Anyone have.....

[Pandora]

There are many things I would look out changing before considering medication, especially diet and routine. I thought I posted a detailed posting on this prior but couldn't find it (although there are numerous threads on this subject already and one even involved a teacher somewhere on this board).

Both my children were thought by the school to have ADD/ADHD. My first son has an above average IQ (obviously from my husband's side of the family ), he gets straight A's on all tested material, but if there is an assignment or homework to do, that is hit or miss on whether or not he'll do it and turn it in or not. My son was found to have hypoglycemia and some of those symptoms mixed in with the school's inability to hold his attention, caused the behavior they described so I dismissed that diagnoses any further, as did the doctors.

My 2nd son was sent to two doctors and tested for ADD/ADHD after all other 'changes' didn't improve his school work, which also included glasses. He was clearly ADHD with focus problems according to the medical professionals and I learned he was considered medically probable for ADHD since birth. He was born nearly 10 week early and was immediately put on drugs for apnea to keep him alive.

I agree that ADHD/ADD is CLEARLY overly diagnosed. When the 2nd doctor gave us his opinion, he made it very clear that an ADHD/ADD diagnoses is always his LAST resort and he wouldn't tell me this without being 110% certain. My gut always told me something was wrong but I wasn't quick to jump on the medication ban wagon, in fact, those close to me knew it was an extremely difficult decision for my husband and I and one we waited to make until nearly a year after his 2nd diagnoses. We worked very closely with the school coupled with medication and also placed him in summer programs to catch up. Just FYI, for those suggesting it is a lazy parent(s) problems, new research has shown that if you beat or even just use strict parental measures beyond the 'normal' scope with a true ADD/ADHD child, you can cause them to develop psychopathic behavior. (statements made by Liane J. Leedom, MD while doing resource research and is being viewed further). parenting advice for parenting the at risk child

 

[4d2008]

what sucks is Ill never be able to read all of that in one sitting.

 

[redneck_woman]

If his grades are fine then why is the teacher concerned?
Is he disruptive? If he's not then I would question the teacher further.
What county school are you in and have you gotten the counselor involved?

Here is one example that she used when I met with her....mind you he is in the highest reading group and has know problem sounding out words.

Teacher said this, "While reading in class one day, B was reading and just out of the blue stopped and said, "I have an A in my name!" Had nothing to do with what he was reading. This has happened several times and when it comes to doing work on his own I have to constantly remind him to stay on task."

He had homework sent home on Thursday and I brought him to work with me on Friday. He volunteered to bring his HW with him to complete it while at work. He had no problem at all completeing, there was know fighting, just Mom when are you going to be done with the computer so I can type my words. He typed his words with know problem, cut them out and taped them in his notebook. Wrote his words in a pyramid shape, read a short story and did a 2 sided math worksheet on his own.

I have had time to think about everything and feel like this...l know what I am about to say I will be attacked for, but I'll take the chance. I feel the teacher doesn't want to take the extra time to help him. But I am still going to let the school do what we agreed to do and I am also going to keep the appt. that I made.

 

[redneck_woman]

My son was found to have hypoglycemia and some of those symptoms mixed in with the school's inability to hold his attention, caused the behavior they described so I dismissed that diagnoses any further, as did the doctors.[/url]

I have had B tested several times for that, along with thyroid too. Everything has come back fine. B is constantly thirsty, drinks more than he eats and still wets that bed. Had him seen about the bed wetting also and was told that children that wet the bed inherit a gene from either parent that causes that. Well the only thing he got from me was his looks, (thank god!) everything else he got from his dad!!!

 

[onebdzee]

Sounds to me like you have a "normal" 2nd grade boy....and No, the teacher doesn't have time to do individualized teaching

My suggestion, get him tested for ADD/ADHD and refuse medication....the school will put him on an IEP(you have to make sure of this) which will get him the individualized encouragement that he needs

As for the bed wetting....some kids grow faster than their bladders....make sure that he doesn't have anything to drink after about 6 or so and it will eventually stop when his bladder catches up with his body(usually about 9 or 10)

 

[lbreder]

what sucks is Ill never be able to read all of that in one sitting.

