Anyone familiar with this?

[Ontteacher]

I'm having trouble with a grade 1 boy in my class. I know there is something not right, but I don't know what it is (there are a number of issues). He has a delay in processing, very small attention span and a great need to be in constant motion (that part I get - likely ADHD). He is also very aggressive - constantly poking, pinching, etc., often hitting, punching, punching in the privates, writing on furniture, walls and floors, etc. He is defiant - never does anything you ask him to the first time you ask, and usually does the opposite.

OK - here's the part that I really don't get and why I say there is something wrong - he tells me many times a day that he loves me - usually after I have just spoken to him about something that he has done, and told him what the consequence will be. It's not that he's trying to be manipulative and get out of the consequence - it's more like he hasn't comprehended that he is in trouble.

I know I recently saw a show where a child had similar behaviours. Is anyone familiar with this. His parents think he is just being "cute and loving". I am really worried about him as there are not a lot of realy good mental health care workers in my area and waiting lists are extremely long. I would like to have an idea what this is, to at least have checked into.

Help, please!

 

[Lilacs]

Hard to say for sure...but maybe a Developmental Delay (somewhere on the spectrum). I'm only guessing of course, but I hear a lot of social skills/communication issues and sometimes these kids display the same behavior as ADHD/Defiant Disorders. I would ask your Sped team to do informal observations and try to write notes as often as possible about the behaviors you are observing. Best of luck.

 

[Eydie]

He sounds to me like a child I taught who had Aspergers's ( a form of autisim) You can Google Asperger's characteristics, to see if his behavior fits those characteristics. You may need to refer him for evaluation regardless. I know our speech department is good at screening for not only speech issues but verbal processing of thought.

 

[Ontteacher]

Thank you both

Thanks to both of you for your input - I hadn't considered Aspergers as I have never encountered it before. I'm going to be doing some research and see if it fits. I'll let you know how things turn out.