What is wrong w/ my 7yr. old boy? ADHD? Tourette Syndrome?

Question

In 2nd gd. started new school, K-1st was treated for ADHD, saw 3 Psy & 3 counselors, 6/06 rushed to hospital for fast heart beat on Strattera 28 mg at that time. Before this tried Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, now on 0.1 Clonidine to help him sleep, but so goofy all the time, fights w/ kids in school, falling behind, makes goofy loud noises, always loud, seeing a new Pediatrician 11/2, keeps getting in trouble at school, falls off his chair in class, just CAN'T SIT STILL, teacher says he is in overdrive & charged, all over the map, met w/ teacher, principal, social worker, they want him tested w/ a neurologist & Childrens hosp., the school psychologist is going to monitor him, At my wits end! He gets kicked out of every daycare, I punish him, or take things away, he doesn't care. I can't get a grip of him & very defiant. His dad left him a yr. ago August No meds work, make him even more hyper! He can't sit still, a leg or arm or fingers always moving, hate the noises, Tourettte?Help

Answer 1

Has he been tested for autism? Can you sit and carry on a conversation with him? I know a child with similar symtoms and he has a form of autism. I'll say a prayer for you and your son. I would have him checked out for this. He may be ADHD,but the medicines do not seem to be working.

Answer 2

My son has had similar problems in that he was always in trouble at school, couldn’t sit still, and very defiant (determined). Punishing him didn’t help instead it made him worse I think because he was suffering, and he was angry and frustrated that he was being yelled at and punished for reasons he didn’t understand. Too, I’m sure he was exhausted because he couldn’t escape from his own brain, which didn’t want to slow down or shut off. He also has taken many of the medications your son has been on plus more, and hardly any of them have worked thus far. Unfortunately, some of the meds actually made him psychotic, which happens a lot to OCPD sufferers. My son is out of high school now, and if we would have known all the things we now know it would have been less stressful, but we’ve done everything the hard way. The only medicines that help him are ones which treat his anxieties, and help him relax, and to sleep: Klonopin, which is very addictive, but necessary. Xanax, which is less addictive, but not as helpful for him. He has OCPD, ADHD, dissociative disorder, panic disorder, and Asperger’s (high functioning), which is a form of autism. He has been diagnosed with many other things, but the ones, which make the most sense, are the ones I’ve listed. You definitely should have him see a neurologist in hopes they will do a brain scan, which could possibly identify the problem or problems. The thing to remember is it isn’t his fault. He isn’t purposely trying to be bad. He has an illness or illnesses. Poor little guy. A big hug for him, and for you too.

Answer 3

My sister's partner's grandson was put on Ritalin because he was diagnosed with ADHD. His home life was not the best (no offence intended to you, this is just his story), his mum had different boyfriends and was always moving. He changed schools a number of times and was never settled.
When he first came to grandad he couldn't sit still, he was constantly jittery. He was a little terror. He had the reading and writing level of a 5 year old and he is 8.
His grandad stepped in and took the child (his mother couldn't look after him properly). He also took him off Ritalin as while it calmed him down, he was also like a zombie.
He has now been living with his Grandad for nearly a year and within that time he has firm discipline, stability and a regular routine. He has improved dramatically at school, does his homework and can actually sit still now. He doesn't whinge like he used to.

For him, his problem in my humble opinion, was lack of firm discipline, a positive male role model/dad, and no stable routine. His grandad also changed his diet and eliminated sugary foods etc.

Your situation might be different, and it may have some parallels. Have you talked to him about his dad leaving? Sometimes kids think that it's their fault and have a hard time adjusting to life without their other parent. Regardless of whether or not Dad was a good dad or a bad dad, he was still Dad in the eyes of your son. Children will forgive a thousand times over when it's Mum or Dad...

I believe all too often the days of discipline and boundaries for children have been thrown away in the attempts to give children all the rights and no responsibilities. Also, doctors today seem to want to label everything as a disorder of some sort and treat it with drugs.

