I need some strength and support

[snoopy]

Another thought...when my nephew was diagnosed with ADD, the doctor mentioned something I thought was significant.....punishments and consequences oftentime has little effect on kids with ADD. If he is responding to punishment by bringing up his grades, perhaps your only problem is you'll have to stay more on top of him.

Best of luck, Cindy.

 

[Cindy B]

I just went to my insurance website, and pulled the names for psychiatry, psychology, and nuerology. In total there were about 120 providers in all three specialities.

I will take these reports over the the pediatricians today, and ask her for who she would recommend.

I really don't know what happened to the bike. It was beat, both tires were not in great shape, reflectors falling off, and the helmet was a mess too. (it was still intact, but it wasn't pretty. ) It was definetely worn, but well loved if that makes sense.

He was playing with it election day since he was off from school. He usually keeps it in a backyard, and we have had no problems with thieves. He had it in the front and back yard while he was playing. He was riding around in the neighborhood, and was three places. Sometimes he leaves the bike where he is, and walks with his friend. The bike is not at two neighborhood houses, or at the school (where they were playing). He did keep it in the way front of the yard where the trashmen go sometimes. We dont keep trash in our front yard, but most of the street does. Tuesday was trash day, and the bike did look pretty beat. Our neighbors had bikes in the trash last week, so I'm thinking maybe the trashmen mistook it for trash? These are contracted garbage guys, not township trucks, so they are different guys each week.

I am thinking there may be anxiety. He does tense up, and says I don't know and looks panicky lately. He looked like that when I asked him about the late notices at school. Then he produced the hidden notices in the drawer.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by snoopy
Another thought...when my nephew was diagnosed with ADD, the doctor mentioned something I thought was significant.....punishments and consequences oftentime has little effect on kids with ADD. If he is responding to punishment by bringing up his grades, perhaps your only problem is you'll have to stay more on top of him.

Best of luck, Cindy.

Yes, the Xbox and computer is little consequence to him. He's like thats ok--Christmas is soon enough! He was upset when the computer was taken away, but he has gone to "visit" it in the basement, even though its not plugged in.

I email the teacher, I call the school now. We empty the backpack every night. I watch him with his homework, and directly supervise that it goes in the folder. I drive him to school, so I know its not a I left it on the bus issue. I drive him home, so I know its not a I left it on the bus issue. Before we drive off, I ask him verbally Do you have this? Do you have that?

He has a morning business checklist taped to his desk. (I wrote it out for the teacher, and she taped it to his desk). There is an afternoon locker type checklist on his desk for dismissal. (I use this checklist with my students). He hates the checklist, and says they are for babies. I tell him many 6th graders use that same list.

Just short of coming in every dismissal day (which I don't want to do for a few reasons), there isn't much else to do.

I do allow him to go back to school to pick up something he has forgotten (we live nearby), but I only limit it to one trip.

I'm not sure what else he can do.

 

[FayeW]

WARNING, EXTREMELY LONG!!

I am having the IDENTICAL problem with my son. He is in the third grade. He was a straight A student in June; middle of Sept. his (new) teacher called me and told me he was at the bottom of his class, a "C" student. This is what we have done so far:

1) Limited his computer, TV, and Nintendo time, and pushed up his bedtime by 30mins. Sleep Deprivation can have almost identical symptoms to ADD, so we thought we would start there. Our daughter has ADD, and our son has shown absolutely NONE of the symptoms. As a matter of fact, HIS behaviour is what led us to realize that hers (as the older sibling) was not "normal".

2) He was in a grade 3/ grade 4 split class. There were 6 grade 3 students, and the teacher is extremely rigid, structured and anal. (My DD had her last year.) The class was structured for the grade 4 students, and we all know that grade 4 is a big transitional year. Three weeks ago I insisted that he be moved to a regular grade 3 class, with a teacher I know well and trust. They didn't want to do it, but the principal agreed because of the drastic change in his grades and abilities. There has been a DRAMATIC change in his behaviour and grades since the switch. In his first week, he turned in a project early, and got an A+ on his first math test. He has since gotten another A and B's on spelling assignments and a project. We are having some issues with bringing home the right homework materials, and the teacher says he is disorganized, and can't find things in his bag or his desk. We are working on that.

3) He is undergoing treatment with his physician, to rule out any physical reason for the change. So far he has had blood and urine tests, got the results yesterday. He has low iron, and his platelets are elevated. We are having a second blood test to address the platelets, and make sure the result was accurate. I have to admit I am very concerned about this, but his doctor doesn't think it is cause for worry yet. The doctor is also, at my insistence, scheduling a C.T scan, because my son had an accident in May ( his sister accidently WHACKED him in the head with a baseball bat.) We had xrays done at the time, but that is the ONLY physical reason I can think of for what's going on.He has been complaining about headaches, but that has been going on before the accident. We had his eyes tested last year, thinking maybe he needed glasses, but that wasn't the case. We have also been refered for the psychological testing to rule out any learning disabilities.

4) His doctor spoke to him in depth yesterday about bullying, nightmares, etc to try to determine if there is some other problem causing changes in his behaviour.

Lets hope we both get this figured out!!

 

[Maleficent13]

Can I ask...is he clumsy recently? Drops things or trips alot? I am echoing the others who suggested a neurologist. My SO started doing the same things when he was 10. (The forgetfulness and the bike thing really made me think this). The pediatrician diagnosed many things, including drug abuse at one point. One day he couldn't walk a straight line and his mom finally insisted on testing. They found a tumor on his brain.

The good news is, they removed it and he was fine, no lasting damage. I hesitated posting this because I didn't want to scare you...but if there is something neurological going on you want to get it treated ASAP.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Cindy, I don't have awhole lot of experience with kids but I was diagnosed with ADD as a child.

I ended up making the Dean's list in college, so I just wanted to give you some hope!


Good Luck!

 

[Rajah]

I absolutely agree that there's got to be something more going on there, something medical. No advice for you, but I do have :hugs: and prayers.