Im the same way! Just skimming through...Ive got ADD with some Polish mixed in

 

[redneck_woman]

Sounds to me like you have a "normal" 2nd grade boy....and No, the teacher doesn't have time to do individualized teaching

My suggestion, get him tested for ADD/ADHD and refuse medication....the school will put him on an IEP(you have to make sure of this) which will get him the individualized encouragement that he needs

As for the bed wetting....some kids grow faster than their bladders....make sure that he doesn't have anything to drink after about 6 or so and it will eventually stop when his bladder catches up with his body(usually about 9 or 10)

I have done the no drinking after 6, but he will wake up in the middle of the night thirsty and the doc said, I could give him nothing 2hrs before he goes to be and it wouldn't matter. So for now, pull-ups are my life saver, saver from changing the sheets every morning....

Well they won't do the IEP with him, but they will put him on the 504 plan. My oldest son has an IEP and that is a whole other story. All I can say is any parents who have children with an IEP, STAY ON TOP OF THINGS AND MAKE SURE THEY GET THE TESTING THEY NEED. My oldest was suppose to receive 2 different type of testing in reading, (he has/had a reading comprehension troubles) back in 4th grade when they finally after fighting with the school for 4 years started an IEP. Well they started an IEP for a LD, but never tested him and was suppose to be tested again before he went into middle school. Happy to say with tutoring and a lot of guidance from me he is now above grade level.

 

[wineo]

Call The Parents Place for Maryland they have some people here in St. Mary's that can help. Also, go to stmarysnetworkofcare.org and see what info is there on agencys in the county. Hope this helps.

 

[onebdzee]

I have done the no drinking after 6, but he will wake up in the middle of the night thirsty and the doc said, I could give him nothing 2hrs before he goes to be and it wouldn't matter. So for now, pull-ups are my life saver, saver from changing the sheets every morning....

Well they won't do the IEP with him, but they will put him on the 504 plan. My oldest son has an IEP and that is a whole other story. All I can say is any parents who have children with an IEP, STAY ON TOP OF THINGS AND MAKE SURE THEY GET THE TESTING THEY NEED. My oldest was suppose to receive 2 different type of testing in reading, (he has/had a reading comprehension troubles) back in 4th grade when they finally after fighting with the school for 4 years started an IEP. Well they started an IEP for a LD, but never tested him and was suppose to be tested again before he went into middle school. Happy to say with tutoring and a lot of guidance from me he is now above grade level.

He also might be a heavy sleeper

My youngest is on an IEP because he was "supposedly" ADHD(what a joke)....His 1st grade teacher and I discovered that he had mild dyslexia and together we got IEP'd....had all the testing done thru-out the years and as of right now is above grade(5th) level in everything except reading(which he is still IEP'd for)

The issue that I see with the school system is that they don't offer alternative teaching methods and they automatically pin a label on a kid because they don't "conform" to the teacher and they go at their own pace....most boys are slower to pick up reading than girls are....but, when they do pick it up, they catch up to the girls in a short amount of time

 

[redneck_woman]

The issue that I see with the school system is that they don't offer alternative teaching methods and they automatically pin a label on a kid because they don't "conform" to the teacher and they go at their own pace

They are quick to pin a label because the school's receive extra funding for all student's with an IEP.

 

[itsbob]

a child that has ADD? Had a conference with my son's teacher yesterday and she believes that he has ADD. I agreed to let the school start the testing and I am also going to get a second opinion just to make sure. I do not want to have to medicate him if I don't have to.

