ADD/ADHD testing

[terbear1225]

Has anyone been through this with a child? Any recommendations as far as who to see (st. mary's county, hollywood/leonardtown preferred) Just starting down the path and would love more than just a list of names and numbers to make sure we are working with someone who knows what to do.

 

[GURPS]

what exactly are you testing for, and at who's behest ?


do you feel there is a problem, or is a teacher / administrator pushing you to get 'junior' tested ......
IMHO - frankly the epidemic is so bad, any kid who is blonde haired and blue eyed and the slightest discipline problem, teachers and start demanding drugs to medicate junior
- he is obviously ADD / ADHD ..... instead of learning how to reach the child


cookie cutter regimes make for poor teaching environments

 

[NextJen]

I had my son 'tested' by my pediatrician when he was about 5 years old. He was in kindergarten. My pediatrician listened to my concerns and he gave me questionnaires to fill out. I filled one out, his Dad filled one out, the baby sitter filled one out, and his kindergarten teacher filled one out. They were all the same questions, but each person who interacted with my son filled out based on their own observations. Given all of the input from the questionnaires, my counseling with the pediatrician, and much agonizing over putting my child on meds that may 'alter his personality', I finally decided to put him on medication that was recommended by the pediatrician.

I agonized because of basically what GURPS mentions about the epidemic of kids being medicated. However, I was the one who initiated the testing and I was the one who noticed things about my child that I didn't feel were quite right. As I counseled with the pediatrician, I expressed my concerns about my child being medicated. He said something to me that stuck with me. He explained that ADD or ADHD is a medical condition. The brain doesn't work the same way in a person with ADD as it does in a person without ADD. Giving the medication is beneficial to help the ADD person be able to focus. He said that "you don't withhold insulin from a diabetic, why would you withhold medication from a person with ADD if it is going to help them?"

I noticed a difference in his being able to concentrate at school right away. Over the years we have switched medications and dosages a couple times as he grew and needs changed. His hyperactivity also has calmed down now that he has gotten older. Currently, we are trying this school year without medication. He's holding his own, but I told him if he feels he needs it, or if his grades really drop off, then we will have to have him go back on to get through the school year.

I wish you luck. I felt like most everyone was against me when I was going through trying to find out what to do to help my son (I heard countless people tell me, "Oh, he's just a boy"...."You already have a girl, girls are different than boys"...."He's fine, every child is different"...."You don't want to drug your child and make him a zombie"). I suggest that you read as many sources as you can. Get as much information as you can. In the end, I'm sure you will figure out what is best for your situation.

 

[terbear1225]

thank you for your replies. This has been a long process with much soul searching and discussion. Trust me GURPS, I do NOT want to medicate my child. I DO want to have an expert opinion on what might be going on so that we can make an informed decision on what is best for my child.

I despise the fact that ADD/ADHD has been so over-diagnosed that those who have legitimate concerns are now brushed off as just trying to medicate their child into submission. That is NOT what is going on here.

 

[Bonehead]

My son is in special ed I will ask him who he would suggest. I know that he is qualified to do certain testing.

 

[Bonehead]

For school stuff contact an administrator at the school and formally request the testing (email provides a record).
An IEP team would be convened to request assessments and they would determine who did which assessments.
Academic assessment would be done by a SPED teacher. Behavior ratings would be done by parents, teachers and in some cases the student.
Cognitive assessment would be done by the school psych. Heath appraisal by the school nurse. Nurse collects the data but this would be contingent
upon a medical diagnosis from a doctor. There are other assessments available to the team as required.
There are methods available by recommendation ie frequent breaks, more time rtc. that can be an alternative to drugs.

Best bet is start with the school if of that age. I hope this helps and best of luck to you.

 

[terbear1225]

For school stuff contact an administrator at the school and formally request the testing (email provides a record).
An IEP team would be convened to request assessments and they would determine who did which assessments.
Academic assessment would be done by a SPED teacher. Behavior ratings would be done by parents, teachers and in some cases the student.
Cognitive assessment would be done by the school psych. Heath appraisal by the school nurse. Nurse collects the data but this would be contingent
upon a medical diagnosis from a doctor. There are other assessments available to the team as required.
There are methods available by recommendation ie frequent breaks, more time rtc. that can be an alternative to drugs.

Best bet is start with the school if of that age. I hope this helps and best of luck to you.

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately that all applies to public school, not private.

