Lazy & Low Attention Span Kid

[Leoleo18]

Hi


I am facing the same problems as you. My 8 years old boy is also like this and I did send him for ADD test. Yes indeed his attention span on school work / home work is very short, even the school teachers / tutors complain but comes to play, his attention span is 100%.
His problem may comes from too much TV and computer games which I agreed. From young, he is allowed to watch & play as much as he wants. Thus he is not interested in school work as he will find it boring compared to interactive games & TV. This is also what the doctor says. So we stopped him from TV and games, limit to no more than 30mins per day. It does help slightly. Now we are trying hard to get his interest in school work in order to increase his focus on school work. We realised if he is interested, his attention span will increase even his behavior during lessons will be better.
He is not the kinda who is Afraid of Teachers... if he is not interested or convince, he don't really bothers about the teachers. <This is a real headache for the teachers to control him or get him to co-operate.>
So maybe you can try to figure out if your child is getting too much TV/Computer games time......
One thing for sure, motivation strategy does proves to be a long time solutions than scolding.
I had lose my temper and scolded him like a Mad Woman :stompfeet: . It's only able to control him for a couple of days, after that he is back to 'Square One....... U know what I mean.
I ,myself is also trying to figure out how to manage him and get his result to be consistent. He can failed his school spelling / test if he had no interest / not motivated in studies...... Sad to say our education system really SUCKS.... difficult to create interest.........

[Dino_Mummy]

Hi,


Reading through the above, i suspect my 5-yr old may have ADD.
May i know where do you send your kids for ADD test / assessment?

After assessment, what sort of treatment is provided / advised?
I have a colleague who told me her son goes for consultation and was given pills to help him (he is 13) concentrate in class. At home, he doesnt take the pills.

I am not into putting my son on pills at this young age; anyone with experience post ADD assessment / consultation and currently undergoing treatment, can share?

Does any mummies here think those Cognitive Development or Thinkerbox courses help in correcting this? Any sharing also most welcome.

Many thanks.

[Leoleo18]

Hi Dino_Mummy


I went to the polyclinic and get a referral letter to see a specialist.
As my boy was 7 yrs old at the point of time, I was referred to NUH @ BoonLay to see the doctor as they handle children from 7yrs on onward. For your case they will referred to either to NUH along Clementi or KK.
The doctor will do a few diagnostic tests and monitor for a period of time. They won’t put the child on mediciation unless they are sure that the child needs one. For my boy, he isn’t on mediciation at all. On our first visit, the doctor will test his learning capabilities and to test if he is learning well at his age. The doctor says he scored above average and his learning capabilities is fine. His problem is attention span. Then she will provide diagnostic forms for the teachers to filled in 2-3 months time and she will monitor his behaviour from there. I went to see her quarterly for 2-3 times. Beginning of this year, his interest level is high and his behavior changes in school, diagnostic form teacher is good so we are seeing her only in Oct 12.
Hope it help.

[Dino_Mummy]

Hi Leoleo 18,


Thanks for this.

Will bring him for a check.
Meanwhile, may i know after the doctor tested your boy, does the doc advise you on how to help him concentrate? Or just provide the diagnostic forms for the teachers to fill in 2-3 months’ time?

Many thanks.
Appreciate that.

[mummy so kiasu]

My P1 girl is also the same. A slower worker & she does not like to do homework. She will take lots of break in between & gets distracted easily. She studies in the afternoon session & she reaches home at 7.30pm. I have stop chasing after her & just tell her to complete her homework before she could sleep. No matter how tired she is, she has to finish her homework before she goes to bed. I have to stay up late with her. We usually sleep at 11.30pm & sometimes even till 12.30am.

[chic_savvy]

Hey parents, I'm back! Geez.. so busy with stuffs. An update on my girl's progress (who is turning 9 this year at primary 3).


As she grows, she begins to remember things slightly better now. BUT, her tendency of forgetfulness is still high. Recently, I've started to notice that she also has some speech problem. When she tries to explain things or on some encounters, she will be like \"mummy, (start off with) it's so funny. you know errr.. that day.. I erm.. very funny.. I ermm....\"

The way she tries to explain or relates things, it takes so long to the main point that it could make people lose interest in listening. And when she does that, she would fiddle her fingers greatly. I do think that it is a form of anxiety that she is trying to cope, like focusing her nervousness elsewhere. Since young, she is very shy in greeting people or takes the initiative to talk to people, unless asked to.

