If anyone has a child with add/adhd or similar diagnosis, how did you know that your child was "different"? When did you notice signs?

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Wendy~Self-proclaimed hippie momma to Bob and Jamie

For me, it was a gut feel. My child loved being around others, but touched too much and didn't pick up on social cues. He was VERY verbal, precocious even. Quite the handful, but his ped just said he was very smart and high energy. I would see other kids, including his cousins, being calm and mild while he was a tornado. He was kicked out of Gymboree for growling at other kids. He wouldn't participate in Little Gym. But I thought it was me...I kept trying to involve him in enrichment activities so I would open him to different experiences I never had. I couldn't even do playdates, or rather gave up on them. He wouldn't really play WITH others, but beside them or at them. His touch was harder than the norm.

I had neighbors who had SN children, and my son was nowhere nearly as different as these children were, so who was I to think that indeed my child needed help? Fortunately (I get tears whenever I tell people about this, including now), THEY recognized the signs, albeit milder than what they dealt with and told me about how my school district tests. But he was 4 years old by then. I gave up on preschools because I knew they just weren't right for him; I'd heard too many stories and knew people whose children were kicked out of preschool and just couldn't open up his sensitive nature to a failure like that.

This all led to his acceptance into a preschool for kids like him, mixed with typical kids. He passed his tests, but the so very wise ladies in charge did see enough differences add up that they used their judgement, not just standards, to get him accepted, of which I will always be grateful for. From there, the preschool teacher told me about Developmental Pediatricians. I had no idea they existed. She couldn't recommend anyone to me, but told me some things she knew about different ones. She was also instrumental in helping him get tested and get an IEP for kindergarten.

As far as ADHD, he didn't, once again, have the "markers". It wasn't until this past year that it really showed enough to be measured - he just finished 2nd grade. Homework is a nightmare; two hours to do a 15 minute job. He himself told me how he would daydream off. I saw him "suffering" for not being able to concentrate. He brought the situation to me. We had tried supplements and other holistic things to no avail. Finally I talked to his pediatrician who had me get school feedback. He looked through all the school info, including IEP meeting info, and talked to my son. That diagnosis led to medications, which I'd avoided for 4 years. I will always question our decision, but it is the best one we can make for now. Even his handwriting improved.

You know you can always PM me if you want to compare notes or ask any questions.

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The Really Needy, Special, Networking and Talking Mod

My son has ADD, he is 16 now and wasn't diagnosed until last summer right after he turned 15. He never had behavior problems but he really, really struggled at school. He just couldn't focus. I could get no help from the school. I talked to our Dr. about it, he set us up for a psych consult, DS had tons of tests including an IQ test. He has severe ADD, although he struggled through school he scored above average for his age on the IQ test. We also learned that he will remember things better if he hears them opposed to reading them. After getting the correct diagnoses his life has made a complete turn around, he finished this school year with all A's and B's. He is doing great.

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DS-16
DD-12
DD-5
DS-2

Thank you, ladies. I really appreciate it. Desertmom, I will probably pm you this afternoon.

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Wendy~Self-proclaimed hippie momma to Bob and Jamie