Help! At my wits end
 

My DS was diagnosed less than a year ago. He's 6. He is a sweet funny boy who also had major impulse control issues. He has an obsession with potty words and he will repeat them over and to himself, sometimes quietly, more often loudly. We have tried EVERYTHING to make him understand this is unacceptable. Reasoning doesn't work, punishment doesn't work, rewards do not work.

Tonight I broke down crying over this. I can't get through to him. I don't know what else to do! It can't continue but he can't seem to stop. This is only one of many issues we have with him but right now it's an important one because he has just gone back to school and he will be getting in serious trouble if it doesn't stop.

Any advice is very welcome!

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

Hi and welcome to the forums!

Is your son on medication? Has he been diagnosed with anything other than ADHD like Tourettes or something on the autism spectrum?

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

Hmm, could this be something more than ADD/HD? Does DS fixate on words? Does DS have a good vocabulary for his age? Is he getting attention for using these words? The issue may be more complex than just ADD etc.

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

It really does sound like there is more going on than just adhd.

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

To answer a few questions; He is on meds and they definitely improve the behaviour. But by supper time and in the morning before they take effect the behaviour is a lot worse.

He does fixate on words. Last night it was "fart". He repeats it over and over, makes up songs, etc. he does get attention from his little sister. He gets negative attention from us (his parents), but even after telling him not to do it, a time out, or even taking toys away he keeps doing it. Offering a reward or praise for a time period of no potty talk doesn't work either.

He hasn't web diagnosed with tourettes. I've googled it and he doesn't have any tics of any kind, although he was on one medication when first diagnosed that caused some tics that stopped when we stopped that medication. His vocabulary is above average for his age, and he is top in his class for reading skills.

Hope that helps!

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

Hi and welcome! :)
Are these the only words that he obsesses over? (potty words?)

Negative attention and positive attention can both be reinforcers. Have you tried to ignore this behavior, as in, consistently ignore it (no facial reactions or verbal reactions to it) for a period of time?

Have you mentioned to his teacher yet that you are working on extinguishing this behavior?

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

Repeating words can be a tic.

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

I agree with LynneC, he could be doing it for attention, positive or negative it´s still attention, plus it seem to amuse his sister.

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

I had a really filthy rotten vocabulary as far back as I remember, but mainly because everybody in my Italian family was the same way. I remember being 4 and telling other kids to "go f**k yourself"

Re: Help! At my wits end
 

As Lynne said, negative attention is a reinforcement also. Do your best to ignore him. Is he doing this at school also?