My stepson is 9 and diagnoised with ADHD and unmedicated and I have posted before about his issues with academics, etc.
I am currently working on getting him tested for LDs. I went to the school to have them do it and their response was ... "Send us a letter, 5 business days after the receipt of the letter we will determine whether you have a valid reason for requesting testing, if valid 30 - 60 days later the board will decide if testing is needed, then if testing is determined to be needed we will schedule the testing (the average timeline is 30 - 60 days after the ruling). Since school is close to ending for the summer no action will be taken until the start of the next school year."
So it will be at least what December before he could possibly be tested. I tried to find someplace private to test but can't find some place that is accpeting new patients is there any resources I can use? I tried LD online but otherwise I am hitting a brick wall. Additionally we are starting to work with a psychiatrist since I believe he has other issues besides ADHD.
Any suggestions? I am very frustrated. He is currently being tutored all summer so he can go on to the 4th grade and we can continue with tutoring into next school year but I just don't think tutoring when you don't understand the problem is a solution, esp. when this is not just a purely academic issue but a behavioural one too.
I would see a NeuroPsych. They're great at doing performance tests and usually can detail all LD's for you and pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. Now there may also be a waiting list, but it's worth the wait, whereas school district testing really isn't that reliable (we've found). I can't imagine where you could go for that sort of testing other than a medical person or school and, if it were me, I'd take the NeuroPsych. By the time he'd finished testing my son, we knew every strength and weakness he had, and presented the school with a ten page report. With that in hand, when they STILL gave us trouble, we went to the Dept. of Public Ed in our state, and this powerful ally made the school district test him right away and comply with our wishes for an IEP. Good luck. I really did not want to wait to see if the school would test ds. I asked his doctor that follows the ADHD to recommend someone that could do the testing. One highly recommended would take a 6 mo wait. The other was a one month wait. We were very happy with her and ds enjoyed the whole process. The testing came up with LDs and measurements that made it easy to get accommodations on a 504 Plan.Is there any other resources besides doctor for recommendations? His doctor says I should wait for school. I am going to ask psychiatrist also but just checking to see where else I should look.
You want to pick your evaluator well. If this takes time, then so be it. I know it's frustrating that it does take time, but what would be even worse is to have your child evaluated by someone who does not know how to evaluate a child with behavior issues. If you do this, you are going to end up with test scores that are scewed and don't present the real picture. You will have just wasted your money.
I suggest calling the state/local chapter of CHADD or LDA and asking for recommendations. I also would try to find parent support groups in your area and ask the parents whom they use and recommend. Finally, a neuropsychologist who is associated with a major hospital or medical university is always a good choice, if you cannot find any recommendations. Calling more than one organization and asking more than one support group may reveal someone who is well known and widely used in your area.
I know it is frustrating because you want answers now, but what you want to be cautious of getting the wrong answers. You CAN wait for a good, thorough, proper dx. And picking an evaluator with a good reputation in your community can do wonders in getting what you need from a school.
Good luck!
I would test OUTSIDE the so called system if it were me,,,which I did here in Denver....a good neuro guy can point you in the right direction...Oldtimer, they WON'T bat an eye, unless you come armed with an Advocate or call the Dept. of Public Education. If you do that, they'll practically do anything you ask, and fast. Becky our experience has been they ignore any outside stuff brought in and go by their findings.Well they took ALL of my outside testing and didn't bat an eye....ofcourse I had my advocate sitting right there too! I got all accomodations I asked for, which it's about time, since I have been dealing with this since 9th grade, she just completed 10th grade. The key is to find the correct outside people to do the evaluations that they can not poo poo the issues!i also have had troubles with the school system. you should see if your school district have a special needs advocate, ours done and she has been very helpful in getting our childs needs meet.