Firstly, hello! I've just discovered this board after spending the last three days solid researching ADHD. Our 6 year old is displaying just about every symptom of ADHD there is. Although we are yet to get an 'official' diagnosis, everything points to the fact he has it (reading his SENCO report is like reading from the pages of a book on ADHD where behaviour etc is concerned.)

I'm just wondering what people's experiences are regarding the enviroment their child is in, and how much that affects the ADHD symptoms? I ask because at home, we pretty much have Devin in control. He still has boundless energy, and for the most part, we tend to let him have a good run around, jumping on things etc, because otherwise, there's no chance of him getting to sleep. His behaviour, since we have looked into how to deal with a child with ADHD has improved dramatically (at home) because although we already had a very calm environment (there's only me, him, and his mum) at home, it's much more so now (playing classical music, not watching TV etc etc.)

So, say for instance this morning. We woke up to a gentle, quite calm, focused (kind of) 6 year old. We explained again about sschool and appropriate behaviour, and that he would do well to listen, and that good behaviour at school was excellent for him etc etc, and he tootled off almost a changed child. Then two hours later, we got a phone call to say he had kicked another child, and called the teacher stupid. it was like someone had flicked a switch.

Is it normal for an ADHD sufferer then, to adapt (or in this case, not) to a noisey, less calm environment, and react so badly? We've tried to explain to the school teachers, but they simply said "the children here are very calm," and don't seem to have any clue what he's actually going thorugh.

On a positive note though, now we are sure he has ADHD, so much more makes sense, and it's like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. I just hope we can help him deal with things better.

It is quite a revolution when you can find an explanation for your childs behaviors, isnt it? It is very normal for a child with ADHD to behave like yours does. The impulsive behavior can really cause problems. Good luck on finding a professional that can help you out more. Sounds like his home environment is good for him.

The sudden change in what is going on freaks us out. When there are people around telling him what to do he is not going to want to do it at all. I think you need to tell him that he needs to treat the teachers with as much respect that he treats you.

He might have Bi-polar disorder as well you know...my sister did the same things and got kicked out of the public school the day AFTER it began and she was in Kindergarden!

The same thing was going on with our son and when I asked his doc I was told that he is much better at home because it is "his safety zone". Would tell you more but unfortunately I have it too and that is all I can remember. Didn't take my pad and pencil that day. :p

So, say for instance this morning. We woke up to a gentle, quite calm, focused (kind of) 6 year old. We explained again about sschool and appropriate behaviour, and that he would do well to listen, and that good behaviour at school was excellent for him etc etc, and he tootled off almost a changed child. Then two hours later, we got a phone call to say he had kicked another child, and called the teacher stupid. it was like someone had flicked a switch.

Is it normal for an ADHD sufferer then, to adapt (or in this case, not) to a noisey, less calm environment, and react so badly? We've tried to explain to the school teachers, but they simply said "the children here are very calm," and don't seem to have any clue what he's actually going thorugh.

I can relate to this (from the kids point of view), when I am at home I am much more calm and less impulsive (even though I am still more hyper then my friends when they are at home). Once I get to school it starts to get very difficult to stay that way, theres loads of stuff going on all the time, I have to remember to get to class on time, remember my stuff, stay in my seat, listen to the teacher while trying to block out the noise from the others, I have to stop myself from tapping because I annoy others around me. All of this adds up throughout the day and it can get very frustrating so its not a surprise if I got annoyed at someone and hurt them or called a teacher stupid.

I think that you should set up a meeting with his teacher and tell them what you think and maybe you could ask for an evaluation by the school, sometimes schools don't listen, it took my school 4 years to listen to me, you will have to be very persistent to get the school to listen but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.

Thanks guys, so much! You have no idea how much of a relief finding this forum has been. To see all your understanding comments makes me feel like we now have a way forward.

