Early Childhood
My daughter, who is soon turning 6-years-old, was diagnosed by an occupational therapist as suffering from sensory regulation difficulties. My question is whether she could also have a learning disability? I have the feeling that it's a little difficult for her in kindergarten, even though she's intelligent, etc., but it seems to me for some reason that her potential is not being fully utilized and that there are things that don't seem to us currently as problematic, but in first grade they will be. Is there a connection between sensory regulation and learning disabilities or even to ADHD? It should be noted that the kindergarten teacher says about her only good things, but it could be there are things that aren't being said...?!
Firstly, the fact that the kindergarten teacher says good things about your daughter can be a cause for joy. If your feeling is that there are probably things that aren't being said, then you should speak with the teacher and clarify this issue. From our experience, frequently difficulties in sensory regulation appear together with ADHD or learning difficulties, but they do not necessarily go together. If there are things that you feel are likely to develop in the future into difficulties or disabilities and you have the feeling that your daughter isn't succeeding to take advantage of her abilities, then it's advisable to follow after these things and accordingly to seek consultation. This can be done at The Nitzan Association. We offer assessment and treatment beginning with first grade.
My daughter is entering 1st grade next year. She began treatment with a speech therapist as a result of problems with language and word retrieval. The therapist recommended an evaluation for ADHD. I'd be glad to receive information on this topic.
We recommend for you to inquire through your health clinic about the Child Development Center.
It's important for you to have a detailed letter from the speech therapist describing your daughter's difficulties. If additional professionals treated the child in the past, then you should bring these treatment/diagnosis summaries.
Is ADHD recognizable in 1 ½-year-old infants? Is it diagnosable at this age? My 1 ½ year old son is very frenetic and has trouble performing tasks that require patience and attention, like those which are appropriate for his age and are done by the other children at his nursery school. He is quickly discouraged from performing tasks; he can't sit still and prefers to run from place to place all of the time. Also in front of television and movies for his age, his attention is very low and he can sit for only five minutes.
He enjoys, for example, putting together Lego with big pieces, but after three minutes he loses patience and interest, throws the pieces and runs to find other challenges. When this is in the presence of other children, his boredom causes him to come very quickly to hit other children, or he cries, or climbs on something.
He never sits on me or on his father quietly. He's always moving and running. Since he was a few weeks old, he would whine and demand that we take him in our hands from place to place and that we not leave him with ordinary toys on a blanket or in his bed. He never enjoyed lying in his cradle and looking at the mobile for more than a minute, but rather demanded my attention.
He doesn't rest for a moment. It's difficult for him to calm down before going to sleep and there are a lot of struggles around bedtime. We are worried that we'll run into these issues in a more serious way when he starts going to school. What should we do?
In recent years a body of knowledge has built up which points to the presence of ADHD even in infancy. In this age, the treatment is mainly environmental and focuses on training the parents and the preschool staff.
Today in Israel, there are a number of unique clinics for treatment in early childhood, and we suggest contacting a clinic like this in your area of residence. Treatment in early childhood can prevent more serious problems in children and adolescents.
Approximately, a week and a half ago, the preschool teacher informed me that according to her opinion my son suffers from ADHD and I should go to a neurologist. Understandably, this was very difficult for me because I know for myself that there's a problem but it was hard for me to put my finger on it. The child is very intelligent, smart, and loves to talk, maybe too much. He has "ants in his pants", he's naughty but charming, loving, and heartfelt. Of course, since then I gather information and I decided previously to seek a doctor for development and in addition we began giving him a natural supplement. Today, I decided to take him for an evaluation and I wanted to know if it's worthwhile? What do you suggest for me?
When a suspicion of ADHD arouses, one should diagnose and treat as soon as possible. It's important to note that the element of parent training is no less important from any other recommended treatment. We recommend for you to read about ADHD on our website in order to learn about the symptoms and to understand their meanings.
Your consultation with a doctor of child development is certainly correct and in consultation with him, you should consider treatment and intervention methods. At The Nitzan Association, we conduct evaluations beginning with 1st grade.
I have a son who is 1 year and 10 months old. He doesn't like to sit. He is a happy child who is always running, dancing, and singing. He has a good vocabulary for his age, but when can I reveal learning or attention difficulties? Does his lack of patience to sit and draw or play while sitting suggest something? He can occupy himself alone for a long time but he throws the toys more than playing with them. He doesn't sit down to draw or put puzzles together for his age. Also, when I sit with him, he is more interested in dancing and watching tapes of singing. Does this suggest ADHD or is this normal for his age?
From you description, it seems that your son's behavior at his young age is normal. If these behaviors, like difficulty sitting for periods of time (i.e. 15 minutes at 3 years old), avoiding tasks like drawing, cutting, gluing, etc.(3 ½ years old), then you can consult with the preschool teacher and hear from her at she sees the things. In any case, you can always consult with a child development clinic about these issues.
My oldest child is 3 ½ years old, has "ants in her pants", and is very hyper. This is her first year in a public preschool. She's a very bright girl with an amazing feeling for words, she's quite intelligent, and she learns well. In preschool, the teacher told me that she has very nice and developed visual perception for her age. Where can I do for her evaluations at this age and, most important, free of charge?
From our experience, many children who are very active with "ants in their pants" are very intelligent, talented, and emotional. What's more, you describe your daughter as intelligent with good visual perception, well developed for her age. If you are still bothered, you can seek a child development clinic close to your place of residence. At this age, if needed, an evaluation can be done free of charge through the child development clinics of the Ministry of Health.
My daughter is 4.5 years old. She's red-haired, looks older than her age, and is developed ahead of her age by a couple of years. She isn't diagnosed with ADHD. At home everything runs normally and she's a wonderful child, neat, with good habits and I wouldn't define her as different in her behavior than other children, except that she has more energy since she's red-haired and temperamental. At home she can sit with me for an hour and work in her workbook and alone on the computer for a long time!
The main problem with her is at preschool. There, the teacher claims that it's very difficult for her to sit and she needs incentives and "prizes" in order to sit! Her height and level bring her to want to be in the role of the one in charge and only this works; therefore, the teacher always chooses here to be the head of the group.
In light of these facts, is it possible to think that she may have a problem with ADHD? Could her temperament be the source of her lack of ability to sit for a long period of time? (I am also very active and temperamental).
From our experience, when there are problems with ADHD, they are prevalent in different areas of life and in different settings in which the child is found. The ability to work alone in front of a computer for a long time is not a sign that there isn't a problem with ADHD. One-on-one activity as you describe that takes place at home isn't similar to group activities where your daughter is one of a group of children at the preschool. Definitely, it's likely that your daughter is lively and especially temperamental due to the fact that you describe yourself as such. However, if as a result of such difficulties are created that allow her to behave and integrate as excepted from all other children, you should seek out consultation and the Child Development Clinic in your area of residence, or through the preschool psychologist at the Educational Psychology Services Clinic.
In any case, you should learn how to direct the energy and liveliness to productive channels according to your daughter's areas of interest and talents in order to take advantage of them as a source for optimal functioning.