[angelkisses0102]

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?

Yes if it is due to ADHD. DD is doing so great already and as you know from the other thread...we are still very newly into medication.

--would occupational therapy help him with any of the above symptoms?

Yes, if it is sensory related. DS who has SPD and unDX'ed ADHD (unmedicated and will remain that way for at least another year or two)...OT helps....we will now be doing DS's OT at home as he is doing so well. DS has fidgit toys and the squishy seat at school...they both help (as does the fact that there are only 4 other kids in his SN class.) DD has some minor sensory issues along with the ADHD and we just keep her physically active and it helps. Gymnastics is great for her...we took a break from it and we see a definite difference.

--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....

The medications available today are so, so different than years ago...DD gets no 'high' from the Vyvanse...but most ADHD meds, if ABUSED, could become addictive. I have also read that some non-medicated ADHD teens and adults self-medicate with caffiene and other legal and/or street drugs as well as sometimes alcohol...so it is a catch 22. We are so lucky that DD is responding so well to the Vyvanse...and we decided in our case...the risk of the drugs were totally outweighed by the potential (now real) benefits.

Good luck...it's a very difficult decision to make...but I now regret now looking into medication sooner.