(Alomost) 6 year old having social problems

[Ahava]

Hello. My son will be 6 next month. He's smart: was counting to 300 by age 4 (forwards & backwards),can add & subtract. He taught himself the alphabet at 2˝ in 1 week from a game. Can understand abstract ideas. He's in speech therapy. He was misdiagnosed by early intervention as autistic w/possible SID at age 2˝ and was placed in a special needs school.While in that environment he because extremely dependent & very aggressive. He has always been aggressive w/me though he became worse at the school.He required an aid for everything, even holding a pencil. He was independent at home but completely dependent at school. He broke into rages at home. A child psychologist told us this was stemming from poor communication skills & the frustration with it. His dev Ped evaluated him over the course of a year and autism was ruled out, along with ODD, SID, PDD-NOS, asperger's & adhd (though adhd was a risk). With these findings, we removed him from the SN school & placed him in a regular preschool.  He transitioned well but had issues with sharing, frustration levels & loudness. He would have a meltdown when I picked him up (behavior has always been worse for me). He always had a hard time socializing w/neighborhood kids but got along well w/kids at preschool.

He goes to summer camp for a few weeks every year, and does karate. None of the staff in these places have noted anything unusual about him. They say he's a charming, caring boy.

He started Kindergarten this year,& doesn't seem to know how to initiate conversation or play (though he can talk fine to adults or much older kids). When the kids shun him, he gets up in their faces & makes loud, annoying sounds. Most kids do not like him though some will play with him in our neighborhood.There's no real connection w/1 friend right now. He had one good friend in preschool, but he moved away. He wants to play w/kids but no one plays with him at recess.

We've hired a coach to help him w/his social problems by reviewing "social stories" with him. All the things she is working on with him (ie: personal space), he's doing the opposite. He keeps hugging kids when they don't want to be hugged, making goofy faces, interupting their play. It's like he's doing the opposite in real life on purpose? He tells me he's bad though I reassure him constantly that he's not.

He's always been very defiant at home. Husband (his father) & I remain consistent w/time outs, removing priveleges & behavior modification programs, but nothing seems to work for long. When he wants to behave, he'll behave, and things will be good for a while. He gets frustrated when he's not perfect. He'll break into tears & might throw something, but doesn't rage now.

He's very bright. Tonight he said he liked playing soccer better than basketball but found that funny because he likes basket balls better, "like how you love coffee but don't like coffee ice cream." We just don't know if something is wrong or if he's just socially immature. Thank you!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The problems goes beyond social immaturity, though that certainly is part of the problem. It does not explain his defiance with you, nor does it explain his rages. One thing that stands out in your description is his level of impulsivity; it is high for his age. It might well be that he displays symptoms typical of condition(s) in the Disruptive Behavior category, in spite of the earlier evaluations. Also, is there any family history of mood disorder (Bipolar Disorder or Depression)? Some of his behavior is typical of children who display juvenile-onset bipolar disorder. It makes sense to continue with evaluations by child psychiatrist, and it would not be surprising at all if you rceieve a recommendation to use medication as part of the treatment plan. Medication could be useful in stabilizing his mood, reducing his impulsivity and lessening his aggression.

[Ahava]

Thank you very much Dr. We'll be doing basc evaluations this month.  Do you think that will shed enough light?  Also, he does't rage like he used to. Those episodes would last about 45 minutes. Now when he gets upset, he can calm himself or ask for help within about 5 minutes or less.  Again, I thank you enormously for your time.

[jdtm]

Dear Hahava:

i belong to a support group for parents and teachers of children who suffer from anxiety disorders.  The description of your son is one that I have heard many times - the frustrations, meltdowns, extreme behavioural issues at home, inappropriate social behaviours, inflexibility, lack of initiation, hyperactivity, immaturity, etc.  It is possible that your son is suffering from an anxiety disorder (perhaps social anxiety).  Many of our children who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder have also been diagnosed with depression as well as sensory integration dysfunction and expressive/receptive learning disorder.

Please do as the previous poster expressed - do keep in touch with your family pediatrician.  By the way, one of the latest research studies tends to believe that anxiety disorders are a developmental disorder as well as a mental health issue.  One more thing - to better help our child (who suffers from extreme social phobia and depression) to learn social manners (these children are unable to "pick up" normal social graces), we hired an art therapist to come into the school for a period of time to instruct our child on socially-correct ways, then observe during recess and playtime, and finally de-brief on the interactions.  It worked wonders!  I wish you the best.

[Ahava]

Thank you jdtm =)  I appreciate your support.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I can't forecast whether the evaluations will be sufficient, but you are undertaking a sensible course of action.

