My son was dxed w/ ADHD. He's been on meds since age 5. He's 9 now. Ritalin, Concerta, Dexedrine, & now Adderall XR and Inderall. Aggressive behavior since age 2 resulting in being thrown out of 3 daycares. Violent in school when he doesn't get his way, (e.g. transitioning from class to class, annoyance from peers results in him hitting them, running away from teachers, kicking, screaming and hitting teachers and peers to the point where he has to be restrained and we get called to pick him up). He's in a collaborative team teaching classroom in a regular ed. class-60% spec. ed, 40% reg.ed. He's the only aggressive, out of control child. School not equipped to handle his violent outbursts. No comorbidity of any other disorders have been dxed as yet. What is this? When we yell or grab him, he snaps out of rage and cries. Remorseful when its over. Obstinate, oppositional, cranky, talks back, irritable. Main problem is the violent outbursts at school. He's being seen as a danger to himself and others. Not violent at home, w/ playdates or small peer groups, or sitters or us. Bipolar? ODD? Something else? Please help us. Tried Depakote trial and it did nothing. Just got a Cognitve Behavioral Therapist once a week. He's going to get kicked out of this school, we just know it. Our only recourse seems to be to change his classification from 'Other Health Impaired' to 'Emotionally Disturbed'! We're afraid he'll be in a classroom of kids that are killing each other and what good models will he have then? We are at our wits end. What's our next step? Please be as specific as possible.
Thank you so much.
- Extremely Worried Parents