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[quote=Anonymous]My son is 3.5 and in preschool. He has always had some quirks but through parenting and his hard work, many have already subsided. So here's what we are left with: at home, he is a typically energetic boy (on the more energetic end of the spectrum, but has friends who are worse), very happy, no tantrums ever, no crying, helpful, etc. So long as he has something to focus on, he actually stops bouncing around so much and can stay focused for a really long time with limited parental involvement (maybe an hour?) -- trains, trucks, being read to, puzzles, crafts, bath, eating.... He loves the park and playing outside. Also loves tv (duh) but we are pretty good at limiting it.  Speech is okay - similar to several other boys in his preschool who aren't too chatty. As an aside, we're doing speech to resolve some articulation issues stemming from years of fluid in his ears.

Things change at school: louder environment seems to directly correlate with "ants in his pants", for lack of a technical term.  If I were going to try and do a laymans diagnosis, I would say that he has auditory overstimulation issues, that exasperate his movement and touch understimulation issues. The morning starts great when there are only a couple kids at school. Craft time and small groups are great, as is open play at the park. When they shift to circle time, class singing and dancing, etc, he loses all body regulation -- steam rolls, overhugs, kicks the floor and others, knocks down other kids' block construction, and if he's not touching others, just has zero ability to sit still - feet shaking, hands squeezing, rolling etc. These are self-control and body regulation issues. (as an aside, he's freakishly large and strong for his age, so really has the capacity for hurting inadvertently).  During all this, he is exceptionally happy. He loves school, loves the kids. His physicality is not anger or aggression, so much as a need for movement and touch. But for obvious reasons, others aren't sure of what to make of him. He's been improving and working SO hard to better his behavior. But it's just not where it needs to be and I know he is a challenge for his teachers (who love him and are so supportive, but feel like their ability to help is limited).

I have googled this to death. ADHD seems likely down the road, though he has exceptional focus when he's not around a lot of noise - so I'm not really convinced. I know sensory processing isn't a diagnosis, but if it were, it's the only one that makes sense to me.

When he started the school year we did an OT screening, and no surprise they found sensory issues. We did a couple months of therapy in the classroom and privately, and even the OT acknowledged that his behavior in private was great and he just lost control despite best intentions in class - and therapy wasn't going to help a whole lot. As mentioned above, he's doing speech.

So what's next?  Developmmental pediatrician? Neuropsych?  Group behavior classes?  Other? Also, I work full time and his behavior is not such a problem (his preschool wants him to stay on rather than go to public PK, and when I asked, they said they don't think it's at the level where they'd request we get outside help) so I am not interested in making his diagnosis and treatment a full time job.

Can you provide names and whether they take insurance?  We are in Dupont Circle area. [/quote]

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