Does my 5 year old have ADHD?

[ajmom2]

My five year old has been pretty challenging since he was born.  For the past few years we have struggled with him having fits.  He has been diagnosed with a tic.  The neurologist that diagnosed him said that during his evaluation he did not see any evidence of ADHD but my question is in that setting can he really see that?  I have read everything there is to read regarding ADHD and tantrums.  We have been able to accomplish great things in the past few months with behaviour modification.   His fits are very short, and they are much less frequent.  I can get him under control in usually less than 30 seconds, and he now has days where he does not have any outbursts at all.  He does struggle with waiting his turn, and being the best biggest, fastest etc...  His intelligence level is very high (I know this is common in ADHD kids).  He can sit very nicely in a classroom, and when I am reading to him. Though he does at times call out, the teacher feels it is not more than some of the other students.  He understands proper behavior, and is very well mannered.  I find in many ways he is much better behaved than most children, but he is the child that gets looked at as the poorly behaved one, because when he gets upset he does get loud.  No one notices the child who does or says the quiet mean thing, it is the child who reactes to that mean action by screaming that gets noticed.   He starts kindergarten next year.  I am thrilled that his birthday falls so that he will be one of the oldest in his grade.  I wanted to be completely done with this by the time he enters kindergarten, but I am not kidding myself I know he will have his challenges.  Any opinions?

[ajmom2]

Thanks so much for your input.  We work daily with my son on the behavior management.  We try to be as consistant as possible, and it did take about 3 months before we really started seeing results.  I think at this point that we have managed him to the point where there isn't much stress in our home, and the dialogue we use with him works very effectively.  You are not the first one who has told me that he may get through elementary school, but have a tougher time down the road when the expectations are harder.  Next year he starts kindergarten, and I am thankful that he is way ahead of the game academically, giving him the time to focus on the social piece of it.  Having to work on both pieces might be a struggle for him.  I also originally was disappointed that we only have a half day kindergarten program, but now I think this might work in his favor.  He will only be expected to control himself for the half day, giving him another year before he is expected to control himself for a full day.
Thanks again,
We'll keep working on it!

[sarbearie]

to ajmom

what sandman2 is what i really meant to say
for i am only 16 so do nnot know everything!
or half as much as him
even though i said i was 22 or something not really.
but need help just like everyone else on here and planned to give
it to people who need it.
Im glad he posted you that because it was pretty much right on the dot.
I just supported it to a degree to  some point...
a.d.h.d does not sound like the problem but ,behaviour modification
and behavior learning problems. and really making an effort or seeing a theropist if it gets out of hand ( cant spell)

thankyou for letting me help!!

[ajmom2]

Thanks for your input. I do feel he struggles somewhat with concentrating.   I do not feel he is unusually hyper, but he is more hyper  than my older son was.  He can stay still and pay attention for longer than a few minutes, he can sit for around a half hour and do a workbook page.  He does not move from task to task (I have seen other children who do this, and that is not him), when he finds something to play with he plays with it for hours, and does not struggle with finding something to do.  I do not see carelessness and I feel he has many interests.  The only thing that he struggles with on your list is the sharing piece.  As I said in my original post I have read soooo much, and have done sooo much behaviour modification.  I think we have been successful so far, but he still struggles with self control.  The sharing is a challenge, the being first is a challenge, and anger management is a challenge.  I feel we are making progress with all of these, but it is a daily struggle
Thanks so much for your feedback

[sarbearie]

does he have any problems concentrating?

is he always unusually hyper?...does he listen and can he sit still and pay attention
for more than a couple minutes?...does he move from task to task?
if yes to #1  than he has it.
if yes to #2 than he prob. dosen.
if yes to #3  than he might so have it.

do you see signs of carelessness
and intrest in very few things.
it sounds to me he is just young and wants attention.
I would wait till august/september to make your finall decision
And give him  little chores like watering the plants/make bed/ pick up floor.
if he can get thru these things succesfully without being distracted or saying no.
and if you say please and will still not do it.And goes from toy to toy or seems unusually hyper and does not have many friends and cannot share.
I would express it over with a doctor
and they will explain everything with medication

goodluck and godbless