I'm at a loss withy gorgeous 6 year boy who I can't seem to get answers to -
His teachers suggested I bring him to see some one for his attention in school ( he is year one now )
They said he is not naughty and his lack of attention is behaviour is not intentional .
I took him to a child phycoligist and not sure exactly what she tested him for but she diagnosed him with being developmentaly immature ?
His teachers asked for a 2end opinion !
He recently has started to sleep on the floor at night saying he preferred it .
He has very little attention spam unless it's a cartoon or iPad he can watch something up to an hour if I let him .
Something I googled said something about sensory issues ( has any one any light on this )
He is hyper but nothing strange ( I have 3 boys) very talkative very happy but I can't but my finger on it .
He had a few sessions with a speech therapist which now he doesn't need I brought up authism she said she has delt with lots of diagnoses of authism but he doesn't seem to fit the case .
I find myself loosing my patients with him them feeling guilty ...
Not sure what I am looking for here ! Prob just needed to rant !
2 Replies
Has he seen a paediatrician? Also go back to the psychologist and ask a lot of questions. You should have received a written report from the psychologist, stating areas of weakness and it should have had recommendations on how to alleviate/counteract/rectify.
Hi. I'm in my last year of uni to become an occupational therapist. If the main issue is hyperactivity or lack of focus during class there are a few simple things you could try. You can put a cushion or something he can wriggle around on on his seat in the classroom that way he can move while he does his work, a big exercise ball can also help (You can also get proper wobble seats but they can be a bit pricey). You can also ask the teacher to schedule in some movement breaks, something simple like every half hour stand up and do some stretches and jump on the spot or something like that (Its really hard for any child to sit and focus for long periods of time). Changing where he sits in the classroom can also help with attention.
There are also a few good apps for the ipad which can help him with his reading and school work if he finds it hard to sit down and focus on pen and paper work (I like reading eggs it will help with recognizing words). Maybe try printing his homework on different coloured pieces of paper might help to make work a bit more interesting for him as well as using stuff like lego to help with maths and just trying to make homework more of a hands on thing rather than just sitting there reading and writing.
Another thing is to not do homework straight after school, he has just spent 6 hours sitting down, he needs to run around and be a boy for a bit to get rid of all that energy. Maybe try taking the kids to a park on the way home for an hour or so or trying to find an after school activity or sport you can do with them.
Sensory issues relate to how he interprets the world around him. Some people can be sensitive to everything around them and some people can be desensitized. Think of it like a bucket and all the senses coming in like water. Some people have a very little bucket so it doesnt take a lot to fill it and get a reaction out of them. Other people have a big bucket so it takes a lot to fill it and a lot to get a reaction out of them. For some people they dont like certain things and this can affect the way they interact with the world around them. Sensory issues pretty much involve the size of a persons bucket and if they dont like a certain sensation. It might be worth getting a sensory test done to see if he has any sensory processing issues, if he does then the test will give you more information about it and how to help him to work through these issues.
It can be difficult if you feel like you arent getting anywhere but you just have to remember you are both trying hard and if you just keep slogging away it will one day all slot into place. You shouldnt feel guilty, if you feel like you are losing patience or he is starting to get frustrated then its time for a break. Take ten minutes where you both go run around or do something physcical and not related to the task at all and when you come back you will be able to tackle it feeling fresh.
Im sorry if this is a bit of an information overload but hopefully it helps! I would recommend talking to the school about getting an OT assessment because they can look more into the developmental delay and any sensory involvement. Good luck!