QUESTION ABOUT MY SON

[SPN27]

I HAVE AN 8 YEAR OLD SON THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD, ODD, AND BIPOLAR BUT THEY ONLY HAVE HIM ON ABILIFY 25MG DAILY.  I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WOULD BE OTHER SUGGESTIONS TO ADD TO THIS DUE TO THIS IS WORKING BUT I DONT BELIEVE TO THE FULL POTENTIAL.  HE STILL HAS VIOLENT RAGES AND MOODS CHANGE FREQUENTLY CANT SIT STILL.  WE HAVE TRIED ZOLOFT, ADERALL AND THEY DIDNT WORK.  ATIVAN DID BUT THAT IS NOT A LONG TERM MEDICATION.  I WAS ALSO WONDERING IF THERE WAS A BOOK OR SOME TIPS YOU HAD TO HELP CONTROLL HIM WITH DISIPLINING HIM HE IS NOT EASY TO DISIPLINE.

[ingrid2662]

my son kevin, 7years old.  have received early intervention since he was 3years old.

He is adhd dissorder. no medications taken. but ussully does things like out of control.
inserting a straw in his nose when he is drinking juice, making faces all the times like opening his mouth wide open and turning his head from left to right.

I am the only one that can deal with his behavior, family and friends are always saying negative comments about him and that brakes my heart.

Recently  relocated from florida to another state.  He likes going to school and does well.
But his father says that maybe he is biopolar or suffering from dementia.  
I am in need of some counselling, or any advice on how to deal with my son's behavior.
thank you
Ingrid R.

[Hope3red]

My little brother has ADHD, ODD, and a host of other issues. He also has severe rages and trouble controlling his temper.  My mom has found a wealth of information through many different places.  Does your have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)?  Do you have help through social services in the form of respite care?  Is he seeing someone to help him learn how to control his temper?  Does you community have prgrams for children with special needs?  Through all of these approaches, you can have help developing a plan to help your son learn how to control his own behavior.  Because ultimately that is were the responsibility lies, with your son.  All the meds in the world won't help unless your son makes the conscious decision to work on these target behaviors.  Your son's doctor could help you access these resources.      

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Are you sure about your son's Abilify dose? That is a high dose for a child so young.  If the medication is not effective, the situation shold be re-assessed. Relative to the ADHD, a psychostimulant can be employed alongside a medication like Abilify, but the major goal should be the mood-related issues. When the mood is stable the ADHD can be addressed. Relative to behavior management, you will find your answer in Lynn Clark's book SOS Help for Parents. I often recommend this book to parents. It is practical, straightforward, effective.

[SPN27]

The most important thing that really helped controll some of my sons behavior problems was the school has a behavior program that focuses on grading his behavior as well as his accademics and he started at 75% needed to meet this goal for 20 days straight and then he got to move up to 80% and so on you need to reach 100% to go back to a regular class room setting.  This also helped with things at home I tied some of the behaviors that they worked on in school to home life and he was rewarded if he could meet these goals.  It does work to a point but he still has his moments.  I am still trying other things to see what works best for him.  

[portuguese mom]

Please try to see a child developement doctor that specializes in ADHD and can help you both with ADHD medication such as Ritalin. For ingrid2662, it could make a big difference in managing your son.