Adhd with sensory issues in child

[coffeegirl2]

Oh my gosh!!!! I have never heard of another parent mentioning toe-walking!!! My son toe walks as well! We freaked when we first saw him do it. He does it a lot, and it just makes one cringe at the sight. You'd think it would hurt them?

We are still awaiting for approvial with our insurance for the OT. Each week the OT office gives us a call the night before our alledged appointment and then we wait. It is annoying. So we never know if we will have an appointment or not. Frustrating. He really needs it because he can sometimes be aggressive with other kids like his cousins or his brother, not intentionally; just out of impulsiveness. It is sensory reaction. The pdoc told us it is Sensory/ADHD combination. Mostly, it is when he is in action and is stimulated. We also have a neice who has Sensory problems who is 4 years old. I can't remember the types; she is one extreme where our son is the opposite.

I have read 'The Out of Sync Child' and have the book, while I read it often, because I am not able to contain a lot of information due to the meds I take. I have Bipolar Disorder and my meds cause short term memory loss, so I have to re-read a lot of stuff constantly. LOL I can relate to some of the things my son goes through. I too, get over stimulated as well in various situations.

My son is taking meds. He had to due to the schools request and becuase of his destructive and violent behaviors. He was harming other children and was on the next way out of the door of being kicked out of school. He takes Ritalin LA, Ritalin, and Clonidine. He has taken Adderall and Risperderal as well. They caused him problems- appetite loss, lethargy, and some aggression. Each child reacts to medication differently. All children are treated differently in each situation. Meds verses no meds. We have another child with An aggressive disorder that I completely forgot the name of- go figure, and he is not on meds. He is doing really well. Both of our boys do have RAD though. They both have been in therapy for the RAD, and it has been really successful.

I sure hope we are able to get the OT approved. If not, I feel that my son will be cheated out of a great experience and therapy that will help him get better. That is very obvious after reading your post amm.

The weight vest sounds really nice worm. Wish I could sew. The sewing machine and I are not friends. We don't work well together. LOL Somehow I always manage to break the sewing needle. Don't know how I do that.

Are your boys picky eaters? My boy is very picky. He is also picky about what he wears too. He sometimes will only wear the same sweat pants 3 times a week, and if he could wear them more than that. It is really annoying. And to get him to eat protien, well, I am thinking of buying some pediasure because he won't eat much meat. He is really skinny.

Coffeegirl

[cyndi7729]

Hi Worm,
It's funny but that is my daughter's nickname! I am a pre-school teacher and I also have a daughter who is 11 with sensory problems. She was diagnosed with adhd, but I don't believe that she has that. I think her lack of focus and problems with attention are a direct result of the sensory issues. I do not, nor have never had her on medication. I don't judge those that go that route, but I have had some bad experience medicating my children and have chosen not to do it again. She has adjusted pretty well up until now, but joy, joy we're in middle school and that's a whole nother issue in itself. She also has to have the right kind of socks, no tags in the shirt, the shoes have to almost fall completely off her foot, as well as, various other little curiosities. Sensory intergration problems can either be from being too sensitive like my daughter, or not being stimulated enough. The things you mentioned are classic sensory behaviors and once he starts OT and you get educated you will see it's easier to deal with than you might think. Just look at it like this, your son is a unique individual that has his own likes and dislikes. He may be a bit more demanding in certian areas than your other children, but he can and will learn to adapt to his own personality. Trained professionals will be a big help in determining how well you guys do with this. It is not as bad as it seems. I see children just like your son EVERY year in my classroom. He is not as different as you might think. In fact I have one in my room this year that sounds alot like him. These children need a little more patience, acceptance of who they are, and lots of love and most do very well. They and you learn to adapt and rise above. Have hope for his future and don't get overwhelmed by the labels people will try to put on him. He's yours and you know him best. You don't have to accept every doctor's oponion as the Gospel. Get educated on this and you will feel better.
Good luck and God bless.
Cyndi

[amm8589]

Great post, Cyndi! Sensory issues are so overlooked because, in my opinion, not many professionals even know about it. Many children are misdiagnosed because of the lack of awareness of SID.

Buying socks and shoes for my son is a chore. Socks have to be thin, but not too thin, cotton, and fit snuggly. The only socks that we have found are at Gymboree, but he will soon outgrow that brand and I don't know what we will do! Buying sneakers takes forever. We found a brand of school shoes that fit him perfectly, so that is ALL WE BUY FOR HIM. They have to be slip-ons (although he can tie shoes). No zippers or velcro. Who knows why. Tags on clothes are a problem, although I have noticed that more and more companies are going tagless.

Food has to be the proper texture. He is very willing to try new foods, but he primarily eats fruits and vegetables. He likes chicken and pasta, but is not wild on red meat. Food is not allowed to touch. No condiments on hot dogs or hamburgers, certainly no cheese on a burger, and we NEVER do milk in cereal. I'm very used to this and don't think twice about it now, but it was a challenge at first.

Hang in there, ladies! We will all get through this. It is SO NICE to be able to chat with others who have similar experiences. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one, and it really is hard for others to understand.

amm

[cyndi7729]

Hi amm,
Check out kohl's for socks. I know they sell girl's white sock that have no seam across the toe. I haven't checked for boys, but if they are white who will know the difference? Yes, you are right we will get through this. It's all good. Besides we don't remember how quirky we were as youngsters now do we? I'm sure our parents didn't know what to do with us either!!!
Cyndi

[momof4boys]

Originally Posted by coffeegirl2

Do you ever feel like other parents stare at you sometimes when your child is getting really wild and crazy in public or at school? I do, and it is utterly upsetting. I don't get embarrassed, just upset because they don't understand, and I wish 'they' could walk our shoes for once. Then they would comprehend how daily life can be so interesting and enduring.

I feel this all the time with my son who has asperger's. He touches people, gets in their faces, hugs people, just cant keep his hands to himself, along with just being annoying! He is fine in structured situations but get him with anything outside of that watch out!!!
I wish I could wear a sign saying "I'm really not a B of a mom, I just need to structure him"
People that I hear whispering that he should be disciplined really need to walk in my shoes for just a halfday! I want to see how they would deal with it.

We too have out son, who is 7, in OT for sensory issues. He searches out sensory things. Once he drank a container of boiling water and it took a while for it to sink into his brain that it was hot. Only after he blistered did he notice it. This was when he was 4. i took him to the dr and explained what he does and asked if he could have sensory problems. The dr at that time said no. Now almost 3 years later he was diagnosed with sensory disfunction, oppositional defiance disorder and aspergers. I agree with the sensory disfunction, but after working with the OT I think the other things are related to the sd instead. He has improved greatly even after 3 OT apts.