ADHD Help???!!!?

Hi there, i have a 4year old boy who is a very enegetic. Today he went for a second eye test in 4months as i've noticed he is always rubbing his eyes, he passed the eye test but the optition said this may be down to a behaviour problem as she noticed he had a very short attention span, he didn't want to listen and was very energetic there (he is always very energetic and abit clumsy). So the optition recomended i see our GP for some help. He now has an oppointment on Thursday. I am a little worried that the doctor will say it's nothing. I've had my suspitions for a while that he has a short attention span, he doesn't like listening, and he is very hypo. What will be done at the doctors and if he needs to be tested for adhd how will this be done? Thanks, Serious Answers please x

As a teacher, I have seen quite a few students go through "testing". There are several things that could happen:

1. The GP may say. "Yep." and prescribe something.
2. The GP may send you to a psychologist to do behavioral testing. Here they will ask your son to do different things and note his response, ease, attention to multiple steps, frustration level, etc.
3. The GP may say "I don't see it." In which case, remember that this a 15 minute visit, your son may feel nervous and be unusually quiet just because it's a doctor. Be sure to tell the doctor EVERYTHING that concerns you, and what the eye doctor noticed.

It is important too to note his diet. Is he more hyper after he's had a certain kind of food? example: milk products (cereal, with lunch....)? That was a trigger for my friend's son. Once they cut out dairy products, he was much calmer.

It is also very important to note his sleep patterns. Does he snore? If so, he's probably not getting enough oxygen when he sleeps or could have sleep apnea. The hyperactivity could be due to the fatigue that these can cause.

If it is ADHD remember this is a chemical imbalance in the brain and not his or your fault.
I've had parents of students take the opinion that the child just needs to learn to deal with it. Well, that's easy for the parent to say who is at work and NOT with the child. And it is very difficult for the child to be expected to perform when there is a true medical reason that he is not.

On another note, the eye rubbing could be due to a fatigue problem with the eye muscles. You may want to take him to an ophthalmologist (not optometrist) who can test the tracking and muscles of the eye.

Best of luck to you!

Firstly start by looking at his diet. Look for foods with little or no additives. This works well, I know from parenting a child with ADHD. Don't panic until you have seen your G.P. if he is worth his salt, he will contact a Psychologist for Behavioural difficulties who will assess your little one.

Fear not for my 21 year old has really calmed down, but is not allowed to drink Coke Cola it makes her hyper.
So she is sensible enough to leave that particular drink alone.

Good luck
it does get better.

UK based Mum

Before you start to panic do have a look at your sons diet. I have 3 kids who were quite similar until they stopped drinking squash and absolutely no boiled sweets.

join the club pet...my son has just started to calm down now,he has adhd.....only taken 9 years!.