UPDATE on DS's problems in school

[mapmakerj]

First off, I would like to thank all of you who gave support and suggestions on my original post. Some of the ideas actually panned out and are working for my DS. Just a quick recap for those that didn't see the OP. My DS started Kindergarten and was having behavioral issues (ie: hitting, not paying attention etc.) The school diagnosed him with ADHD but I wasn't convinced. We didn't see the symptoms at home, so we sent DS for an outside evaluation. Thanks to some suggestions about Sensory Disorder from a couple of DISers, we had him tested for this. The outside tests didn't show clear cut ADHD (he only had a few symptoms), but it did clearly show Sensory Disorder. The current school was not equipped, and unwilling ,to deal with him. We decided to transfer him to a different school. The day he left, his teacher told us that he was on his way to failing Kindergarten and that he was far behind his peers in his general knowledge. She told us to be open to the idea of sending him to KGD another year. Well, it is now two months later and DS is doing extremely well. The teachers are wonderful! They are really caring and are dedicated to helping him succeed. After the first week of adjusting to the new school, DS had not had any behavioral problems at all. He is making lots of friends and is so focused on learning. His current teacher gave the entire class a mid-year test to see how they are progressing. At this time they expect kids to be above 50% in their scores and close to 100% by the end of the year. My DS tested at 100% for general knowledge and above 94% in all other areas. I told his current teacher what his former teacher said about his failing and she said definately not, and that there is no way he should be held back. She said that she thinks he is doing great both socially and academically. I think that the positive atmosphere at this new school is allowing my DS to relax and let his true potential shine. My only problem is trying to get the school board to let him stay at this school instead of being shipped back to his old school next year. I have submitted the forms to the principal, along with a letter describing why it would be a mistake to send him back to the old school. The principal said she would do everything she could to make it happen. Let's just cross our fingers that it happens or I will be homeschooling him because there is no way my DH and I will send him back there. And as far as our DW trip, DH is now much more relaxed about pulling DS out of school for a couple days this Oct. then he was when DS was having all the problems at the other school. DH now said the only way we will cancel is if DW goes out of business!
Thanks again for all the support and encouragement.

 

[Sinderelli]

The school diagnosed him with ADHD but I wasn't convinced.

I am so happy to hear that you fought for your son. Remember, nothing can beat a parents' instincts! I am just curious, though- what criteria did the school have for "diagnosing" your son? Did they do a whole slew of tests or give you a quick diagnosis? I am a teacher and I am in no way qualified to tell a parent that I "think" his/her child has ADHD- nor would I ever want to! If schools are giving out quick and non thorough "labels" then no wonder there is such a prevalence of this today. Some of the normal "boy" behavior is automatically being called ADHD.
Sorry for the rant. I just feel very strongly about this, and I am so happy to hear that you did not accept what you felt was not right. Here's a and a for your DS.

 

[mapmakerj]

They diagnosed ADHD based on observations from the teacher and principal, along with two tests they had the school psychologist perform. The "outside" psycholgist, who said he couldn't agree with the ADHD diagnosis, performed a series of tests that took a total of 6 hrs. over several appointment. I insisted that the school do further testing, but they said they did all they could within their abilities.

 

[crjack]

mapmakerj, I didn't get a chance to see your original post but I also wanted to wish you the best of luck with your school board and also send along good wishes for your son's continued progress.

Our son was also diagnosed with sensory issues and had delays with OT,PT and speech dating back to kindergarten. He received a great deal of support and services but also, just as importantly, he was in the right enviroment for him to thrive. He is in fifth grade now and his former teachers are amazed at his progress. Most people that meet him now are surprised to hear that he ever had any of these issues.

You may be pleasantly surprised by the school board. If a child is thriving it is also in their best interest to continue with that situation. The support of your principal should also help a great deal.

All the best to you and your family.

 

[larklynn]

I am so happy things are going better for your family. It took a call from my son's ot to his teacher back in sept. to convince her he wasn't just having behavior issues and it started getting better for him by oct. He was just excepted for speech therapy (language) through the schoos today. He will start when we get back from disney(we leave this sat). It is nice to hear success stories like the one above. It gets so frustrating at times even when people are working together. I wish you all the in the world

 

[larklynn]

sorry about spelling I tend to type to fast and not pay attention I guess ds comes by it naturally

 

[Snow Brite]

What a great story! I too missed the original post.

Im a mother of blessed with four (yep! FOUR) kids with ADD or ADHD. The sensory issues seem to go hand in hand with the ADHD, at least for us. I have two sons that have Auditory processing issues. My son that has the most extreme case (or as he calls it AD Capital H D) has the most severe sensory issues, his are kinetic. He doesnt like loud sounds, he doesnt like the tags in his clothes, he always wears sweat pants, cannot stand socks in his shoes, and has always had a blankie, even now in Second Grade (but it stays in his bed now). He also is the biggest klutz, he just doesnt sense where his body ends and the rest of the world begins. He doesnt like to make eye contact when in a busy room, but will in a quiet room when snuggling.

He also had the worst possible Kindergarten experience. Looking back, I think a huge part of it was the noise and chaos in the room. There were almost 30 kids in a tiny room. The teacher was overworked and stretched thin and just didnt have the time to modify things for the three kids in the class that needed it. He survived, just barely, and I was asked to think about holding him back. We lived in a small town, so we had no way to go to another school.

Luckily, we moved that summer and the next year he ended up in a classroom with the most wonderful MALE First grade teacher. Who was a marathon runner. Who understood the need for speed. Who was loving and respectful of the way my son learned. We found that while the Kindergarten teacher had thought he wasnt learning anything because he was always off doing something while she was instructing, he actually learned better than way and had absorbed everything he had been taught, almost verbatim. He SOARED in that accepting environment and went from fighting to not go to school to waking me up at 5am to get ready.

He is in Second grade now, and again with a loving and accepting teacher. He reads at a 6th grade level and is doing so well.

So, even if he has to go back to the other school, (and I would hope they would leave him where he is successful), it might not be so bad. Especially if he has had a year or two to be at the school he is at now.

Anyhoo...I just wanted to let you know you are not alone. You have done a GREAT job fighting for your baby. When I get asked for advice I always tell people to remember that while teachers are wonderful and have the best interests of all 20-30 of the kids in their class at heart, we only have the best interests of our 1 child to worry about. The hard thing is that you have to keep fighting. Things are always changing and you have to stay on top of it all.

ADHD, ADD and sensory issues dont seem to be something that you can be cured of. But they do learn to work around things and the older they get the better they are at it. Things do settle down over time to a dull roar. I know your doctor wasnt sure about the diagnosis, but ADHD and ADD kids are creative, intelligent, global thinkers and once they learn to use those powers for the purposes of good and not evil...WOW!

Good luck and good job to you Mommy!