Hi Cindy,

 

You and your daughter are wise to find the help your grandson needs.

 

The first step, as you know, is to have him evaluated. Young children who are hyperactive could be so due to ADHD, but there are other issues (anxiety, mood dysregulation, processing disorders, etc) that can also cause such behaviors and only a competent clinician can tease them out.

 

Until you find out the cause for his problems, you won't know what the treatment is. Even very young children like your grandson could benefit from medication if the clinician feels it's warranted and it's sad when doctors refuse to consider that option across the board. My own daughter needed to be on medication for severe hyperactivity and impulsivity at just around the same age, and it probably saved her life. She had no self control whatsoever and surely would have run into the street without the benefit of having meds on board.

 

That said, there are a number of ways to find someone you can take him to for an evaluation.

 

I would start with the children's hospital in or near Spokane. Ask for the psychiatry or psychology department and describe to them what you've written here...and more. Ask for a referral to someone who sees children this young with these types of behaviors.

 

You can also contact CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD) to find the chapter closest to you. They would have names of clinicians who could evaluate your grandson. Call 800-233-4050 or visit their website. Washington chapters are listed here: http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Chapter_Search_Display1&state=wa

 

There's another excellent resource for Washington, though I think the focus is more on the Seattle area. Still, I'm sure there's information there that will help: http://www.addresources.org/

 

Hope this helps!

Terry

First of all, you are not crazy to want help now. I know you didn't write that you feel that way, but I remember what my son was like at 3, and feeling like what was wrong with the world that no one else could see it or help us. Stick to your guns and intuition and that is the very best thing you can do for your grandson. That said, I am both the Mom of a 5 yr old with ADHD and co-morbid conditions of Tourette's, ODD (opositional defiant disorder) and Sensory Integration Disorder, as well as the Aunt to a child with Asperger's (on the Autistic spectrum), Tourettes and Sensory Integration. My nephew is 14. Between my sister in law and myself, there is nothing we haven't tried yet, and I've been fortunate to be able to witness first hand some efforts that I didnt' actually have to do the work for. I can say, witnessing my nephews issues, that the sooner you implement help, the better. A good first step is diet. The Feingold diet, which people will protest hottly as being too difficult or antiquated, has been a life saver for both us and my in-laws. They started it later, so I see how hard it is to get a child to adapt at a later age. We started it loosely at age 3, and it was easier. Food dyes should be illegal as far as I'm concerned, and while the start-up period is a bit tough, it's much easier to follow the diet than it is to deal with the behaviors day in and day out. You can learn more at Feingold.org. They have a book called "why can't my child behave" that is very eye-opening. At age 3, you will be hard pressed to get a doctor to medicate, which is devastating news, I know. I will say don't waste your time or money on Developmental Pediatricians - they won't help you. Take your grandson to a Pediatric Neurologist and a Psychiatrist. Our son was finally medicated last December at 4 1/2 by his neurogolist - he is on Tenex which is a blood pressure med for adults taht when used in children with ADHD not only helps lower the symptoms, but has no side affects or concerns for liver function or cardiac function like the other meds do. I sobbed the day I medicated him - I felt like I had completely failed as a mother as I sent him on the bus for school that day. When he came home that afternoon, I was amazed. I felt like I met my child for the first time that day, and the combination of diet and meds has been amazing for us. We also had family counseling through our state funded department of families and children, behavioral unit. It's a division of DDD (Department of Developmental Disabilities). I have to think all states have government programs like these, and DDD in particular is invaluable to hook into for resources. Through this we had 2 family counselors come to the house twice a week, and the difference they made was amazing. It's also free, which as the parent of a special needs kid shelling out thousands of dollars for doctors and help, was a blessed relief. Lastly, we've just started a biomedical approach based on the book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: ADHD, Autism, Allergies and Asthma" By Dr. Kenneth Bock. Reading that book was very eye opening as well and I highly recommend it. It's not the first starting point however - start with the other items, particularly Feingold. If I can help at all, feel free to contact me. There isn't much we haven't tried, and because of that, the child I had to remove from Pre-school, Music Together and Gymboree and couldn't take into public at all is now going into mainstream kindergarten in fall, and most people cannot believe he has special needs at all. There is hope. It's hard won, but it's there. Hang in there. Anne

I share your problems with having a 3 yr old with ADHD. I had my son evaluated by the preschool committe for special education. Contact your local school district and find out what programs are available. I do live in ny state and im not sure what others state offer. School Districts are responsible for assuring the provision of Special Education to eligible three and four year olds or until they are eligible for public school.  To qualify for Special Education, an evaluation by a state approved preschool program is obtained and reviewed by the school district's Committee on Preschool Special Education.  The Committee then writes an Individual Educational Program either recommending a center-based educational program or related services such as Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or Itinerant Special Education.  Related services are to be provided at the child's home or day care center, wherever the child would normally be found.  Each child is deemed a "child with a disability" for purposes of eligibility for preschool programming.  Recommendations, without the child's name, are presented to the school districts' Boards of Education for review.

Counties are responsible to contract with service providers and transporters.  Tuition rates, multidisciplinary evaluation rates and Itinerant Teacher rates are determined by the State.  The related services' rates are determined at the County level.  The cost of transportation to services is approved through a bidding process in accordance with provisions of the general municipal law.

Cindy and Anniem319,

 

Cindy, Pay attention to what Annie said, she on to something.  I have a 9 yr old adopitive daughter who has been "too busy" since she was 3.  She had problems in preschool and kindergarten, where she was sent to the principal for disrupting the class by talking and dancing to throwing tantrums.  She is impulsive, unable to focus, interrupts conversations, lies, unable to follow directions, and goes like an energizer bunny.  She was finally diagnosed with ADHD and ODD put on meds at the age of 8 1/2 only because I tried other things and nothing worked.  The meds help, but when they wear off she becomes wild again.  It has affected her sleep and at times she can not sleep through the night.  She also has asthma, eczema, allergies and chronic sinusitis.  The meds were not the complete answer.  She still had behavioral problems.  I eleminated sugar such as candy, cookies, ice cream, which helped but if you have ever read labels, there is sugar in everything, it is a crime!  I also removed all toxic cleaners from my home and now use a brand that is "green" and plant based.  This has helped too.  But the biggest thing was putting my kids on a nutrition program.  I have seen changes even after 3 weeks, so Cindy is right about the diet having an effect. Try everything you can first BEFORE the meds.  The meds have so many side affects attached to them.