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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Any tics or obsessions? Look into PANS/PANDAS - and best of luck. I know you're in a tough spot.[/quote]

Yes. Definitely. We have seen the Children's neurology team and they weren't terribly concerned but this was about a year ago now and his tics hadn't gone on for that long. He used to have an ear tugging thing... that passed but now lately he has to constantly lick his fingers and even other things, and we are approaching a health crisis with the licking. A lot of it is to get our attention since he knows we are quite opposed to this habit ("Mommy I licked the bottom of my shoe!") but you can tell that most of it is involuntary. Probably about time we revisited the neurologist. He was actually assessed by a nurse on the team but not sure that makes a huge difference. The doctor had a months-long wait.[/quote]

I don't think this sounds like ADHD, OP.  I'm sorry you're dealing with this, but (facing a potential ADHD situation with my kid, and others I know of) hitting at that age and the licking is not in line with ADHD symptoms, for the most part.[/quote]

I disagree with you, PP. First of all a lot of kids with ADHD have sensory-related issues and licking, besides being impulsive, is pretty classic. Hitting is also not only an impulse control issue but a sign of frustration, which is commonly caused by attention issues. In sum, it sounds very much like ADHD, which doesn't mean there are not other things going on as well.  [/quote]

+1.  I don't think the PP knows much about ADHD.  Hitting (especially at that age) is very common for combined type ADHD.  It's an impulse control thing, mostly.  The licking can also be related to impulse control, and/or can be related to sensory things at that age.  My ADHD kid at that age ate freakin' everything.  He would chew through his shirts like crazy -- they looked like lace.  
For the licking, there might be some simple things that would help, like chewable necklaces (they make dog tag style ones or boys, or ones with animals on them); chewing gum; etc.  Chewing is a more common problem than licking, but I assume they are similar or related.
I also think the one or more of the basic ADHD books might be helpful in learning how to solve problems before they start.
I'll also give my 2 cents which is that, especially for ADHD combined type boys, the ages 4-5 are really the worst.  They are big and strong and people expect them not to do the things that toddlers do anymore, but the impulse control is basically at toddler level (as it usually lags about 2 years in ADHD combined kids), and even the "smart" ones don't really have the cognitive skills to analyze their own behavior yet.  When they get a smidge older, you can have some real success with cognitive behavior therapy and books, where the kids helps to figure out why they do the things they do, why it's a problem and what they can do to stop it.  
In the meantime, do you know what the triggers for the hitting are?  Some possibilities are:  (1) just likes the physical contact; (2) overwhelmed by other kids' presence near him; (3) generally wound up and over-stimulated; (4) frustrated by something like a kid that has a toy he wants.  Each would require a different solution.[/quote]

Thanks, PP. Your suggestions are helpful for the licking issue. I'll try maybe offering something (like a necklace) designated for licking. Knowing him he'll still lick other things to get a rise out of us. But it can't hurt.

He hits when he is angry/frustrated/senses you aren't listening/if someone interrupts him (this is a huge trigger!!!), that kind of thing. Overstimulation also makes him act a little wild and rough but he doesn't hit to hurt in these instances... he is just rough, like with his baby brother - dangerously so sometimes.

As for the hitting [/quote]

Sorry... my reply got cut off. I was saying - as for the hitting, he generally does this out of anger or frustration, or when someone interrupts him, which is a huge trigger. When he is overstimulated, he can be very rough but doesn't hit to hurt in these instances. [/quote]

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