[Dmommab]

Two of my adopted children need some major help and I'm not sure where to turn or what to do.
#1) Shawn is 7 years old. He came to us thru foster care at 3 and his adoption was final over a year ago. He was diagnosed by 2 diff. psych at 3 as autistic but I NEVER agreed with that diagnosis - he's too interactive (if that makes sense) for autism! His current diagnoses are bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression. He is on Respiradol (sp?), Strattera, Clonidine (for sleep) and Trileptal. He sees the psych. once a month for med refills (and adj. if needed) but I don't feel like he is getting what he needs. I think he may have an attachment disorder but don't know where to start with this.
2) Zackery came to live with us at 2 days as a foster child. His adoption has been final 2 years and he will be 4 in March. He was positive for cocaine & marijuana at birth. Mom was a prostitute so I think alcohol may have been involved during pregnancy but I'm not sure. He has a temper that won't quit & seems to absolutely not be able to control himself on so many levels. If he asks for something & you tell him no he will throw things (including chairs) and scream and cry for an hour or longer. Time outs do NOTHING, holding him works better than anything I guess but really not well. I think there is either an attachment disorder (but he's been with us since 2 days??) or fetal alcohol something going on.
Can anyone suggest someplace or what I can do to help get them the help they need??? We are in Xenia Ohio - between Columbus and Cincinnati, near Dayton. THANKS for any & all advice.

[knudsons]

Have you heard much about Sensory Integration Disorder? My Brenden was diagnosed on the autism spectrum and we have others that have said no that he has sensory integration disorder and when I have attended group meetings on this I have found it applicable.

[Barksum]

I would look into the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder information for your sons. We were told to investigate autism because of one of our son's behaviors, but he didn't quite fit the autism profile; in many ways, he does, but not in many others. He does fit FAE to a tee, though. We've been unable to get a formal diagnosis, though, as we do not have written documentation signed by his bio mom that she used alcohol during her pregnancy. (Child was removed due to her drug and alcohol addiction...but the children's hospital didn't count that as sufficient info to use. )

You'll notice that many, many issues such as FAS/FAE, autism, dysfunction of sensory integration, attachment disorders, various mental illnesses, etc. all have very similar lists of behaviors associated with them. The common factor of all of the issues I listed is brain differences. The brain processes incoming information in an erratic or abnormal way. If you son has FAS/ FAE, medication most likely will not touch the underlying problem, but only some of the symptoms.

Knudsons' suggestion of looking into SI is also a good one. We were told to have our son tested for dysfunction of sensory integration and found this VERY helpful. We found out that our son has "tactile defensiveness", which means that he didn't like to be touched as he processed that incoming sensory information as "pain". Made life so much easier when we began to understand this and work on the SI stuff. The rages began to make sense, the screaming when another child hugged him made sense, etc. If a child perceives smells, sights, sounds, touch, or other sensory information as overwhelming in some way they act on that incoming information. It looks bizarre if you don't understand what is going on inside the child. So definitely worth checking out. Find an occupational therapist who works with children and who understands and screens for sensory integration problems.

Hope you get some advice that fits your need! Keep posting if you have questions or need to vent.

[momraine]

I would try a new specialist and just start from scratch, but that's only if you can afford it. Otherwise you will have to look at things on your own. It's not uncommon for a child to have more than one thing. My son (bio so I know there is no attachment issue, since I was a very hands on mom) went through a lot of different diagnosis before settling on the Aspergers, however, he is on Addrall, which helps him in school and he also has some SI, though he does very well now. I think some can be genetic as well. I have a little of the tactile defensiveness myself, though I didn't realize it till I was going through stuff with my son. I just knew that if someone (even dh touched me lightly it was very irritating, it's worse when I am tired. My poor dh loves to stroke my skin early in the morning to wake me up, but has learned that makes me hit. LOL When I am tired that touch is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. DH has learned firm massage is better. Anyway, ds has gotten better over the years once we figured out the problem and knew what to work on.

[Barksum]

Momraine, that's too funny about the light touch. Light touch irritates me, too.

One fm I talked to said that she's had many SI kids over the years and she has learned that however they touch her is how they like to be touched; so if they use that feather touch, that's how they like to be touched, if they use firm touch, etc. Anyway, Ds uses a feather touch and it drives me nuts at times - it's an instant irritant to me. He likes me to touch him lightly, though, so I'm working on it. LOL

[zebramom]

D-

If you're looking for an attachment specialist, I would start with

Attachment & Bonding Center of Ohio
12608 Stte Road Suite 1
Cleveland, OH 44133
(440) 230-1960
abcofohio@webtv.net

They are the biggest, baddest group in the area, and it's office that Greg Keck works out of. If it is too far for you, ask them for a referral. They are going to know the people who are the best in the business. You can also ask them for a referral for a good psychiatrist or neuro psychologist.

Attachment issues can occur even in biological kids, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. A good p-doc or neuro psych will be able to help you.

It sounds like you may actually have co-morid diagnosis (more than one thing going one). Autism occurs on a wide spectrum, so he could be high functioning autistic, but I am in no way trained to make that diagnosis.

I hope this helps at least a little bit.

[BD2884]

Just wanted to let you know that we use ABC of Ohio--but they do have a Columbus office where both therapists are trained by Greg Keck. They are great!

BTW--we are in Cincinnati. I would definitely recommend that you go north to Columbus and avoid Children's Hospital here. They have not been great in dealing with the psychological problems of adopted children. Not proactive or cutting-edge at all. It is such disappointment!

Anyhow, I would be happy to send you any information that would help. Let me know!