Please help me - I'm exhausted and think DS has ADHD..

[molemesses]

His behaviour problems started when he started Primary school. I knew he wasnt ready and was very anxious, as was he.

After 1 month in Reception class I was asked to take him home from midday as "She just couldnt cope with him". This went on for a year until he started year 1.

We had him tested with the help of the school for ADHD but the doctors and assessors said he was fine.

Roll on 2 years, he is now 7 and is 2 years behind with his reading, writing and social skills despite all our best efforts. I am researching every learning difficulty under the sun to find out what is wrong with him as he goes from one extreme to the other. I just know that something isnt quite right with him but dont know what.

During analysis tests at school he comes out as average as he is 2 years ahead of his classmates in hands on activities but 2 years behind with reading and writing. His maths is slowly improving.

During my research I have found that he ticks some of the boxes for Dyslexia but is showing a vast majority of the signs for ADHD after all.

By 5-30, everyday I am absolutly shattered trying to keep him in line, entertain him, and helping him with his work. My DD who is 2 years older gets a little ignored because of this.

I am making an appointment at the doctors for him to be seen and I have a meeting at the school in November which they will tell me what the school Phycologist suggests.

I feel so stupid as I believed the first diagnosis when he was 5 and was adament for years that he didnt have ADHD.

I just feel so stupid, tired and scared.

Please tell me if this is normal.

It's certainly normal to feel stupid, tired and scared....

You need to keep pushing and stop being fobbed off.

Good luck.

Hi molemesses

I can totally empathise with you. My son is five and I have a daughter who is 11. From the day he was born my poor daughter has been a bit side lined because as you say you use so much energy with your son. It's like you can never 'chill out' with him because he always needs to be occupied.

My son is an august baby and was far too young to go to school imo. Lots of prblems in reception with socialising and I was 'spoken' to by head and class teacher on lots of occasions about his full on behaviour. He is not being referred by the school though because he is not too much of a nuisance in class and most of his problems lie in the playground/unstructured times during day. I got to the stage when I didn't want to go and pick him up at the end of the day because of the looks from judgemental parents and the possiblity of being callded in to the heads office AGAIN!!

Anyway, we are organising for an educational psychologist to observe him at school and do a full assessment as the waiting list is 8 months before we even get to see the consultatant which our GP has referred us to.

I am worried though that she may say there is nothing wrong but I (like you) think there is - cross that bridge when we come to it I suppose. I can only say to you that if you believe there is something amiss trust yourself and keep pushing for him to be reassessed or organise it yourself (we are paying £400 - a lot I know).

I am going to look for 'The out of sync child' book

Out of interest - my son hasn't slept a full night in his life - how is the sleep situation with your son? I have read that irregular sleep patterns can be an indicator of a learning difficulty.

I agree with Leonie - the Out of Sync child book is great (and the Out of Sync Child has fun too).

He sleeps fine - full 8 hours but he's up with the larks (I think half the time HE wakes them up).

He's a bit of a bugger when going to sleep but after turning the power off to his room and the lights he just drops off within a few minutes.

(I know it's drastic but turning the power off to his room is for his own safety has he had a spell if putting things in the plug sockets - wet. Although that particular phase is now over he has got used to not having any way of turning lights or messing about)

The power is turned off if he gets out of bed and messes about more than 3 times. After that the power is out.