 

[musiclady]

For private school, you would still contact the principal, and they would still have an IEP meeting. It might be called something else, like ISP, but even private schools are required to have something. Plus, they should have a school psychologist, even if he/she is only there once or twice a month. Also, private schools are still somewhat connected with the public school in their area. Small private schools may get resources and/or tutors from their public school. The private school will require a doctor's assessment. As a previous poster said, this is usually started with questionnaires for anyone who has contact with the child. If the problem doesn't rise to the level of ADHD/ADD there is something similar to an IEP, which is a 504 plan. This allows for accommodations without the doctor's requirement. Both plans offer adjustments that might help the child focus better. Could be doing work in a study carrol, having a tutor, extra time, giving answers aurally, or via a computer, etc. But it all starts with contacting the doctor and the school, and being persistent.

 

[GURPS]

I despise the fact that ADD/ADHD has been so over-diagnosed that those who have legitimate concerns are now brushed off as just trying to medicate their child into submission. That is NOT what is going on here.

it was NOT my intent, to suggest that is what you the concerned parent are trying to medicate your child in such a manner ....
I was referring to the school system - from my experience with public schools in the 90's with my various children - oldest is 30 youngest is 11

and as one who was on Ritalin in the 70's for a number of years and a NO Food Coloring / Artificial Flavors Diet .... school was BORING, I was not engaged - teachers could not make me get interested in some classes

English Grammar - blah why am I diagramming sentences
Literature - hmm maybe, I love to read
History - yeah that is fun to study
Graphic Arts - you mean I get to operate the Printing Press - cool

[high school in these examples]


and as an Adult I ticked off most of the check marks in a Time Magazine Article on ADD / ADHD 'epidemic' that was all the rage in the 90s as well
I went to a counselor for about 6 months and was 'deemed' ok ....



this is a more recent Time Article

http://time.com/growing-up-with-adhd/

here is a Time Counter Point Article

http://time.com/3822755/adhd-disease-called-childhood/


I met Aiden in 2008 when he was seven years old. The previous year, he had moved with his family from New York to California, and the transition had been difficult. He missed his friends in his old neighborhood and his cousins who had lived nearby. When I met with Aiden’s parents, Scott and Ava, they told me Aiden had always been a handful. Even as a baby Aiden was colicky and fussy, and difficult to put down to sleep. At two years old, he was more active than most of their friends’ children. Aiden’s preschool teachers had been concerned about his disruptive, impulsive behavior.

Now Aiden’s second-grade teacher said he typically fidgeted at his desk and talked with his classmates instead of completing his class work. Often he doodled or daydreamed and missed the teacher’s instructions so the teacher had to explain an assignment two or three times before he figured out what he was supposed to do. The teacher sent notes home almost every day. Worst of all, Ava explained with tears in her eyes, Aiden was beginning to feel bad about himself. He had begun saying things like “I hate myself” and “I’m stupid.”

On the plus side, Ava told me, Aiden was a sweet and caring child. He seemed to be able to focus for hours on things that interested him such as video games. He was also an amazing artist. The walls of their house were covered with his drawings of horses, their cat Donovan, and their dog Barney. He had been playing piano since he was five, and his piano teacher said he had a natural talent for music.

Worried about Aiden’s disruptive behavior at school, Ava and Scott took him to the pediatrician. The doctor said Aiden had enough symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention to warrant a diagnosis of ADHD. The pediatrician wrote a prescription for Adderall. Before giving Aiden the medicine, however, his parents decided to consult me to find out if there was some other way to help him apart from medication. I was happy to help.

 

[terbear1225]

thank you for your response and for sharing the articles. I have spent many years in the education field and have seen so many kids come through my door. Some with a diagnosis that maybe wasn't quite right and some that clearly had something going on and needed support. We just want to do everything we can to make sure we get it right for our child. We are pursuing testing based on our own perceptions as well as that of several experts who have seen him for other issues. The school has been part of the dialogue but not the driving force behind us seeking testing.

I have a relative that was told that her child would be expelled from school if he was not medicated. THAT school would have had a VERY irate parent in their office immediately seeking withdrawal papers (and possibly a lawyer.) We are fortunate that our school has been working with us to provide other accommodations and options.

 

[Christy]

I am not sure how old your child is, but I'd recommend a Montessori school. They don't force your child to be sitting quietly for most of the day. Kids aren't meant to sit still.