Aa
not a good day today
My son is getting worse at school. I'm at a loss for what to do. Today he lifted the handle on the fire extinguisher case and when you pull the handle the glass breaks, so he did that and of course glass broke. The principal just called me and told me. She said they are trying to figure out what to do and don't know. A behavioral specialist is coming in tomorrow to evaluate him. The principal has hired a man to come and be with him nad watch him all the time. THat is his job. I just feel so bad. She said it could be sensory issues and she has seen things like that in kindergarteners before and it took a little while to get them straightened out, etc and they were okay. She said it could be a lot of things. I am just so worried..... WHat do you guys think. I've written prev. in kindergartener acting out.
I will ask and I may just call my insurance and get a referral, maybe I shoudl do that.
Remember, pediatricians are general doctors. They are NOT the best to discuss add/adhd or psychiatric illness. You should see a psychiatrist. goodluck.
You need to have your child evaluated by a psychiatrist that specializes in children. Call around and ask them questions and make that appointment. They will be able to tell you if your child has bipolar, add/adhd, etc. They are not usually versed in sensory as much (newer diagnosis, most sensory kids get lopped into add/adhd category mistakenly . . . so YOU will have to decide if you want an occupational therapist evaluation). But a psychiatrist sounds in order. Your pediatricians policy is that he must diagnosis himself before prescribing medication (which makes sense) or that he never looks at expert opinions (no sense, change doctors)? good luck.
I'm leary of those now in child psychology after that one visit. The therapist I currently see said she can't get my pediatrician to return the phone calls. I think he is not going to call herback, he said he doesn't take other people'swords, he wants to evaluate for himself.
I took him to one psychologist who said he might have bipolar since there was a family hisotry, but he was not sure, and he did not want to see him again, only me. Did not offer much help or hope. I am seeing a therapist and hse is not sure totally. I think my next stop will be a psychiatrist.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Please ask the behavioral specialist if this plan will lead to a 504 plan.
A pediatrician is a nice place to start for an evaluation, but a child psychologist is much more qualified. I would ask your pediatrician if that would be a good idea.
A pediatrician is a nice place to start for an evaluation, but a child psychologist is much more qualified. I would ask your pediatrician if that would be a good idea.
today a behavioral specialist is supposed to be there to eval and come up with a behavioral plan. I am taking him to his pediatrician on Fri to be evaluated adn see what thinks. Obviously he doesn't think and just does.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I agree with the principal. I have seen this before too. Almost always ADHD kids who are young. They just haven't yet matured enough to develop some of the filters that help them decide right from wrong. Its basically See and do, then maybe think - what have I done. Sometimes, I swear they don't even realize what they have done. Its almost an unconscious action.
This is not to say that he also doesn't have sensory issues. Either way what specialmom mentions above won't hurt and may help.
Jdtm brought out a lot of good points about anxiety. The big question is what is driving the anxiety? I have seen kids with ADHD who have basically just given up because of the way they have been treated. Or they start to do something, attention wanders, and they are lost.
The main point I am trying to get to is that there is a lot that can help your son. But first someone has to say, "I think that this is the problem". Then you can start to very methodically attack that problem. This is basically what a BIP does. I gave 3 excellent links to BIPs to ANS04 in my last post to her. But to do that the process has to start.
You said, "I'm really afraid he's just going to end up with an ADHD diagnosis and docs want to put him on medications, etc. " First, you should not be afraid of an ADHD diagnosis. There is a huge amount of help for kids with this. But it cannot start until it gets diagnosed. It doesn't matter if the docs want to put him on medication. It's your choice!
You have mentioned several times in your other post that your son is seeing a therapist? What kind of a therapist? psychologist, psychiatrist, or something else?
Finally, its really time to tell that school that you want an evaluation for special ed. Even if he does not qualify, they will have to develop a specific plan to help him. In a way, I can't believe they haven't done this yet, but typically schools do wait till first grade to do so. I think by now they are ready. Your son needs a proactive plan that can help him at school. Just having an aide follow him around will not help - unless the aide know what to do. Also when a plan is developed, no matter how mean his teacher is - she has to follow the plan! You can ask the principal how to do this (read up first on what BIP's can do), and that will get the principal involved. Or just write a letter. The school has no choice, they must honor the letter.
If you have any questions about the process, please write!!
This is not to say that he also doesn't have sensory issues. Either way what specialmom mentions above won't hurt and may help.
Jdtm brought out a lot of good points about anxiety. The big question is what is driving the anxiety? I have seen kids with ADHD who have basically just given up because of the way they have been treated. Or they start to do something, attention wanders, and they are lost.
The main point I am trying to get to is that there is a lot that can help your son. But first someone has to say, "I think that this is the problem". Then you can start to very methodically attack that problem. This is basically what a BIP does. I gave 3 excellent links to BIPs to ANS04 in my last post to her. But to do that the process has to start.
You said, "I'm really afraid he's just going to end up with an ADHD diagnosis and docs want to put him on medications, etc. " First, you should not be afraid of an ADHD diagnosis. There is a huge amount of help for kids with this. But it cannot start until it gets diagnosed. It doesn't matter if the docs want to put him on medication. It's your choice!
