Public school didn't test for ADHD

[OHRoadwarrior]

I think Banned_Princess is perfectly within the realm of reasonable to make assessments like this. Depending on what meds little princess is on, they can have other negative far reaching effects.

 

[Humusluvr]

I see what you did there...

It's a classic complaint. Don't want to give kid the meds, but the meds come in real handy in other cases. It's a legitimate question.

 

[Isis1]

Obviously you are asking the wrong people. If your insurance doesn't cover psychological testing (which is possible but not SUPER likely), then you pay out of pocket. Call around to family psychological practices, you are bound to find one that will do the type of testing you need.

Of course, they are adults now so it is up to them to seek out the testing and treatment that they need.

Isis, my dad wasn't concerned about his status, he was concerned about the long term effects of the medicine which I will grant you, were not well studied 25 years ago. But he's paranoid about meds in general, to this day he hates that I take it and I can't even discuss it with him anymore.

tad bit confused since i never mentioned medication. i have a 9 year old that who is ADHD. and i'm very hesitant about drugging him. instead, i educated myself, and i would run circles around his teacher if it weren't for the fact they were already so awesome. it doesn't always have to be meds. it depends on the child. there are other venues to treat the child. if the methods i am being taught weren't working, i'd be doing his diet next. meds would be my last resort. he got lucky. he is actually being awarded in school this week for testing advanced on the STAR test.

 

[Humusluvr]

tad bit confused since i never mentioned medication. i have a 9 year old that who is ADHD. and i'm very hesitant about drugging him. instead, i educated myself, and i would run circles around his teacher if it weren't for the fact they were already so awesome. it doesn't always have to be meds. it depends on the child. there are other venues to treat the child. if the methods i am being taught weren't working, i'd be doing his diet next. meds would be my last resort. he got lucky. he is actually being awarded in school this week for testing advanced on the STAR test.

the very fact that you used the words "drugging him" show how you view medication and ADHD. There are plenty of "educated people" who still choose medication for their child's disease. Yes, it doesn't ALWAYS have to be meds, but that's a comprehensive medical and psychological decision that has to be made. Not one to be made alone.

 

[Banned_Princess]

tad bit confused since i never mentioned medication. i have a 9 year old that who is ADHD. and i'm very hesitant about drugging him. instead, i educated myself, and i would run circles around his teacher if it weren't for the fact they were already so awesome. it doesn't always have to be meds. it depends on the child. there are other venues to treat the child. if the methods i am being taught weren't working, i'd be doing his diet next. meds would be my last resort. he got lucky. he is actually being awarded in school this week for testing advanced on the STAR test.

see... and my kid is on meds, and has not made any difference in her grades...

so meds do not equal success.

 

[Humusluvr]

see... and my kid is on meds, and has not made any difference in her grades...

so meds do not equal success.

and no meds do not equal success either. ADHD is not one, all encompassing disease. Different children are just that - different. All children learn differently, all children respond to meds differently, all children respond to diets differently. That is why a pediatrician and parent and teacher need to be allies in this. Coming up with a plan that includes diet, behavior modification, a learning plan, an exercise schedule, and possibly meds is more than just one person can figure out. It takes a team.

 

[Isis1]

the very fact that you used the words "drugging him" show how you view medication and ADHD. There are plenty of "educated people" who still choose medication for their child's disease. Yes, it doesn't ALWAYS have to be meds, but that's a comprehensive medical and psychological decision that has to be made. Not one to be made alone.

i actually think that about ALL meds. my vicodin was drugging me. tylenol is drugging. it's a drug. they come in different levels.

some people need it. i don't knock people for it. not even if it's first choice. i would do it for my child. but i like to check all options first. not doing so, doesn't make someone who went to meds first a bad decision.

i truely think my son got lucky by my choice. not that i did it correctly. i took a chance. he won. this time.

 

[Humusluvr]

i actually think that about ALL meds. my vicodin was drugging me. tylenol is drugging. it's a drug. they come in different levels.

some people need it. i don't knock people for it. not even if it's first choice. i would do it for my child. but i like to check all options first. not doing so, doesn't make someone who went to meds first a bad decision.

i truely think my son got lucky by my choice. not that i did it correctly. i took a chance. he won. this time.

That is very true. But imagine all the kids who do not get lucky, because their parents "drug them" rather than dealing with them. Or the kids have an underlying abuse issue. Or there is another disorder at play, and ADHD is the "easy" out?

I don't think you "took a chance." You made an educated choice, which many parent's don't do, because they don't meet intensively with the pediatrician, the psychologist, the psychiatrist, or the teachers. In most every case, I believe that the documented, well researched, data-driven results work the best, when combined with behavior modification, diet modification, and parental counseling. But a lot of people skip those steps, and choose meds, because they are easy.

Unfortunately, even though they are not supposed to do it, a lot of teachers suggest to parents that they get their kids medicated. Because a medicated kid is easier for a teacher to deal with. It sucks, but it really happens.