Wondering has anyone heard of this!

Crysta - posted on 10/31/2011

It sounds like to me she is just acting out cause she feels bad about her older sibling not being able to do some of the same things she can. I was always a lot smarter than my older sister growing up, I was great in math and in high school I would often read two different books at the same time. I remember in middle school my grades dropped dramatically because my grandmother would often try to compare the two of us and make my sister feel like she was stupid because she was not as good at some things like I was, so I would not do work or purposely get lower scores on tests so that she would feel that we were more equal. It might not be the same exact thing that is happening here, but I really don't think that medication is the best way to go.

Amber - posted on 10/29/2011

As a teacher, I will say that most do not want to just drug your child as someone said. I will also say that teachers are not legally allowed to say to parents that they should have their child tested for anything or that they need medication (at least in my district). I have more than one student this year that shows characteristics of ODD and it is hard & draining work. Those children are not the only ones in the room...there are 20+ more and as an educator it makes me mad that we are constantly suppose to cater to those few children. What about the majority that come to school acting correctly ready to learn. If you don't think your child has ODD then try to find out the real root of the problem so the learning environment stays just that.

Janessa - posted on 10/28/2011

Get a second, third, fourth opinion or go by your mother's instinct. Sometimes they need the medication, but sometimes it just makes the child worse and have more problems, don't do it, if you feel wrong about it. Pray to know what your child does need. You'll get the inspiration.

Kylie - posted on 10/28/2011

My husband was sent to a special class when he was in yr3 because he was so disruptive. The special class sent him back, with a note thatapprently contained the words "your an idiot" to the teacher. kids that are ahead need more work or ofcourse they are going to be bored. if possible i'd get her acessed, and then take that paper work to the school as well as any recomendations they make to keep up with your daughter! some things school do are so dumb!

Catherine - posted on 10/28/2011

I also think that the kids probably aren't getting enough exercise to release their energy. They take away recess and then expect kids to not get antsy.

Justine - posted on 10/28/2011

You are describing my 3 year old! Guess I better start getting ready for the school system! My mother battled with the school to get me evaluated for ADD when I was in middle school, they finally did it in high school! Weird how things have changed so much!
I think your child is just plain bored! Keep up the good work! You will do what's right for your child cause you know them best!

Elizabeth - posted on 10/28/2011

I think people, schools especially, are too eager to put kids on meds. Just because your kid doesn't sit still and pay attention doesn't mean they need to be drugged. All kids are different, but also all kids are hyper and have short attention spans. Drugging kids is not the answer, its just plain lazy on the adults part to suggest meds because they aren't willing to take a little extra time to find a productive and constructive way to channel the kids energy. Kids from my generation we very rarely medicated and we all grew up just fine once we grew out of our "terrible twos" (not just for 2 year olds anymore, they last for years, lol)

Mommy - posted on 10/28/2011

Also, as a therapist, I advocate for parents to seek out a consultation with someone who specializes in the area of concern to discuss what the parent is seeing in the child, and getting some feedback about what the diagonsis means, and if it is accurate. This doesn't mean you have to put your child in therapy or on meds, but simply means you are going to a professional in this area for information.

Mommy - posted on 10/28/2011

Oppositional Defiance Disorder is most certainly real, and many children are diagnosed with it. That being said, I would need a lot more information to give a diagnosis. The criteria for ODD, which can be found in the DSM IV are as follows:

A. A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months, during which four (or more) of the following are present:

(1) often loses temper

(2) often argues with adults

(3) often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules

(4) often deliberately annoys people

(5) often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior

(6) is often touchy or easily annoyed by others

(7) is often angry and resentful

(8) is often spiteful or vindictive

Note: Consider a criterion met only if the behavior occurs more frequently than is typically observed in individuals of comparable age and developmental level.



B. The disturbance in behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.



C. The behaviors do not occur exclusively during the course of a Psychotic or Mood Disorder.



D. Criteria are not met for Conduct Disorder, and, if the individual is age 18 years or older, criteria are not met for Antisocial Personality Disorder.



If this is something you are seeing in your child, I would first suggest a very good child therapist who specializes in this, and then a consultation with a psychiatrist if behavior management and therapy alone does not work.

