OT: Re: Restlessness

[Guest guest]

Hi. I'm way behind on my posts. I'm responding to a response that was

posted May 12. Please forgive me if someone else has already mentioned

this.

Hyperactivity may be related to mercury toxicity. You can read about

mercury toxicity by joining the group. (It is another

group.) If you have trouble finding it, please e-mail me directly

and I will find the URL for you. My child is very hyperactive, and we

are slowly chelating (using a " low and slow " approach).

Hyperactivity is actually part of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. All of

the criteria of ADHD are included in the ASD category (so, as one doctor

said at a conference, you don't even need a separate diagnosis for ADHD.)

Carolyn

> We are very concerned that while they learn relatively

> quickly and this leads us to believe that they are at

> least of average intelligence, that the constant

> motion, moving around, fidgetiness, and almost always

> walking around in a circle while watching television

> (which we try to stop by redirecting or asking to sit

> down) will make it very difficult for them to learn in

> a structured environment such as school.

Yes, that seems like a reasonable concern. So...

Children who receive an autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis have

difficult

learning language and social skills and may show the kinds of restless

behaviours

that you describe here. Like all children who require special

educational

assistance, they have to be taught the skills that they need and don't

otherwise

acquire.

Similarly, children who are simply restless may need assistance with that

if they

are going to do well in a school setting. Generally, quietude can be

taught if

you set your mind to it. Personally, I would investigate biofeedback for

such a

problem, as I would for a child with Attention Dificit Disorder, using a

procedure that reinforces for decreased restlessness.