ADHD or Sensory issues

[sweetteamum]

How do I tell the difference?

DS is dx'd with ADHD, pda and dyslexia. I've noticed (since I've had it pointed out and I've kept a diary) that ds could be having more sensory issues than I first thought.

DS was on medication but it was having a really negative effect on his moods and his aggression was awful.

I just want to get it right and wondering if he can have both or could it be just one or the other

Thanks PolterGoose

No, OT saw him once, didn't do much of an assessment then discharged him. But I'm seeing more sensory stuff than anything tbh. I agree about the sensory issues coinciding with pda but unless I get the OT to take us serious then he's not going to get the help.

For example: I've noticed he needs rough play a lot and appears to need 'something' but not sure what it is. However, it shows as him winding people up but I don't think it's as simple as that.

I don't think there is a clear distinction between ADHD and sensory issues. DS1 is less bothered by sensory issues when his ADHD is well treated.

About a year ago, we went away and forgot to take the medicine box with us. By the second day, he was beside himself, with restless sore legs and was unable to focus on what we were saying unless we had a hand on his shoulder and spoke to him somewhere quiet. Once we'd got his ADHD medication back up to a working level in his bloodstream (he takes a long acting one - Strattera) that al abated and his auditory discrimination difficulties were back down to a manageable level and he no longer needed deep pressure to stop his legs from hurting.

That needing something is typical sensory seeking behaviour. If he's getting physical, then he's getting physical feedback. If he's deliberately, rather than unintentionally, winding people up, it also provides a bit of an adrenaline rush, anticipating their response. DS2 does this a lot, as well as insisting I set the hairdryer (which he's terrified of) on him and other weird thrill seeking behaviours!

There is a post grad qualification that OT s can take on sensory issues, so if you can track one of those down, you may get some techniques that would help whatever the cause

Hi sweettea, I have an 8yo with dxes of SPD, anxiety, and ASD-PDA. His sensory issues are really major - but I get the impression that he only has a separate SPD dx because we got it first, before the ASD-PDA one.

As I understand it, sensory issues are very common with both ASD and adhd, and may be difficult to untangle from ASD or adhd pointers.

My DS certainly ticks all the boxes for adhd and it's been mentioned by a few profs now, but his behaviours could all equally be explained by his sensory issues.

Sorry, not sure if that is any help at all; just pointing out that there are a lot of overlapping behaviours.