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4 year old son having difficulties at school

My 4 year old son ( will turn 5 this July) has started school this past September.  From the beginning, the teacher has been telling me that he is having difficulties in his fine motor skills and social developements.  He dislikes and always has activities like cutting, coloring, puzzles etc. that require fine motor skills.  He has now improved alot in this aspect but the teacher says he is still behind compared to the others his age.  I have always ( even when young ) been doing these things with him at home to practice but also understand that I don't want to push him too much and discourage him so I try to balance it out to a few times a week.  Another problem with him is that he gets distracted and as the teacher says " is in his own little world " sometimes.  He isn't paying attention in class at times and will get distracted when he has to do something like getting dressed, coloring, writing etc.   He needs constant reminders to go back to what he is supposed to do.  I feel that he becomes distracted especially when he has to do something that he doesn't like doing.  Also, sometimes, you need to touch him or say his name a few times before he actually will pay attention.  He is definitely not hyperactive as he can stay sitting for long periods of time.  When he was younger, he was obsessed with guitar playing that's all he wanted to do was play with his guitar, then it was with trucks and now, the computer.  We had to set limits with this last one as we don't want him to play computer all the time since obviously it's not good for them.  It seems like his brain just doesn't stop thinking and he can't focus at times.  Even when he sleeps, he talks, he moves around alot and he grinds his teeth.  I am concerned about what the teacher has been telling me but I don't feel that he is an autistic child ( teacher mentioned asberger ) as he is very affectionate and plays well with others ( better in a one on one situation ) and generally seems like a very normal child when I compare him to his cousins except for his distractibility and fine motor skill delay.  The teacher also keeps pointing out that he has an " exceptional memory" and he surpasses others in many areas likes math ( knows how many objects are there without counting with fingers ), letters ( can read simple words) and she tells me that he certainly does not have a learning disability.  My family doctor kept telling me that he was normal when I approached her with all of this and said that alot of 4 year old boys are like this and it's a personality issue but has agreed to send me to a pediatrician to get him assessed "so that I can sleep well at night knowing that he is normal".  We have an appointment to see the pediatrician soon.  I am confused since I am getting two different opinions and am concerned that it will affect his self esteem and his ability to succeed at school.
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Avatar universal
You might  want read about ADD and dysgraphia to see if it's more of a fit. I would also have him evaluated at school for occupational therapy.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your reply!
He doesn't really have any sensory issues except the odd time if he thinks that we'll yell at him when he is in trouble, he'll put his hands over his ears.   He loves thunder and lightning and other loud noises.  He doesn't mind a change in his routine.  Does he get hyper when outside...not any more than others.  He doesn't have any learning disability from what the teacher told me apart from his fine motor skills behind a little behind which he's also really improved on since September.  The odd things he does do are...doesn't stop talking and doesn't know when to stop to let the other one speak when excited, mind wanders and doesn't listen at times, when meeting someone for the first time, he is shy but once they approach him, he is fine and when he's being talked to seriously and told to look at me in the eyes, he won't, his eyes wander away ( other than that, he has eye contact ).
Is there a self test I can take online for free until I see the pediatrician?

Thanks alot for your response!
Josee xo
Helpful - 0
584252 tn?1218223686
Hi does he have any sensory issues like to loud noises putting hands over ears, does he get hyper when outside? Does he carry on when something is changed? He does have autistic traits but it depends if he ticks all the boxes. My daughter is about to be assessed she is 7 in August and does have a learning disability she is about a year and half behind her peers, she has sensory issues and she is also social but she is over the top with the social bit in peoples personal space, doesn't know when to stop, she tantrums over the daftest things, she is also very anxious, and like your son goes into her own world, she is a very messy writer, she can cut as she has done her own hair several times as well as her younger sister, she is still at the touchy feely stage and likes to lick things, sometimes she is such a love then others an absolute nightmare, she is very head strong and defiant, she always wants to be in charge, her best friend at school tiptoes and flaps his hands they are both on the same wavelength, bless them, i would carry on going to see the peadiatrician, forget the gp who as only seen him for all of 10mins whilst you are in the surgery you need to see an autistic specialist and tell the gp when he becomes one then he can diagnose until then don't listen to him. Good luck. Sharon x
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