Hey C.,
I get so upset when children are labeled especially after someone who is supposed to be a professional has given such a short period of time to give such a lengthy diagnosis. I own a preschool and I have a full-day kindergarten class with 11 boys and 3 girls. For the majority of my day at least 6 of the same boys are in my office in some type of trouble. So I decided to sit in on the class a few times to observe. Unfortunately, kindergarten for some children especially boys can be a challenge. Not always because of the academics simply because they just can't sit that long and just purely are not interested in learning. I own a Montessori School and although we do traditional learning as well as Montessori what I observed was so enlightening to me. When these same 6 repeat offenders were engaged in a Montessori activity there was not one problem. When they were doing their seat work it was one issue after another. Who couldn't sit still, who was touching the child next to him, who was falling off their chair. I was astonished at what I saw. I am not trying to push Montessori I am simply saying that some children are physical learners. They learn best when they are doing something hands on. Also, most of the boys in this class are very young five year olds who just made the public school cut-off date. I guess my question is did he always have problems in school, like preschool, or is it just in kindergarten? Is he a young 5 year old? My other comment is if I looked up the symptoms of ADHD, ODD, PDD NOS I could probably recommend half of my kindergarten class be put on meds. I am very old school and I absolutely hate when children are pushed. It seems that we have become a society about forcing education on children and not recognizing their basic needs. To play, to learn through play, to run, climb, and just interact with their peers. How can a child become social when they are forced to sit and do flash cards at 2? When I do a tour at my school I hear parents say what is your curriculum. I will tell them that my main focus is having their children have fun, learn to love school, learn to follow the rules, sing, dance etc. Of course they learn their colors, shapes, ABC's but social skills are just as important. I have early intervention coming into evaluate because a child who just turned two isn't speaking enough. Children who do not like mushy foods have texture issues etc. etc. etc. When I grew up a child who couldn't sit still was just active, today it is a whole different ballgame. I have truly seen very few true cases of ADHD, ODD, & PDD NOS, and then I have seen children who are labeled because they just can't conform to what we think children should be doing at age 5. When I was little we napped in a half day kindergarten program, when my kids who are now 24 & 20 were in kindergarten the mostly played. My kindergarten class is beginning to read, doing fractions, etc. I think some kids can do it and some kids just can't. But yet we label then as something wrong because they can't sit still, or simply do not have the interest to learn so they act out. Please take your son to a neurologist for a proper diagnosis. If you have to go to many different doctors to get your son help then do it. Only you know your son, so listen to your gut. In my opinion you do not sound convinced that your son has all of these issues. Yes as an educator we can contribute information but that does not mean we can diagnosis. Have you considered seeing a behaviorist?. They can perhaps show you ways, and give you help on how to deal with the tantrums etc. If your son does in fact have all of the above mentioned issues then as his mom deal with them in a way that you are comfortable with. Some children do need medication it truly is the only way they can function in school, however that does not mean your child is one of them. One other suggestion is a nutritionist. I am not implying that you do not feed your son healthy, but I have read and seen the effects that foods (especially if someone is allergic) can effect behavior. Good luck!!