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Does my son have ADHD?
I'm worried about my son. The play school he goes to tells me that my son can't stay focused for the task at hand. They are also worried about his safety since he will wonder off to another room while all the other kids are playing in the main room. My son also takes 1-2 hours to put himself to sleep during nap time, and sometimes doesn't sleep at all, but is clearly exhausted.
Does this sound like ADHD, or something else?
Does this sound like ADHD, or something else?
If he is only there for three hours, I'm surprised he is taking a nap there also. That's not a very long time to be in a school. My guess would be a lot of kids would have trouble calming down fi they just got there and already have to take a nap. My son stopped taking naps at age three. A lot of 2.5 year olds don't focus well, his attn span should grow with time. I remember from teh time my son was age three to about five, his attn span grew tremendously!
I guess HTML does not work?
Here is the raw link: http://www.addresources.org/article_adhd_checklist_amen.php
HoᴖeyNᴗt
Here is the raw link: http://www.addresources.org/article_adhd_checklist_amen.php
HoᴖeyNᴗt
Please check out this checklist. My therapist first showed me it (a printed version) during my session, and I was able to find it online. I found it to be a wonderful tool, because not every category that they have listed, I would have immediately thought to be related to ADHD/ADD. I also am diagnosed as Bipolar, so some of these symptoms I previously thought were just Bipolar related.
I hope this helps. It certainly opened my eyes a bit, and allowed me to share more information about my past history with my Psychiatrist that he ended up increase my dosage. The higher dosage has worked wonders for previous problems I never knew were related to my ADHD (sensitivity to noise and irritability).
Here is the link: ADHD/ADD Checklist
Take care,
HoᴖeyNᴗt
I hope this helps. It certainly opened my eyes a bit, and allowed me to share more information about my past history with my Psychiatrist that he ended up increase my dosage. The higher dosage has worked wonders for previous problems I never knew were related to my ADHD (sensitivity to noise and irritability).
Here is the link: ADHD/ADD Checklist
Take care,
HoᴖeyNᴗt
Oh, I missed your post with his age . . . I think we were writing at the same time and I got it wrong that he was to take a nap at preschool (making me think it was daycare).
He is way to little to start talking about add/adhd. As I said, he is of an age in which there is huge variability amonst kids. However, with that said . . . you are in a situation in which the teachers at his school have concluded that he sits outside of what they see in most kids his age. My son did as well at that age. He went to a preschool program for one half day a week at 2 going on 3 and I was approached by his teacher after 2 months. She felt that he wandered the room, wasn't interacting as the other kids did, didn't stay focased (like would paint for 20 seconds and run off), etc. We had a therapist that was on contract with the school come and observe him for 3 school days. She then told us she suspected he had sensory integration disorder. I was devestated because I really had not noticed much at home. He met every single developmental milestone on time or early and is extremely smart. He is my first born . . . I will say in retrospect, I see how some things tied into sensory after the fact. Anyway, we had him evaluated by an occupational therapist that specialized in sensory. This was through a government grant and was free. The evaluation was inconclusive. I took that to mean nothing was wrong. The following year he attended two half days a week and by mid year there was no denying something was going on. We had him re evaluated by an occupational therapist and it was conclusive that he had sensory integration disorder. We started doing many things differently then. He was 4 at the time.
Here is what we did--------- we increased his physical activity by eons. Every single day, every single day, every single day (I say that three times because I can not emphasize it enough)-------- we got out and about for lots of physical activity. We swam, we went to parks, we went to gyms, we climbed structures, we jumped on tramplines, we rolled down hills, we ran up hills, we just ran. We skipped, we crashed into piles of pillows, we jumped off stuff, we rode scooters (eventually bikes), we did the monkey bars ,etc. As much as possible. They call what you do for sensory kids "heavy work". It is using their muscles. Have him carry a bag with a couple of books in it. (put some in for him to keep there for his way into school--------- the weight is calming). Have him push a laundry basket with things in it across the floor. Have him go up to a wall and push it like he is pushing it over. Have him get on his hands and knees and crawl. Do an obstacle course with both elements in it. Sensory kids usually love deep pressure. Have him lay flat on his stomach and put pillows on top of him and gently push. He'll love it most likely. We call it sandwich. You can use an exercise ball and roll it up and down him when he is laying on his belly on the floor, we call that steam roller. The last two things I mention are good to do before bed. Deep pressure is very soothing and calming to the nervous system. There are a million and one activities to try. I'm happy to share more if you are interested.
