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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Could DS be hyperactive? quite long, sorry.

30 replies

Pfer · 02/02/2006 10:08

I've just come from playschool and have been speaking to DS1's keyworker. He's going to school in April and they are doing worksheets at the moment trying to get the ones that are leaving soon used to pen control, writing their names etc. I had look at DS's and was really pleased as are playschool. He's doing so well and according to them the has excellent pen control and focus's on the subject at hand - unless he's distracted and TBH it doesn't take much to do that.

DS has always been lively, seems to have excess energy and even if we've been out all day running about after 5mins feet up he's off again and it's exhausting. He hardly stops all day. I thought it was me being a lazy crap mum till other people started asking 'God, is he always like this?', well yes he is. Also a lot of the time he just doesn't seem to hear me or chooses to ignore me I'm not sure which. In no way would I consider him to be a naughty child as if you're doing something together he's great and will do as you ask and behaves well, but it's constant if you know what I mean. There is no break all day. I'm so tired.

I watched him a little this morning and I must say in comparison to the other kids there he does stand out. He just looks like he's crackling with energy and doesn't stop moving.

I don't give him anything (knowingly) with aspartame in it as I have noticed that this does affect his behaviour a little, could there be anything else that could make him like this?

Anyway I asked his keyworker if she thought this was a possibility , about the hyperactivity, and she said she had considered it herself and has asked the Early Years Learning lady (who see's him already) to come in again to give her opinion.

I don't know anything about hyperactivity or food allergies etc. So any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

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Original poster

Pfer · 02/02/2006 10:52

Please......Have been reading a website and one says that dairy, wheat and eggs well as chocolate can all have a bearing on ADHD. Any experience of this?

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singersgirl · 02/02/2006 11:02

Your son sounds a lot like my older son (now 7), who also never stops. He is never still, except when asleep, and even when reading, he is fiddling with things, wriggling around etc.

His teachers don't think he is ADHD, because he does fairly well at school, but he is very easily distractible.

I found changing his diet calmed him down a lot, though he is still always on the go (awake till after 10 last night writing comics). Does your son have any physical signs of food intolerance? Mine did/does (runny nose, watery poohs, extreme thirst, chewing things all the time, very pale, dry hair etc)

We cut out artificial preservatives, colourings, flavourings, sweeteners, flavour enhancers and some naturally occurring food chemicals. I really notice when he is off diet as he gets the physical symptoms and the behavioural ones back.

I found this website very useful when I first started exploring diet.

Hope this helps - I realise food is not the answer for everyone but it has made a big difference to us.

Original poster

Pfer · 02/02/2006 11:09

Singers - thanks for that.
He doesn't show any physical signs of an intolerance of any sort. He always seens fit well and healthy. We started him on Omega 3 about 2.5 months ago and he's calmed down so much, but even now he's still so on the go.

Yes, he fidgets all the time except when asleep, he drinks an awful lot, would rather fill up on juice than eat, loves eggs, bread, and junk which I do try to limit.

After reading a few sites I can say with all honesty he does have a lot of the signs of ADHD but by no means all. Until I saw it all written down in front of me I didn't realise how many things related to him.

Is it worth asking the GP/HV what they think?

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getbakainyourjimjams · 02/02/2006 12:17

It doesn't sound like ADHD to me. The children with ADHD I know are a league apart really. The impulsiveness seems to equate with being destructive and dangerous more than flitty iykwim.

aliminimad · 02/02/2006 12:38

Pfer, you are not alone! My ds is just like yours, I cut out all preservatives, flavours etc and he now refers to all sweets as e numbers! He also has EyeQ (fish oils) which helped to an extent, as did the removal of all additives, but he still is very energetic and needs constant watching. I (and his preschool - he is nearly 4) both notice that when he is actively involved in something his behavious is better, but when he is bored gets over excited, boisterous etc.
The only thing I have consistently heard is that it is because he is intelligent and needs stimulation that he acts up when bored - so hopefully once he is older and can read, write and otherwise stimulate himself, things should settle down.

Original poster

Pfer · 02/02/2006 13:21

aliminimad - what sorts of foods did you cut out? DS is a really fussy eater at the best of times, it's a srtuggle just to get him to eat anything let alone anything that's god forbid may actually be good for him!!

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Original poster

Pfer · 02/02/2006 16:22

bumpety bump..

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nulnulcat · 02/02/2006 16:29

interesting reading this my 2 year dd is exactly the same she never stops has mad tantrums eats then runs round as if an adult on drugs has permanent runny nose dont mention the nappies dry skin always pale and excessive thirst currently awaiting paeditritran appt to have tests done to get to bottom of it but i think its all food related

nulnulcat · 02/02/2006 16:31

also hear from health visitor bad behaviour stems from boredom as advanced for her age and needs stimulation doesnt have sweets at all so no e numbers in diet as i make all her food

singersgirl · 02/02/2006 20:23

I ask all of DS's teachers whether they think he's ADHD, and they all say no and then add a 'but'. "But it is a spectrum/he does have some kind of distractibility problem/he certainly is very lively."

