Journal

Ryan started having problems a month or two into Kindergarten. His teacher talked to me about his inability to focus on tasks, his social isolation, and his "annoyance" to the other kids. We started with IST meetings at the school with the teacher, prinicipal, counselor, father, stepfather, and myself. We tried numerous behavioral modication strategies with a "behavior book" which was supposed to hoepfully make him more aware of his actions. The first book failed to adjust much. The second book was more focused on his behavior issues of licking things, speaking out in classes, and not interacting with his classmates. This book was a little more successful but still didn't help much and his report card showed that he was behind his other classmates in numerous areas. At the third IST meeting in January the teacher explained that Ryan really was not able to focus much on the school work and needed more one on one with teaching and tasks. At this point we decided that on his 6year visit to the pediatrician we would bring up the schools, and our concerns about Ryan's inability to focus. During his visit with the pediatrician we had already done the Connor scores, and brought his behavior books, and report card so that the pediatrician could see his struggle. We were then started in the evaluation phase for ADHD. The first meeting was between the ADHD nurse and Ryan's parents and stepparents. We explained his behavior and his difficulties and the nurse said that he sounded like it was ADHD but that she needed to perform her evaluation on Ryan to confirm. A week and a half later she met with Ryan, alone, and was blown away with his inability to focus and how he was all over the room. He didn't care about not doing some of the pictures correctly and had no desire to correct the pictures. She said that he appeared to be ADHD and that she would give her report to the pediatrician and then the pediatrician would make the final call. Ryan's father and I also need to talk to a psychologist to go over a detailed family history and that report will also be sent to the pediatrician. We should hopefully have a definet diagnosis by the end of the month and have him started on the road to being better soon.

I have been told that I should have Ryan evaluated by a pediatric psychiatrist and I am open to that, I just feel bad that my son now has to be seen by all these people, and that he will now have the label of ADHD. I don't want people thinking he is a bad kid, or difficult. I just want him to do well and succeed. I am hoping to come in contact with other parents who have been through this process and can help me with ways to effectively discipline and help Ryan get through everyday life.

Devon