[sharylune]

I have a child 4 1/2 years old with milk allergy. At the age of 4 ( June)diagnosis has been made. Until then he did all the dangerous things you can immagine he had fights with other children and was not able to sing a song in school. I had decided to see a specialist for the languange on September. He didnt had to. When he went back to school,he was a different person. He could sing almost all the songs, much more calm and happy. I am convinced and I have study a lot about exorphins - proteins of food ( usually milk and/or gluten) and how they can modify behaviour. You can search on PubMed in milk allergy+ autism or Behaviour or attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder or exorphins

[Ahava]

Sharylune, is there a way we can talk further about this milk allergy thing?  I've long suspected an intolerance though he has very few physical symptoms.  We took milk out of his diet 8 days ago.  There are been some really wonderful days since then but he has also had some terrible regressions.  I'm not sure how much longer I will keep milk products from him if it doesn't help but I was really hopeful with this.

Thank you everyone for your comments & suggestions.

[sharylune]

Dear Ahava, when you remove milk from diet, you must consider the fragments of milk that are used in some food products, like potato chips or Ham. Lactose, galactose, lactalboumine, caseine,and every word starting with lacto,must be out of your childs diet.This means you have always to look to the components of everything you buy. The usual manifestations of milk allergy is cases of vomits or diarrea (diarrhea) or anorexia as an infant,exzema (eczema)/ atopic dermatitis, poor weight or hight gain after the cesation of breast feeding( look at the percentils of his diagramm),running nose or nasal blockage,or itcy nose ( I am sorry for my poor English), bronchitis, constipation ,headackes, abdominal discomfort or pain. Of course they do not have to have all the above symptoms and many times  symptoms are vague, thats why children escape diagnosis

[kitty29]

My autistic son is exactly like this. Exactly.

Please think about getting a third opinion.

He is in a regular ed classroom like your son, but he struggles with the same social differences and frustrations that your son does. Autism doesn't always warrant special ed.

The similarities are so eerily similar. Please, please I urge you to re-visit the possibility!!! I'm really in shock that he does not have an autism or asperger diagnosis.


kitty

[sharylune]

Even autism has been connected to intolerance to milk and gluten ( protein derived from grains) proteins. I suggest you to visit PubMed and search milk gluten allergy intolerance autism

[dontakedrugs]

MORE DAMNING EVIDENCE ABOUT ADHD `MEDICATION`


Thursday, January 5, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM



Reported risks spur new study of ADHD drugs
By Andrew Bridges

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Reports of sudden deaths, strokes, heart attacks and hypertension in both children and adults taking drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are spurring new government study into the medications' safety.

Sales of drugs to treat ADHD have increased sharply in recent years, with use growing at a faster rate among adults than children, according to a recent study by Medco Health Solutions, a prescription benefit manager. Spending on ADHD drugs soared from $759 million in 2000 to $3.1 billion in 2004, according to IMS Health, a pharmaceutical information and consulting firm.

The Food and Drug Administration said it had received reports of what it called "serious adverse events" — including deaths — in association with the therapeutic use of the drugs. The agency considers the reports "rare though serious," FDA spokeswoman Susan Bro said Wednesday.

The FDA's Canadian counterpart, Health Canada, yanked the ADHD drug Adderall (adderrall) XR from the market for six months last year in response to reports of 20 sudden deaths and 12 strokes in adults and children using the drug. A number of the cases involved children with structural heart defects.

The panel eventually concluded there was inadequate evidence of increased harm from Adderall (adderrall) XR compared with other available therapies, a conclusion the FDA also reached based on data on hand.

Now the U.S. regulatory agency is asking its Drug Safety and Risk Management advisory committee to examine ways of studying further the potential cardiovascular risks of the drugs. The few studies that have looked at longer-term use of ADHD drugs provide little information on those risks, the FDA said.

The committee is to meet Feb. 9-10 in Gaithersburg, Md.

"The issue of drug treatment of attention deficit disorder in children has been a controversial one without this issue of cardiovascular risk, too. It adds another concern to what will certainly be an interesting conversation," said Arthur Levin, the FDA committee's consumer representative.

A posting to the FDA Web site did not identify any of the drugs by name. However, the most commonly used ADHD drugs include Adderall (adderrall) XR, made by Shire Pharmaceuticals, and Ritalin, made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Various other companies make generic versions of Ritalin as well.

Shire spokesman Matthew Cabrey said the company had not been told of the meeting but added it may send representatives. Novartis did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company



YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM PSYCHIATRIC POISON/MEDICATION AND THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC NOR ANY MORAL JUSTIFICATION TO DRUG CHILDREN.IT MAY HOWEVER MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR YOU TO BUT BEFORE WE HAD DRUG COMPANIES TO KEEP RICH I THINK PEOPLE PUT THEIR CHILDRENS NEEDS FIRST.