Premature son now 2.5 - behavioural problems?

[Prisca982]

My son was born at 30 weeks (10 weeks early). He's now 2.5 and I want to know whether he is exhibiting typical toddler behaviour, or whether he has signs of ADHD. He would have been 2 in early October if he'd kept his due date.

He struggles to concentrate on anything - if we are doing a puzzle togehter I have to constantly remind him that we are doing a puzzle. Any other toys that are out are a distraction, and he can't sit still. He is constantly wriggling around and making noise (singing, jibbering, talking). He doesn't even sit still to watch TV, though he's started to watch it for longer periods now (by that I mean 5 minutes at a time, rather than 2). If he is tired he will sit still for a story, but otherwise it will hold his attention only for a few minutes.

I don't know if he is just an active toddler, or has problems concentrating.

He is also very resistant to discipline, and again I am uncertain as to whether his constant disobedience is willful or if he genuinely can't help himself. He knows not to touch electric switches, but at the moment he keeps turning the tv and phone off at the mains (I use both smacking and the naughty chair as discipline, neither has any long-term effect).

I am literally at my wits end with him. I struggle to keep my temper with him, his disobedience and difficult behaviour has reached such a peak. I have alwyas tried to discipline him in a calm, controlled voice but the only thing that gets his attention any more is to yell. Does anyone have any insight or advice?

 

[cobweb]

That sounds like a normal 2 1/2 year old. If he was 6, I'd worry.... but not at 2.

 

[ChildByGrace]

He sounds exactly like my son-he's 3 1/2.
I would be reluctant to take him to se anyone with a view to seeing if this is ADHD(or anything similar) until he is in school as once diagnosed, even if it's then found to be a misdiagnosis, it will be something that is with him for life and will colour everything he does.
It is quite possible that he is very intelligent and needs a lot of stimulus. My ds improved once he started pre-school and we are praying that he improves more once he starts school in Sept.

It is very hard-some boys are just very resistant to any discipline-just don't despair, you will get there.

 

[realtruth101]

He sounds exactly like my son-he's 3 1/2.
I would be reluctant to take him to se anyone with a view to seeing if this is ADHD(or anything similar) until he is in school as once diagnosed, even if it's then found to be a misdiagnosis, it will be something that is with him for life and will colour everything he does.
It is quite possible that he is very intelligent and needs a lot of stimulus. My ds improved once he started pre-school and we are praying that he improves more once he starts school in Sept.

It is very hard-some boys are just very resistant to any discipline-just don't despair, you will get there.

Every kid who's brought in by parents at their wits end will leave with a perscription and a diagnosis of ADHD or the like, Do a little research on how many kids are now being medically controlled, you would be amazed! Also if you do take your kid in for evaluation see if they can give you proof other than opinion, like a cat scan or an MRI that shows a difference in your child than any other normal child. All I'm saying is according to the statistics there's an epidemic of childhood behavior problems and the medical world is more than happy to put your kid on a life long regiment of narcotics that will eventually have a devastating effect on his or her long term health

 

[cobweb]

Every kid who's brought in by parents at their wits end will leave with a perscription and a diagnosis of ADHD or the like, Do a little research on how many kids are now being medically controlled, you would be amazed! Also if you do take your kid in for evaluation see if they can give you proof other than opinion, like a cat scan or an MRI that shows a difference in your child than any other normal child. All I'm saying is according to the statistics there's an epidemic of childhood behavior problems and the medical world is more than happy to put your kid on a life long regiment of narcotics that will eventually have a devastating effect on his or her long term health

Not true. I begged for years with my oldest and got no help. I was told "He'll grow out of it", "He's all boy", and "Some people are a little eccentric".

When it got to the point when ambulances were being called by the school.... I put my foot down and demanded a referal to a child psychiatrist from my pediatrician and an emergency evaluation.


He has an autism spectrum disorder. No one cared enough to even listen to my concerns... much less offer meds.

 

[realtruth101]

Not true. I begged for years with my oldest and got no help. I was told "He'll grow out of it", "He's all boy", and "Some people are a little eccentric".

When it got to the point when ambulances were being called by the school.... I put my foot down and demanded a referal to a child psychiatrist from my pediatrician and an emergency evaluation.


He has an autism spectrum disorder. No one cared enough to even listen to my concerns... much less offer meds.

I didn't say every kid didn't need medication, I was saying not all kids need to be medicated as the trend seems to be going, I'm sorry for your son's disorder, I won't give my two cents for what was the cause because some people believe the medical world can do no wrong.

 

[cobweb]

I didn't say every kid didn't need medication, I was saying not all kids need to be medicated as the trend seems to be going, I'm sorry for your son's disorder, I won't give my two cents for what was the cause because some people believe the medical world can do no wrong.

What you said was that "Every kid who's brought in by parents at their wits end will leave with a perscription and a diagnosis of ADHD or the like". That is NOT true. The process took years and my concerns were dismissed countless times.

I've done my homework. I have spoken with researchers. My son has been used as a case-study. I know what "the cause" was. He was this way from birth. There is definitley an issue of broader autism phenotype in our extended family.

IOW.... It is mostly genetic.

 

[ChildByGrace]

For some really bizarre reason-it seems to me that those children that actually do have problems-like your son cobweb-seem to get missed. However so many children are diagnosed with ADHD/add etc when actually it's just down to such things as diet, lack of sleep, general behaviour issues etc.
I think it's such a shame to some parents have to go through so much when if the drs took notice things could get sorted earlier.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

He sound just like every 2 year old I ever watched.

 

[MessianicMommy]

This is typical behavior.

You might find the book "Your 2 year old" by Ames and ILG helpful.