How do I handle my son's strange behaviors??

My son is 6 years old and seems to have symptoms from all the following disorders, according to his Doctors. ADHD, Aspergers Syndrome, Anxiety Disorder and Defiant Disorder. I can't seem to figure out what is normal behavior verses something else. He doesn't care about learning, following the rules or behaving in a socially acceptable way. He runs around making loud high pitch voices and acting like a 2 year old. Although he does have a speech delay and has been in speech therapy over 3 years he chooses to talk in an high pitch baby voice so no one can understand him. He doesn't respond to positive reinforcement, only negative. He is easily distracted and has to be entertained at all times. Kids his age are turned off by his behaviors and never want to play with him more than once. He refuses to listen and makes even the most simplest of tasks a struggle. Even when he is punished for his behavior he has completely forgotten about it 5 minutes later and back to doing it again. He still plays in the street when he should know how dangerous it is but he doesn't care. He wonders around in his own world completely oblivious of others and his actions. I am losing my mind!! My younger son is now learning these behaviors and it's causing extreme stress with my husband and I. I feel resentful of my son and all the stress he causes from his daily actions. I feel just awful saying this but sometimes I feel that he has taken all the good stuff from parenting away from me. Is there something I'm doing wrong?? Does he need to be on medication like his Doctors suggest??? Is this more emotional/behavior or mental or is he just really immature??

[tl16kl24]

I work with young adults that have all of those disorders. It is hard when you hear the doctor say they need medication and it is hard to believe that your child could have these problems. The doctors believe my son has the symptoms for ADHA. I have researched it and decided to try and curve it with diet. It works sometimes and other times not at all. So give that a try. If it is severe the best thing is medication. For anxiety counsling and medication can do some wonders. I suggest giving the medication a try and if it seems that your child is in a stupper or not responding well to the medications try another route. There are lots of things you can do for this. Music theropy is great for Aspergers.

[margypops]

It has also been shown that food supplements can be useful anti oxidants  B Complex and Vit C some parents use Fish oil. Experts believe that these have the same efficacy as Ritalin in ADHD..

[specialmom]

Hello,  my son has a developmental delay that is called sensory integration disorder.  It involves his nervous system like ADD/ADHD and the behavior can look the same.  If it is being suggested to you that your son has delays------  I'm sure you realize that your son is doing the best that he can.  A child with a delay works 10 times harder than one without just to get through the day.  I also have a younger son that doesn't have a delay.  His life involves lots of activities directed for my older son.  But such is life.   This is the lot I've been given and I'll do the best with it that I can.  Making his life better (and thus, all of ours) is my utmost goal.  So hang in there and keep trying.  Things can get better.  The hard part for a parent with a child with a delay is that things getting better with the child requires the parent's efforts.  I'd also recommend staying very calm with him.

As far as medication,  I, like most moms, would hate to have to medicate my child and am thankful that we've had success with my son without meds (as they don't work for sensory integration disorder but occupational therapy does)----BUT, if I had to medicate, I would.  Many  kids that are really suffering (and your son's actions show he is suffering) will tell you that they felt so much better after meds that they could get on with their lives.  This is a family matter though and you have to do what is in your heart.  

A nervous system problem (and by the way, many aspergers kids have ADD/ADHD and sensory issues----  it can all be intertwined) really benefits from physical activity.  As much activity as possible.  Swimming is awesome, go to parks and climb, run, jump and swing.  Give him a thick piece of bubble gum to chew (calming and organizing), blow bubbles, let him drink from a sports bottle.  Let him crash into a pile of pillows.  All of this will soothe his nervous system.  Good luck----  it's hard, I know. Give yourself some breaks too.  A break can make us more patient when we need to be.