At an OT assessment he had at 5, the therapist said he concentrated too well on assigned tasks for ADHD ie doing a puzzle not of his choosing. I know some ADHD children are supposed to be able to hyperfocus.

You could ask your HV/GP, but it might be worth waiting to see how he does at school.

bobbybobbobbingalong · 03/02/2006 03:40

Google the dirty dozen and cut all of those out. Even some sweets that say "no artificial colours" have natural ones that have been shown to affect Children's behaviour.

Original poster

Pfer · 03/02/2006 07:34

bobby thanks for that (don't you go to bed?). I've now got the list and am going to take it shopping with me till I've remembered it! Also going to rummage through cupboards.

Singers - same here. They say if you set DS a task he'll focus on it very well if you're with him, but if you leave him to it he's easily distracted and will leave it. They also say he's bright and has excellent pen control and what I didn't know was that he can write his name etc. They are really pleased with his progress of late. When I threw in the question of hyperactivity the keyworker (who has some quals in child psych) said well actually I don't know, he's def. more active that the other children here and always seems bristling with energy and looks like he doesn't know what to do with it. That's why she's asked the early years lady to come back again before he starts school to get her opinion. She's worried that if he doesn't calm down he'll get stuck in a class with a load of other kids and will get labelled as disruptive and I really don't want that. So obviously she thinks it's a possibility doesn't she?

Will try cutting out anything with the dirty dozen in straight away and see how he gets on.

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nulnulcat · 03/02/2006 12:45

my dd only 2 and not at the having sweets yet and i make all her food myself she had a roast dinner the other evening - no gravy and went completley hyperactive after eating that!! took me good couple of hours to calm her down she drinks diluted pure apple juice more water than juice so i havent a clue what is setting her off!

Original poster

Pfer · 03/02/2006 13:19

Nulnulcat - Wierd...
I've just been to Tesco and spent a small fortune of 'good stuff' for the kids. DS2 is ok to feed as he'll eat pretty much anything at the moment (except fish) but DS1 is so picky, most days he eats so little I worry it's not enough, but then I guess if he were that hungry he'd eat anything I gave him wouldn't he?

Cupboard stocked on expensive organic now (DH and I will continue to eat crap as we can't afford for us all to eat that well!!) and am going to try to bulk make casseroles etc so I can freeze some and have it later in the week, but I don't suppose he'll eat it.

So, starting from this morning I am obliterating the dirty dozen from their diets to see if it has any effect. Wish me luck.

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nulnulcat · 03/02/2006 13:23

any advice gratefully received!! worrying she reacts to broccoli and carrots!!

Original poster

Pfer · 03/02/2006 13:35

Now that would be an interesting turn of events wouldn't it!

My DS loves boiled eggs with bread and butter, now I read that eggs and wheat allergies can be a cause of hyperactivity! What in God's name are you supposed to feed them?

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nulnulcat · 03/02/2006 13:40

someone else mentioned that about wheat but there wasnt any in her roast!! seeing paeditrician about it all at moment so hopefully they will come up with something! havent tried her on junk food yet perhaps she would be ok wiht that!!

Original poster

Pfer · 03/02/2006 13:41

worth a try!

when are you seeing the paed?

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nulnulcat · 03/02/2006 13:42

had 1st appt last week have to take her in overnight at somepoint waiting for phone call, to have loads of tests done will let you know what they come up with

Dingle · 03/02/2006 13:44

what are the dirty dozen then please? When I google I get a right mixture but nothing appropriate to this!!

Original poster

Pfer · 03/02/2006 13:45

Thanks, that'd be good if you could. It may come in handy my end too.

Good luck, oh do you want me to send you my smarties stash to see how your dd gets on with those?

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Dingle · 03/02/2006 13:47

Sorry, I've just found them!! Going to print them off now!!

nulnulcat · 03/02/2006 13:47

yes please she is spending day with ex dh tomorrow!

Original poster

Pfer · 03/02/2006 13:52

Dingle - if you go on the Organix site they've got a dirty dozen campaign going and if you put in your info they'll send you stuff on additives etc. Well so it says, have filled in my details now and will wait to see.

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Dingle · 03/02/2006 13:54

Thanks for that Pfer. My daughter, Amelia is 4 now and has DS so concentration levels and general developement is delayed anyway, but she is just always on the go and I think our first step really need to be to look closely at our diet!

I'll take a look now, thanks again!

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