17 yr old son touching, poking, invading personal space
I have a 17 yr old son that has been diagnosed with severe adhd since he was young. He has always been very affectionate. He also touches, pokes, puts his arm around, pats heads etc. to a very annoying degree. He stills does this. He does not touch strangers or people that he does not care for, but he does this to teachers, other students in addition to all his family members/friends. There have been MANY complaints from the schools and even has had assault charges (last year) for what he considered being "playful". Is this a symptom of ADHD? Do others see this issue? He definitely has issues with understanding someones personal space. I have done searches and can't seem to find an answer to this.
Lulu
Many children with ADHD are emotionally immature as compared to their peers, so, although your son may be 17 years old, emotionally he could be several years younger.
Invasion of personal space could be a combination of seeking out sensory stimulation and impulsiveness. You might try having your son hold a stress ball to give him something to play with and fidget with, especially when in situations he may be more touchy than others feel comfortable with.
Eileen
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Eileen Bailey
Tuesday, June 09, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Let me know how it works!
Eileen
Great advice! Thank you!