Unsure whether to seek OT help for dreamy 5yo boy

[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!

[LionsandBears]

I've just read this article and thought you may find it interesting. It links AD/HD type behaviours to sleep problems. I've always had sleep problems, so now I wonder if this may be related.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/op...g-deficit.html

[nothing2lose]

Sleep problems are common. DD's paed recommended melatonin for her but I decided against it.

[AndiE]

Thanks for the thought but DS1 sleeps really well - asleep within minutes of the light being turned off around 7pm, and down for the count till 6am pretty much every day.

I spoke to DS2's OT today who thinks it would benefit DS1 to have an assessment. She agreed that his teacher would have the best insight given she sees him daily. She actually said the same thing his teacher said to me several weeks ago ... that because he's dreamy and not focussing well AND is also quiet and not disuptive in class he can easily overlooked and therefore could "slip through the cracks". I don't think that will happen this year as his teacher is all over this issue, and we've already had a couple of one-on-one chats about what DH and I can do at home to help. But, as the OT indicated, if we get on to this now, it could well save him some grief for future years. She said being dreamy didn't indicate ADD, but I guess that's what a formal assessment would be about.

[AnyDream]

AndiE - you wouldn't necessarily know by looking if his sleep is good or not. I've always believed myself to sleep like a log (and am difficult to wake, even) but it turns out when I did a sleep study that my brain wakes itself up dozens of times a night. My sleep "looks" normal to an observer but I am massively, massively sleep deprived, and probably have been for most of my life. FWIW as a child I fit the description of being away with the fairies. And I was referred for the sleep study in the first instance because of cognitive difficulties. Obviously, it's not the first thing to investigate, but do bear it in mind as time passes, especially if he develops any other signs of tiredness, fatigue, lack of motivation, or even depression.

[AndiE]

Thanks Marydean - given what you and the other gals have said I will keep it in mind (... I had no idea, he doesn't wake or twist and turn much so always assumed he slept well! Obviously he might, but he might not!). Cheers

[Cass72]

Get him checked out if you have concerns by all means (if anything it will put your mind at rest). But you know he just may be a normal 5 year old boy who finds sitting in a classroom full of people dull.

As an aside, I'm a little anti "diagnosing" children (and pigeonholing them) because they are at a different stage to their peers, so apologies to all if I offend.

[meow]

Do it. OT is fun so it's not like there is any harm in going along. Have you tried modifying diet too? It may be that something is giving him brain fog and making it difficult to concentrate.