Answer 4

Well meaning teachers, parents, school nurses, councellors and/or principals are not qualified to diagnose Tourettes or any other condition. Go right away to a Pediatric Neurologist.

1) Ask your regular pediatrician for a referral. If he/she refuses, switch until someone listens.

2) BEFORE you go to the Pediatric Neurologist, video tape your sons symptoms so that you can present the most information possible. If you can, document his symptoms in a journal/log. Try to tape him without his knowledge, he will be less inhibited. I did this before going to the Neurologist just in case the symptoms were not present at the prescribed day and time of the appt.

IF it is Tourettes, regular ADD/ADHD medicines can make the tics WORSE. Tourettes patients cannot take Ritalin or other meds because of this.

Having Tourettes is NOT the WORST thing in the world. You will find this out by spending any amount of time in a Pediatric Neurology waiting room. You will count your blessings, literally. Love your son and accept him, no matter what. He needs acceptance by you and your family if he is to ever accept himself. He needs a safe place (home) where he can tic away without comment.

This site might help: http://www.tsa-usa.org

Answer 5

Instead of putting that poor boy on all those drugs, I suggest you try the natural route as soon as possible. Read "The ADD Book", by Sears and Thompson. It is an excellent comprehensive book that discusses diet, behavior modification, etc. Punishment will not do the trick, you need to understand how to deal with an ADD child which is in this book. He sounds like he is ADHD (hyper disorder with attention deficit). Try this, give him some coffee with milk. See if his symptoms calm down after he drinks it. Usually, that helps them to focus. I don't recommend always filling your child with coffee, but in emergencies, it may help. You really need to get better help for him, and you. There is a tonic that some people use which you can check into online at I think the name is Nature Remedies.

Answer 6

Many children are misdiagnose and are given many types of
medication, like your son. You need to stop this, you shouldn't have your son be treated like a mouse lab. Until they don't find what he has then he shouldn't be taking any. He needs to see
different professionals and find the cause of his behavior.
I recommend you do a thorough research on these medications and their affects, have you tried analyzing his food contents
most of the time the coloring and the ingredients can affect a person tremendously, try going ORGANIC for one month and you'll notice the difference big time!.
Undiagnose, untreated physical conditions can often manifest as "psychiatric symptom"; adverse reactions to common prescription drugs can also create unwanted behavior.
Have him anylized for Asperger Syndrome and please NO MORE DRUGS!

Take your child to a competent doctor and have him properly test
him for allergies and toxins.

Here are some contacts:
CCHR International
6616 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. 90028
[phone]
[phone]
www.cchr.org
www.psychcrime.org

Hopefully these might help you.

Answer 7

Let me just start out saying that I do not believe in ADHD, I dont believe in giving kids drugs whether is crack or aderall. Its still a drug.

Have you ever thought maybe there is a deeper issue than just 'adhd' Not all kids are cut out for public schooling. Have you ever tried talking to him? ever tried asking what changes he wants made with HIS life. Ive taken aderall, and ive taken concerta. They are both drugs that alter who I am, maybe this is the case for your child. If i where you I would give your child an extremly HEALTHY diet, all green food and no sugar. I would try spending a little more time with him as a parent and take him off all of these drugs. Find what he is passonate about and embrace that, give him a million oppurtunities to put this obnioxus drive in a pausitive learning experience.

Answer 8

This is serious, and so is my answer.
Look at his diet. Seriously!
Try cutting out ALL sugars. (Refined grains, pasta, bread, soft drinks [sodas] and bottled juices).
Supplement hugely with fish oil (Omega 3).
Try this for a few weeks and see if there is any change.
Your described conditions have been associated with the above foods because of all their additives and preservatives.
Get him off Ritalin!!!! It causes depression.
(Wow, all those drugs for a 7 year old!)
What are we doin' to our kids?

Answer 9

!st apply for his dissability, an get all the servises you can get and child support from the father. And go from there I am raising a ADHD child and he is a handful he is my sisters kid. other than that I am in the same oat.