Smallworld -
My counselor and I have been discussing her behaviors for months. A couple of months ago she gave me a packet describing 5 different types of ADD. Here are what I'd say describes difficult child best:
Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork
Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
Doesn't seem to listen when spoken to directly
Talks excessively
Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
Often has difficulty awaiting turn
Often interrupts or intrudes on others
Excessive or senseless worrying
Disorganized
Oppositional/Argumentative
Strong tendency to get locked into negative thoughts, having repetetive thoughts
Trouble shifting attention from subject to subject
Difficulty seeing options in situations
Tendency to hold onto own opinion and not listen to others
Today the counselor could see her bouncing all over the place in her topics of conversation. She would come to me and lean all over me, try to lie on me and impulively pinch me for no reason. She wanted to know all about every little item on the counselors desk. Who gave it to her? Why did they give it to her? How long have you had it? We talked to difficult child about how last school year went and things that happened in the year. She talks a lot so she gives up information very easily.
difficult child has some neighborhood friends that I would consider more of acquaintances. They don't call her or ask her to come over or do anything with them. She sees them when we go out on our walks. Two nights ago we were walking past a house and the two girls saw difficult child and ran in their house and locked the door. difficult child was running towards their house when this happened and couldn't understand why they wouldn't answer the door when she rang the bell. She just wanted to say hi. Made me sad but she really didn't understand what was happening. It's because she's so impulsive and doesnt' want to listen to their requests when they ask her to not do something. I used to volunteer in her classroom this past school year and the teacher had to ask me to not come in anymore. It was too disruptive because difficult child would get so worked up when she saw me and when I left she would hang on me and cry. Her classmates would always tell me how bad difficult child was in school. She has one neighborhood friend who is 17 and Special Education and ADHD. She is a sweet kid and they are pretty much on the same level except she's more mature than difficult child.
Academically difficult child does well. I hope it continues.
No sensory issues. No speech or developmental delays. In fact, her speech has always been well advanced from her peers. Always a clear speaker. Very good vocabulary.
Her early problems started with impulsivity problems such as pushing, hitting, pinching. She then started showing serious signs of ODD. Pushing a teacher at the age of 4. Spitting at a teacher. Defying a principal. And not to mention all of the problems I had with her defying me and her dad. She has always had a sense of entitlement. She has separation issues. Oh, she told the counselor today that she got into trouble this past school year because she told a classmate that she was a genius.
Lori