Finally, my son is now 6. He is doing beautifully. You would never know he is the kid who struggled so much in preschool. He is in kindergarten without any intervention at this time. We manage his sensory integration through occupational therapy techniques and that "heavy work". It works fantastic! I've written thank you notes to that first teacher my son had that was astute enough to pick up on his differences and help us get the right diagnosis. Our son wouldn't be where he is today without her. good luck
He is way to little to start talking about add/adhd. As I said, he is of an age in which there is huge variability amonst kids. However, with that said . . . you are in a situation in which the teachers at his school have concluded that he sits outside of what they see in most kids his age. My son did as well at that age. He went to a preschool program for one half day a week at 2 going on 3 and I was approached by his teacher after 2 months. She felt that he wandered the room, wasn't interacting as the other kids did, didn't stay focased (like would paint for 20 seconds and run off), etc. We had a therapist that was on contract with the school come and observe him for 3 school days. She then told us she suspected he had sensory integration disorder. I was devestated because I really had not noticed much at home. He met every single developmental milestone on time or early and is extremely smart. He is my first born . . . I will say in retrospect, I see how some things tied into sensory after the fact. Anyway, we had him evaluated by an occupational therapist that specialized in sensory. This was through a government grant and was free. The evaluation was inconclusive. I took that to mean nothing was wrong. The following year he attended two half days a week and by mid year there was no denying something was going on. We had him re evaluated by an occupational therapist and it was conclusive that he had sensory integration disorder. We started doing many things differently then. He was 4 at the time.
Here is what we did--------- we increased his physical activity by eons. Every single day, every single day, every single day (I say that three times because I can not emphasize it enough)-------- we got out and about for lots of physical activity. We swam, we went to parks, we went to gyms, we climbed structures, we jumped on tramplines, we rolled down hills, we ran up hills, we just ran. We skipped, we crashed into piles of pillows, we jumped off stuff, we rode scooters (eventually bikes), we did the monkey bars ,etc. As much as possible. They call what you do for sensory kids "heavy work". It is using their muscles. Have him carry a bag with a couple of books in it. (put some in for him to keep there for his way into school--------- the weight is calming). Have him push a laundry basket with things in it across the floor. Have him go up to a wall and push it like he is pushing it over. Have him get on his hands and knees and crawl. Do an obstacle course with both elements in it. Sensory kids usually love deep pressure. Have him lay flat on his stomach and put pillows on top of him and gently push. He'll love it most likely. We call it sandwich. You can use an exercise ball and roll it up and down him when he is laying on his belly on the floor, we call that steam roller. The last two things I mention are good to do before bed. Deep pressure is very soothing and calming to the nervous system. There are a million and one activities to try. I'm happy to share more if you are interested.
Finally, my son is now 6. He is doing beautifully. You would never know he is the kid who struggled so much in preschool. He is in kindergarten without any intervention at this time. We manage his sensory integration through occupational therapy techniques and that "heavy work". It works fantastic! I've written thank you notes to that first teacher my son had that was astute enough to pick up on his differences and help us get the right diagnosis. Our son wouldn't be where he is today without her. good luck
He is there for 3 hours. As for naps, he plays in his bed for about 1-2 hours. He's so exhausted that he's almost falling asleep on the car ride home. Among this fact he still persists to bounce of the walls.
You don't say your son's age but ADHD should not be diagnosed until the earliest of age 6. There is such a wide variation of kids at a young age that it is very difficult to diagnose them with add/adhd until they are older. Some kids really need more physical activity in their day. Not want it but actually need it. Some kids have to move in order to stay on task and focas. Is this school providing outlets for that? How long is he there? How long is he expected to take a nap? More than 2 hours? I would start by making sure his physical activity level is being met. I do have a son that has sensory integration disorder that was diagnosed at 4------------ he would be very mild if anything like that is going on, in my opinion. Just keep your eye on it and make sure he has structure as well as lots of that exercise kids often need. good luck
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