Public school didn't test for ADHD

[Colemantgann]

I am a 22 year old college student in Arkansas. I was curious if there is any legal action or precedent for a school that didn't test a child for ADHD when it was obvious.
I went through grade schoil and high school unable to do the school work or pay attention while getting higher than average test grades. The teachers were always frustrated with me and said I was lazy. After 4 unsuccessful years in college, during which I lost my scholarships, I decided to get myself tested for ADHD. It resulted in a positive for ADHD primary inattentive. I have since
Spoken to my teachers and they said that it was obvious that I had it.
I feel that I could have been coping with this disorder and learning how to manage it early on and could be doing much better now had they tested me for it. I have spent thousands of dollars and extra years of study that could have been avoided had they taken a more active role in my education. Is this their responsibility and can I be compensated for my lost time and money?

 

[Proserpina]

I am a 22 year old college student in Arkansas. I was curious if there is any legal action or precedent for a school that didn't test a child for ADHD when it was obvious.
I went through grade schoil and high school unable to do the school work or pay attention while getting higher than average test grades. The teachers were always frustrated with me and said I was lazy. After 4 unsuccessful years in college, during which I lost my scholarships, I decided to get myself tested for ADHD. It resulted in a positive for ADHD primary inattentive. I have since
Spoken to my teachers and they said that it was obvious that I had it.
I feel that I could have been coping with this disorder and learning how to manage it early on and could be doing much better now had they tested me for it. I have spent thousands of dollars and extra years of study that could have been avoided had they taken a more active role in my education. Is this their responsibility and can I be compensated for my lost time and money?

Where were your parents during this?

Why didn't they get you tested?

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

It was your parents job. It was not the schools. Their job is to educate you in spite of your defects, not diagnose them.

 

[Colemantgann]

No father. My mother deferred to the education professionals who said I was just lazy. She is not trained to recognize learning disabilities like the teachers are or should be. Even if they didn't test me they should've at least recommended it.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Diagnosing ADHD in girls is very difficult. I just had this very conversation with a neurologist 2 weeks ago. They rarely show symptoms that are obvious, like boys do. The neurologist said usually they are diagnosed after they have an auto accident because they became sidetracked. Can you imagine how difficult schooling children would be if education majors were sending parents on wild goose chases to medicate their children.

 

[Colemantgann]

I am a male and just knowing that it wasn't laziness would've saved my ego and provided a foundation from which to grow more readily academically, medicated or not.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

I am a male and just knowing that it wasn't laziness would've saved my ego and provided a foundation from which to grow more readily academically, medicated or not.

Sorry for the gender mix up. I understand more than you can realize. I have 2 children that went through something similar. However, my responses have not changed. It is not the school responsibility to pre-diagnose. That would cause a great divide between parental rights and responsibilities and the schools mission to educate. Many people don't want to hear their child may need special services or medical care. They would instead claim it was an education systems response to failure, by blaming the students.

 

[Colemantgann]

What about a case of serious autism or the like? Do the same rules apply or is it a double standard? Maybe I have a skewed view on the subject, due to the media coverage of schools over-diagnosing ADHD, resulting in the idea that schools are required to take a more active role. Thanks for the comments!

 

[Isis1]

i'd definitely sue your parents. they are the ones who have the authority to consent to these tests.

 

[ecmst12]

Educators are not permitted to tell parents that their child has a disorder, they are not qualified to diagnose such things.

ADHD is not any harder to diagnose in girls than boys. Inattentive type ADHD is generally harder to spot because there is less "acting out" and more daydreaming, inattentive types don't stand out as much as hyperactive types. It has nothing to do with gender and everything to do with they type of symptoms that the person has. There are plenty of girls with hyperactive type ADHD.

I was in the same position as you, I was officially diagnosed when I was 20 but always knew something was wrong. Going on medication literally changed my life and it's hard not to resent my dad for being COMPLETELY opposed to letting my mom try medication for me when I was younger, but over time I came to accept it as just the way it was. I am in control of my life now and back in school for nursing after a 10 year break...everything happens for a reason and everything we go through helps turn us into the person we are meant to be.

 

[justalayman]

What about a case of serious autism or the like? Do the same rules apply or is it a double standard? Maybe I have a skewed view on the subject, due to the media coverage of schools over-diagnosing ADHD, resulting in the idea that schools are required to take a more active role. Thanks for the comments!

teachers are not medical professionals so they cannot diagnose anything.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

everything happens for a reason and everything we go through helps turn us into the person we are meant to be.

Excellent comment. My daughter just started treatment. I had the same conversation with her about how even though her HS years will always rank mediocre, she should discover all the intelligence she has had trouble tapping into will now in all likely hood be at her disposal for college. It frustrated her to no end how she always tested as gifted, but only maintained mediocre grades.

 

[1gr8s9er]

ADD tests

Just for the record, I've repeatedly asked our Pediatrician and my kids' teachers to evaluate/test them for ADD and they all tell me "there are no tests for ADD".
This baffles me because I have friends who've had their kids tested and diagnosed. They recommend I go to an Educational testing center for a "battery of tests" to spot "trends" and counseling. This is discouraging, because these programs aren't covered by my insurance, and are WAY beyond the limit of what I can afford.
The kids (1 boy, 1 girl) must be borderline because the teacher evaluations were inconclusive & they are NOT hyperactive. They exhibit totally different learning styles than my other 2 kids. They're young adults now, and I feel have been left to fall thru the cracks-and believe me I've tried.

 

[Isis1]

Educators are not permitted to tell parents that their child has a disorder, they are not qualified to diagnose such things.

ADHD is not any harder to diagnose in girls than boys. Inattentive type ADHD is generally harder to spot because there is less "acting out" and more daydreaming, inattentive types don't stand out as much as hyperactive types. It has nothing to do with gender and everything to do with they type of symptoms that the person has. There are plenty of girls with hyperactive type ADHD.

I was in the same position as you, I was officially diagnosed when I was 20 but always knew something was wrong. Going on medication literally changed my life and it's hard not to resent my dad for being COMPLETELY opposed to letting my mom try medication for me when I was younger, but over time I came to accept it as just the way it was. I am in control of my life now and back in school for nursing after a 10 year break...everything happens for a reason and everything we go through helps turn us into the person we are meant to be.

nothing sets me off faster than ignorant parents. so busy worried about THIER status with their friends. their peers. their coworkers. typically, there is shock, there is resistance. but it should NEVER, EVER last years.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

There are no real tests. Diagnosis involves a long term history of symptoms and attempted treatment. Frequently, from my understanding, diagnosis is proved by successful effects of the medication. IE.. after the fact. It took 2 years to get my daughter this far.