New to the group

[nissan02]

Hi.

My DS is 3yr old and was born with a virus called congenital cmv. (www.cmvfoundation.org for more info).

3 weeks ago he was diagnosed with ASD and ADHD caused from the CMV.

DS is underweight, has severe sensory issues and is on feeding therapy to desensitise him different foods (his fear for food is the same as someone being affraid of snakes etc).

He attends ECDP, begining AEIOU and i'm looking into behavioural programs to help me deal with the tantrums.

Feeling lost and would love some suggestions and support

[umami_mommy]

hey, have you read "disconnected kids" or "sensational kids?" 

these are both excellent books with good ideas. i also recently read "OASIS book of asperger's syndrome." also worth reading. 

the more you educate yourself, the less overwhelmed you will be. 

[RAED]

I haven't been online in ages! My ds (almost 10) was diagnosed with ASD/ADHD and a host of other things in late May and I've been trying to get my head wrapped around that. DD (7.5) is going into a Rehab Hospital's Diagnostic Classroom from Sept-Jan (we homeschool since moving to Canada a year ago). I had our first appt. w/DS's Autism Pyschiatrist today and I thought we were going to discuss Sleep, Sensory, Safety and such issues and she wanted to prescribe ADHD meds! That was the last thing on my mind! She also said I should investigate Non Verbal Learning Disability. So feeling a bit overwhelmed!

Any momma's on this thread who have either experience with using attention meds or have chosen NOT to use attention meds and why who would be willing to share their experiences/path/journey a bit on this one? I am reading all the info I can easily get on this - have to do my research in the few hours I probably should be sleeping! - but am also very interested in hearing other people's experiences on this one as I realize that every child/family is different but I learn a lot from putting together other people's experiences and thinking through my own situation ... seems to calm the feeling of chaos and instead bring in some order in all the threads of data out there! for me.

Feel free to Private message me if that seems best.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by RAED 

Any momma's on this thread who have either experience with using attention meds or have chosen NOT to use attention meds and why who would be willing to share their experiences/path/journey a bit on this one? I am reading all the info I can easily get on this - have to do my research in the few hours I probably should be sleeping! - but am also very interested in hearing other people's experiences on this one as I realize that every child/family is different but I learn a lot from putting together other people's experiences and thinking through my own situation ... seems to calm the feeling of chaos and instead bring in some order in all the threads of data out there! for me.

Feel free to Private message me if that seems best.

I pm'd you a bunch of links and there are a couple of ADHD medication threads from this past year on the board. If she hasn't been evaluated for learning disabilities yet, I agree that is something that should be attended to. Frequently ADHD children have a co-morbid issue like a LD, and sometimes a LD is mistaken for ADHD.

You don't have to medicate just because it is suggested or prescribed, but I wouldn't just dismiss the suggestion because you don't want to "go there," either. The needs of ADHD-PI's (primarily inattentive) and the potential helpfulness of medication for them is frequently overlooked because their difficulties aren't as obvious/disruptive/destructive as someone who is hyperactive in an expected way.

I also recommend "Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy"; though the "law" parts don't apply to Canada there is a lot of information in there that could be useful to you, including organizing a "master file" of your dd's education and medical records, and evaluations.

LD Basics

Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD On The Web)