Respite care with 9 yr old ADHD girl in my home. Ideas/suggestions

Katherine - posted on 04/22/2012

YES!!!! That would make MUCH more sense.

Katherine - posted on 04/22/2012

Yes ADHD children talk and toilet themselves.



ETA: They also don't have the behaviors you're describing. She MAY be ADHD, but there is definitely something else going on.

Katherine - posted on 04/22/2012

She is that bad off only with ADHD? I would ask if that's her only diagnosis. What meds she's on, what diet she's on. Ask if she knows ASL. I'm sure they will tell you toys and activities, but being diapered and non0verbal don't make sense to me. Not with ADHD.

Katherine - posted on 04/22/2012

Yes she can. I'm shocked there has been no behavior modification involved! I did ABA for 5 years (Applied Behavior Analysis) with autistic children and they can do ANYTHING we can do as long as their behavior is modified.



She needs a therapist.

Katherine - posted on 04/22/2012

Both. Autistic children are very curious, pair it with ADHD and you've got someone who can't sit still for a moment. I'm surprised she isn't on meds to control it, or if she is, I wonder what she's like off of them :/



Pulling things off and terrorizing the cat and moving things is characteristic of autism.

Sharon - posted on 04/22/2012

Wow! I'm going to read on the ABA. Thanks for putting that out here too. I hope you're here when I have more ?'s after I start with her. I really want to do a good job and help her all I can.

Sharon - posted on 04/22/2012

So I know I haven't started caring for her yet and still I'm asking all these questions. Now I'm wondering if she can be trained to toilet or not? I have lots of research to do don't I? :-) WOW

Stifler's - posted on 04/22/2012

ADHD the autism explains being non verbal and the diapers much more than ADHD does.

Sharon - posted on 04/22/2012

I'm sorry maybe they said it the other way and "I" got it wrong. I'm sorry. You can tell I'm new to both ADHD and autism can't you? Yikes. Thank goodness I found this site! Because when I do have all the facts I'm going to need this place! :-) But one more ?.....what is the "running around she did all about, and the never being still for one second?" Is that autism? Or ADHD?

Sharon - posted on 04/22/2012

They said ADHD with some autism. Maybe they meant the other way around? Would that make more sense?

Stifler's - posted on 04/22/2012

Are you sure you don't mean autism?

Sharon - posted on 04/22/2012

In observing her during her one and only visit to my home which lasted approx 1 to 1/2 hrs yes she was all over the place. Didn't stop moving for one minute. I also noticed when I spoke to her she still never stopped nor looked directly at me. She went into my bedroom and removed blankets/quilts/pillows from the bed etc. Removed all pillows etc from chairs and couches in living room. Terrorized the cat. Went from our main level to the downstairs level using the stairs many times all the while bringing me many of the things she would see along the way. I asked about meds andwas only told "many". I will definitelyhave to find that out when I take her. Social worker did mention some autism. Also said she does not get along with other children her age. Prefers adults. I felt there was much more to the case but neither the mother, social worker, or respite company gave much info which is why I asked for the IEP. I asked about food/diet and mom said she eats anything. She is also a little over weight for her size. As for ASL....do you mean does she use sign language? If so I didn't observe mom using sigh language but mom did speak to her to which she didn't respond or listen either. So are most ADHD children able to toilet themselves? Thanks for responding! I will def ask more questions before Friday when I pick her up. Does this info give you any more thoughts on what I should be checking out? Thanks again.

Medic - posted on 04/22/2012

What are her other diagnosis? It is hard to say what she needs without knowing all of it.