My 3 1/2 year old grandson was diagnosed with OCD

SimchasHachaim

Thu, Dec 30 2010, 5:08 pm

Does anyone have some good ideas of how to deal with a 3 1/2 year old with OCD.
His cleanliness is way out of hand. He will not touch anything that has a speck of dirt on it or even go out to play in the snow because his gloves will get dirty.

If his food does not look perfect he will not eat it. When he uses the bathroom for #2 he takes his clothes off and asks to be bathed immediately.

He comes home from school very irritable and is annoyed by any little thing that’s not exactly the way he wants it to be.

His parents are at their wits end…he was quite an easy child till after his second birthday. He has to younger sisters but the children seem to get along very well and love each other. His parents really give him so much attention and love as the first born child always gets but it seems like that’s not the issue.

Any suggestions????

peanut37

Thu, Dec 30 2010, 5:10 pm

it may not be OCD it may be some form of autism or aspergers, they should take him for a second opinion... either way it must be really frustrating for his parents to have to deal with. I wish them all the best and he should have a refuah shelaima!

mamommommy

Thu, Dec 30 2010, 5:42 pm

Even if your grandson ultimately ends up having OCD, it is not generally diagnosed until about age 5-6 (at the youngest). Part of the reason for this is that there are quite a few other reasons why children may exhibit seemingly obsessive-compulsive behaviors (as others have listed here) and a 3 year old child is not old enough to adequately describe to anyone the "reasons" for his behavior (ie. to describe if it's part of an obsessive-compulsive thought process vs. a sensory need vs. a ritualistic behavior etc...). It's also difficult for such a young child to fit the appropriate diagnostic criteria for OCD, not to mention that such early onset of OCD is rare so most professionals will be wary of making an official diagnosis until a later age.

I certainly hope that this diagnosis was made after extensive consultations with pediatric psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists and developmental pediatricians.

The only advice that I can offer is to a) be sure that this is an appropriate diagnosis for your grandson, and b) be sure that he is being treated by the appropriate professionals.

Hatzlocho

Mama Bear

Thu, Dec 30 2010, 8:15 pm

yes, it might be PANDAS. get his blood tested.
also, it might be sensory issues which can be overcome with Occupational therapy.
if it's true OCD there's probably medication he can take.
who diagnosed hiim?

kids

Thu, Dec 30 2010, 10:24 pm

I think that if it is at all possible to have him evaluated to make certain there aren't any other issues. depending on his diagnosis that will determine the therapy he needs and it will help him but if he gets the wrong therapy it can do more harm. please call me so I can help you , my number is [removed].

amother

Thu, Dec 30 2010, 10:48 pm

kids wrote:

Are you a therapist, do you deal with ocd?
I have an 8 yr old that has this,and I've been trying to help him on my own with the book for kids(forgot the name). I don't want to give any meds if possible.

amother

Thu, Dec 30 2010, 10:49 pm

Hi,
Knowing from experience and talking to cognitive behavior therapists OCD is totally manageable and easy to take care of but you must get the correct help. Getting cognitive behavioral therapy at a young age is easy and helps greatly. There is also a great book to help you understand what your grandson has that is easy to read and has pictures for kids. This book helps the child and his guardians. It is called "What to do when your brain gets stuck" please please read it you can order it from amazon.
Good Luck!

amother

Thu, Dec 30 2010, 11:19 pm

amother wrote:

I'm the previous amother with the 8 yr old. Yes that's the book that I use and it's been extremely helpful.
Can you recommend anyone in Brooklyn that would give him cognitive behavioral therapy?

kids

Sun, Jan 02 2011, 7:54 am

someone wrote asking if anyone knows of a therapist that does cognitive behavior therapy. I know someone who does this type of therapy and she is amazing , but I dont know how much she charges. it is private in her home. her name is mrs chavie katz and her number is 347-221-0725. she really knows her stuff and is great with kids. call her and give it try , you never know it might work!!!!without medicating your grandson because medicine is not the greatest esp. for someone so young

sneakermom

Sun, Jan 02 2011, 10:44 am

They should take him to a top notch doc to have him evaluated so that you have an accurate picture of what the issue is. I have seen too many professionals that are very sub par and don't know their right arm from their left. It does cost a lot of money but in the long term it is a real savings in every possible way.

If it is ocd, that book mentioned above is absolutely terrific. But your grandchild is young. I think a very good therapist that can do CBT with him through play is optimal. Let him play out his issues, and have a therapist through play do CBT type of work with him. He needs to feel very understood in order to be cooperative because he is young and really believes in his system and is not motivated at this point to change. So the therapist really has to connect to him and his troubles before CBT is successfully introduced.

OCD is a very treatable disorder. The earlier it is diagnosed the more that can be done to counteract the brain's tendency to go into a loop. Remember that a child's mind has a plasticity to it, and can be molded according to outside input and stimulation.

Good luck!

amother

Sun, Jan 02 2011, 12:20 pm

I was diagnosed with OCD when I was young. My parents were not sure what it was and when I was about your grandsons age they took me to a few therapists, I had very similar symptoms but it wasn't until a few years later that I was actually diagnosed because it is difficult to get an accurate diagnosis at such a young age. My parents were referred to an OCD specialist (a psychiatrist and social worker at a child and adolescent psychiatric group). I still have some issues with rituals but I must say that I B'H have it mostly under control now so as hard as it might be to deal with now, it is manageable.

amother

Mon, Mar 03 2014, 7:44 pm

amother wrote:

Do you have a great therapist for my DD in NYC, I'm desperate?

amother

Mon, Mar 03 2014, 7:46 pm

amother wrote:

Sounds encouraging can you please give me the names of good therapists I'm in Ny but would travel.