Dealing with Behavior Issues at School: Can this be related to Seizure Meds?

Beth - posted on 09/20/2012

Nicole,



So much has happened since I posted last. Would you believe I have asked for IEP since the beginning of Kindergarten and it was dismissed by the asst. principal who said he doesn't need an IEP, he's doing fine. Meanwhile, he is in trouble all of the time and being put out of Art and Music for disrupting the class. I even asked that he be held back and was talked out of it by his teacher and the asst. principal. So here we are, 1st day of 1st grade he was kicked out of after-care and had 4 disciplinary actions to the principals office in the first 2 weeks of school! He is 6.5 years old and most kids in his class are 7-7.5 years old with no seizure disorder. After a meeting with the Principal and Asst Principal, I showed them two letters, one from the behavioral specialist and one from his Peds Neourologist who both stated he would benefit from IEP. I requested an IEP meeting and on August 21, 2012 everyone met in what I thought was an IEP meeting. I find out last week it was NOT an IEP meeting...it was an RTI meeting. Really? So I called the school board. I spoke to the director and she was mortified that my verbal requests were denied and no one told me I had to request an IEP in writing! So, finally, there is a meeting this Tuesday for IEP evaluation. I would have NEVER taken him out of IEP had I known it would have been this difficult to get him back in! Why does this have to be so hard? Well, I just read where budget cuts only alows the schools so many IEP's per year. Nice, huh? Meanwhile, my child is treated like a delinquent with no disability. On one hand you want your child to be treated normal, yet at the same time, they need to recognize he has a disability and accomodate his needs! UGH! I just wish he would grow out of this and they could start weaning him off his medication! Unfortunately, he just had an EEG which showed Occipital and Bilateral Temporal Spikes, so they are not taking him off his Trileptal anytime soon. :( We have an overnight EEG scheduled for Oct 11th. Oh, we started him on Ritalin 2 weeks ago. Behavior is somewhat improved. Too soon to tell.

Nicole - posted on 01/06/2012

Beth...You have the right to change things on is IEP....Request and IEP so that you all can have a meeting to make the right decisions for him....They can not refuse that at all...I'm not sure on how you have to do it if you have to talk to someone about it or who you have to talk to or if you have to put it in writing or what. But you have that right to pull up for a meeting at any time as a parent they can not refuse you...and if they don't let you and tell you No go to the next person above you and keep going up till they don't listen and if they don't start writing letters to people stating what's happening and what's going on with your son....it is not right for them to do this to your child. They are to help you not discourage you in this...Don't let them get away with it...I know it's hard and all,but fight and keep fighting till you get what you need for him.

Nicole

Beth - posted on 01/06/2012

I spoke with the Asst Principal about him being removed from the after school program and she said there was nothing she could do, they have to follow policy. 4 "red slips" for behavior problems and they are out. I asked about IEP and she said he is doing fine in class and does not need and IEP. Then I spoke to the Principal and she blew me off. Now today, I get his report card and all "1's" on Behavior which is basically not good behavior. It's like they don't care or hear me when I say " his Pediatric Neurologist said all seizure meds cause behavior issues." SO very frustrating!

Nicole - posted on 12/16/2011

I would of not at all removed the IEP at all...I would of kept it...I would have him reevaluated for everything. There could be something still going on. I know that with keppra you get this. I don't know any other meds for the complex partial seizures. I am in the process of switching her off of the keppra to the Trileptal. I started her on this on wed of this week...but she's still on the full dose of the keppra and I don't start lowering her keppra till the 26th. I also know that my daughter has adhd and she recently started taking meds for it, but she only takes it for school....So while on christmas break she will be out of school she will not be on her ADHD med. She also has an IEP and we are doing a child study on her for things going on right now. I wouldn't think that if you have a standing IEP that they can not at all kick him out of anything. They have to work with you to get things for your child. This is what we are doing with my daughter. Otherwise you should start calling people. I don't know much about Tirleptal so I can't really help you with the behavior...Just getting it from the Keppra since we just raised it on wed...It could be from something more going on...I do understand you about not wanting your child labeled, but you have to be you son's advocate and you know what's best for him....Hope that this does help a little....But when back from christmas break I would be calling and talking to the school Counselor and asking for a meeting...Good luck...let me know how it goes...I would also contact his Neurologist and see what they think. Also what about Vit B6...I know that's one thing everyone talks about giving. I tired it with my daughter, but she wouldn't take it and she refused...she's not a med taker and it's alot of work to get her to take it so I just stopped giving it to her...Well Good luck and if you want to talk more feel free to message me.

Nicole
dylan (07/02/99 developmentally delayed, sever adhd,odd, gerd, very picky eater, mr, ld, speech and more)

phoebe (06/04/04 speech, adhd, complex partial epilepsy into generalized seizures)