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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 425
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Posts: 425 |
Twinkletoes, my feeling is, even if she's happy as a clam, if her behavior's wearing out dedicated parents and hurting other people's feelings, it should be worked on, and having help in this is better than not.
Some people feel this approach is pathologizing children with whom nothing is seriously wrong; but taking this route has vastly improved the quality of our DS's life and ours.
YMMV.
DeeDee DeeDee, I like this way of looking at it. Reading Twinkle Toes posts and yours and others helps me feel better about seeking help for my DD. Thanks for the perspective. - Breakaway Me too!
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Joined: Sep 2009
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I have a 7 year old son who sounds like your child! I agree that 4 is young for a diagnosis, however if it is ADHD, children with early intervention benefit the most.
I would try to look at her behavior in different settings. If you see the same behaviors across settings, it could be ADHD. Of course, at 4 I don't think anyone would actually diagnose it or treat it with medication. You don't want a mis-diagnosis.
Oh, and on a side note, and this is just my personal opinion, I think that if you take a child to an OT to be evaluated for SPD, they'll find it! Just like taking your car to the shop. They always find "something." Kids are sensory-seeking in nature; it's how they learn about their environment. There are varying degrees of "normal" with regards to sensory perception/behaviors. This is another area I'd caution against diagnosing too early. As our pediatrician said when our son was 4 and diagnosed with SPD, "of course he has SPD; that's what makes him a 4 year old!" That said, SPD techniques/exercises can be easily found on the internet and implemented by parents. They do work, but in my opinion, they only work for a couple of hours following the exercises. If you an make them a part of your regular routine, you'll see results with any child, disordered or not. There are so many books on this, you can find the info yourself without paying for an evaluation. Not to knock OTs...I work with them daily, and they do wonderful work with people. This is just one area that I think is over-diagnosed and can cause people to miss other pertinent diagnoses or miss out on proper treatment. In my experience, SPD rarely stands alone and is usually a symptom of another issue.
Have you researched ADHD strategies and behavior modification techniques? I would highly recommend starting those as early as possible regardless of a diagnosis or not.
I don't know if this info helps at all, but please know you're not alone. I can SO relate to everything you said. In fact, I've been relating to it for 7 years! Hugs!!
Last edited by JenSMP; 09/13/10 12:26 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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Jen, what does early intervention for ADHD look like?
Most doctors don't seem to evaluate for it until age 5 or so, saying there are no testing instruments that are accurate before that age. True? Myth?
Book recommendations?
DeeDee
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Jen, what does early intervention for ADHD look like?
Most doctors don't seem to evaluate for it until age 5 or so, saying there are no testing instruments that are accurate before that age. True? Myth?
Book recommendations?
DeeDee I totally agree, Deedee. I don't think any doctor will diagnose at age 4, however if/when ADHD is diagnosed, the earlier it is treated, the better the long-term outcome. When I refer to treatment, I am talking about counseling, behavior mod therapy, ABA, teaching organizational strategies, environmental modifications, (among others), and sometimes medication, depending on severity. Parents can begin working on some of this at home very early on. Not that this is easy by any means. I struggle with it daily. Even with a diagnosis and active treatment (medication and home and school strategies-starting counseling this week), it's a work in progress at our house. Right now, we're trying to figure out if our son also has an anxiety disorder in addition to ADHD. I don't know of any 4-year-olds on medication, but I do know of 5-year-olds who take ADHD medications. The behavior mod techniques and counseling can benefit any child with ADHD-like symptoms whether it's actual ADHD, OEs, etc. Doctors/therapists will sometimes use a diagnosis of "emerging ADHD" for younger children if a medical diagnosis is needed to warrant treatment. Sometimes this diagnosis is changed to ADHD as the child gets older. Sometimes, with maturity the ADHD-like behaviors resolve. If this occurs, I'd say the child never had ADHD to begin with, but the counseling and strategies were likely beneficial nonetheless. The whole medication debate is another matter altogether, and those decisions depend on the doctor and the parent. My son started medication at 6, but I felt secure with the diagnosis once I let myself "go there" and accept the truth. It took me a while to be ready to hear it although I suspected it for a while. Had I had real doubts I would not have taken that