Is this ADHD, typical 10 year old boy, or something else?

[MaeFlowers]

Ds was diagnosed with ADHD, combined type, last fall. Lately, he has been in question mode. Lots and lots of questions. One after the other. The thing is, they are odd questions where he is simply not making a connection. For example, this is a conversation we had two days ago:

 

"Mom?"

"Yes."

"How do you make salad?"

"What do you mean? You cut up lettuce, carrots, cucumbers,.." (at this point, he cuts me off to say...)

"That's lettuce in there!"

"Ummmm, yes."

"So, you just cut up the big lettuce."

"Yes."

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh" (lost in thought)

 

I don't know what to think. How does he not know that it is lettuce in there? I've never spent much time around kids other than my own so I don't know if this is normal or not. It got me thinking about a boy that I went to high school with. He had a LD that involved not being able to make connections but I do not know the diagnosis. It was explained to me that he didn't understand that his uncle was his uncle because he was his dad's brother. Those types of connections eluded him.

 

So, ADHD, goofy boy, or something else?

[kbutton]

Some kids don't make the connection until they see something from every angle, and they see it in every context (and new information doesn't transfer well from one situation to another either). Alternatively, he could have been not paying attention to much of anything and suddenly has taken an interest in things, so he's playing catch up. 

 

Lots of possibilities there.

[texasmama]

Many kids with ADHD are slower than average to mature so he may be presenting with some questions or behaviors that younger children present with, and that is what you may be noticing.

[Tiramisu]

My first dd was born overseas. Long, painful story but I did not marry her father. She has known him, always had a relationship with him, and always called him Papa, the name they use for fathers in the country where she was born and where we all lived for many years.  When she was about five or six, she asked me, "Who is Papa? Is he my AUNT or cousin or something?" 

 

Talk about not making connections.

 

There were the additional factors of me meeting and marrying my husband who in time became more of a father to her and the fact that we we used two languages. But still. It was weird.

[Χά�ων]

Typical for some boys. Mine has his head in the clouds and misses a lot while he is chasing rainbows and unicorns.

[MaeFlowers]

Many kids with ADHD are slower than average to mature so he may be presenting with some questions or behaviors that younger children present with, and that is what you may be noticing.

 

I actually did not know this but it would explain SO MUCH! He has always been behind other kids in maturity level. It's hard to explain. He is so mellow and well-behaved but so innocent (maybe that's the right word?). I have especially noticed the difference the past two years.

 

My first dd was born overseas. Long, painful story but I did not marry her father. She has known him, always had a relationship with him, and always called him Papa, the name they use for fathers in the country where she was born and where we all lived for many years.  When she was about five or six, she asked me, "Who is Papa? Is he my AUNT or cousin or something?" 

 

Talk about not making connections.

 

There were the additional factors of me meeting and marrying my husband who in time became more of a father to her and the fact that we we used two languages. But still. It was weird.

His first cousin was born when he was 4. It took me forever to get him to understand that it was his cousin and not his brother.

 

Typical for some boys. Mine has his head in the clouds and misses a lot while he is chasing rainbows and unicorns.

Yes. That far away look creeps in and I think I train could come through the living room and he wouldn't notice.

[PeterPan]

You got the diagnosis through a ped or from a psych?  If from a psych, they should have run the WISC and given you scores.  That would let you know if there's an IQ reason behind it.  Are you having issues with school work? 

 

Yes, you can have a social delay.  It's another reason to get the psych eval, to get that sorted out and make sure that's the correct explanation and not something else.  

 

It sounds like he's fading out a lot.  Have you considered cognitive therapies for the ADHD?

[MaeFlowers]

You got the diagnosis through a ped or from a psych?  If from a psych, they should have run the WISC and given you scores.  That would let you know if there's an IQ reason behind it.  Are you having issues with school work? 

 

Yes, you can have a social delay.  It's another reason to get the psych eval, to get that sorted out and make sure that's the correct explanation and not something else.  

 

It sounds like he's fading out a lot.  Have you considered cognitive therapies for the ADHD?

 

They did run a IQ test but it was the short form of the WISC and didn't measure things like processing speed if I remember correctly. His IQ was in the normal range. I have to be honest and say that one thing that bothers me is that they did the test orally. From experience with ds, this is not the best way to do anything. He needs to see the problem at hand. Plus, with his impulsiveness, he tends to just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. I'm not saying the score was wrong, I just wonder if these things could have affected his results.

 

I started another post about where to start with him. I don't know enough about the possible therapies.

[MiMi 4under3]

When one of my dds was younger, but old enough to know better, we'd often visit dh at work. One day she asked me, "Do I have 2 dads? The one at home AND the one at work?"

 

 

 

Ds (who reads silently to himself) came up to me one day while I was sitting on the couch reading a book.

 

Ds : "Mom, what are you doing with your eyes? Why are they moving back and forth like that? Why are you holding that book in front of you without moving?"

 

Me:  "I'm reading."

 

Ds:  "You're reading??? THAT's what you're doing with that book? Are you sure???"

 

 

So in my house it's pretty typical behavior at times... 

