has been fantastic having an expert to turn to for advice on our son's challenges.
Good luck!
ADHD does not cause the "mouthy" behavior. I do agree with ReverandRuby about looking into things. You might look at: http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-it-adhd-atten...
And here is another way to look at his high energy - some day this may be a great asset to him. Some day he may have charisma and be able to multitask. It is not all negative. In the meantime, you can augment treatment with good health, good sleep, acceptable outlets, good discipline, addressing any learning disorders you may uncover, and even strategies to slowly increase concentration in small doses.
