Need some help and guidance

My 6 year old DS is in kindergarten. Since Sept. he has been making noises in the classroom and during carpet time he can't sit still. He gets speech therapy for articulation and counselng.....in a fun way not with a psychologist. The teacher has been working with the psych and doing things in class when he acts out. During carpet time, they let him go outside the classroom took relax and then go back in. This also goes further than the classroom..it happens in PE, music, science, and sometimes onthe bus where the neighborhood kids are shying awa from him. At home, he makes noises. Sometimes yelling but not too loud. I have said to his teacher and pysch that maybe we should do a ADHD screening and see if he has some sort of type of ADHD. Today the teacher called to say that besides all this, when she tried talking with him he would laugh at her and did it in PE as well. I am at wits end and don't know what to do. Can anyone give me some insight if this is ADHD or just a spiteful kid? We have no taken anything away or been firm with him b/c the teacher said to just act natural and just talk with him...be positive she said. We do have problems with him not making eye contact and not listening at home either.

Re: Need some help and guidance

Did you ask him why he sings in class? My son is also in kindergarten and was having a tough time adjusting. He would lay down during circle time. He also drew on the desk. I had a long talk with him. I explained that he can't lay down and drawing on the desk is wrong. That someone has to clean it up, it does not belong to him, and takes away from everyone else (teacher attention, etc.), and we don't do those things at home. Since we had the heart to heart he has not done any of the bad things he was doing. My son really wanted attention. I explained that it was better to get attention for doing good things than bad things. My son was also incredibly board. I would see if you can ask your son to try to hum to himself. Say if you can do that perhaps we can take music classes or something else he might enjoy. As for eye contact, I would keep reinforcing eye contact during conversations at home and remind him to look whom ever he is speaking with in the eye. Good luck.

Need some help and guidance

What kind of noises? Honestly it doesn't sound like ADHD to me, well maybe the inattentive part. But not the noises or lack of eye contact. I would probably contact a developmental pediatrician or a neurologist and set up an appointment.

Message edited 12/19/2012 11:24:48 AM.

Re: Need some help and guidance

What do you mean by development ped. so I can tell his ped?

Re: Need some help and guidance

A developmental pediatrician is a type of doctor. They specialize in development of children, and can diagnose various developmental disorders/delays, etc.

Re: Need some help and guidance

Could he have Tourettes's Syndrome? I would go to a Neurologist. There is a great one in Plainview that accepts insurance. Where are you located?

Re: Need some help and guidance

Re: Need some help and guidance

My son has PDD-NOS. He recieves speech and OT services. He is also in Kindergarten. He does have his moments (during play usually, where he "squeaks"...especially when excited).
He can sit still, but, he will clap his hands or "flap" at times (again, when excited or to much going on).

I would also maybe make an appointment with an neurologist, if you wanted to follow up on it.

Re: Need some help and guidance

the diagnosis would only be for you. ADHD makes no difference to the school in getting services. They provide related services based on deficits not on diagnosis.

DS has ADHD with impulsivity. We went to a dev ped b/c we wanted to rule out other possibilities and were not interested in medicating right away. But we also were given heads up that it would probably be ADHD by CPSE psych evaluation.

On a side note ODD (Oppositional defiant Disorder) is sometimes linked to ADHD

Re: Need some help and guidance

Need some help and guidance

Definately have the school evaluate him to see what is going on. If they behaviors do not seem to get better than I would push them to set up a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIF) and they should provide services and techniques to help correct the behaviors. The noises are definately something they can work on and speech should be on top of that. Getting a diagnosis really won't do much in the school setting (unless it's a ASD) and they will give services based on need. You should definately look into getting a BIF though, it helps to keep track of progress.

Re: Need some help and guidance

He has had a behavorial evaluation and they did have a plan. They are coming up with another plan as well. We went to the PED's yesterday and they thought it was maybe his immaturity and needs to be worked on.

Re: Need some help and guidance

Have you looked at a parent checklist?

link

It's by no means a formal dx, but it can be the first step.

Re: Need some help and guidance

Just printed it out. Thanks.