What is wrong with my son?

Question

My son is 8 and has always been hyper. I have been told to get him evaluated for ADHD by teachers. His father (my ex-husband) and I have agreed not to because we don't want him to have a certain perception of himself. Well, today he got in so much trouble in school. He talks too much and makes disruptive noises. He is disciplined for that type of behavior but doesn't really respond to it very well. He is extremely intelligent but gets poor grades. I don't get it! Today and this evening he was so hyper and restless he was just moving and twisting all around and couldn't be still. He was making everyone nervous and I feel so bad for him. I am beginning to wonder if maybe he does need to be evaluated. Has anyone experienced this? Any advice???

"Ruuk"...if I didn't care about him...why would I be asking about this??? Keep your judgemental RUDE comments to yourself! You have no clue what I go through for my kids so don't accuse me of not caring!!!

Answer 1

My son has ADHD I had him evaluated when he was 10
and they told me he has ADHD they put him on concerta
He improved a bit I also changed his diet and removed anything
with red dye #40.but after a few months he started having
strange thoughts I read the medications sometimes cause
side effects I ended up after fighting to get him evaluated
and finally getting him on medication slowly taking him back
off.Some do well but my son did not I have kept his diet up
and he does well and is now 15.the teachers really pushed
me to have him medicated I pushed back.
good luck...

Answer 2

I believe that it is always better to have answers than not. From those answers, you can choose which action (if any) to take. Just because he has a diagnosis of whatever sort (aspergers, ADHD, whatever else) it doesn't mean you have to make a big deal out of it to your son. Knowing what the underlying issue REALLY is can help narrow down your options of how to handle situations appropriately. Let's say for a moment that there IS an issue of ADHD. Once you know that, you will have a better understanding of how to handle things that you feel need to be handled. It doesn't mean you have to walk around telling the world "My son is ADHD". It's between you and whomever evaluates - and your son depending on how you want to broach the subject with him. If you spend the next 10 years of his life thinking it "might" be aspergers, or ADHD, or bipolar or whatever and it turns out that all along it's been Morphenhaursanneuristicmetamorphasis Syndrome (fictional term) that doesn't respond to treatments meant for ADHD you may have driven both yourself AND your son into despair thinking he will never be the same. It's like guessing your baby has chicken pox, treating for chicken pox, and THEN finding out it was measles....or never at all finding out it was measles and continuing to guess it's chicken pox.

Worst case scenario - you have gained more knowledge. If it's ADHD and you are opposed to meds, you at least know what terms to use when looking for more natural or behavioral methods to help him with....knowing the outcome doesnt mean you HAVE to do what everyone else does, or what ANYONE else does. But Knowledge, is power.

And maybe you'll find out - from trained professionals - that there's no issue at all.....he's an energetic child who's in need of additional mental stimulation. Great. Now you know, and you can stop guessing and driving yourself crazy wondering.

Answer 3

Short and sweet here. There is a drug called Concerta. This drug is the only thing that helped my son. With no horrible side effects. Your son is gifted. You need to take him and get him evaluated and diagnosed. Ask for Concerta. This drug has allowed my son to live normally and quelled his troublesome behaviors so he could enjoy school. After he grew out of his hyper phase he no longer needed any other drugs. He exhibited at 2 years of age. Diagnosis and medication became necessary in kindergarten. He is 17 now and doing well. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

He sounds just like me...ten years ago. My teachers repeatedly told my parents that something was up and that I ought to be checked out. My parents never had be tested or evaluated for adhd because they didn't want me to have it. I move in with my sister when I was in tenth grade and she couldn't handle me so she finally had be tested...the teachers were right all along I have adhd. I was able to learn some techniques to help calm myself down when I get overwhelmed. I also learned study techniques because the hyperactivity totally effects it. I was on medication for two years and then decided that I didn't want to have that in my life so I'm not on the drugs anymore. I think it is worth having him evaluated, even if it is just so you know.

Answer 5

Your answer about not wanting him to "have a certain perception about himself" does not make sense to me at all.

You and your ex have got to stop the denial and get off your butts and help your son, period! Read The ADD Book, by Sear s and Thompson, that is a great place to start and begin to make changes in diet, behavior, etc.

There have been some recent studies that showed these kids are lacking in certain things and that by adding those to their diet, can change behavior along with counseling.

Ignoring the problem with excuses is only going to put your son through more hell...not to mention everyone else around him.

Answer 6

I completely understand what you are saying and what you are going through. I was 16 when I found out I had bipolar not ADHD. Alot of kids are miss diagnoised. It could be either one but I would definitly have him checked to see what is going on. Trust me it will help you and help him in the long run. I know it's hard because you don't want your kid to have a label but it's better to acknowledge the problem than to hide it and not get him help. It is very managable either one. Good luck to you and your son.

Answer 7

Could be his diet. I remember a program on tv where a school said no to the major distributors of junk food at its school for mentally challenged students (like your son). The menu was changed to include everything fresh; vegetables, meats, whole grain breads, milk, fruit for dessert. The school officials stated that alot of the students concentration improved and quite a few did not need the "medication."
Their concentration improved and they were performing like normal students. If you feel you still need to give your child something to improve his concentration, then I would rx
Ambrotose, Sport from www.Mannapages.com/ginags
Take as directed. Take notes on behavior before and 6 months later on the program.

Answer 8

i think you should get him evaulated..
some kids do need medication for ADHD, my brother inlaw who is 6 sounds EXACTLY like this, even tho they are quiet intelligent they just dont want to use that brain of theirs. they find it hard to concerntrate and to you and i that gets VERY frustrating
I do know some kids need a little more discipline than others too, i dont want to sound nasty but if he hasnt got adhd than maybe he just needs a good spanking and to be taught with some more respect.
I am not saying your doing a bad job, it sounds like your run off your feet and want the best for your children but sometimes a spanking does help
good luck

Answer 9

Look into Asperger's Syndrome. It's gaining recognition.

Does your son have a special interest in a very specific area? Does it seem almost obsessive?
Is it just that the teacher seems "mean" to him?

Honestly, I'm living in a house full of Asperger's , and I think I'm going to go completely insane.

Answer 10

maybe he needs some professional help if their is a real problem it wont go away with out help even though you want to protect him by not letting him get a bad perception of himself it might be the only way to fix the problem