He has a very hard time staying focused, but on the plus side is very, very smart. He is in 2nd grade and is already reading 90+ words a minute, spelling is out of the world, now math comes a little hard for him because it requires him to focus more. When doing HW at home it take anywhere between 10-20mins to get his attention. While doing his HW he often drifts off topic and starts talking about things that don't pertain to what he doing. So then I have to redirect his attention and get him focused again. While doing his HW we always do it at the kitchen table, no TV, radio anything that will disrupt him, complete silence. I also take the phone off the hook so that doesn't ring either. His teacher is seeing the same at school. I am just so upset over this, this may have something to do with the headaches that he gets. Everyone keeps telling me he is not being challenged enough, that he is bored. I just don't know and like I said the medication is the very last resort.

Any info that anyone can provide please do so. TIA

Your son is what 7? maybe 8? Of course he has attention problems, he's a KID!! All he's concerned about is TV, Video Games and playing with friends. In school he's probably thinking about what he's going to do at recess.. Math? lets see, if I spend 4 minutes on the swings, 2 minutes on the monkey bars.. that leaves me with 9 minutes to play kick ball. ..

Does he act out? Is he violent?

Have to love these teacher/ psychologists. DRUG THEM ALL!!

Sounds to me, if he's as smart as you suggest, he's BORED!!

 

[redneck_woman]

Your son is what 7? maybe 8? Of course he has attention problems, he's a KID!! All he's concerned about is TV, Video Games and playing with friends. In school he's probably thinking about what he's going to do at recess.. Math? lets see, if I spend 4 minutes on the swings, 2 minutes on the monkey bars.. that leaves me with 9 minutes to play kick ball. ..

Does he act out? Nope!! Is he violent? Not at all!

Have to love these teacher/ psychologists. DRUG THEM ALL!!

Sounds to me, if he's as smart as you suggest, he's BORED!!

That is what I keep hearing, he is bored! I called the school this morning and his teacher was suppose to contact the counselor about what is going on right. Well this is the first that she has heard of it, his teacher had not even told her about him.

 

[onebdzee]

That is what I keep hearing, he is bored! I called the school this morning and his teacher was suppose to contact the counselor about what is going on right. Well this is the first that she has heard of it, his teacher had not even told her about him.

That's usually the case....the teacher wants to be the psychiatrist(which is who actually diagnosis ADD/ADHD) and have the parents in a panic thinking their kid has been thru some of the testing

There is exstensive testing behind the diagnosis(been there, done that)....and the teachers and/or the school don't have the tests....they have a form that they fill out as a starter for diagnosis....Most of the teachers and school officials know what to check and not check when they want the drs to beleive that the child is ADD/ADHD

I had to fill out those papers with my 20 yr old back when he was in 2nd grade and the SAME paper came home with my 10 yr old 2 years ago....so the form hasn't changed

 

[lbreder]

My son is special needs and has ADHD along with some other things. Not all meds are for everyone. My son needs his meds to control himself at school and his daily activities. The parent needs to make the right decision on what best for your child. I have had an on going fight with my kids school with getting him the right help. YOU need to be your childs advocate if they cant speak up you need to do it for them.

 

[poster]

That is what I keep hearing, he is bored! I called the school this morning and his teacher was suppose to contact the counselor about what is going on right. Well this is the first that she has heard of it, his teacher had not even told her about him.

Do not rely on the teacher for this, contact the counselor directly.
It doesn't sound to me like he's bored if he goes off subject while reading/speaking. Legally the school/teacher is not allowed to "diagnose" your child, only suggest there may be a problem.

You might want to call your doctor and make sure they use the same system for evaluating. Our doctor used something from Yale and the school used Conner's scales. We had them fill out both and we made sure the daycare filled them out as well as us and EVERY teacher our daughter had contact with.

Not sure what county you are but in Calvert you cannot be denied an IEP until there's been an IEP meeting which you would have received an invite to or had to request to begin with. Tell them you want to schedule an SST meeting to follow the testing. This will include the parent, psycologist, teacher(s)...you'll probably have to ask for it in writing. During the SST meeting bring up an IEP and get the "teams" feeling on whether an IEP meeting should be scheduled.

Be the greasy wheel or you'll get no where.