You have mentioned several times in your other post that your son is seeing a therapist? What kind of a therapist? psychologist, psychiatrist, or something else?
Finally, its really time to tell that school that you want an evaluation for special ed. Even if he does not qualify, they will have to develop a specific plan to help him. In a way, I can't believe they haven't done this yet, but typically schools do wait till first grade to do so. I think by now they are ready. Your son needs a proactive plan that can help him at school. Just having an aide follow him around will not help - unless the aide know what to do. Also when a plan is developed, no matter how mean his teacher is - she has to follow the plan! You can ask the principal how to do this (read up first on what BIP's can do), and that will get the principal involved. Or just write a letter. The school has no choice, they must honor the letter.
If you have any questions about the process, please write!!
The principal has said she has seen this before and wonders if he has a sensory issue or ADHD. I just hope he will be okay. He said he wanted to see what was behind it. I think he probably thought the door would just open adn there would be the fire extinguisher. It's not like him before to do all these things.
What stuff exactly did your kid do? Would you also mind if I got your email address.
Thanx for responding, I could use the support tonight!!!
What stuff exactly did your kid do? Would you also mind if I got your email address.
Thanx for responding, I could use the support tonight!!!
First, let me say that I am sorry. I know how hard it is to deal with this stuff. It is like pins and needles----- what is going to happen next. You have a good day and then a bad day---- it is all very up and down.
I think it is good that the principal is working with you. Some schools would have expeled for the fire extinguisher thing a I think most school's have firm rules about this. They are bringing in someone special to observe/evaluate and to be an aide. It doesn't get better than that.
If I were you---- whether he has sensory or not . .. I would immediately start a sensory diet (this is through activities and the way you address things with him . .. not food). Before school----- make him do the crab walk 3 times, the bear walk three times, hop frog a couple of times, and whatever other walk he wants to do. Try the wheelbarrow walk too. Have a heavy bag of books ready to go---- ask him to carry it somewhere in your home for you. Give him thick bubble gum on the way to the bus/ or the drive to school. Start talking about his engine. We also talk about impulse control this way--------- there is a stop button in our heads. The go button is always on, we have to remind ourselves to push the stop button. That analogy helps my son visualize that he CAN stop himself and control his impulses.
After school tomorrow, run around the house. We do "lightening McQueen races" all the time. Have him lay down and press press pillows onto him gently. Play "boot camp". I love this because I am the drill seargent and I use a corny voice and talk to him like he is an army private--- he laughs the whole time. I have him do the army crawl in a large pattern around the room. We do some kickboxing (I really should be thin after all this . . . still working on that lol), we do that wheelbarrow walk, we do jumping jacks, we practice our marching, we do squats, we push a weighted ball around the room on our hands and knees, etc. The point being, spend an hour being very active with him.
It can't hurt. It is the key to my child functioning. My son definately has sensory---- if I wasn't sure and I would still do all of the same things . . . like I said, it can't hurt. It didn't help my child over night . . . but he got better progressively pretty quickly. Seriously, people that don't know about my son now (unless we are doing a sensory activity in which I encourage him to do some wacky stuff)---- they can't tell.
That is what I would do. Just start doing something . . . you'll feel better and some of it might stick. Good luck and I know how hard it is.
I think it is good that the principal is working with you. Some schools would have expeled for the fire extinguisher thing a I think most school's have firm rules about this. They are bringing in someone special to observe/evaluate and to be an aide. It doesn't get better than that.
If I were you---- whether he has sensory or not . .. I would immediately start a sensory diet (this is through activities and the way you address things with him . .. not food). Before school----- make him do the crab walk 3 times, the bear walk three times, hop frog a couple of times, and whatever other walk he wants to do. Try the wheelbarrow walk too. Have a heavy bag of books ready to go---- ask him to carry it somewhere in your home for you. Give him thick bubble gum on the way to the bus/ or the drive to school. Start talking about his engine. We also talk about impulse control this way--------- there is a stop button in our heads. The go button is always on, we have to remind ourselves to push the stop button. That analogy helps my son visualize that he CAN stop himself and control his impulses.
After school tomorrow, run around the house. We do "lightening McQueen races" all the time. Have him lay down and press press pillows onto him gently. Play "boot camp". I love this because I am the drill seargent and I use a corny voice and talk to him like he is an army private--- he laughs the whole time. I have him do the army crawl in a large pattern around the room. We do some kickboxing (I really should be thin after all this . . . still working on that lol), we do that wheelbarrow walk, we do jumping jacks, we practice our marching, we do squats, we push a weighted ball around the room on our hands and knees, etc. The point being, spend an hour being very active with him.
It can't hurt. It is the key to my child functioning. My son definately has sensory---- if I wasn't sure and I would still do all of the same things . . . like I said, it can't hurt. It didn't help my child over night . . . but he got better progressively pretty quickly. Seriously, people that don't know about my son now (unless we are doing a sensory activity in which I encourage him to do some wacky stuff)---- they can't tell.
That is what I would do. Just start doing something . . . you'll feel better and some of it might stick. Good luck and I know how hard it is.
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