[angelkisses0102]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Is anyone else out there in this boat? While I would appreciate some resources from parents of gifted children...especially those whose schools/doctors want to label their child as ADHD...has anyone else who has adopted a PI child had to deal with the child being gifted and the school leading with ADHD?

Since my last thread on this I have began researching this (what a surprise to those of you who know me...LOL!) DD is looking to have an IQ of around 120 - 140...so we are not in the highly or profoundly gifted categories...but the kid is pretty darn bright! I am having her tested outside of school as soon as school supplies me with all of their final results.

She fits the characteristics of giftedness to a 'T'...I am finally understanding my DD completely...yay! I read the articles and I am in total agreement. But my big concern is that ADHD and her PI history is going to bury her true 'issue.'

Can anyone offer help, support or articles/sites of interest? PM's are fine if you are more comfortable with that...

Thanks!

[tbristow]

Wow, at that age it's a tough one... The potential is there for us to be fighting the same battle in a year or two though. So many schools want to throw the ADHD card when the kid may simply be bored and the school isn't challenging enough. I would definitely get a 2nd opinion before letting the school run with it. For that matter, if she can read, a psychologist should be able to do a fairly accurate IQ test at the same time. If she's closer toward 140, you've got your hands full regardless. There's even a huge difference between 130 and 140...and it will only increase as she gets older. All I can do is wish you luck and ask that you keep us posted (I know you will!!) because there are quite a few of us that will be in your shoes very soon on at least one of the issues (I still can't believe we're looking at magnet middle schools already to plan ahead... ).

[papedge]

Emery was tested for gifted and missed it only by a few questions he got 78 out 83 and I will have to see what happens next year he has a very pro-active teacher giving him more work(advancedwork) to do w e will see what next year brings. Good Luck Karen and keep us posted.

kimberley

[lovestruck]

Ugh, I'm frustrated. I just wrote this long response and it timed out when I went to send it.

So I'll be more brief in this.

My son is gifted and has behaviors that mimic ADHD, however this is my older son so he is not adopted.

I encourage you to have a full IQ done. My son missed the schools assessment by 2 points and his first grade teacher at the time encouraged us to get the full IQ. We did and he more than qualified as gifted.

This changed his schooling experience.

He only goes to PATS once a week however it gives him something to look forward to.

His first grade teacher at the time also locked him in to reading. He's always enjoyed reading but she increased the level of books he read so as soon as he quickly finished his work he could read. This helped greatly

He is now in third grade and reading his fifth Harry Potter book that has over 800 pages.

REading and the computer allow him to keep his mind busy which seems to help in so many other areas.

Also sports, playing outside a lot help with the energy side.

Sometimes his brightness and social immatureity (sp) combined with his VERY STRONG Will equal TROUBLE!

Raising a gifted child is not always easy, but it's just as important to advocate for them as well because if they are not challenged this can also led to future problems and more behaviors that mimic ADHD. Because my son has some ADHD traits this actually helped his teacher become more proactive because he did his work so quickly and then had too much time to fidget, show boredom and disrupt the class. She knew that if we did not advocate for him we could "lose" him and his brightness would be secondary to his behaviors. Of course I agreed and pushed right along with her. I can't stress enough what a difference it made in him.

[angelkisses0102]

Thanks guys! I should have mentioned that I am just waiting on one more set of test results from her school before we go for a complete outside assessment. I have some good recommendations already thanks to a frua poster. So I am so hoping they get the tests and results to me this week.

Tbristow~
Yes there is a huge difference between a 120 and 140 and higher. I have a fairly high IQ and I know what a nightmare I was when I was in high school education wise. I hated being smart and 'dumbed' myself down a lot...I so don't want DD to ever have to do that. My cousin is in the 150-160 range and wow what a disaster his education was. And the social issues...it really 'ruined' his life until very recently...he is in his 30's now and finally comfortable in his own skin.

I agree that many of us will be in the same boat. Intelligence has to play in a huge role in how some of our kids even survived their early life experiences. So sad but very true.

Lovestruck~
I was so hoping you would post...I *thought* it was you who had good information for me based on your experience with your son. I know in the past we have *talked* about DD.

There is no doubt now that she is gifted...it is really just the level of giftedness at this point. She does not test well at all...so I am very concerned about any test results we get from the school and even an IQ test. I am assuming because she is reading at a 2nd grade level...(at least...she is reading chapter books now at age 6.5...at home anyway and she has been taking some into school as well) that she will do a written IQ test. Those are more accurate right? But if she is not positive of any answer...she refuses to answer for fear of being wrong...she is not a guesser.

I spent half the day with her class today...this is a class with some very bright kids in it as well as a couple of potential ADHD kids (and one total ADHD or major sensory seeker child.) She is active and she is verbal so she is 'noticable' when she is active. But I still don't feel she is ADHD...but I do get why the school and the teacher see the behaviors. She has some of the ADHD behaviors, some impulsivity, the social immaturity...but no true attention issues (teacher's assessment agress with this completely.) There is also another little boy in her class that appears to have a true photographic memory...what an amazing child to talk to.