Now I always stop her from fiddling her fingers whenever I catch her doing so, I also tell her to speak slowly and plan what she wants to say first before saying out to improve her confidence. I told her if she is not going to speak properly and clearly, no one is going to listen to her eventually. It doesn't matter if she speaks slowly but as long as she gets to the point clearly.

Ironically, her knowledge of words are very good. Those very \"chim\" words and their meanings. She loves to read a lot, loves art, creative and draws very well, not to mention playing app games is her forte! :slapshead: She just has difficulties in expressing herself well, oh and the forgetfulness!

[ChiefKiasu]

chic_savvy:

Hey parents, I'm back! Geez.. so busy with stuffs. An update on my girl's progress (who is turning 9 this year at primary 3).


As she grows, she begins to remember things slightly better now. BUT, her tendency of forgetfulness is still high. Recently, I've started to notice that she also has some speech problem. When she tries to explain things or on some encounters, she will be like \"mummy, (start off with) it's so funny. you know errr.. that day.. I erm.. very funny.. I ermm....\"

The way she tries to explain or relates things, it takes so long to the main point that it could make people lose interest in listening. And when she does that, she would fiddle her fingers greatly. I do think that it is a form of anxiety that she is trying to cope, like focusing her nervousness elsewhere. Since young, she is very shy in greeting people or takes the initiative to talk to people, unless asked to.

Now I always stop her from fiddling her fingers whenever I catch her doing so, I also tell her to speak slowly and plan what she wants to say first before saying out to improve her confidence. I told her if she is not going to speak properly and clearly, no one is going to listen to her eventually. It doesn't matter if she speaks slowly but as long as she gets to the point clearly.

Ironically, her knowledge of words are very good. Those very \"chim\" words and their meanings. She loves to read a lot, loves art, creative and draws very well, not to mention playing app games is her forte! :slapshead: She just has difficulties in expressing herself well, oh and the forgetfulness!

Hey chic_savvy! Welcome back. Your girl so big oredi ah.

Does your daughter write much better than she talk? If so, then you should not be worried. It could be because she is too conscious of trying to speak well then on the actual topic of discussion.

I have the same problem. When I try to be conscious of the way I talk, ie. remove the \"fillers\" such as \"um... er...\" and \"ok\" and \"alright\", I lose track of what I'm trying to say and become a blubbering idiot. So it is much easier for me to focus more on getting my point across than on how I speak. After all, that's the main point of communications, right?

Here are some of what I do:
1. Visualise and formulate what I want to say in my mind before I speak.
2. Speak slower. It gives you time to digest what you say, and plan on the next sentences.

[ChiefKiasu]

slmkhoo:

I have a 16yo daughter like that too. The problem is that many people are very impatient and will not give her time to plan her answer then speak. It means that she is usually left out of conversations as it moves on before she has a chance to take part. It's OK at home as we will give her the time she needs, but with other people, they think she is unwilling to speak, or just too dumb to answer. Any suggestions?

There's nothing wrong with thinking before you speak. It's better than shooting off and then regretting the moment. I see it more as a virtue than a fault.

[Vez]

Hi chic_savvy ,

May I know did u bring your DD to any diagnostic test? Have a DD who is the same age as your who loves to read, loves art, creative and draws. The way you describe your DD is exactly like mine.

Really don’t what to do already. Hopefully she can wake up soon

[beanbear]

ChiefKiasu:

slmkhoo:

I have a 16yo daughter like that too. The problem is that many people are very impatient and will not give her time to plan her answer then speak. It means that she is usually left out of conversations as it moves on before she has a chance to take part. It's OK at home as we will give her the time she needs, but with other people, they think she is unwilling to speak, or just too dumb to answer. Any suggestions?

There's nothing wrong with thinking before you speak. It's better than shooting off and then regretting the moment. I see it more as a virtue than a fault.

One of my kids is like that and we do some role-plays about social situations when he is dumbfounded or does not know what to say, what will be a temporary answer he can give people. I know of introverted adults who have learnt how to let people know that they are thinking by saying \"I'm still listening to what you're saying but I\"m thinking about my own response.\"