Hello all, my ds1 is 6 years old and to me, it seems like he might have ADHD or/and something else. Being a foreigner, I am more at lost with the system, specially since I don't have friends with issues like mine who I can compare notes with. Even the term ADHD is new to me and only came across it when my son starting having behavioral problems at school. Reception year was a nightmare, his teachers complained that he did not sit still in the round (on the floor), and when he concentrated on something it seemed impossible to take him out of it.
The biggest problems were during play time, he liked playing rough (i.e. pretending to be an airplane) and 'accidentally' bumping into other children. He was most of the time on the 'sad' spot (which to be honest, broke my heart, but I accepted it). We all hoped it was just the adaptation period to school.
However, starting year 1 same behaviour was no longer tolerated and he started to come home with a 'behavioural record' where smiley faces or sad faces were drawn during each lesson and he brought the record home. I can not describe the pressure both him and me felt everyday about his behaviour. He would be punished almost everyday as his record showed that he could not refrain his impulses during play time and continue to play rough, sometimes hurting other children. I was dreading every day, specially picking him up from school, and face the other parents who I thought were thinking about my badly behaved boy. But during all this time, it never occurred to me that there could be an underlying condition behind his behaviour.
I also have a 4 year old and he is completely opposite (thank God) so I felt at lost as to why he would behave like that, and when I asked him why, he was always very sorry (even crying) and said that he could not help himself and that he was 'very bad at behaving good' (his own words). We decided to change schools, and make a financial effort to send him to a small private school, hoping that being in a smaller class would help. This was in November 2010. He just turned 6 yesterday, and had to be punished on his birthday because he hit a schoolmate during play time the day before, and his father complained to us yesterday.
We celebrated his birthday, but he was not allowed to play games until Sunday (and he was begging and crying, but we explained that unfortunately we had to punish him hitting his friend).
In school, he seems to be doing fine. I don't know about writing, but his reading is excellent, and he loves maths. But he has a big problems relating to the other children, specially to contain his impulses, which worries me so much.
The teacher wrote a letter for me to take to the GP and ask for him to be assessed for ADHD or else.
I have an appointment with the GP on monday about this, and I will go with the teacher's letter. What should I expect? Please can someone that has gone through this process please give me some advice as to how to push for a referral or what to expect from this meeting? I have met the GP before, but he refused to refer him yet as I just did the change of school and said he needed time to adjust to the new surroundings.
I am also giving him omega3 and omega6 supplements, as well as magnessium (kiddie calm), he eats food made from scratch (so no additives). I would think this is helping him, but I am slowly coming to terms that he might need even more help. When I started researching about ADHD I was reluctant to give him any medicine, but I am now not so sure, and I wonder if it will help him, specially control his impulses. Please if someone has a 6 year old with ADHD that is taking medicine, would so love to hear about your experience...