Anyone have a younger child with ADHD? Please help!

[edensinterstate]

Anyone have a 5 year old boy diagnosed with ADHD? My son has developmental delays and is currently undergoing evaluation for ADHD. He's completely out of control, doesn't listen, and is very aggressive towards me. He has a developmental specialist he's been seeing for 2 years that recommended behavioral therapy and probable medication for school once he starts kindergarten. I'm not a big fan of kids on meds especially 5 year olds but I just don't know what else to do. Anyone going through this? Do you know if the medication helps with aggression associated with ADHD? Any advice iud welcome. I am at my wits end.

[Sandman2]

       I am glad that you are getting the help that you are getting.  Could you imagine what a parent would be going through without the resources that you have been able to tap into?
       Do check out Specialmoms forum.  I do know that she spent a lot of time at home working on the exercises recommended by the OT.  I kind of got the feeling that if her son had only been getting help from the OT, his progress would not have been as good.  Have you been able to work with him at home?

[edensinterstate]

He constantly puts things in his mouth, smells everything including people and he waves objects in front of his face. In  case you were wondering. Those are his sensory issues and the waving is also a repetitive behavior.

[edensinterstate]

It's very very tricky when it comes to developmental disorders. And I can't express enough how important it is for those children to see an actual specialist instead of an everyday pediatrician. I will take a look in that forum. I at least do have experience in that department

[edensinterstate]

He has some sensory issues but he doesn't actually have spd. He already receives OT 3x a week with a sensory diet,along with speech therapy 3x a week and pt 1x a week. My son missed being on the autism spectrum by just 3 points. He's not autistic, doesn't have spd, etc. Although he has symptoms of both. You can only imagine our frustration the past three years trying to figure out exactly what he has in order to treat him properly. After years of evaluations and seeing the same developmental specialist, he only meets the full criteria for two things; ADHD and Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder. I feel for parents of children with all these disorders because I know how hard it is. He's going to go see therapists and doctors who specifically work with ADHD and delayed/autistic children. Maybe they will have more answers on his diagnosis since he is so complex. ADHD does run on both sides of his family. My whole husbands side (literally)  has it.

[Sandman2]

   It would be almost impossible to have not known about the CDC report and the follow up suggestions for why that number is so high if you are as involved as I am.  This is a pretty good link to one reason why the numbers may be so high  - http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/821970?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=96999MR
   I certainly agree with the rest of your statement.  For years, when parents have asked about taking medication - I have always said, "it is not a magic pill."  It will not solve all the problems which is why all studies have always shown that medication AND behavioral therapy is the most effective.  
    Unfortunately, all to often,  overworked pediatricians and under educated parents lead to children not receiving the proper treatment.  

[Sandman2]

   Both Concerta and Vyvannse because they are extended release medications tend to be smoother on the release then the short term stim meds.  So yes, if you do go the medicine route, either of those would be worth trying.  Just remember low and slow.
   But, perhaps, more importantly,  You just mentioned several things that are symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder (or Sensory Integration Disorder as it is also known).  SPD is many times missed by doctors because it looks so much like ADHD.  SPD is treated by an occupational therapist and meds are not used.  You talked about clothes, food, language, melt downs - all are symptoms.
    I am going to give you several links that would certainly be worth your time to check out.   First check out Specialmoms post at the bottom of this link.     http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Child-Behavior/could-there-be-a-BIGGER-problem/show/1590406#post_7226976
   This link is also good (if it goes through)  http://childrenwithadhd.net/sitting-still-setting-appropriate-expectations/
     This is the link to the main web site for SPD.  It has a huge amount of information.  I am giving two links.  The first is to the symptoms page and the second is to the behavioral problems section.
             http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist.html
             http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/behavior-problems-in-children.html
       Finally, we have on medhelp a SID site monitored by Specialmom.  I mention that because if you have any questions about SPD, she will be able to help you much more then I can.  That site is - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Sensory-Integration-Disorder-SID/show/1396
       I would appreciate knowing what your opinion is of the SPD possibility.  It will help with further posts from other parents.