Unsure whether to seek OT help for dreamy 5yo boy

[feeb]

DS1 has been seeing a speech pathologist in blocks for 2 years and about 18 months ago she introduced an OT to our appts as DS1 can't concentrate he gets easily distracted and can't focus for long. We have seen improvements but still a long way to go. I am concerned about him starting school next year (will be 5 and 1/2) as he can count but doesn't know numbers if he sees them, he only knows a few letters by sight and can only write J and H (his and his brothers inital).

I am about to take him for another eye check, as he had 1 last year but lost concentration but she thought was ok. Has had a hearing test and was fine.

Good luck it is very frustrating trying to help children concentrate and I have bene guilty of getting annoyed and shouting.

[AlligatorsMum]

you dont need a referral but if you have one then you are able to claim back a certain amount of the costs from the consultations. i think its a certain number each year. Not alot but still something!

[AndiE]

Thanks for the replies ladies.

I know I don't need a referral, but via a mental health plan (I think it's called) I can get him 10 sessions with a decent Medicare rebate, which gets us considerably more back than our private cover. So that's why I'm going down the path of a referral.

Re: ADD. Interesting. I hadn't thought of that. And that's why I should have an OT assessment. He's not hyperactive, so I guess that rules out ADHD??????? But yes, I think I'll pursue this and go to a different GP for a referral.

[AnyDream]

No, there are three elements to ADHD - hyperactivity is only one of them. The other two are inattention and impulse control. I'm not saying that your situation is suggesting this, but it's one possibility to bear in mind. IMO the label is less useful than the help/additional strategies you might be able to get, so if you can fast forward straight to the additional strategies (via an OT or whereever else) without the label then that's a good outcome too.

[nothing2lose]

My DD has no behavioural issues (puberty moods aside ) She isn't hyperactive. She just has problems focusing and is easily distracted. "Away with the fairies' and 'in her own world' is how teachers invariably describe her.

[LionsandBears]

I was away with the fairies as a kid, teenager and often as an adult. I managed to finish school and get a postgraduate degree, before I was diagnosed as inattentive type ADD when i was 35.

It's not the end of the world. ADDers are pretty creative types and can come up with some amazing ideas. We just need others to implement them

He may well be learning, but just by thinking his own thoughts in his own time. Obviously, if he's falling behind though, it wont hurt to see a professional for some help. I cruised through school until about year 10/11, when the need to actually apply myself hit me and I fell behind.

[AndiE]

My DD has no behavioural issues (puberty moods aside ) She isn't hyperactive. She just has problems focusing and is easily distracted. "Away with the fairies' and 'in her own world' is how teachers invariably describe her.

The exact same things that my son's teacher is saying about him! Oh, and the phrase "la la land" comes to mind too!

Mardydean - thanks for the heads up re: the types of ADD, I'm a rookie (although thanks to DS2 I now know about sensory processing issues!). And I couldn't agree more about the strategies/coping mechanisms being the most important thing resulting from assessment and diagnosis.

L&B ... Thanks for your thoughts - I love your take on it If he does have ADD, I'd be quite ok with it. I don't think labels define what/who the person is, but I guess having a label (as such) helps in regard to having strategy/plans to assist manage it.

Sorka ... There's medication for inattention! Wow! Think I need some of it from time to time Thanks for your thoughts as well.

This is all building a bit of a picture. His teacher did say this morning that he's fine one-on-one, but he has trouble staying focused and concentrating in a group situation. Goodness knows if it means ADD ... I guess only an assessment will tell. Thanks again ladies for all your input

[nothing2lose]

Oh yeah, La La Land DD lives there!