Sunny - posted on 10/27/2011

As a child I was misdiagnosed so many times by different doctors and on many different meds. I was a very active and troublesome child and now a days they diagnosed everyone with ADHD or depression. The meds just made me more upset and made me feel like a zombie. I stopped taking them as soon as I was old enough to decide.



If you are really concerned take her to a psychiatrist, they would know better than the teacher.

Genevieve - posted on 10/27/2011

My sisters daughter has ODD and her son has SPD. Its hard with them but they are doing therapies that include Occupational and talking to a counsellor. I would shy away from meds and get testing done. Gifted could be a big thing. My neice is way above average and even gifted in some areas but is very lacking in other areas such as her short term memory. I suggest you get as many tests done as possible!!! And no matter what they are still awesome kids and dont need a label stuck on them. I know you feel the same. Lotsa hugs and kisses all around.

Catherine - posted on 10/27/2011

She may be bored at school. Look into getting her into something more challenging.

Patrice - posted on 10/27/2011

Thanks guys for all the advice and no she isn't violent just a trouble maker.I will never want to put her on medicine, We will explore some other options. Thanks again guys !

Medic - posted on 10/26/2011

That is what my sons preK teacher told me last year. Now this year he is in kinder, is the youngest in his class (his bday is the cut off date), has been tested and is "gifted", and now that we all know this and we all know just to keep him busy and CHALLENGED he is doing great. Granted he has an AMAZING teacher that has the patience of a saint, and he goes to a magnet school that requires all students to test in. Everything they do is dual language so everything is more challenging to him. We put him in gymnastics after school 5 days a week which burns off that extra energy and challenges him physically and he is excelling at that. I would never jump to medicate any child and that teacher should have never mentioned it. Sorry this is scatter brained and all over the place....just one of those days.

Teresa - posted on 10/26/2011

My thoughts are that a teacher has no right/ability to give a child any diagnosis whatsoever. If there is a concern... it would be worth discussing w/ the actual DOCTOR.



Is your child violent? Or just a 'trouble maker'? I have limited knowledge of ODD and no personal experience, but I would believe that an ODD child would be out of control in a variety of situations. How is her behavior at home?



A variety of testings (as mentioned by Susanne) would probably be worthwhile, but even IF there is an issue that would benefit from medication... I'd look to nonmedicating options first.

Ana - posted on 10/26/2011

This post made me smile because you described my 1st grader on the money. let me start with saying that he was such a tough baby (never slept, always physically active, always laughing or aggrivated...there was no middle). when he went into pre-k the teachers developed the "its just Logan" attitude. They let him get away with certain things but not too much, still bothered me. well, kindergarden came and he was defiant. he didn't want to work in a group and told the teachers he wanted to sit alone in the corner and do his work. this went from sept to dec!!!! they couldnt get him to work with others in a classroom (but he always played well with others...go figure). so needless to say, santa did not visit his stocking that year. after christmas the teacher said he was a changed student. now i dont think it was just santa...from sept to dec we realized he was finishing his work 15 mins before the other kids, got bored and then scribbled on his work or caused some sort of scene. so while sitting in the corner, the teacher kept feeding him work, the next level up. and he was fine.

my son didnt have a hyper disorder (as even i thought he had). he out grew it some say. i dont think he did, i think he is just old enough that if he got bored he could find something more challenging to do. same happened in a classroom. once the teacher knew what was challenging, she kept feeding it to him even though it was above the the grade level. by mid jan he was working in a full size group, helping the kids that needed a little guidance (peer learning).

some kids are leaders and its important that we respect that. not to say that they should be allowed to be defiant (henceforth...no santa) but they should learn when to be a leader and when to follow authority...she might not need meds...she might just need to figure out who is who and the teacher needs to accomadate her and keep her busy. a busy child doesnt have time to misbehave LOL

Susanne - posted on 10/26/2011

I say get her hearing/ears tested to start. It could just be that she can't hear the teacher clearly in the noisy classroom and so chooses to just do whatever she feels like. Then get her tested for giftedness, she could just be bored and acts up because the teacher doesn't recognize (or care) that she is understimulated. I think that medication is not the answer and do beileve that schools medicate first and look for answers after. Is homeschool an option for you? Think outside of the box, look for answers and keep you head up. Don't get pushed around by the school or your doctor. If you don't agree then don't do it, you know your child better than anyone else can.