Medication for Dyspraxia??????

[doitthisway]

My 9 year old ds has dyspraxia with minor systems of aspergers - he really struggles at school, I am at the moment appealing against the LEA's decision for refusing to assess, just got the appeal date through for Jan 2012!!
He was seen by a paediatrician in April and our follow up appointment was at the beginning of this month, unfortunately we didnt get to see the doctor we saw last time. This doctor has suggested to improve ds attention and concentration in school we could try methylphenidate medication basically its ritalin, there are different types and he said we could start with the short acting one which last between 3-4 hours, which would mean ds having another dose at lunchtime. I have never heard of anyone with dyspraxia being treated with medication. My first reaction was well lets give it a go, we won't know unless we try but the more I look into it and read about it the more I find myself wondering whether this is the road I want to take.
I would just appreciate and be interested in anyones view on this and whether your child or someone you know is on this medication. I know as with all medications there are side effects.(hmm)

[paranoid2]

Hi - my DT2 has a diagnosis of DAMP which is defined as deficits in attention , motor and perception, i.e a combination of ADD and dyspraxic symptoms. I dont regard him as having full blown ADD as he doesnt fully meet the criteria and I'm never sure if his attention problems are caused by ADD or by other things like the motor /sensory/auditory issues that he has. However he has been on medication for a few years and it does make a difference .Methyl phenidate is the chemical name for the various brands such as ritalin and equasym. My Dt2 takes the slow release one (20mg) in the morning and 5mg of the quick release at 3pm after school

[paranoid2]

My DS is just turned 10. The only side effect that we have is that sometimes it takes him longer to get to sleep at night. In fact I stopped giving him the 3pm dose at the end of the school year and this helped with getting him to sleep but homework was a bit more difficult, He went off his food for a few weeks at the start but that was the only other side effect. My DS has a statement which he got 3 years ago as he was struggling a lot.

[IndigoBell]

OP - Does your child struggle at school due to attention problems? Or due to dyspraxic symptoms?

[doitthisway]

IndigoBell- his problems are due to dyspraxia, he finds it hard to remember what he is supposed to be doing and because his writing is so slow he often forgets what he was going to write. Generally the pace of the day to day classroom activities are to quick for him, this is when he has a tendancy to 'zone out'

[doitthisway]

Many Thanks paranoid2 - very interesting, the doctor did mention lack of appetite and possible difficulty in going down to sleep, my ds loves his food and his sleep :)

[IndigoBell]

So, essentially you are asking if ritalin will speed him up?

(Sorry, I'm thinking first of all you need to find out if ritalin might help him - then you need to decide whether or not it's a good idea / what you want to do....)

ADHD has a subtype called 'predominantly inattentive' - where the person appears to be daydreaming all day. Ritalin helps with this type of ADHD as well as the hyper type......

[paranoid2]

I think its difficult to discover what's causing what, especially where there are overlapping symptoms.My Dt2 does all the things you describe in the classroom and its been very difficult to tell whether his difficulties relate to inattention, auditory processing , sensory processing. I have a friend whose DS just has dyspraxia and he doesnt appear to have issues with concentration in the classroom. Another friend whose Ds is like mine but who also has AS - he does take medication as it helps his concentration.

The medication has helped my DS in helping him to concentrate and not fidget, but it hasnt helped him to process information more quickly or become more organised. We have had auditory and sensory processing therapy to help with that. However I definitely notice when I dont give him his medication as he behaves more impulsively , fidgets and is overall a bit sillier. His twin notices too. the other day i forgot and DT1 said that Dt2 had been silly and annoying all day when he was at the childminders!

[doitthisway]

paranoid2 - where do you go for the auditory and sensory processing therapy?
He is under the OT but only really for re-assessment every 6 months, nothing inbetween apart from the tasks they advice home/school to do.

[paranoid2]

I took DT2 to a private OT who specialises in sensory integration as there was nothing available on NHS for him. We go once a month and work on daily exercises as part of a sensory diet and for retained reflexes and core stability. We are currently doing the listening program for his auditory processing issues and have noted improvements in his ability to carry out instructions and his ability to focus on listening.

We are in NI so location of OT presumably no use to you.

[IndigoBell]

Roughly where are you? I know of a few places.....

[doitthisway]

paranoid2 - do you have to force DT2 to do these exercises, my ds is just not interested in doing them and I know Ive got to get tougher with him and get him in a routine to do them, but what with working fulltime and homework etc there never seems to be enough hours in the day, whenever we do homework with him he is only able to manage about 10 mins at a time before he starts to get fed up and upset because hes struggling - how do you manage?
Indigo we live in Surrey, CRO - thank you

[IndigoBell]

The exercises only take 10 mins - and they are worth the effort of forcing him to do it.

Although you have to do it for a long time for it to work. DS has been doing them for a year now...... and we're getting close to finished.

[paranoid2]

Well he is really good when he has to do them when he's in the school routine or at the childminder. He knows the times he is supposed to do them and he has a list. He gets a bit lazy at the w/e or during holidays if I am at home with him. He waits for me to moan at him. I do feel it a bit of a struggle though, especially at school. he seems to always have something to do and I find it hard myself also, its the first thing I think of when i wake up, ie must check if DT2 has done things . I try and give plenty of praise and the OT gave him lots of positive feedback last week when he went so he was pleased with himself. I work a 75% day during term time so I do collect boys from school so have a bit of time to get things done. I think if I worked fulltime it would be difficult to get everything done in the evenings. Can you get your CM or whoever looks after DS onboard. Not so easy if there are other children around I guess

[IndigoBell]

Hemispheres are in Surrey

Sound Learning Centre are in London

[IndigoBell]

It's part of our bedtime routine.

[Ben10isthespawnofthedevil]

There is this practice in Walton upon Thames which is not too far from Croydon. FYI the prices I was quoted in the Spring were as follows

"If the assessment and feedback sessions are carried out in our centre the full assessment package is charged at £395 inclusive. We are happy to arrange telephone feedback sessions at your request. Should you require one of our Therapists to travel to you, there will be an additional hourly rate of £63 to cover travel time and expenses.

Any treatment sessions that take place at our practice in Walton on Thames, will be at a cost of £63 per hourly session."

I didnt go with them as go to one in Tunbridge Wells instead which charges similarly.

[paranoid2]

Just to note that as part of the sensory diet we do exercises 5 or 6 times day, just for a few minutes each time, apart from the exercises that are specifically for retained reflexes and core stability which take about 10mins each day. The ones that are part of the sensory diet are supposed to be to help with self regulation and other sensory related issues

[doitthisway]

Thank you everyone for your help and comments :)