route. We knew we had to do something because the ADHD was interfering with learning. As for testing instruments, most doctors use parent/teacher questionnaires. Some do neuro-psych testing, but I don't know any that are normed for children that young. I would caution against an ADHD (or any other)diagnosis at 4 years old, especially with a gifted child, to avoid misdiagnosis. However, I do feel strongly that the earlier a child receives help, the better off they'll be. I like the book: Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson, EdD and Richard Guare, PhD. Also, The Mislabeled Child by Brock Eide, M.D., M.A. and Fernette Eide, M.D. I'm also reading a book called The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids. I'm sure there are many others parents here can recommend. Oh, another thought on early suspicions of ADHD-I'd certainly look at family history. Obviously, if a parent, sibling, or other close relative has it, the more likely it is that your child could have it too. This is an interesting article: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/2e.gifted.adhd.pdf
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Joined: Apr 2010
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When I refer to treatment, I am talking about counseling, behavior mod therapy, ABA, teaching organizational strategies, environmental modifications, (among others), and sometimes medication, depending on severity. Jen, I'm fascinated. My DS8 has Asperger's-- we do a lot of ABA. I have never heard of ABA used for ADHD and would love to know more about the kinds of interventions: what specific skills are being taught and how? Thanks for the reading list-- will take a look! DeeDee
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Dee-dee, I honestly have zero experience with ABA and therefore, probably shouldn't have included it. I added it in the list b/c of info I got from an OT friend of mine. Her son does ABA for ADHD, but I don't know much about it. From the little she shared with me about it, it sounds more like she is describing behavior modification techniques. She did say that the methods are adapted to fit ADHD rather than autism spectrum disorders, but that's all I know. I did try to search online for some info on ABA for ADHD, but I didn't find much. This is what I found, and it's certainly not any kind of substantial info or proof that it works. In fact the yahoo answers post has a reply from a doctor who says it's not an appropriate therapy for ADHD (I think; I just glanced at it.) Sorry! http://www.wellsphere.com/parenting-article/aba-vs-adhd/763025http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100321173550AAvUtBt
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 313
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Hi All,
Some of you may already know my DD4's story and have already offered support and advice, but here I am again, still unsure.
My DD4 is like many of the little ones on here: she spoke very early, read very early (well before three years old), did math early, asked outrageously advanced questions early, remembered things and learned at a frightening level and the "usual" (ha ha this is the only place I can call these things usual). Also, like some children on here, but unlike others, she is very, very intense.
Now I know about over-excitabilities and how giftedness can look like ADHD etc. but I am still not sure where to turn. We actually had her assessed by an OT and she is beginning services for what appears to be sensory-seeking, but we have not received a report yet and they do not give a diagnosis. I am still wondering how much is sensory related and if that stands alone or is attached to something else like ADHD etc.
She is funny, verbal, creative, and artistic, but some challenging traits are that she is impulsive, defiant, intense, grabby (wants to touch and throw everything), craves stimulation, seems to be talking a mile a minute every waking moment, etc.
She can sit and focus on books, drawing, coloring, and Playdough for extended period. She has sat for the ballet and performances because she is interested in the show.
She seems to get over-excited around other kids, esp, around littler ones: she regresses and acts sillier, louder, and more immature than they do. It is hard to advocate for your gifted child if she is acting like a clown and trying to talk in babytalk when she can read and speak in a very sophisticated way. I am all for her being a silly kid and acting goofy, but she often lets the wild woman out of the bag at the wrong times.
She is extroverted and loves other kids, but gets over-excited sometimes and loses control of her senses. At that point, she makes bad decisions. She likes to rile other kids up and is good at it! She is highly emotional, and dramatic.
Yeah, I love this kid, but she is tiring for a stay at home mom who had kids late in life and has a two year old who is also a fireball.
Please pepper me with any questions if you have any thoughts. All feedback appreciated.
thanks. You described my DS5 to a T. For my DS, he also tends to feed off of other children poor behaviors. I also feel bad seeking help since DH thinks all these are typical boy behiavors.
Last edited by HelloBaby; 08/22/14 10:42 AM.
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