Ive really benefitted from reading all these recent posts regarding ADHD issues and medications.
We are probably going to be in this same boat with my son, who I feel will be diagnosed with this as soon as all the evaluations are completed. He just started kindergarten in late August, so naturally this is when we are seeing a lot of the manifestations of the ADHD symptoms.
I did notice his (possible) symptoms before he started kindergarten this year and even had him evaluated by a behavioral pediatrician last summer because of my suspicions. And even when this pediatrician told me he doubted my son had ADHD, I knew in my gut his diagnosis was wrong and done under the wrong conditions (basically a 20 minute evaluation done in a quiet room, one-on-one with my son. No distractions, no other people in the room, no outside noises etc etc. This is NOT the way to evaluate for ADHD symptoms.)
So I do have a few questions for those of you experienced and in the know.....
On the DSM-IV criteria, my son has 8 of the 9 symptoms under the "Inattention" criteria checklist. Under the "Hyperactivity" and "Impulsivity" checklist, he has 6-7 of the symptoms.
In the classroom the teacher (and I as well because I volunteer in the class once a week) have noticed these behaviors:
--easily distracted by any little thing going on in the class
--inability to focus on work so only about half his work gets done compared to the other kids who can finish all their work. He needs CONSTANT reminders to keep on task and finish his work and needs either a parent volunteer or the teacher sitting with or near him keeping him on task
--VERY fidgety and wiggly. He doesnt get up out of his chair and move around the room or anything like that, but just constantly wiggly in his seat like he has ants in his pants or is uncomfortable.
--chews on everything. hes always been VERY oral!
--fine motor skills (writing/printing) not the best and below the level of even other boys (not girls)
Basically, the classic ADHD symptoms.....
These are the things we are doing now to help him, until we get everything else completed and he is officially diagnosed.
--teacher has him sit in a quiet part of the room facing away from the action when he is doing seat work. and this does help him quite a bit.
--my physical therapist friend gave me something called the "disco sit", basically a squishy padded cushion he puts on his chair that diminishes his "wiggly worminess"
--a squooshy ball for him to squeeze during work time
--I make sure he gets LOTS of physical exercise every day with climbing, hiking and/or riding his bike.
So my questions are these:
--if/when we decide we have to medicate him, will the medications help him both with his focus/inattention AND with his wiggly wormy/fidgety nature?
--would occupational therapy help him with any of the above symptoms?
--what are the downside to medicating him? I know there are side effects to the medications and that we may have to try a few different ones til we get the right fit, but Ive also read things like giving kids adhd meds will increase their chances of becoming drug addicted later on, or something like that....
Anyway, I guess Im just wanting to chime in and start a new dialogue on the whole ADHD thing....
Thanks!
