I have a 11 yr old with ADHD, ODD, and dyslexia. I also have an 8mo old that I think is showing some of the early symptoms that my oldest did. Is this too young or could I really be seeing some of the same symptoms this early?

Eight months is probably too early to say someone has ADHD, or OCD. Have you talked to your doc?

One thing I noticed I was doing after my eight year old was diagnosed, was watching my three year old like a hawk for the same early symptoms. I started reading way to much into things that probably weren't a big deal. It's good to keep an eye since early intervention is always a plus, but we have to be careful that we don't project one kid's issues onto another.

If you're really concerned, make an appt and talk to the pediatrician.

Hindsight is always 20/20. I've read lots of personal observations that were identical to what I observed in my infant son who wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood. For starters, he was hyperactive in the womb. Would I diagnose a baby? No, but I would sure try to prevent fallout until he was old enough to be diagnosed. It would be really helpful to start early interventions for a child who might be susceptible to ODD behavior.

I realize that I may be reading too much into all this, however here are somethings that I am seeing and am concerned about.
1. He has extreme mood swings. He will be playing fine then his whole body goes stiff and he turns bright red and starts screaming for no reason. He is not wet, hungry, or hurt. This can last for hours. Then all the sudden he is fine again. :(
2. He will fling himself backward and have a blank expression on his face with no control over his body. He does this leaning forward, like nodding his head, but when you look at him it's like nobody's home. :confused:

His Dr. has ordered an EEG next Saturday. I have to take him to Dension Tx, because there is no one in Ok that will do a nuro scan on an 9 mo. old. We think these maybe mild seizures.

He is also being treated for asthma, he has a nebulizer (sp?) that he uses as needed.

I already do the behavior modifications that I use for all my kids. I use Love and Logic with the older children and the kids in my classroom. I will use this with him as he gets older just because it works even if he has no disorders. I just don't want him to suffer like his brother did because I didn't know what was going on.

just don't want him to suffer like his brother did because I didn't know what was going on.
Oh well do I know those words. My son is ADHD, and Asperger's. He wasn't diagnosed until he was seven. When I look back and think about all that we could have done, sooner, better...

We are always our own worst critic. Far be it for me (or anyone) to stop on a mother's instinct regarding their kids. For me personally, I don't want to become so concerned with catching things with the second one early that I see what's not really there, or make a bigger to do than is necessary over something that could be perfectly normal.

exactly what I want to avoid. I think that I won't worry to much until the Dr. does the scan and we know the results of it.

I just don't want him to suffer like his brother did because I didn't know what was going on.He won't because you know more now.

Far be it for me (or anyone) to stop on a mother's instinct regarding their kids.Because my son was bright and a sweet child, his hyperactivity was the only thing that stood out. Just when I'd wonder, I'd rationalize things because the only little friend he had that was diagnosed was much more ADHD than my son.For me personally, I don't want to become so concerned with catching things with the second one early that I see what's not really there, or make a bigger to do than is necessary over something that could be perfectly normal.The second time around should be easier, not more difficult. If we aren't sure about what we are looking at, we need to get more information and education. That's why ADDForums is such a great resource.

I don't know, for me it's easier, and harder. Steven was my first, and since he never did anything on the "average" time frame every time Brandon goes in for a check-up I'm asking the doctor what's normal for his age. I don't have much of a clue in that department. :p

And with the Asperger's diagnosis it really makes me worry sometimes. For a while Brandon had this thing where he would line up a bunch of his toys all in a neat row, then just leave them. Smallest to biggest too. Man did that have me staring at him for a few days. I was just looking at that and thinking how that is a sign of bad things to come, until I shook myself out of it.

I know if Brandon needs up with a similar diagnosis it'll be better because I know so much more now, and I'm already connected to a lot of resources. I also really hope I don't have to go through this again.

I deal with this kind of stuff all the time. I am a Pre-K teacher and work with children that could easily be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and ODD everyday. I know what to do if he ends up with that diagnosis, and this time I won't have to fight with his dad. My husband is a stay at home dad and is like "how did you do this with D.?" I give him suggestions that might work with the little one, but really right now he is just too little. You feel helpless when he won't quit crying for 3-4 hrs straight. And wonder how can I make this better. Right now I think the thing we are worried about the most is the possibilities that he might be having mild seizures. We are taking him to a neurologist to have an EEG done on Saturday. My worry is what if it's not seizures? What would be causing all this odd behavior?

I have no idea what else could be causing it, but I do have one piece of advice, keep looking. Keep pushing the doctors until they can give you answers. My niece last year kept randomly passing out. Test after test, one specialist to the next and they finally found out that she had a heart issue (can't remember what now). A minor procedure, and she's all better.

