Concerned and Confused!!!!

by Jeanna
(Richmond, IN)

I have a 15year old son who was diagnosed with ADHD @ 4 and 1/2. It was the constant, non-stop talking, running, jumping, inability to sit still, focus, hold a pencil, color, the usual. Low does ritalin made a huge difference and upon the start of school, we only utilized his medication for school only, not on weekends or summer in order for him to learn to deal with it without relying on medication.

Reading was almost an impossible task until about 2 years ago and handwriting is still a huge issue. I am finding out that there is a name for that "dysgraphia". He was able to maintain straight A's thru elementary school but always had his little querks. The socks, the clothes, still the constant running, jumping, taking risks without thinking, excessively loud talking and laughing and yet very little tolerance for others with a very quick to react temper.

He now only wears certain clothes, wears a hat or hooded sweatshirt hood most of the time, hibernates in his room, the grocery store sends him over the edge, "don't touch me" is the norm, hugs and kisses are rare and not comfortable, he still struggles with using scissors, holding his pencil to write, writing, focusing, still puts things in his mouth and chews on things that he should not and the list goes on.....

How do you tell and distinguish how much of this is ADHD, normal hormonal teen-age boy or SID. I look at it and think, am I over thinking it, am I making too much out of it or have I finally found answers to why and a way to help him?