Dx not ADHD it's PDD-NOS

You might want to post on millermom.proboards23.com because there is a mom there that seems to know about things like this. Terry

Had we taken our son, now 11, to the right specialists when he was younger he would likely have had a PDD diagnosis. My physician sister in law thought he was autistic at age 2 but he clearly is not. A professional who we have worked with for several years agrees with me on the PDD diagnosis but says what would have you gained by that.

We saw our son as severely learning disabled and worked to resolve the underlying sensory issues (he has both nonverbal learning disabilities as well as dyslexia—). We have done about every therapy program around it seems and most have helped. He has had auditory and visual processing issues, and motor and attention issues. Interactive Metronome somehow improved both my son’s attention and his social skills. He was much more connected after doing it.

My son was difficult behaviorally when he was younger (preschool) (he used to punch holes in the wall, bite us ect.) but he is a well behaved compliant child now. The key was my sister—a clinical social worker—who helped us a lot. She told me that some kids require above average parenting skills. I think kids with special needs often act the way they do because of sensory issues—they are overwhelmed easily, for example. But still, you do need to establish ground rules for behavior. A book that you might find useful is Backtalk—4 steps to ending rude behavior in your kids by Audrey Ricker and Carolyn Crowder.

My son is now doing quite well. He is repeating fourth grade in a parochial school where he is no longer on an IEP. We did not want him in our large public middle school and the private school was ahead of the public. We also discovered when he joined a scout troop of year younger boys that he did much better socially with them. He has been on the honor roll this year both marking periods for the first time. I don’t think he will be this period though—fractions have really been tough for him, even the second time through. He has lots of friends and is now in fact a leader.

We had to be very consistent with him and very structured in our expectations. I also have worked almost every day with him doing therapy for almost 4 years. I support him in his school work as well.

Beth

[quote=”Anonymous”]Fro years we’ve been struggling with our 6 year old son wondering why stimulants neve worked with his severe adhd diagnosis. now we’re told it’s PDD-NOS. he has social problems, not many friends. Cuts us off when we try to talk to him as if he knows everything. Has tactile issues, can’t sit still and we wonder if some of this is developmental that he will grow out of or are we in for the hard, long haul. He starts first grade in the fall and he has an IEP but so far the school has focused no ADHD. Any advice from those of you who can offer support, suggestions on PDD-NOS. What does the future bring?[/quote]

Look into Non Verbal Learning disorder - NLD or NVLD and Sensory Integration Dysfunction. No medication is needed to help these kids.
Checkout more info on NLD/Aspergers/Autism at:
www.tonyattwood.com.au

Also go to www.schwarblearning.org/message_boards/
lots of parents with kids who are in the PDD-NOS septrum or as TerryB :wink: suggested the millermom board so you don’t have to put up with Trolls like Brian.

For the Sensory Integration Dysfunction go to:

www.childrendisabilities.info/sensory_integration/index.html

Take a look at Kirby’s Asperger board (also includes PDD). She has great links as well. This board has been going for a LONG time. Also info on this site:
www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger

—des

HI

Up until my dd was 4 I thought that she was adhd, then odd behaviors and no speech caused the alarm bells to go off. Well she has a dx of both and is doing very well, everything has gotten better with age and maturity, she is now 10, she is on dexadrine and that is our miracle pill, melatonin for sleep, is at grade level for most things. Biggest set backs are her attention span and social skills.