Anyway, I think your son and my daughter are 'soul' siblings...she sounds so much like your son. I am so glad that we are getting to the bottom of this finally...my gut has always said something was 'going on' with her and now I am hoping we have gotten to the bottom of it. Not that it will solve every issue but at least we will have an idea of what we are dealing with.
Thanks,
K

[ophelia72]

Good luck angelkisses. My God son who is not adopted nad has not been tested but is quite bright. Is easily bored. Father has ADHD and he seems to have those tendencies. I find Children do get easily bored if not challenged. Fight for your child and don't let anyone stand in your way. Some teachers NOT all just don't want to go teh extra mile for some kids. It is not right. You will be in my prayers. Hang tough. Your forum friend

[lovestruck]

The IQ test isn't really a test, test per say, so she will probably do just fine. A good psychologist will make it fun too and not feel "testish" at all.

Also, the psychologist will take notice if he/she is concerned there might be ADHD tendencies.

I forgot to mention R can also be pretty impulsive too.

I remember being so nervous when he tested, thinking I don't care if he's gifted or not, but if he is it will open up so many doors for him. I was so worried about how I was going to keep him challenged if he tested just shy again. Thankfully there was no question on the full blow IQ test. HOpe it all goes well. Be sure to update when the testing is complete.

[angelkisses0102]

Thanks!

I little bit of an update...on another forum a mom posted about her DD having a bad behavioral reaction to Zyrtec. Got me to thinking about DD and being on singulair since shortly after Alex came home. I just looked and found some very scary side effects for singulair as well...including lack of concentration, defiance (although she is passively defiant if that makes sense) difficulty playing with peers, among many others. Needless to say I am taking her off of it beginning tonight. I am sick thinking this could be part of it. ARGH!

I am not going to mention it to her teacher and see if she sees any changes after spring break.

Great site for info on side effects of meds from real people! Singulair side effects : Medications.com

K

[GCS]

Oh K! I didn't realize that A was on Zyrtec. I have a brother who is reeling right now dealing with the after effects of this medication on his child who is 4 and has been on it 3 years for serious allergies. They've had him off for a few months now and he is just starting to move past the defiance issues. He was a super easy baby and a lovely toddler and then around 3 he became unmanagable. Got kicked out of daycare after daycare and was becoming depressed that he couldnt get along in pre-school. They had to change their lives completely to keep him home and are working to rebuild with him. They can not prove it but really believe the Zyrtec had a lot to do with it. He had all the same symptoms and behaviors.

[angelkisses0102]

C~
DD was on Singulair...not Zyrtec...but the awful side effects can be the same. (Another mom posted about her DD and the zyrtec and that prompted me to check on the singulair.) I believe there is a recent story at the link I posted above about a suicide related to a child on singulair. I stopped the singulair last night and we shall see what happens. They start their spring break today so maybe the teacher will notice a change once she goes back. If she was impacted it was not as bad as some of the stories I am reading about...but it would explain where my easy baby and toddler went.

So sorry to hear about your brother's family. How sad and scary...thankfully they figured it out. Hopefully things will continue to improve for them.

K

[GCS]

K-
a bit OT but along those lines...
I started DS on Added Attention and then took him off it after a few days. He was having crying fits in the afternoon. At first I thought maybe it was a coincidence as there has been a flu going around and maybe he just wasnt feeling well. I waited a week and gave it to him once more and after school he was in tears over the littlest things. He doesn't temper or cry often so the only conclusion I could come to was this was an effect of the supplement. I tossed it. The teacher has no problems with him at school but we know that he has a hard time with transistions and calming down when he gets excited (rev-ed) so I thought that this might be a good fit.

I am thinking of taking him off the Coromega too and just having him take Cod Liver Oil (lemon flavored) with me in the morning. Its less processed and more natural a supplement taken in this form. I'm just thinking it will be tough to get him to take it!

[NJNative]

My son is thrice-exceptional. Highly gifted, with learning disabilities and ADHD. We've made it to his junior year! One more year of high school after this one and then a technical school.

Robin

[Traci Major]

I am so grateful I finally found time to catch up on this forum, as I have learned something that maybe very beneficial to our daughter. She has been on both Zyretc and and Singulair since shortly after her arrival home 2 years ago. She has been dx. with RAD and
Sensory Processing Disorder and has been getting
therapy and treatment for both. Through recent testing with the school district we confirmed what we knew, that she is very smart, but her behaviors are
causing her to not be able to focus on what she is suppose to be doing and these behaviors are going to cause problems in the classroom when she starts.
Her behavior at times is out of control, especially at home. We are going to take her off of both of these medication tonight and see if this helps.
Thanks for the information.

Traci

[Traci Major]

Quick question.
What would be recommended to give your child for allergies, if they do better behavior wise off the Zyretc and Singulair?
Since the doctors ordered these meds for my daughter knowing about her other issues, I would like some input from parents who have been there, and what they have used.

Thanks
Traci

[xddcq20]

My daughter literally climbs the walls when given Zyrtec - it is awful. And she has terrible, terrible, terrible, nightmares/terrors when she takes Singulair. The only thing she can take that works is Benadryl, believe it or not!

Interestingly enough, she too was labeled ADHD by pre-school and Kindergarten teachers. I finally had her evaluated by a child psychiatrist and it turns out she is bright (IQ = 136) and bored out of her mind. So, our child psychiatrist worked with the school psychologist to come up with a program that keeps her busy so she isn't disruptive to the other kids. Big improvement in first grade!