Ocd

My 4 1/2 year old grandson is obsessed with driving directions. It use to be cute but he can drive you crazy. The only thing he wants to talk about is directions, streets and addresses.  He can get you any where you want to go. He wants nothing to do with reading a book but he can spell street names and read street names. We can't get in a car without him giving you direction. He never stops talking and he really get upset if don't take the streets he wants you to take. He even wakes up in the middle of the night talking about driving directions. He did not talk till he was 2 and he did not walk until he was 19months. He sees an address once and he remembers the name of the street and also the address. I am afraid he is not going to fit in when he goes to school. He also have some social problems, and motor skill problems. He goes to OT and PT.

Grandma

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Your grandson needs an evaluation by a developmental pediatrician. Yes, it is possible that this behavior is a mainfestation of OCD, but more likely it is not. The only way to determine this is to udergo the evaluation.

[patron2]

About a year ago he did see a developmental pediatrician. She had all the testing done which cost her about $2000.00 and they said he was just fine. We don't know where to turn at this point. Can you give me some suggestions.... He will be going to kindergarden in August and I am worried that he just won't fit in...

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

A year is a long time in the life of a child so young. So an updated evaluation is critical - otherwise you don't know what to treat. An option is to have an evaluation by a child psychiatrist. If your grandson is insured the insurance will pay for the evaluation.