You know your kids better then anyone, and don't let any doctor convince you there's nothing wrong, or you're just being a worry wart mother if you know there's an issue. :)

*hugs*
We're here for you.

There isn't much you can do for an eight month old baby.

Have you noticed if there is any connection to foods. Like does behavior get worse after they eat. Are they eating colored crackers, drinking alot of juice, or eating artificial ingredients.

look for colors with numbers after them. vanillin is artificial (vanilla is natural), BHT is an artificial perservative. Even cheerios sprays their bags with BHT. There are lots of hidden ingredients within listed ingredients.

For example annies cheddar bunnies are clean. Petridge farm gold fish are not. Rice crispex cereal is clean. Regular plain quaker instant oatmeal is clean. Eat White kraft mac and cheese rather than the orange.

We do the Feingold program here. When you join you get a book that tells exactly what brands are clean from even hidden ingredients.

It might help your son improve as well. We have had great success here and my son does not need medication. My daughters nearly daily migraines are about 85% better.

There are a variety of behavior, learning and health problems the program helps. You can read it at www.feingold.org (http://www.feingold.org).

Good luck and hang in there.

I'm also walking the line between over and under-reacting. There should be a rule that every first child should be NT, as a reference point. :)
Off of the top of my head, I can't think of a single behavioral modification/coping mechanism that would be harmful if applied to an NT. In fact, most of them are probably useful. At this point, I would just remain observant and see where things go. Apply some of the behavioral knowledge you have if you see something "off". Take mental or physical notes. Down the road, look at them as objectively as possible and share them with your pediatrician.
Having been through this, you should feel secure that any issues that might arise *will* be caught earlier than they might otherwise, and you will have undoubtedly created a solid foundation to build on.

I was diagnosed at the age of 4.

There should be a rule that every first child should be NT, as a reference point. :)

Don't I wish. And all kids should come with instruction manuals too. :)

Thank all of you for your posts and support. We went to the Nurologist and he said that there were no physical indications that there is anything nurolocial wrong. He has secduled testing on April the 23 for a MRI and an EEG then we will meet at his office and he will explain the results.

I realy liked this Dr. he listened to me and one of the first statements out of his mouth was "we will not put him on meds until we have the results of the tests." Then he said "we will find out what is wrong." They are willing to hospitalize him if the results come back normal but we are seeing the same stuff. They will keep video cameras on him and the other machines until they can figure out what is wrong with him. The only thing that has me worried now is he is not sleeping much at all. He gets up at 5:45 am and might take a 10 min. nap before I get home at 4:30. Then I put him to bed around 6:30-7:00 and he is back up at 11:00 then he tosses in bed all night half awake and half asleep.

Just trying to keep it together here.

Early Diagnosis:

For pre-school toddlers:
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/2488.html (Aug./Sep. 2007).

3 years of age:
http://www.additudemag.com/q&a/ask_the_add_medical_expert/1313.html (Dx ok; Rxs not generally advised for kids under 5).

Sometimes having a sibling to compare with is even more confusing. My oldest granddaughter was walking by the age of 7 months, talking in complete sentences by the age of 14 months, climbing on things that were higher than my head by the time she was 22 months, riding a tricycle by the time she was just over 2 year old. But she was slower on fine motor skills and had trouble hopping on just one foot. And what a horrible temper! Turns out she has ADHD (inattentive type).

So when her little sister was much slower with all those things (although she was only a month behind her sister in walking) we felt like we might be expecting too much of her and told ourselves not to worry. She didn't talk until she was 4 years old, still doesn't enjoy climbing, couldn't ride a tricycle until midway though her Pre-Kindergarten year, and at the age of 6 1/2 is just now catching up with her peers in fine motor skills such as using scissors or coloring in the lines (not there yet though).

She has a tentative diagnosis of Autism Spectrum and possibly ODD, the therapist was seriously looking at BiPolar for awhile. Even at the age of 6 it's hard to pinpoint a diagnosis - it would have been so great to have gotten her some help when she was 2 or even 3. **le sigh**

Anyway, Lindsayok, since your older child has already been diagnosed and since it's pretty well known that neurological disorders tend to run in families, it makes sense to watch your baby and ask the doctors to help in evaluating.

One thing I noticed I was doing after my eight year old was diagnosed, was watching my three year old like a hawk for the same early symptoms. I started reading way to much into things that probably weren't a big deal. It's good to keep an eye since early intervention is always a plus, but we have to be careful that we don't project one kid's issues onto another.



Very nicely said, and I too agree with watching younger ones like a hawk we have a soon to be 3 yr old so I watch. However I am not overly concerned as we have 6 kids and only our 2nd youngest one (she is 9) has ADD