5 yr old.

[granny177832]

Parents seperated when he was 2yrs , Seperation anxiety issues, demanding of attention due to insecurities during 3yr high conflict Family court case which has effected all. I feel behaviour issues hav`nt been helped by the situation.Previously I have observed  the now 5yr old in a trance like state, once when he caught his finger in a draw , he ran out of the room I followed and he was asleep on the floor like in a few seconds, annother when picked up from his Mother he was dehydrated and was trance like for sometime, another he was sitting at the table and suddenly his eyes rolled and he started to fall off the chair. He is quite intelligent although at times he does`nt listen but when you talk to him he did hear what was said to him and can be disruptive usually to get attention and can hit out and bite out of the blue.He has no problem playing games of the latest X-Box games and  is   focused  on the  things he is interested in.  I have no problem in getting him to behave by calmly talking to him. Does not like going to sleep n probably does not get enough sleep and he is very fussy in regard to food. Mother now has him on Dexamphethamine , she cannot control him ,she has cruel ways of disapline and he clashes with her. Dr. said he has not dignosed ADHD and  has said does`nt matter if he has breaks from the pills while he is at Dad`s house which is 46% of the time. This is called holiday breaks?Since the pills started he is becoming hyperactive at Dad`s when he `s not on pills whereas before he was much more calm. I am wondering if he has a mild form of epilespy.( Absent seziures). Phyciarst stated 3 yrs ago behaviour problems more likley due to seperation than false allegations by the Mother. I am concerned about the drug and if he should be on them at all and the effects on a 5 yr old brain and the  fact that he only has the pills when he is with her, and now I don`t know how he is at Mum`s but now he is acting out more at Dad`s. All very  complex.

[Sandman2]

  I agree with Mark.  The trance like states could well be seizures and that should be evaluated.
   I also don't understand how he can be on  Dexamphethamine when the doctor said he does not have ADHD?  Who the heck has prescribed the meds?
   All studies have shown that a child that does not get enough sleep will experience ADHD symptoms.  And its always possible that since he is fussy with food that he might have Sensory Processing Disorder (which has a lot of ADHD like symptoms - but meds will not help).  Check this link for more info on that - http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/
    However, I am confused you said that, "Since the pills started he is becoming hyperactive at Dad`s when he `s not on pills whereas before he was much more calm."   So when he is on pills, he is calm and when he is not on pills he is hyperactive?   This is pretty important so please clarify.
    Of course, it could just be the change in households that make him hyper.   Does he go to preschool or kindergarten?  What do the teachers report?
   The other thought is that Dad should follow the doctors advise (still not sure on that), try the pill for a day or two and see what happens.  It will not hurt the child at all since he is on it already.  You can start and stop it at any time.
   And yes, this is complex which is why getting a doctors evaluation is important.  

[MarkLakewood3367]

You are right - This situation is extremely complex.  I am concerned about the trace-like state that he experiences.  I think that your questions can only be answered and sorted out by the child's pediatrician.  It is also advised that a mental health eval be considered to determine if this child is acting out as a result of specific family situations or experiences.