Answers.....or More Questions......

Things with Music Man have been falling apart since the start of the year.  Well, it started earlier than that, but it's come to a head since the return from Winter Break.  I had discussed with his developmental pediatrician back in October about the possibility of introducing Strattera and beginning the process of medicating him, but I was opposed to the idea.  The reason she suggested this particular medication was because of how it helped children cope with Anxieties in addition to attention issues.  But nothing was severe enough to justify medication.

Now they are.

Every day when Music Man's teacher would walk him to the car, there would be another story.  He had a serious breakdown because of this.  He's obsessing over the elevators.  Things were so bad walking past the elevator in the school to get to Music special (he also has to walk past it to get to Media [aka Library] and Computer Lab) that they had to take him out of the school because he was just so bothered.  He screamed to the point where he was emptying the school office and teachers were coming out to find out who was so upset and why.  And all because he had to walk past an elevator.  And now, earlier this week there was a fire drill and he's starting to obsess about that.  Elevators are getting under control.....he's found his new obsession.  He won't remain in his seat and attend to any of his teachers (regardless of the motivation).  He has his rote skills but is having a hard time growing further because he can't attend.  Elopement into the other kindergarten classrooms is a problem.  He's showing no interest in interacting with his peers.  We have taken so many positive steps forward.  Now it feels like every day we're taking steps backwards.

This needs to stop.

This resulted in me calling for an IEP Meeting (which took place today).  This is the first time I felt I needed to call for a meeting because of a problem for more than a few minutes (there have been times where I considered it, but never to the point where I actually sat down and wrote the email).  When the packet of information came home with what had been going on, it was simply HUGE!  There was a new (proposed) behavior plan.  I realized my suspicions were right....his teacher by telling me all of the problems in the classroom, was hinting that we needed to get together.

I'm happy to report that it wasn't all bad news.  Some of the strategies that they've been implementing have been successful.  But it looks like he needs more than just strategies to cope......there's something not right biochemically (I believe).  Autism does not necessarily require medication, but when the consequences of Autism (such as ADHD, OCD and Anxiety) come into play, you need to consider your options.  I never told our doctor that I WOULDN'T medicate him.....I just didn't feel it was right when we were there in October.  Now that it's late February, I realize that the time has come.

We see her next week.  We'll find out what she has to say.  But now, I have some more information to share with her.  I have the behavior reports and the progress reports from his IEP and his teachers.  It's time to discuss what we need to do to help my son.  Medication has helped Ballerina to succeed.  Now we need to consider what we need to do to help Music Man succeed as well.

There's too much potential there to allow his anxieties to cause it to all go to waste.