My 11 yr old is ADD inattentive. Ive always thought of him as JUST daydreamy with none of the other characteristics but the past several weeks he has done some odd things
He cut his hair-not as in trimming his bangs but like a 4 yr old would-just took a chunk out of the top and back of his head. He shorted out the computer speakers by putting a dime in the hole. He drew on the seatbelts in the car.
He did this sort of stuff up to age 6/7. Everyone told me I was overreacting as all kids drew on walls, etc but he was different even then. It went on and on well past the normal time span and chronological age. He tore batteries out of everything-toys, remotes-for years wed find batteries and broken compartment doors everywhere.
But then, around age 7, it improved and I figured it was a maturation issue. Now, 4 years later, I worry he has regressed somehow and it worries me even more than if he had ALWAYS done these things!!!(well, I think so)
Anyone experience anything like this?
He shows no signs of puberty at all. He is 61 lbs soaking wet and looked like he was in the wrong class at last nights 5th gr graduation he was so much tinier and childlike looking
Re: impulsivity increase
Does he take any medication (of any kind) and have there any been recent changes in dosage or kinds of medication. My experience with changes in behavior are suspect the drugs first. It could also be pre-puberty hormone changes, anxiety associated with graduation and going on (I am inferring) to a new school. My ds goes beserk (a lot more than what you’re describing though we’ve never had hair cutting) with strep infections so in his case I’d check that out too. As pattim points out, the things you are describing are creative, but still they are a change of behavior and I too would be in high alert mode.
Re: impulsivity increase
I would think on the sameline if your child is on meds. I saw this with my son (11 also) this past March, but chalked it up to hormones/my divorce/etc. until I saw a notation from his teacher on his report card that he was having trouble completing class work and paying attention. We upped his dosage 5 mgs. immediately and saw a change back to his previous level of impulse control.
was there a weight change...
or did it ‘just happen’? Curious as Im not seeing any physical changes in this guy.
Emotional? I had not thought of the school change coming up. I wouldnt be surprised if the teachers had been touting what a big deal middle school was going to be next year….and, while some kids would be excited by that, mine would probably feel overwhelmed.
Last day of school today-have to see what happens over next two wks and then explore the med dose he is on(Adderall)
Re: impulsivity increase
Mary,
This is a long shot, but has your child had a strep infection recently? I’ve just been reading about tics, OCD and increases in ADHD behavior (but not new onset ADHD) being linked in some kids to strep infections. The acronym for the syndrome is PANDA, but I don’t recall what it stands for.
Andrea
Re: impulsivity increase
Andrea,
I made an allusion to PANDAS in my post above (where I said in my ds’s case I would check for strep if I noticed a behavior change). My ds was diagnosed with this at the National Institute of Health. It stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Disease (Disorder?) Associated with Strep. A google search on PANDAS + Susan Swedo will yield a lot of information. Dr. Swedo of the NIH is the pioneering doctor in this field and is the one who dxed my ds.
Sounds like you have a budding einstein/picasso on your hands. What you are describing has happened before with kids, they are curious and they want to try different things. My sons have done stuff like this as has my daughter. It is annoying but I figure it is how they learn things too so I have to be patient and be more attentive to what they are doing so I can prevent them from doing some of the ditzy things they do…