Possibility of ADD in my child....?

Question

I just got a call from my daughters teacher, she wants to have her tested for ADD. I don't know what to do with this. She is so far behind in school. i am as frustrated as she is. I dont think the school does enough to ensure that my child gets the proper help she needs. like at home with homework i make sure that she is in a very quiet room. they cant do that at school. she is almost 9, and i see her struggling so badly in school. i know that it's not due to anything that would be an issue at home, i have 3 other children that are advanced. .....should i just home school her, she feels like she is getting yelled at constantly cause she just "doesnt get it" i guess in a way, she is...i feel so bad for her. Help!!

Answer 1

i have ADHD i was diagnosed with it at the age of 5 and its basically the same thing but ADHD is a little worse , its nothing to feel sorry about almost , with medication don't go to the doctor there is another option , there is a vitamin called st. johns wort and it work just like any ADD or ADHD  medication would and there is a a program in school that will help your daughter with ADD but all it does it she is tested on state test in another room and she will be asked if she needs help with organization skills so you might not realize , but the school will help her as much as they can so don't get her home schooled just because of this, she will miss out on so much and as soon as you get her on something , medication or the vitamin then she will start getting stuff a whole lot better .

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Answer 2

Have her tested, what will it hurt. If you pass on the test now, you may be limiting your options for what the school can do in the future. If she does have ADD, there is more help they can give her.

Answer 3

don't just focus on ADD - she could very easily have a learning disorder,that once corrected, will make a world of difference.   Check her for dyslexia, hearing etc as well as ADD.  also, is she sleeping okay?  my son had a sleep disorder we were unaware of - he is a different person now.

Answer 4

I think you should have her tested. My oldest child was tested and diagnosed ADHD at 6 years old (he is now 19). we went the route of medications since I was not educated on the subject to do anything other then listen to the doctors and teachers. If I could do it over again I would. Life for one reason or another has been difficult for my son. As a result of my not very pleasant experiences with the school system, when they began requesting we test my daughter at age 10, I refused to let them. 3 years later and a lot of poor grades I gave in, with the condition that I would not put her on meds. if she did indeed have ADD and they agreed not to pressure me. Turns out she has a mild learning disability. There is no quick fix since it is a comprehension problem but at least we have the answer. She is now in classes with an extra teacher and some of her classes are special ed. The good think is she now feels better about herself because she isn't constantly failing test. She can be proud of her A,B, and C's. I have realized that not all children are meant to go to college and some kids will find another way to make the world a better place.

Answer 5

If your child is having problems in the school environment, the best thing to do is get her some treatment to help her to cope with that, rather than take her out of the environment altogether.  You won't be able to home school her for her entire life.  My son has ADHD, and not only gets medication, but also counseling services to help him learn to deal with the distractions and impulsively problems he faces.  Remember this:  If your child has ADD that doesn't automatically mean she has to have medicine. Sometimes other treatments, and change in diet/exercise habits works.  Also, even if she DOES need medication, it isn't intended as a lifelong thing...it is a short term step while the person learns to deal with a lifelong problem.  Also, make sure her testing is done by a qualified child psychologist, not their doctor.  There are other conditions in childhood that mimic the symptoms of ADD, and your child needs an accurate diagnosis.

Answer 6

Hi there.  I am experiencing the same type of situation with my daughter, who will be 9 in August.  She has been having trouble focusing in class and getting her work done at school because the other kids are moving around, etc.  I try to keep her distractions to a minimum with homework, but it gets hard to oversee her and her sister during that time and keeping an active toddler and puppy out of their way.

I'm guessing that your daughter is also as advanced as her siblings.  Unfortunately, she is getting so frustrated that it isn't showing.  If the teacher noticed she is having issues, I don't think you have problems with the school.  It was very helpful and responsible of them to contact you to get her some help.  With the teacher to child ratios in the classroom these days, you should feel lucky that she noticed something like this.

I personally don't think you should pull her out of school.  Take her to the doctor to get tested.  With the prevelance of ADD/ADHD in so many kids, the pediatrician most likely has experience diagnosing and could refer you to ways you can do home therapy to help her.  If she needs medication for a while, at least you know it will help her and you can also teach her the triggers and coping skills to help her not need the meds eventually.  She will learn to control herself better and how to concentrate and that will lessen the feeling of always being yelled at.

I kind of had the epiphany last night when talking with her that my daughter has pretty serious issues that need to be addressed by her doctor because I can't help her alone.  Good luck to you...I know this is a tough situation to be in.  Take care and hope this helps a bit!