Unsure whether to seek OT help for dreamy 5yo boy

[AndiE]

DS1 is in prep this year. His lovely teacher has already identified that he's very dreamy and finds it hard to focus and pay attention to what she's asking him/his class to do. It is already evident that he's one of the few who is still coming to terms with his letters, numbers and writing his name etc. Probably 70pc or more of the class seems to form letters well and can write their name easily. He is getting there very slowly. This morning, DS1's teacher said he was particularly dreamy yesterday, to the point that she was getting quite exasperated with him. Also, several uni students studying OT have been assessing the class all of term 1, and are about to deliver individual reports. DS1's teacher said my son was "at the top of the list" regarding kids the uni students felt would benefit from OT. I've already spoken to the teacher about DS1's strengths and weaknesses, and she knows I'll do whatever I need to in order to help him. She believes he'd benefit from OT in regard to his attention span and concentration.

OK, so earlier this afternoon, I had to go the GP for other reasons, and I raised the above with her in light of getting a referral to an OT for DS1 (DS2 has also been seeing an OT for the past couple of months). But the GP's take on DS1's dreaminess is totally at odds with the teacher. The GP says he's a normal five year old boy, that while he might well be dreamier than the other kids, he'd be considered "normal" within the spectrum. She believes I should led time take its course and not jump to taking him to see an OT. I respect my GP but am now confused as to what to do.

My gut says to go to another GP and get a referral. I'm sure dreaminess is normal among 5yo boys, but my concern is he's falling behind the others because he can't concentrate. He's not disruptive or problematic in the classroom otherwise.

I'm interested in thoughts of others with dreamy kids. Do they snap out of it eventually? At what point do you intervene ... is prep too early? Logic tells me to "catch it" the earlier the better.

[Trillian]

If he were my son, I'd be getting him to an OT. It's best to do it now, and even if they tell you yeah, he's fine and he'll be OK in his own time, at least you know that and have had it confirmed by an OT. Otherwise you risk him falling too far behind at school and then having to catch it up. Listen to the teachers and the uni students who are actually studying OT - when they graduate they WILL be OT's so I would listen to them instead of a GP who probably doesn't have much experience in that area. The difference between kids who have had that early intervention compared to the ones that have never had it is quite obvious by the time they get to the end of primary school and it's much harder to catch it up.

[Olive]

you dont need a referal!!
if you think he would benefit, then take him
has he had his hearing and eye sight checked professionally????

[Lenny]

Your GP does not sit with your son for a day trying to teach him. I'd trust your own heart and the teacher too. What's the worst that could happen? The OT says, hey, you know, I think he's doing ok, lets leave it a bit. Or you get the chance to help him earlier than later?

You aren't asking for him to be diagnosed, or placed on a spectrum, are you? You just want to see an OT.

You're the mum. You know your boys best.

[nothing2lose]

My DD is 'dreamy' and sounds like your son (except she has managed to do well with her schoolwork). Her lack of focus has always been an issue though and she was diagnosed with ADD in grade prep/1.
Now that puberty is on its way, her dreaminess is getting worse IMO.

I don't know anything about OT but have you had him tested for ADD??

[AnyDream]

Yes. Get the referral. I wish someone had paid more attention to DD1 because she's now 14 and still doesn't have a clue - except now the behaviour is 10 years more ingrained in her. The penny has now dropped and she's on a waiting list to be assessed for ADD/ASD, except at this age it's a ****load harder to get help for her.

Also - get him a thorough medical check up, including screening for sleep disorders, eyesight and hearing.

[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!

[Seven Oaks]

Your GP does not sit with your son for a day trying to teach him. I'd trust your own heart and the teacher too. What's the worst that could happen? The OT says, hey, you know, I think he's doing ok, lets leave it a bit. Or you get the chance to help him earlier than later?

You aren't asking for him to be diagnosed, or placed on a spectrum, are you? You just want to see an OT.

You're the mum. You know your boys best.

Good advise there. Hope it all works out for you and DS

[sahbear]

Just wanted to let you know, if you are going to go to an OT privately, you don't need a referral from a GP.

[Sorka]

My DS is 7 and recently diagnosed with ADD being predominantly inattentive. OT and speech therapist spotted it before the Peadiatrician. There are heaps of things they can do to help out in class, and if they don't work perhaps medication could be another option. You could ask the teacher (or school learning advisor if they have one) to write a letter including the report form the OT's in the classroom and take that with youth the GP or try to get a referral to a Peadiatrician to see what they recommend. Good luck - it's a long road with little people with extra needs but so worth it when you see the results coming through.