[Jan 24, 97 - 18:44] Ann Marie Rivera of 1:2613/405 wrote to Jerry Schwartz:
AMR> Well, I have learned that behavior modification isn't working...My son,
AMR> even though he knows that there are rewards for good behavior and
AMR> consequences for bad, it has absolutely, no bearing on him. Jeremy is
AMR> more the hyper child and very impulsive. He also cannot stand to have my
AMR> attention anywhere but with him when he is home...As it is right now
AMR> while I am writing this to you, he is on the couch whining terrible
AMR> about how the sound of the keyboard is bothering him and how I should be
AMR> over there with him playing, and not over here doing this...He said this
AMR> is stupid and dumb. How do I contend with this?  I just ignore the
AMR> whines etc, and continue on.
AMR> BTW, my son just turned 7 yrs old last week.
Well, some people with AD(H)D have reported being hypersensitive to sounds 
and touch; my son doesn't seem to be.
As for the rest of what you described above, I can only tell you that I am 
not happy with the solutions I have adopted but they saved my sanity: my son 
has a TV and video games in his room.  He's less like this now, but in the 
past he needed constant entertainment (which now includes reading, at least): 
if he didn't have anyone to play with, we had to be playing with him, taking 
him somewhere, etc.  His needs were insatiable.
He would complain to his therapist that we never did anything with him, which 
of course led to the therapist telling me that I was neglecting him.  What 
the therapist could never grasp was that when my son said I never played with 
him, it meant I didn't CONSTANTLY play with him.  If I took him to a movie on 
Saturday, he would ask as we were leaving what movie we were going to see on 
Sunday; and if I didn't take him to a movie on Sunday, he would tell the 
therapist (in all sincerity) that I had only taken him to the movies once.
AMR> and to stop making him suffer without it.  But to convince his doctor is
AMR> another story...he believes in Ritalin only as a definate last resort
AMR> only.
Ask your doctor how many patients with AD(H)D he has successfully treated, 
and ask him to have the mothers of the other patients contact you.  My guess 
is, you won't get a lot of calls from satisfied customers (and don't forget 
that you are the doctor's customer).  See if you can find someone in the area 
that is a specialist.
AMR> My son does seem to be very creative...He can tell a story like you
AMR> would'nt believe. He can also draw quite well for a 7 yr old. He also
AMR> sings and dances.  I just worry that medication will change all
AMR> this...he also is a comedian...he can be so funny and leave you in
AMR> stitches when he is in a good mood.
Unfortunately, he probably sings, dances and tells funny stories in the 
middle of arithmetic lessons.
Jerry Schwartz
--- Msged/386 4.00
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