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ADD / ADHD Community
This patient support community is for discussions relating to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Guidance Needed
by AuntiePJ, Mar 08, 2008 02:37PM
My 7-yr old nephew has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and is going to be starting medication soon. He was recently suspended from school for "inappropriately touching" three girls. The school has taken a very agressive stance about allowing him back into school, requiring a psychological evaluation, etc. The psychologist that my nephew is going to will not participate, and the school's suggested "counselor" will not handle children in their county. Does anyone have a suggestion as to who we can contact to get this boy some help? It seems that everyone we go to for help is slamming the door in our faces, and we need to get this boy back in school. I know he can't be the only child to ever have this problem, but the reaction we are getting is incredible. I would appreciate any assistance or guidance you can give me and my family...
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Couple of things.
Ask the school for a recommendation for Snohomish County. They ( or their counselor) should have those resources.
I think that if the school has said you must have a psyc evaluation - then they must supply the psyc.
You have already had a psyc evaluation so your nephew could start on medication. This may satisfy the school. The parents would have a copy of it, which they could show the school.
Does the school know that he has been diagnosed with ADHD and will be starting medication? It also seems possible that if the school does not know this, that they are trying to force the issue to get him tested.
Oh, I probably should also mention that there are federal laws to protect people with special needs. If your nephew had been tested by the school and was in special ed, there would have been a different outcome (depending on how his IEP was written)
Finally, the school maybe trying to protect themselves. This behavior could be called fairly normal for a boy with ADHD (no filters to restrain them), but not so normal for a child who doesn't have ADHD. Of course at age 7, these things do happen.
In conclusion, I think there needs to be more communication with the school principal for several of the reasons listed above. Good luck and keep in touch.
Do you know of a website or any suggestion for a parenting support group? As family members, we are all trying to help his mom & dad to cope with this, but none of us has ever "been there".
Again, thanks for all your help. Any suggestions or ideas right about now are so very much appreciated.
Here is one.
I have not read this book, but there are a lot of good ideas listed below that are worth sharing. With medication these should work even better.
50 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behavior and Attention Span without Drugs, Labels, or Coercion (for detailed information about each way, see The Myth of the ADD Child) Order the book.
Provide a balanced breakfast.
Consider the Feingold diet
Limit television and video games
Teach self-talk skills.
Find out what interests your child.
Promote a strong physical education program in your child’s school.
Enroll your child in a martial arts program.
Discover your child’s multiple intelligences (link)
Use background music to focus and calm.
Use color to highlight information.
Teach your child to visualize.
Remove allergens from the diet.
Provide opportunities for physical movement.!!
Enhance your child’s self-esteem.
Find your child’s best times of alertness.
Give instructions in attention-grabbing ways.
Provide a variety of stimulating learning activities.
Consider biofeedback training.
Activate positive career aspirations.
Teach your child physical-relaxation techniques.!!
Use incidental learning to teach.
Support full inclusion of your child in a regular classroom.
Provide positive role models.
Consider alternative schooling options.
Channel creative energy into the arts.
Provide hands-on activities
Spend positive times together.
Provide appropriate spaces for learning.
Consider individual psychotherapy.
Use touch to soothe and calm.!!!!!!
Help your child with organizational skills.!!
Help your child appreciate the value of personal effort.
Take care of yourself.
Teach your child focusing techniques.!!
Provide immediate feedback.
Provide your child with access to a computer.
Consider family therapy.
Teach problem-solving skills.
Offer your child real-life tasks to do.
Use "time-out" in a positive way.
Help your child develop social skills.
Contract with your child.
Use effective communication skills.
Give your child choices.
Discover and treat the four types of misbehavior.
Establish consistent rules, routines, and transitions.!!
Hold family meetings.
Have your child teach a younger child.
Use natural and logical consequences.
Hold a positive image of your child.! ! ! ! !
I have seen significant improvements in my 11 yo son after going feingold. I also see the effects when he eats things like artificial colors & preservatives which are avoided on feingold. A good book to read to learn more is; Why Can't My Child Behave? by Jane Hersey
Dietary changes are not harmful, although it's a little overwhelming at first, definitely worth the effort.
Yeah its not nice at all!! My cousin Coby has the illness and his mum Trish looks after him.
Can you apply for carer payment or allowance?
Try to communicate with the school a bit more.. sometimes they just need a good push in the back to get going.
A diary may be useful as well - good communication.
www.youngplanet.org is also really good.
kaz_22