 

[MaeFlowers]

When one of my dds was younger, but old enough to know better, we'd often visit dh at work. One day she asked me, "Do I have 2 dads? The one at home AND the one at work?"

 

 

 

Ds (who reads silently to himself) came up to me one day while I was sitting on the couch reading a book.

 

Ds : "Mom, what are you doing with your eyes? Why are they moving back and forth like that? Why are you holding that book in front of you without moving?"

 

Me:  "I'm reading."

 

Ds:  "You're reading??? THAT's what you're doing with that book? Are you sure???"

 

I hope it's okay...that made me laugh out loud. And made me feel better to know mine isn't the only one.

[EndOfOrdinary]

I really think ten year old boys sort of get caught in between everything. They want to be adult, but cannot handle it. They want to be silly like little kids, but are expected to be maturing. It is as though their brain cannot handle both messages and so it just shuts off. It feels like we do more with baby stepping through processes now than we did when he was four!

 

I hear it turns on again somewhere around fifteen or sixteen...but then it turns onto sex.....so perhaps 18.....?

[Heathermomster]

I asked DS whether your boy sounded familiar.  DS explained that your boy appeared to be exploring the deep metaphysical process of salad making.  I then ask DS if he knew how to make a salad.  He proceeded to explain how to cut open a bag, cut up strawberries, and toss in some nuts and cheese.  He also mentioned tossing on some of that red stuff that comes in a bottle.  DS was impressed that you cut your lettuce.  

 

Boys are just silly sometimes.  I don't know whether it is related to ADHD or not.  Many of son's friends are goofy.  The ADHD ones are usually building bike ramps in the front yard or irritating the neighbors.  

[Arcadia]

I have to be honest and say that one thing that bothers me is that they did the test orally. From experience with ds, this is not the best way to do anything

The salad part would be something that both my boys would say. They think making salad is one big science experiment on texture and taste. My younger boy had gone through adhd testing and it was ruled out.

 

My 10 year old boy just had WISC-IV long form testing done and I could hear everything from the waiting area but can't see the test (and don't wish to). The math word problem section was when he was trip by it being oral rather than written. Something that I expected as well. The tester did gave him pencil and paper after the 2nd question. His PSI is lower than the other percentile "scores". He is my do not want to talk kid. The tester was "pulling teeth" to get answers out of him.

[MaeFlowers]

I really think ten year old boys sort of get caught in between everything. They want to be adult, but cannot handle it. They want to be silly like little kids, but are expected to be maturing. It is as though their brain cannot handle both messages and so it just shuts off. It feels like we do more with baby stepping through processes now than we did when he was four!

 

I hear it turns on again somewhere around fifteen or sixteen...but then it turns onto sex.....so perhaps 18.....?

I feel the same way. It seems like I have to break things down for him more. And slow him down more.

 

The salad part would be something that both my boys would say. They think making salad is one big science experiment on texture and taste. My younger boy had gone through adhd testing and it was ruled out.

 

My 10 year old boy just had WISC-IV long form testing done and I could hear everything from the waiting area but can't see the test (and don't wish to). The math word problem section was when he was trip by it being oral rather than written. Something that I expected as well. The tester did gave him pencil and paper after the 2nd question. His PSI is lower than the other percentile "scores". He is my do not want to talk kid. The tester was "pulling teeth" to get answers out of him.

What do you think of that? Do you think they should allow them to see the questions? I know that I would find it VERY frustrating because I am so visual and think it would affect my own scores greatly.

[Arcadia]

What do you think of that? Do you think they should allow them to see the questions? I know that I would find it VERY frustrating because I am so visual and think it would affect my own scores greatly.

I don't think he should be allowed to as I wanted to see how bad his "listening ability" is. There are subtest where he was given written questions to do which assess different abilities.

For a VSL, there are subtest in the WISC that test visual skills. There is one that my boy hit the ceiling but I don't want to give details as this forum is searchable. Were you allowed to stay nearby during testing? His PRI was high.

As for affecting the FSIQ, I don't know how much my boy was affected by his score on that oral word problem section. The psych did calculate the GAI as well.

 

My younger who is more visual and slower in computing is doing the testing tomorrow. The oral part is going to be worse for him.

 

ETA:

Younger boy did tank the processing speed portion as expected.

[MaeFlowers]

I don't think he should be allowed to as I wanted to see how bad his "listening ability" is. There are subtest where he was given written questions to do which assess different abilities.

For a VSL, there are subtest in the WISC that test visual skills. There is one that my boy hit the ceiling but I don't want to give details as this forum is searchable. Were you allowed to stay nearby during testing? His PRI was high.

As for affecting the FSIQ, I don't know how much my boy was affected by his score on that oral word problem section. The psych did calculate the GAI as well.

 

My younger who is more visual and slower in computing is doing the testing tomorrow. The oral part is going to be worse for him.

I see. My dh actually took him for testing day. He was not able to be near him. Ds took the WASI-II so we only received scores for vocabulary, similarities, block design and matrix reasoning. No GAI. He also had the WJ-III ACH. Ds said that all of his tests were done orally.