I had a chat with Dev last night about what had happened (I made an effort not to tell him off at all for his behaviour, because he'd already been disciplined at school, and also, his mum had explained how it wasn't nice to call the teacher stupid etc - I think this opened up the window for him to be really open with me.) He said that the reason he had called the teacher stupid was because she had asked him to tie his shoe laces in P.E and when he said he couldn't do it, she told him that a child of his age should be able to, and then told him to try again. Devin get's reaaaaally frustrated with his shoe laces. He loves doing things himself, and manages with just about everything. Shoe laces however, he simply can't manage. No matter how many times we show him, he just can't pick it up. So.. in this situation at school, I imagine he was practically tearing his hair out trying to do it, and the teachers comments simply tipped him over the edge. I guess this is why the school needs to be educated on this. They really are clueless. And the school is tiny too, less than 50 pupils, which makes things more difficult for us, and Dev too, because there's a lot of concentration on him, and in particular, the behavioural issues.

Thanks again for your replies.. it really helps.

My daoghter is 8 and still does not like to tie her shoes. She does not like to cut up her pancakes herself and on and on. At this point she can do these things, it is just difficult for her.

Some things to watch out for in the future with your son. He will probably have difficulty writing (another fine motor skill) and doing tedious things and repeating things will also be difficult. At least, those are all things that are difficult for my daughter, that did not really show up until she got further in school.

Just to share a bit more, there are things that she excells at that would not make sense. She is pretty good at piano, she has very good "piano hands" she is also a very good swimmer. Although only during a race, normally at practice she people assume she is a horrible swimmer. Gets teased for being slow etc., them blows them away when racing. I don't understand that one. Even with meds it is tough. By the evening the med has worn off, but that is when I practice piano with her. When she gets ready to play something, sometimes she will just stare at the music for 30 seconds, it used to drive me crazy, but now I just wait till she is ready to go. The brain just tends to freeze up when not medicated.

There was a recent study where they did brain scans of ADHD and non-adhd kids while they were doing some task. The activity in the ADHD kids was much less in the frontal lobe than the non-ADHD kids, then when the ADHD kids were told to try harder, the brain activity went down even lower. While the Non-ADHD kids brain activity went up when they were told to try harder. That matches exactly what I see with my daughter.

Sorry for rambling.

No, no, that's not rambling at all, it's very helpful! Thanks!

My daoghter is 8 and still does not like to tie her shoes. She does not like to cut up her pancakes herself and on and on. At this point she can do these things, it is just difficult for her.

Some things to watch out for in the future with your son. He will probably have difficulty writing (another fine motor skill) and doing tedious things and repeating things will also be difficult. At least, those are all things that are difficult for my daughter, that did not really show up until she got further in school.

Just to share a bit more, there are things that she excells at that would not make sense. She is pretty good at piano, she has very good "piano hands" she is also a very good swimmer. Although only during a race, normally at practice she people assume she is a horrible swimmer. Gets teased for being slow etc., them blows them away when racing. I don't understand that one. Even with meds it is tough. By the evening the med has worn off, but that is when I practice piano with her. When she gets ready to play something, sometimes she will just stare at the music for 30 seconds, it used to drive me crazy, but now I just wait till she is ready to go. The brain just tends to freeze up when not medicated.

There was a recent study where they did brain scans of ADHD and non-adhd kids while they were doing some task. The activity in the ADHD kids was much less in the frontal lobe than the non-ADHD kids, then when the ADHD kids were told to try harder, the brain activity went down even lower. While the Non-ADHD kids brain activity went up when they were told to try harder. That matches exactly what I see with my daughter.

Sorry for rambling.
My sister is the same way your daughter is! She did not know how to ride a bicycle until she was 10 years old. She did not sdtop drinking from a bottle untill she was 6, she can NOT do anything herself, it's like she is dependent on other people to do it for her. This might have to do with the fact that she was deaf for 4 years.

AHHHHHHHHHH sorry, got to go, the bell rang for my next class. I'll see you guys after school :faint: